It’s About Time We Think About History
Close your eyes and try to remember what your history lessons in school were like. Do you immediately think of the Mahawamsa, ancient ola leaf books and archaeological sites? What about old…
Culture
The Translatability of Minority Ethnic Identities in Sri Lanka
Walter Benjamin, the German philosopher, introduced the concept of translatability, framing it not as an exploration of identity but as the translator’s ability to capture the essence of a text. His question,…
Razeen Sally’s Personal and Political Reconciliations of Sri Lanka
The Ceylon Literary Festival took place in Colombo in celebration of Sri Lanka’s art, culture and creativity. The three day programme was packed with a variety of talks with authors, podcasters, researchers,…
Embracing Nature’s Transformative Powers in Fallow
Fallow is a word often associated with inaction or unproductivity. In Layla Gonaduwa’s latest exhibition at Curado Art Gallery, the term fallow undergoes a nuanced reevaluation shedding light on its purpose as…
New Documentary Explores Sri Lanka’s Buddhist Supremacy and Minority Communities
In Nedunkeni, a small town outside Vavuniya, an ancient Hindu monument consecrated to Lord Siva stood on Vedukkunaari hill. The monument was reported stolen and later its destroyed remnants were found in…
Kintsugi by Anoma: Repairing, Rebuilding and Healing a Shattered World
When a delicate object like a glass vase, ceramic bowl or porcelain cup breaks, we throw it away thinking that it is beyond repair. But in the Japanese art of kintsugi, cracks…
The Erasure of the Transgender Men’s Movement in Sri Lanka
This article attempts to critically examine the contribution of transgender men to the transgender movement in Sri Lanka. It analyses the marginalisation faced by transgender men in the current context of transgender…
Sri Lanka’s Political Moment in 2024: Part 2
The year 2024 marks a watershed moment in Sri Lanka’s political history. The National People’s Power (NPP) party, led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), has ascended to power on a platform that…
Evolution, Not Revolution
I have a few comments to make about the rather inevitable and predictable recent attempts on social media to try and attack and diminish Dr. Harini Amarasuriya’s authority via comments about her…
A New Low In Bro Behaviour
Look up “schoolgirl” and “rape” and “Sri Lanka”. There are many stories which are posted by Google Search with those taglines. We have to refine the search for the most recent atrocity…
Celebrating the Adivasi of Sri Lanka
The Adivasi, historically known as the Veddas, are considered the indigenous people of Sri Lanka. They have lived on the island for millennia, maintaining a distinct ethnic identity and a way of…
The Art of a Cup of Tea
Arulraj Ulaganathan unveiled his first solo exhibition , presenting his journey as a member of the Malaiyaga Tamil tea plantation worker community. Through his art, Arulraj captures the past, present and future…
Hashan Cooray’s Dystopia: Hope, Justice, Peace and Good Lives
In his exhibition at the Saskia Fernando Gallery, Hashan Cooray explores societal and political challenges through a metaphorical lens. It features paintings and two installations that confront the complex relationship between an…
Searching for Pride: Learning to Unlearn
June is the #Pride month where we commemorate, celebrate and recognize Two-Spirit (North American specific term to recognize two-spirit Indigenous folks), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, Asexual and additional sexual…
Women’s Attire Stokes Religious Tension in Eastern Sri Lanka
In times of calamity women are affected disproportionately, and Sri Lanka’s ethnic and religious conflicts are no exception to the rule. In the post-war context, Tamil women were left to look for…
