Features

Bang Bang – Colombo’s first modern shopping mall

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/10

Grand buildings of Colombo

In the first of a series of articles on Colombo’s heritage, we cover the Bang Bang Building, with historian, Asiff Hussein, the Author of The Great Days of Colombo.

by Ifham Nizam

Q: Is it accurate to say that the Bang Bang building was the first modern shopping mall in Colombo? What about others like Liberty Plaza that emerged around the same time?

A: The Bang Bang Building Project was the first modern shopping mall in Sri Lanka. It was officially called Capricorn Towers and was built as a UDA approved project in 1979; Liberty Plaza was built in the early 1980s. Bang Bang opened around 1982 and was fully operational by early 1983. Liberty Plaza opened only in 1985.

Q: The Bang Bang Building was situated on a wedge of land between Reclamation Road and Bankshall Street in Pettah which had formerly housed the Colombo Fire Brigade. And believe me, this seemingly huge four-storeyed complex was built on just 50 perches of land which at that time must have been an ingenious feat of engineering, especially for a country like ours. Its foundation stone was laid by the then Mayor Sirisena Cooray, which suggests that it must have been considered a very important landmark in the country’s rapid development drive that followed in the wake of the Open Economy the JR government ushered in 1977.

A: The prospectus stated that it had been designed as a shopping-cum-office complex and that it had a raft foundation to build 12 storeys with the foundation and structure designed to carry a revolving restaurant on the topmost floor. At the time, it had a basement, car park and four floors each with 15,000 square feet, a structure for two more floors and provision for another five floors with 10,000 square feet for each floor. It further boasted central air conditioning, available for 11 floors and to top it all could accommodate 100 shops which was, of course, a lot of shops for its time.

Q:Who was the man behind the project or was it a consortium of like-minded people obsessed with foisting modernity on a place like the Pettah?

A:The project was the brainchild of Nazir Hussein Ghany, the second son of Faacy Ghany, Deputy Mayor of Colombo shortly before Ceylon gained independence from the British. This well built moustachioed man looked somewhat like Yasser Arafat and had made his fortune very early in life. I have a feeling it was his frequent business trips to Japan and other parts of Far Asia full of grand buildings, that inspired him to replicate that trend here, near the very heart of Pettah. Be that as it may, the idea caught on among government officials in the UDA, and elsewhere, who gave it their fullest support. To put up a building like this at that time was something phenomenal, to say the least.

Q:How did Bang Bang look like in its heyday? Can you recall what it would have seemed to a child of that era?

A:I recall, in the early 1980s, Bang Bang’s advertisements on television were accompanied by the soundtrack ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. It took after the 1968 musical of the same name which featured a revolutionary flying car designed by the eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, which was named as such after the noise its engine made, ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang …’

Whenever we visited it back then, it was like another world altogether. Its façade was impressive by the standards of those times though when one beholds it now it may pale in comparison to what we have today. Bang Bang was like a new world to us kids back then. It had a sleek black and yellow escalator, probably the first of its kind in the country, emerging from its large central floor area.

One could shop here under one roof in air-conditioned comfort, so unlike the other marketplaces in Pettah or elsewhere. And the hundred or so little shops scattered in its three or four occupied floors were a delight to behold. It was a wonder world for kids of that era with toy shops, selling everything from toy guns to plastic soldiers, bookshops and even an ice cream parlour. I also vividly remember a game centre offering coin-operated arcade video games such as Galaxian, where one could zap alien invaders with a laser cannon.

Sadly Bang Bang’s fortunes were not to last very long. Like many other big-time businesses in the city, it declined with mismanagement and the dull business climate following the July 1983 riots and the war that came in its wake. With business declining, tenants moved out and a couple of decades after making its debut with a bang, so to say, the once-grand building had become only a shadow of its former self with a lacklustre exterior and a somewhat gloomy interior, a far cry from what it once was.

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Features

The hard challenge of clinching a political settlement in the Middle East

Published

14 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Bruised hearts: Displaced Palestinian civilians in the Gaza.(Photo by Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Despite some sections of the Trump administration persisting with the view that the possibility could not be entirely ruled out of there being a diplomatic solution to the current US-Iran hostilities in West Asia, the skeptic could not be blamed for thinking otherwise. The intensity, scale and frequency of the tit-for-tat strikes by the antagonists over the past few days against selected military targets and civilian infrastructure in particular in West Asia make the adoption of this stance excusable.

The continuing hostilities render the mentioning of the MOU signed between the warring parties in mid-June a laughable matter. While it could very well be that the foes are wishing privately for a cessation of hostilities before long, what seems to be uppermost on their minds right now is to negotiate with each other from a position of strength. This strategy compels them to incapacitate each other militarily to the extent possible, lest they have to concede too much to each other during negotiations. Hence the stepped-up hostilities.

However, even on the question of there being a negotiated political settlement in the West Asian theatre in the longer term, the skeptic could come to be seen as scoring over the optimist. Developments on the ground account for this.

At the time of writing Israel’s Netanyahu government is going ahead in fairly care-free fashion with the establishment of more Jewish settlements in the Gaza and the West Bank, and it’s all happening under the apparently complacent gaze of the US. In fact, some quarters estimate that Israel is in control of some 65% of the Gaza Strip. Ethnic cleansing, that is, is being drastically stepped-up.

Accordingly, in terms of the power relations of West Asia, the world is almost back to the status quo of the late forties of the last century when the state of Israel was established and the Palestinians were reduced to a microscopic minority in the land they came to inhabit. Therefore, even the impartial observer would be compelled to ask: ‘Will a negotiated peace be ever possible in the Middle East?’

The humanist in the observer would prefer to answer this question in the affirmative and it is indeed the ideal stance to adopt considering the staggering human and material costs of the conflict. But the way ahead to peace could be expected to be highly hazardous and arduous. Among other odds, it would also prove an uphill endeavour to win minds and hearts.

The US’ Trump administration would need to be counted out in this pursuit. This is on account of the fact that it has been far too wayward in its management of West Asian affairs in particular over the past couple of years. Given its unpredictable character it is a matter for conjecture whether it could be counted on to live up to its commitments.

Moreover, Israel could be expected to ‘go it alone’ in the Middle East regardless of whether US help is coming or otherwise. It has indicated as much in recent times and Israel could be doubted on this score only at the doubter’s peril. Because time and again Israel has demonstrated that it could steadfastly defend its interests even single-handedly in the Middle East. History bears this out.

However, a durable alliance with the US would stand Israel in good stead. On the matter of military and intelligence assistance, for example, the US’s help proved invaluable for Israel in the past and going forward this is bound to be so as well. Moreover, it is unlikely that the Trump administration would give up on Israel, considering that a strong Israel is crucial for the furtherance of the US’ strategic and economic interests in West Asia.

But whether the above factors would have a considerable bearing on the question of working out a durable solution to the West Asian tangle is an entirely different matter. Israel, as in the case of the Palestinian enclaves, is acutely security conscious and would need to satisfy itself fully that it could live in a security environment that would guarantee its complete safety, going forward.

The Middle East is badly in need of another peace effort on the lines of the Oslo Accords of the mid-nineties that brought the key actors together and helped hammer out a solution that addressed some of their notable concerns. To be sure, that process did not prove to be the ideal answer to the tangle, but it yielded some respite to the region and drove home that one-time sworn foes could indeed negotiate with a degree of success. The West Bank authority, although falling short of fulfilling some key Palestinian aspirations, is testimony that a degree of success is possible if the intent is right.

Given the current realities of West Asia, peace-making is bound to be an uphill challenge. The violence faced in recent times by the Palestinian community, in particular, has been nothing less than mind-numbing. Merciless has been the violence visited on them by the Israeli side. In such circumstances, durable peace in the region could smack of an idealist’s dream.

Nevertheless, there needs to be urgently, a meeting of minds over the divides. The US would need to be counted out as an honest broker in bringing the sides together but the rest of the West would do well to step up to the challenge.

In this exercise the onus would be on the world’s democracies to take the initiative and doggedly stay the course. An acceptable combination would be the EU and the UN. Given their credentials, the main sides in West Asia ought to find them the least controversial.

Even if the relevant institutional and political arrangements could be shored up to take a reconciliation process forward, winning hearts and minds for the peace drive would prove a grueling challenge. Over the past few years in particular tens of thousands of hearts and minds on both sides of the divide have been bruised badly in the runaway murderous violence that has come to define the Middle East.

These badly scarred personalities would need to experience healing without much delay. It is therefore a multi-faceted challenge that is at hand. Since wide-ranging expertise would be needed in the healing process, people’s participation in peace-making, ranging over the divides, would need to be made a durable reality. It will be a time for enthroning humanity and ensuring the rejection of all forms of violence and coercion.

Features

Amazing Thailand …right here in Colombo

Published

14 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

For many Sri Lankans, Thailand is the go-to holiday — beaches, temples, food, and that famous warm hospitality.

In fact, I’ve been to Amazing Thailand 24 times myself, and was honoured with the Friends of Thailand International Media Award by the Tourism Authority of Thailand for promoting Thai tourism.

The good news I have for you today is that you don’t even need a passport to get a taste of Amazing Thailand.

The Royal Thai Embassy, in Colombo, is bringing a vibrant slice of Thailand, to the city of Colombo, with Thai Festival 2026 — a cultural experience like never before.

Whether you are an avid enthusiast of Thai culture, a total novice, or simply just interested in exploring foreign cultures, Thai Festival 2026 is going to be the perfect opportunity for you to get more than just a glimpse into one of the most celebrated cultural heritages in South East Asia. And ENTRANCE IS FREE.

The festival will be held on the 1st and 2nd of August, 2026, at Siam Nivasa, 43, C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 7, and the East Parking Area, of the Colombo Municipal Council, from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Both days will be full of live entertainment, and dispersed throughout with Thai cultural displays, including exhilarating traditional dance performances and breathtaking Muay Thai demonstrations.

Exploring art and craft specific to Thailand, tasting irresistible authentic Thai cuisine, and playing arcade games, are just a few more fun-filled events available for visitors at the festival premises.

An array of Thai products will also be available for purchase.

While at the festival, you will find Sri Lankan Alumni from Thai universities sharing their experiences with you and willing to answer any questions you might have, related to studying abroad in Thailand.

You can also register for the Muay Thai workshop that will be happening on the 7th and 8th of August, 2026, in Colombo.

Irresistible authentic Thai cuisine

Visitors can also stand a chance to win traditional Thai souvenirs, get exclusive photo opportunities, and, the big one — to enter the raffle draw, at the end of each day, for the grand prize of an all-inclusive round trip to Thailand.

Be sure to avail yourself of this exceptional opportunity and add a cultural spin to your weekend.

To keep up with the latest updates on Thai Festival 2026, head over to the Thai Festival official social media pages.

The Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo official webpage:

https://colombo.thaiembassy.org

Official social media:

Facebook: @RTEColombo

Instagram: @thaiembassysrilanka

Thai Festival official social media:

Facebook: Thai Festival in Colombo

Instagram: @thaifestival_colombo

TikTok: @thaifestival.incolombo

Features

Thicker, stronger hair …

Published

14 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hair fall, in this heat, can be so frustrating, and noticing a thin patch is even more worrying. The good news is … yes, with a little care and kitchen ingredients, you can nourish your scalp and support healthy regrowth.

Try these four easy home remedies … even our grandmothers trusted:

* Coconut Oil and Curry Leaves Tonic:

Warm 04 tablespoons of coconut oil, with a handful of curry leaves, till the leaves turn black. Cool, strain, and massage into scalp 02-03 times a week. Leave for 01 hour, or overnight.

Why:

Coconut oil deeply nourishes, while curry leaves help strengthen roots and add shine.

* Onion Juice for Spot Treatment:

With cotton, dab the juice of 01 small onion, directly on the thin/bald patches. Leave for 20-30 minutes, and then wash with a mild shampoo. Use twice a week.

Why:

Rich in sulfur, onion juice helps boost blood circulation to the scalp.

* Aloe Vera and Castor Oil Mask:

Mix 02 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and 01 tablespoon castor oil and apply to the scalp, focusing on thinning areas. Leave for 45 minutes, and then rinse with cool water.

Why:

Aloe vera soothes the scalp, while castor oil coats hair to make it look thicker.

* Fenugreek and Curd Strengthening Pack:

You will need 02 tablespoons fenugreek seeds, soaked overnight, and 02 tablespoons plain curd.

Grind to a paste, apply to scalp for 30 minutes, and then wash.

Why:

Fenugreek strengthens strands and reduces breakage.

Extra Tips for Healthy Hair:

Avoid tight hairstyles that pull on the scalp.

Eat iron and protein rich foods: greens, dhal, eggs, fish.

Use lukewarm water, not hot.

Be gentle when brushing and drying.