Features

Dreaming her way… to SUCCESS

Published

2 years ago

2023/08/3

Big movie geek (Pic by Amy Jayawardena) (L) / Book launch on 19th August, at One Galle Face (Pic by Amy Jayawardena) (R)

Many of us have dreams but not all of us work towards making those dreams a reality.

Although just 20 years old, Kisavi Jayawardena is an exception and that is the reason why she is in the spotlight in this week’s Scene Around.

She says she has two dreams – one is to be a fashion designer and the other is to be an author – adding that her dreams are a gift she has been blessed with from God, and her talent…inherited from her parents.

“My father has always encouraged me to be true to myself, starting with how I dressed. I remember how much he stressed on me dressing the way I wanted to, instead of following trends. He has always encouraged my creativity, from buying me supplies to make jewellery, to hair dye and tattoo sheets.

“He gave me that space, as a child, to practice my art, through fashion, which I am incredibly grateful for. He is also my first friend, and my best friend, in fact.”

Kisavi went on to say that she was a quiet kid, without many friends, and that her father was the greatest friend she could ask for.

“He pushed me to follow my dreams, even when I would doubt myself at times. He and my mother are my biggest supporters. They urged me to keep pursuing my creative abilities. So I follow my dream of designing and creating my own clothing brand, for my father, while I write and pursue my dream of being an author, for my mother.

Although born in Sri Lanka, her parents moved to Oman, when she was just one year old, and shegrew up there.

Referring to her work as an author, Kisavi said her main genres are horror and thrillers, but also enjoys exploring different avenues and genres, such as melodrama, tragedy, and romance.

Another fun fact about Kisavi is that she is a big movie geek.

“From production and film-making, to directors and cast, to the story behind it all, I am a huge fan of films.”

Being a quiet child, she says she didn’t particularly excel at anything. “My only strength was my creativity. I wasn’t the type to speak about how I felt. The only way I could express my emotions, and my identity, as a child, was through my writing, and fashion.

“I believe I lived out most of my time in my own mind, in made up worlds and stories, with imaginary characters. And when I wasn’t doing that, I was envisioning and sketching out designs for clothes and jewellery.

“I have loved fashion for as long as I can remember. Colours, patterns, fabrics, and accessories, it’s amazing how anyone can create an identity with fashion. You can either choose to fit into a specific social class, or group, or choose to stand out boldly, just by putting together an outfit. You can read a person by the way they dress; their interests, their jobs, their hobbies, etc. Fashion, I believe, is a visual way of narrating a story about oneself. And it’s one of the best forms of art, since you get to wear it!”

Kisavi says she grew up listening to her mother narrate fairytales and other bedtime stories, adding that she only realised the power of storytelling when she came to Sri Lanka.

Kisavi Jayawardena: Designing and creating her own clothing brand…in the pipeline (Pic by Thisali Jayawardena)

“Having spent most of my life in Oman, I was heartbroken when I had to leave. I began pouring out my feelings into poetry, but I didn’t think too much about it.

“It was at La Petite Fleur Academy, where my life changed. And it was there that I fell in love with writing. Bernadine Anderson, the school founder and principal, changed me. She provided me a safe space to explore my identity, to express my mind, and to speak up freely. The scared little girl I was in Oman, was pulled out and polished by Mrs. Anderson. She was the first person, other than my parents, to believe in me. And that was all the confidence a child could ask for.”

Having her passions in both writing and fashion, Kisavi realized she needed a job that combined both.

“So I looked into working at a fashion magazine. That way I’d be able to write about fashion. And during my Christmas break, in 2018, I interned at Cosmopolitan Sri Lanka. This was my first time, experiencing the working world.”

She says at 15, she was enthralled by the fashion and media industries; from the photo shoots to the writing, to the editing, to the fashion shows.

“It was as though I was living out the life of a protagonist in a 2000s rom com.”

Her internship at Cosmopolitan Sri Lanka was only for one month, and then she went back to school to continue with her Advanced Level Education and graduated in 2020.

“My principal helped me get an internship at Scanwell Logistics, in the finance department. I then got my first job in 2021, working for ChoKoLAATe Magazine, as a writer and project assistant. I started writing my collection here.

“We had many monthly campaigns at our magazine, and one campaign was for suicide prevention. I remember I had previously started up a thriller story on the blog, where chapters would get uploaded every Friday, to get readers engaged. My boss asked me to use my creative writing skills to write a short story for this campaign. I had previously had the character of Maddie/Madeline (the protagonist in the story If Only I’d Known) in my mind, but I hadn’t found a story for her. So I used her to explore the grief a mother would feel, of losing her child to suicide.

“My family had dealt with a lot of difficulties from our move to Sri Lanka, and it was something my sisters and I found incredibly tough. I myself had dealt with feeling suicidal at times, not being able to find any bit of hope in my life back then. So I used that emotion, and thought about how my own mother would feel, losing me. I based Maddie on her.”

When things were falling apart in Kisavi’s life, and when her whole family had to face indescribably difficult situations, it was her mother that held it all together, she says.

“She proved to be one of the strongest and toughest women in my life. A mother’s role is crucial in a child’s life, and I realised just how powerful my mum was during these difficult times. It was because of her that we all managed to come this far.

“Both my father and mother are my greatest strengths, and it is because of them that I write today and have the courage to follow my dreams. “I’ve also been blessed with many wonderful maternal figures and mentors in my life. They’ve each impacted my life greatly and have shaped me into the woman I am today, which is why I’ve dedicated my first book, ‘Shades Of A Mother,’ to them.

“I wrote this book wanting to explore and bring light on the difficulties and grief a mother faces. And although the short stories aren’t joyful, I hope they bring comfort and healing to the readers seeking it.”

‘Shades Of A Mother’ will be launched on Saturday, 19th August, 2023, at 5.00 pm, at One Galle Face, 4th Floor (Sarasavi Bookshop).

If you are in the vicinity of One Galle Face, on 19th August, at around 5.00 pm, Kisavi says she would love to see you at her book launch.

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Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

20 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the progressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world of democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

20 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

20 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.