R.M. Naeem - the artist

Naeem is an old friend and a great artist who has returned to Colombo to open his exhibition at Paradise Road Gallery. Accomplished in the technique of fine art and miniature painting, this is not an exhibition to be missed by anyone, let alone an art-lover.

There is a solitude and calmness to his work which he says can only be accomplished with great effort. The exhibition is on for 2 weeks... so hurry and escape to his mystic world.

Kumbi Kathawa - of Ants and a Mosquito

I am a shamed to say that it was the first time I had ever experienced the wonder of the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya, but you can be rest assured I won't miss another production. As Sanjana quite aptly noted in his account of Kumbi Kathawa when he had the task to write about it (http://www.groundviews.org/2007/08/23/a-brief-glimpse-of-kumbi-kathawa-ant-story/) its was both daunting and humbling, I shared similar sentiments taking pictures! If pictures only could do justice to the details, dance and drama... the magic of Kumbi Kathawa transports you from this world to quite another. Afterall even Einstein said "Dancers are the athletes of God."

Kumbi Kathawa (Ant Story) by the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya

Thaji lights up the stage

Kumbi Kathawa (Ant Story) by the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya

The beautiful and talented Thaji

It's their word against mine

My mum loves to play Scrabble. In fact her friends do too. They belong to the Sri Lanka Scrabble League. Dedicated to the New Collins Word Book, they know every 4 letter, 3 letter and 2 letter word in sight. The Galaha challenge was an experience for Dad and I. We were overwhelmed at their commitment to the game. They called the toilet a winderloo; a hot curry of sorts and I was duly informed that the newest addition to the world of words was Ageusia.

Peculiar Peradeniya

It was one of those average trips back to Galaha, taking the short cut through the Peradeniya University Campus. Perhaps one of the most beautiful University Campuses in the world; when we came across a huge gathering of Uni students, at least that's what I presumed. I got Karunadasa to stop the van, in next to no speed assembled the camera and started firing away at this strange spectacle. There were close to 500 women dressed in sari, all with their heads covered and made to walk down this steep hillside stairway.

I had barely managed to figure out what was happening when 5 guys surrounded me, and started questioning my intentions on taking the pictures. I said it looked interesting and wanted to photograph it. They said no photos allowed. "I have a right", public road, public access, what's the big deal? They said no way. No pictures. Then Karunadasa came to my rescue, "Baby, appi yamu, wadak ne". Then the leader of the pack "Ow baby yanne, Appi hondate kewaneda?"

Afraid more for my driver than myself, we left. Can anyone shed light?