ECHO

01/02/2025

The story of Lovina Aponsuwa, like many parts of modern Sri Lanka’s history, falls between the blurred lines of truth and legend. However, her story endures and is now celebrated, more than two centuries after, at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, arguably the last remaining symbol tying her legend to reality.


Link: https://ceylontoday.lk/2025/01/18/lovinas-legacy/

31/01/2025

“The Sri Lankan fashion industry has certainly evolved, and it’s impressive how it has established itself in the market. While we’ve made great strides, it feels like no one is truly exploring fashion as a visual language or a medium of expression."


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By Induwara Athapattu Building on our discussion of fashion activism and its potential for driving social change, this week, Ceylon Today shines the spotlight on one of Sri Lanka’s most dynamic young voices in the field—Hasindu Jayasinghe, as he shared his insights and constructive critiques, of...

31/01/2025

“If a zoo is functioning effectively, it has numerous value additions to society. However, if it has flaws in operations, they must be hastily addressed."


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By Pavani Premarathne Recently, the talk of animal welfare and rights seems to be in the limelight with the recent cases of elephant-human conflicts, toque macaque incidents, misinformation on stray dogs, etc. Amidst these issues, where mostly wild animals have become the subject matter, the recent....

31/01/2025

It is sad to see how today, the Western medicine mafia and multinational companies have gained a monopoly in Sri Lanka’s healthcare and medical sector, and how the indigenous and Ayurvedic medical practices have been neglected for decades and even sometimes considered as pseudo or alternative medical practices and looked down upon.


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By Ama H. Vanniarachchy “Arogya parama labha – Santutthi paramam dhanam.” (Health is the greatest gainand contentment the greatest wealth.) – Gautama Buddha The ancient Sinhalese had a holistic approach when it came to healthcare and medical sciences. They were not only concerned about a per...

30/01/2025

Sri Lanka must recognise the critical role of journalism in safeguarding its heritage. Heritage journalism is not just about reporting history or archaeological findings; it is also about educating the public, influencing policies, and ensuring cultural preservation takes centre stage.


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By Ama H. Vanniarachchy Sri Lanka is a land steeped in history, culture, and natural beauty. The island’s heritage is vast and precious, from ancient stupas to forest-covered ruins to exquisite art and vibrant traditions. However, this invaluable legacy has come under increasing threat in recent y...

30/01/2025

Fashion activism operates on a spectrum. On one end, there’s what some might call ‘loud’ activism. This includes bold, in-your-face statements like slogan T-shirts or politically charged runway shows.


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By Induwara Athapattu We are living in a world where a single tweet can spark revolutions and a viral video can dismantle long-held norms, and haven’ we ourselves witnessed the power of activism in the recent past. Of course, activism is no novelty to Sri Lanka, for there are more than a few activ...

29/01/2025

As one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations, China’s 5,000-year-old legacy of dynasties, philosophy, art, and invention feels almost timeless, its roots woven deeply into the fabric of human history.

Yet, this same nation surges forward as a modern economic powerhouse, boasting the title of the second-largest economy in the world and shaping the global future with cutting-edge technology and industry.

By Vindya Amaranayake in Guangzhou, China China is a breathtaking paradox — a land where the echoes of ancient history resonate alongside the buzz of modern innovation. As one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations, China’s 5,000-year-old legacy of dynasties, philosophy, art, and inven...

29/01/2025

“We are not just promoting a diet; we are working for a way of life that aligns with compassion, sustainability, and health."


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By Lihini Jayawardene Across the globe, billions of animals are slaughtered each year to meet the demands of human consumption. From industrial-scale factory farms to smaller local operations, the scale of animal deaths is staggering. This practice raises serious concerns about its impact on human h...

29/01/2025

“Our law is therefore, totally inconsistent with evolving global animal welfare standards, where today, several countries recognise animals as non-human persons and not mere chattel”

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By Lihini Jayawardene “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi “I was walking with my father when I saw an uncle we knew holding a gun. When we asked him what was happening, he said there were a lot of […]

28/01/2025

“I loved you silently, without hope, fully,
In diffidence, in jealousy, in pain;
I loved you so tenderly and truly,
As let you else be loved by any man.”

By Ama H. Vanniarachchy Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was no ordinary man. He was a poet, a lover, a card-playing gambler, and a duel enthusiast. Often broke, frequently exiled, and tragically romantic, Pushkin was the father of modern Russian literature. Born in Moscow in 1799, this not-so-handsome...

28/01/2025

“In 1945, during the Sinhala-Muslim conflict in Sri Lanka, thinkers like Martin Wickremesinghe and Dr. Nandadeva Wijesekare proposed teaching anthropology so people could understand that, despite their differences, they are all ‘humans.’"

By Induwara Athapattu “A man lives in the house he plays with the snakes he writes he writes when it turns dark to Deutschland your golden hair Margarete Your ashen hair Shulamit we dig a grave in the air there one lies at ease. He calls jab deeper into the earth you there and you […]

27/09/2022

With a degree from the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Bhash*th has mastered the art of assemblage sculpture.

“Most of the things that we have created have been made by the substances extracted and excerpted from nature, following the shapes and forms of nature. Therefore, I see ‘nature’ in everything. As an assemblage artist or a sculptor, I assemble various parts of those objects to re-create nature...