Features

GOLDEN AGE OF THE SILUMINA

Published

4 years ago

2022/09/4

Thilina Walpola

by ECB Wijeyesinghe

The Lake House Sinhala Weekly is 50 years today (Mar. 30, 1980).

All the blithe spirits that used to haunt Lake House are bound to return from their Elysian fields today to rejoice over a notable birthday anniversary. Fifty years ago, almost to the very day, was born one of the miracles of modern journalism, the Sinhalese newspaper that reaches the crest of its Golden Age today after five decades of glorious effort and endeavour.

In the process it has passed and surpassed all the high-watermarks in circulation touched by any publication in any language east of Suez. It is an achievement of which not only Lake House but Sri Lanka can be proud. To the average Sinhala newspaper reader, a Sunday without the Silumina is inconceivable. It is something he looks forward to for one whole week.

The secret is that it caters to the whole family and husbands, wives and children scramble for their own particular page when the paper appears on the doorstep, sometimes causing minor domestic discords. That is why its publication has strained the resources of the most efficient Rotary presses, and given endless headaches to the Circulation department, who have to obey the inexorable laws of supply and demand.

THE START

But it was not ever thus. D. R. Wijewardene, the Napoleon of the local newspaper world, invaded the Sinhala Sunday paper business with considerable trepidation. He started off at the height of the Great Depression. The year 1930 was perhaps this country’s gloomiest period for the commercial world, with coconuts selling at five cents each, and rubber and tea similarly scraping the barrel. Salaries were cut all round by ten per cent, and everything appeared to be wrong except the stars which had moved into the right places for a great adventure.

Wijewardene, people said, had the devil’s own luck. But he had more than that. He was a man of vision and was a believer in the old adage that anything that goes down must eventually come up. He also had tremendous faith in his staff whom he had chosen with meticulous care. For seven years the idea of a Sinhala Sunday newspaper was simmering in his head.

That is, ever since the phenomenal success of the Sunday Observer which enlivened the day of rest and gave people something better to do than spend their time either playing the card game known as “cutting the baby” or hugging the bottle. At this time the Dinamina was going great guns, with a splendid staff, some of whom were destined to win literary laurels abroad.

When the history of Lake House comes to be re-written, there are two Martins whose names will be remembered. They are Martin the personal peon of D. R. Wijewardene, and Martin Wickremasinghe, the eminent journalist, novelist and philosopher. Martin the peon was always immaculately clad in white and sported a tortoise-shell comb with gleaming points which gave him a Mephistophilean look. He also wore a black belt, like a Karate expert, but that meant nothing because he was a physically harmless man.

It was not his fault, however, that he was paid to be the harbinger of doom to most of the staff who were at the receiving end of the Boss’s wrath. Even Martin Wickremasinghe, the editor of the Dinamina at the time, dreaded the appearance of Martin the peon who stood at the half-open swing-door and with bulging eyes merely nodded his head and said “Katha karanawa”. That meant more than a friendly tete-a-tete with the boss. The demeanour of Martin, the peon was like the barometer that indicated the temperature in the Managing Director’s room.

When the Silumma was started Wijewardene entrusted the new weekly to Martin Wickremasinghe’s able assistant Piyasena Nissanka. The two men were a study in contrast. Martin Wickremasinghe was a mercurial character, an unorthodox Buddhist, a brilliant self taught philosopher and a student of comparative religions. He was born south of the border down Koggala way.

Nissanka was a stolid son of Siyane Korale, a truly rural and conservative product of his village, the gracious Gampaha gamarala whose ambition was to become a Vedamahatmaya. In fact, Nissanka pursued his Ayurvedic studies in Calcutta for some time, until they were cut short by his father’s death. But he had the instincts of a physician and the gift of “ath vasi”, which he applied successfully when he became a journalist, and began to feel the pulse of the nation.

As the first copies of the Silumina rolled off the presses and began to capture the imagination of the masses, Professor C. E. Cooray Bulathsinghala, who was then known as the Astrologer Royal, predicted a fantastic future for the new weekly. The Professor, who was then in and out of Lake House, used to watch the infant publication growing, as the advertisers would say, in vim, vigour and vitality and take most of the credit for its success.

PREDICTION

He seemed to suggest that he was responsible not only for giving the auspicious time for its start, but also for the lucky sound of its title. It appears that Bulathsinghala had said that any name beginning with “Sil” should hit the jackpot, but it was the Boss himself who completed the title in order to make it rhyme with Dinamina and thus make it bear a family resemblance to the daily paper that was already a power in the land.

Nissanka, the first Editor of the Silumina, was a sound thinker, though he did not have the flair of Martin Wickremasinghe. It was an amusing experience for other inhabitants of Lake House to hear Nissanka composing an editorial. He would write a paragraph or two and recite them in a loud voice in order to test their effect on the aural sensibilities of his listeners. Generally the audience consisted of a couple of junior journalists. From the reactions on their faces, Nissanka knew whether his shots had hit the target.

FICTION

Nissanka’s modus operandi reminded me very much of the methods of a trio of Vedamahatmayas, who treated me for typhoid long long ago. One of them would hum a Sanskrit verse and if the diagnosis was right and the going was good, the others would take up the refrain and continue chanting with zest until a junior acolyte took down the drugs and wrote the prescription. The result was a “kasaya” or decoction which, when distilled into one cup, seemed to put the Witch’s brew in “Macbeth” in the shade. It is a curious thing that a large number of journalists have made their name writing fiction. Cynics may say that it is nothing to crow over, because that is what they have been doing all their lives.

Martin Wickremasinghe and Piyasena Nissanka excelled in writing stories with a rural background. Some of Martin’s work has passed the linguistic borders into the international realm of literature and translations have appeared in English, Russian, Chinese, Rumanian and Czechoslovakian journals. Nissanka’s vignettes of village life such as the “Oya Badda Gedera” (The House by the Stream), are still sought after, especially the cameo of the sprightly damsel who has been described by the author as the “Magul Kadana Baba Noni”.

To the uninitiated, I must explain that it concerns the life-story of a woman oozing with sex-appeal whom that perspicacious reviewer, Edwin Ariyadasa, once referred to as a one-woman demolition squad who could be depended upon to break up not only made-marriages, but marriages in the making. There is supposed to be a Baba Noni in almost every village and the name of Nissanka’s fictitious character has passed into the language as a term of opprobrium.

Besides Martin Wickremasinghe and Nissanka there was one other unforgettable character who bore the slings and arrows of the Boss in order to keep the Silumina well ahead of its rivals. He was Srilal Liyanage. He succeeded the two giants in the editorial chair but managed to quit it just in time in order to enjoy his retirement.

On Saturday night, in my time, he used to be the sole occupant of the Silumina office. With his gaunt figure, his unkempt hair and dishevelled clothes one could easily mistake him for an apparition. His only redeeming features were an infectious smile and a razor-sharp mind which he utilized to give cutting double-edged headlines. Liyanage is still going strong and lives on his little estate in Nugegoda where his jak trees are thriving like the Biblical palms and producing enough kos to feed half of Colombo.

Today, while kavun, kokis and kiri bath flow out of the Silumina’s sanctum and the Golden Jubilee celebrations reach their climax there will be one thought uppermost in everybody’s mind. That will be how on earth Edmund Ranasinghe the present Editor, manages to do two things: –

Firstly, to maintain the momentum generated 50 years ago by its founder, the dynamic D. R. Wijewardene;

Secondly, to retain the goodwill of the cultured classes of the Sinhala people created by such stalwarts of the Press as Martin Wickremasinghe, Piyasena Nissanka, Srilal Liyanage, Meemana Prematilaka, Denzil Peiris, S. Subasinghe, D. D. Wettasinghe, Wimalasiri Perera, Ben Dodampegama, and several others who kept the Silumina circulation moving ever upward, regardless of the effect it had on their own blood pressure.

(Excerpted from The Good At Their Best first published in 1980)

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A long-running identity conflict flares into full-blown war

Published

1 hour ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei / President Donald Trump

It was Iran’s first spiritual head of state, the late Ayatollah Khomeini, who singled out and castigated the US as the ‘Great Satan’ in the revolutionary turmoil of the late seventies of the last century that ushered in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The core issue driving the long-running confrontation between Islamic Iran and the West has been religious identity and the seasoned observer cannot be faulted for seeing the explosive emergence of the current war in the Middle East as having the elements of a religious conflict.

The current crisis in the Middle East which was triggered off by the recent killing of Iranian spiritual head of state Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a combined US-Israel military strike is multi-dimensional and highly complex in nature but when the history of relations between Islamic Iran and the West, read the US, is focused on the religious substratum in the conflict cannot be glossed over.

In fact it is not by accident that US President Donald Trump resorts to Biblical language when describing Iran in his denunciations of the latter. Iran, from Trump’s viewpoint, is a primordial source of ‘evil’ and if the Middle East has collapsed into a full-blown regional war today it is because of the ‘evil’ influence and doings of Iran; so runs Trump’s narrative. It is a language that stands on par with that used by the architects of the Iranian revolution in the crucial seventies decade.

In other words, it is a conflict between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ and who is ‘good’ and who is ‘evil’ in the confrontation is determined mainly by the observer’s partialities and loyalties which may not be entirely political in kind. It should not be forgotten that one of President Trump’s support bases is the Christian Right in the US and in the rest of the West and the Trump administration’s policy outlook and actions should not be divorced from the needs of this segment of supporters to be fully made sense of.

The reasons for the strong policy tie-up between Rightist administrations in the US in particular and Israel could be better comprehended when the above religious backdrop is taken into consideration. Israel is the principal actor in the ‘Old Testament’ of the Bible and is seen as ‘the Chosen People of God’ and this characterization of Israel ought to explain the partialities of the Republican Right in particular towards Israel. Among other things, this partiality accounts for the strong defence of Israel by the US.

For the purposes of clarity it needs to be mentioned here that the Bible consists of two parts, an ‘Old’ and ‘New Testament’ , and that the ‘New Testament’ or ‘Message’ embodies the teachings of Jesus Christ and the latter teachings are seen as completing and in a sense giving greater substance to the ‘Old Testament’. However, Judaism is based mainly on ‘Old Testament’ teachings and Judaism is distinct from Christianity.

To be sure, the above theological explanation does not exhaust all the reasons for the war in the Middle East but the observer will be allowing an important dimension to the war to slip past if its importance is underestimated.

It is not sufficiently realized that the Iranian Islamic Revolution of 1979 utterly changed international politics and re-wrote as it were the basic parameters that must be brought to bear in understanding it. So important is the Islamic factor in contemporary world politics that it helped define to a considerable degree the new international political order that came into existence with the collapsing of the Cold War and the disintegration of the USSR .

Since the latter developments ‘political Islam’ could be seen as a chief shaping influence of international politics. For example, it accounts considerably for the 9/11 calamity that led to the emergence of fresh polarities in world politics and ushered in political terrorism of a most destructive kind that is today disquietingly visible the world over.

It does not follow from the foregoing that Islam, correctly understood, inspires terrorism of any kind. Islam proclaims peace but some of its adherents with political aims interpret the religion in misleading, divisive ways that run contrary to the peaceful intents of the faith. This is a matter of the first importance that sincere adherents of the faith need to address.

However, there is no denying that the Islamic Revolution in Iran of 1979 has been over the past decades a great shaper of international politics and needs to be seen as such by those sections that are desirous of changing the course of the world for the better. The revolution’s importance is such that it led to US political scientist Dr. Samuel P. Huntingdon to formulate his historic thesis that a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ is upon the world currently.

If the above thesis is to be adopted in comprehending the principal trends in contemporary world politics it could be said that Islam, misleadingly interpreted by some, is pitting a good part of the Southern hemisphere against the West, which is also misleadingly seen by some, as homogeneously Christian in orientation. Whereas, the truth is otherwise. The West is not necessarily entirely synonymous with Christianity, correctly understood.

Right now, what is immediately needed in the Middle East is a ceasefire, followed up by a negotiated peace based on humanistic principles. Turning ‘Spears into Ploughshares’ is a long gestation project but the warring sides should pay considerable attention to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s memorable thesis that the world needs to transition from a ‘Clash of Civilizations’ to a ‘Dialogue of Civilizations’. Hopefully, there would emerge from the main divides leaders who could courageously take up the latter challenge.

It ought to be plain to see that the current regional war in the Middle East is jeopardising the best interests of the totality of publics. Those Americans who are for peace need to not only stand up and be counted but bring pressure on the Trump administration to make peace and not continue on the present destructive course that will render the world a far more dangerous place than it is now.

In the Middle East region a durable peace could be ushered if only the just needs of all sides to the conflict are constructively considered. The Palestinians and Arabs have their needs, so does Israel. It cannot be stressed enough that unless and until the security needs of the latter are met there could be no enduring peace in the Middle East.

Features

The art and science of communicating with your little child

Published

1 hour ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

The two input gateways of communication, sight and sound, are quite well developed at birth. In fact, the auditory system becomes functional around 24 weeks in the womb, and the normal newborn can hear quite well after birth. However, the newborn’s vision is a little blurry at birth, and the baby sees the world in shades of grey, while being able only to focus on things 20 to 30 cm (8–12 inches) away. Coincidentally, this is perhaps the exact distance to a mother’s face during breastfeeding. By 2-3 months, there are colour vision capabilities and the ability to track. By 5-8 months, there is depth perception, and by 12 months, there is adult clarity of vision.

By the time a child turns five, his or her brain has already reached 90% of its adult size. This astonishing physical growth is not just happening on its own; it is, to a certain extent, fuelled by experience, and the most vital experience a young child can have is communication with his or her parents.

Modern developmental neuroscience has shifted our understanding of how children learn. We used to think babies were passive sponges, slowly absorbing the world. We now know they are active characters from day one, constantly seeking interaction to build the architecture of their minds. This architecture is not built by apps, vocabulary flashcards, or educational television. It is built through simple, loving, back-and-forth interactions with anyone they come across, but mostly their parents.

The Foundation: Serve and Return (0–12 Months)

Communication with an infant from birth to one year of age begins long before they speak their first word. In the first year, the goal is to master a phenomenon called Serve and Return. This is a basic scenario picked up from the game of tennis. At the start of each game of a set in tennis, a player serves, and the opponent returns the serve. Just imagine a tennis match, where a baby “serves” by making a sound, making eye contact, reaching for a toy, or crying. The job of anyone in the vicinity, who very often are the parents of the baby, is to “return” the ball. If they babble, you babble back. If they point at a cat, you look and say, “Yes, that’s a furry cat!” This simple act does two things. The first is Brain Building, which creates and strengthens neural pathways in the language and emotional centres of the brain. The other is Emotional Security, a thing which teaches a baby that he or she has some help in the learning processes. The baby absorbs the notion that when he or she signals a need, his or her world will respond. This forms the basis of a secure attachment. Scientists have advocated that during this stage, people, especially the parents of a baby, should embrace what is called ‘parentese’. It is the use of a somewhat high-pitched, exaggerated voice. Research has shown that babies pay more attention to parentese than to regular adult speech, helping them to map the sounds of their native language more quickly.

The Language Explosion: Toddlers (1–3 Years)

When a child starts speaking words, the game changes considerably and quite profoundly. This period is defined by a rapid increase in his or her vocabulary and the beginning of grammar. It is very important to narrate everything. The people around, especially the parents, need to become kind of sports commentators for your life. While dressing them, one could say, “First we put on the red sock. After that, we put the other red sock on your left foot.” What we are doing by this is to give them the labels for the world they see.

It is also important to expand, but not truly correct, whatever the child says. If a toddler points to a car and says “Car!”, don’t just say “Yes.” Expand on it: “Yes, that is a big, fast, red car!” You are adding a new vocabulary and grammatical structure through a natural process. If the child says “Me go,” respond with, “Yes, you are going!” rather than correcting and saying “No…, you should say ‘I am going’.”

Toddlers love reading the same book, even one hundred times. While it may be tedious for those around the baby, it is important to realise that such repetition is vital for their learning. They are predicting what comes next, which is a core cognitive skill.

The Preschooler: Building Stories and Logic (3–5 Years)

By age three, the focus shifts from “what” to “why.” Preschoolers are beginning to understand complex emotions, time, and causality. This is the age at which it is best to ask questions which require thought and understanding. Such indirect open-ended questions would sound like “What was the best part of the park today?” or “How do you think that character in the story is feeling?“

A preschooler’s world is full of “big feelings” they cannot yet manage. When they are upset because they cannot have a cookie, avoid saying “Don’t cry over nothing.” Instead, name the emotion: “Don’t cry, you can have a cookie after dinner“. This teaches them emotional literacy. Parents and others around in the home could share stories about when they were little, or make up fantasy tales together. Storytelling teaches sequential logic (beginning, middle, end) and strengthens their imagination.

The Absolute Master Class: Learning Through Play

If communication is the fuel for brain development, play is the engine. For a child under five, play is not a break from learning; play is learning. It is how they explore physics (stacking blocks), mathematics (sorting shapes), social dynamics (sharing toys), and language (pretend play). We can boost their development exponentially by weaving communication into their play.

When a child is playing with blocks, dough, or puzzles, they are building fine motor skills and spatial awareness. It is also useful to use three-dimensional words: “Can you put the blue block on top of the red one?” “The puzzle piece is next to your knee.” One could also ask them to describe the texture: “Is the dough soft or hard?“

Pretend play, such as acting as a doctor, an engineer, a chef, or a superhero, is one of the most cognitively demanding things a child can do. It requires them to understand symbolic thought and to take on another person’s perspective. Join their world as a supporting character, not the director. If they are the doctor, ask, “Doctor, my teddy bear’s tummy hurts. What should I do?” This encourages them to use vocabulary relevant to the scenario and practice complex social problem-solving.

Playing with water, sand, slime, or safe food products allows children to process sensory information. This is the perfect time for descriptive vocabulary. Use contrasting words: wet/dry, hot/cold, sticky/smooth, loud/quiet.

A few special words for parents. You do not need an expensive degree or specialised toys to build your child’s brain. The most powerful tool you have is your own responsiveness. Modern science tells us that the basic recipe for a thriving child is simple: Look at them when they signal you. Respond with warmth and words. Narrate their world and Join their play.

You are not just talking to your child; you are building his or her future, even via just one conversation at a time. So, go on talking to your child and even make him or her a real-life chatterbox.

Dr B. J. C. Perera

MBBS(Cey), DCH(Cey), DCH(Eng), MD(Paediatrics), MRCP(UK), FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lond), FRCPCH(UK), FSLCPaed, FCCP, Hony. FRCPCH(UK), Hony. FCGP(SL)

Specialist Consultant Paediatrician and Honorary Senior Fellow, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Features

Promoting our beauty and culture to the world

Published

1 hour ago

2026/03/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

Tourism is very much in the news these days and it’s certainly a good sign to see lots of foreigners checking out Sri Lanka.

With this in mind, Ruki’s Model Academy & Agency recently had a spectacular event to select Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka in order to promote Sri Lanka in the international scene.

Nimesha Premachandra was crowned Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026.

She says she owes her success to Ruki (Rukmal Senanayake), the National Director and model trainer, and personality and advocacy trainer Tharaka Gurukanda.

Nimesha is a school teacher by profession, an actress and TV presenter by passion, and an entrepreneur by spirit.

She believes in balancing grace with purpose, and using her platform to inspire women, while promoting the beauty and culture of Sri Lanka to the world. And this is how our Chit-Chat went:

Nimesha Premachandra: Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026

01. How would you describe yourself?

I am a passionate, disciplined, and people-oriented person. I love learning, performing, and guiding others, especially young minds, through education.

02. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would probably try to be less self-critical and allow myself to celebrate achievements more often.

03. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?

Nothing major. I am grateful for my family’s love and support, which has shaped who I am today.

04. Is Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka your very first pageant?

No. I have been part of pageants before, but Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka is very special because it represents purpose, culture, and global representation.

05. What made you take part in this contest?

I wanted to represent Sri Lanka internationally and use this platform to promote tourism, culture, and women’s empowerment.

06. Obviously, you must be excited about participating in the grand finale, in Vietnam; any special plans for this big event?

Yes, I am extremely excited. My focus is to showcase Sri Lankan elegance, hospitality, and authenticity, while building meaningful connections with participants from around the world.

07. How do you intend promoting tourism, in Sri Lanka, during your rein?

I plan to highlight Sri Lanka’s diverse experiences in culture, heritage, wellness, nature, and local hospitality through media appearances, digital storytelling, and tourism collaborations.

08. School?

Kaluthara Balika. School life played a big role in shaping me. I actively participated in sports and performing arts, which later helped me build confidence as an actress and presenter.

09. Happiest moment?

Being crowned Mrs. Tourism Sri Lanka 2026 and seeing the pride in my family’s eyes – definitely one of my happiest moments.

10. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Peace of mind, good health, and being surrounded by the people I love while doing work that has meaning.

11. Which living person do you most admire?

I most admire Angelina Jolie because she beautifully balances her work as an actress with meaningful humanitarian efforts. She uses her global platform to support refugees, advocate for human rights, and inspire women to be strong, compassionate, and independent.

12. Which is your most treasured possession?

My memories and experiences because they remind me how far I’ve come, and keep me grounded.

13. Your most embarrassing moment?

Like everyone, I’ve had small on-stage mishaps, but they always taught me to laugh at myself and move forward confidently.

14. Done anything daring?

Participating in pageants while balancing teaching, media work, and family life has been one of the boldest and most rewarding decisions I’ve made.

Keen to use her title to promote Sri Lanka globally

15. Your ideal vacation?

A peaceful destination surrounded by nature; somewhere I can relax, reconnect, and experience local culture.

16. What kind of music are you into?

I enjoy soft, soulful music because it helps me relax and stay inspired.

17. Favourite radio station:

I enjoy stations that blend good music with meaningful conversation and positive energy.

18. Favourite TV station:

Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. It’s where it all began for me. It played a significant role in my journey as a TV presenter and helped shape my confidence and passion for media.

19 What would you like to be born as in your next life?

Someone who continues to inspire others because making a positive impact is what matters most.

20. Any major plans for the future?

I hope to expand my work in media and entrepreneurship while continuing my role as an educator and using my title to promote Sri Lanka globally.