Prawns and privations: Sugeeth’s life in Slave Island
At 27 years old, Sugeeth Kumar is part of a generation of Slave Island’s young entrepreneurs. Tiring of the long hours his previous job at Pizza Hut required, he decided that if…
Slave Island
Recycling the plastic we throw to make a living: Nazaruddin’s work in Slave Island
On a walk down one of the many byroads of Slave Island during midday, we encountered a curious sight: a fairly elderly man wearing a sarong and a dusty green cap, sitting…
Sharing a common god: The Sivasubramaniam Kovil in Slave Island
Munisekar has always been devout. From the age of nine, he began working at the Sivasubramaniam Kovil of Slave Island – the place of worship closest to where he lived with his…
The education of a Muslim girl: Snapshots of Fatheema
15-year-old Fatheema Sulaika has lofty plans for her future. Study hard, become a psychologist, do her bit for mankind and hope that her example inspires oppressed women the world over. Needless to…
The ‘dobis’ in Colombo: Unseen people, used by most
In a locality where washing lines heavy with colour light up even the most mundane landscape, Navam Mawatha’s laundry seems a nucleus of sorts. Surrounded by banks and plush office spaces, the…
Hotel Nippon: An icon of Colombo
Originally from Ragama, Chandrika Serasinghe believes it was her destiny to end up working at the Nippon Hotel – a place whose unusual façade always had a pull on her whenever she…