Features

Death of Barbara Carolyn Sansoni Lewcock

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/1

A rich life comes to an end

Barbara’s extraordinary life came to an end on April 23, 2022. Much has been written and will be written of her work by the cognoscenti in the Art world. My impressions and conclusions on her life and her significance is based on observations made directly and indirectly over 70 years. This article is mostly about the ambience that influenced her as she progressed to become an iconic figure. It would be appropriate to say at the outset that a person who had the foremost influence on her life to become a great artist was her devoted husband Professor Ronald Lewcock.

Barbara lived 94 years. Much has happened in the country during this very long period. She was fortunate to witness at close quarters to the centres of power the changes that were taking place . From a relatively docile well managed British Colony it has changed, to what it is today, a sovereign democratic nation with its vibrant people tearing themselves apart without impunity and totally unaware of what the future will bring.

Barbara’s father was Reginald Young Daniel, who was a War Civil Servant. Straight from Oxford, Reginald had joined the British Forces in World War I. He was wounded twice, the first time in the battle for High Wood on the Somme, and the second time when he was an Officer in the 13th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers at Cambrai. After the war he was one of four World War Veterans who were selected to the Civil Service. This meant that he had to serve as a Magistrate, a District Judge, an Assistant Government Agent and a Government Agent apart from several other official functions. He had to move all over the country. Together with her parents, Barbara was able to see the entirety of the country first hand.

Barbara was born in Sri Lanka to a Burgher family whose established ancestry goes back to Germany and the Netherlands and to Ireland and England. Strangely, there was a streak or better said a strong vein which attached her to this island. When others related or close to her left the country, she remained and worked out a comfortable but refined existence here. With her genius she proceeded to try to help the country to find its soul in the broader world.

Living in this beautiful island bathed with sunshine, she plucked the colours from her environment and with that inspiration wove exquisite fabrics. Her colour combinations are distinct and universally recognized. I remember standing at the crowded Marktplatz in Stuttgart, Germany in the 1980s, when a lady carrying a bag passed us and my friend turned round to me and remarked that the bag was a Barbara Sansoni creation made with her handloom fabric. At that moment I realized how distinct her combination of colours were to be singled out in a far off land, in the midst of a teeming crowd.

When my wife Sally and I married 54 years ago, Barbara wove a piece of cloth which was tailored into my wedding suit. Sally’s cloth and jacket was also made with a Barbara Sansoni handloom. So were the dresses of the bridesmaids, Ranji Krone and Sussanah van Langenberg. The two page boys Simon and Dominic Sansoni donned their garbs with the same material. We were gifted a beautiful piece of cloth, an indigenous creation, hand woven, made by a supremely gifted craftswoman Barbara herself, and here we are looking back on it 54 years later.

Barbara had an inbuilt self confidence which gave her a make up to have faith in what she did and make the simplest object or the simplest act embellished by her touch. This enabled Barbara to make an enormous contribution to social change in the field of clothing in the tradition bound Sri Lankan society. Here, the town folk had adopted sarees, an essentially Indian creation as the accepted dress for women, and trousers and the suits introduced by the British had almost totally replaced the sarong. What had started in colonial times gripped the country post independence. Barbara set the pace for a fresh look. Together with a classmate of mine, Laki Senanayake, who worked closely with Barbara, she introduced a change to cloth and jacket and sarongs. Laki also worked with Ena de Silva and created masterpieces using the batik techniques.

Barbara’s brand name became Barefoot, changing from the original Barbara Sansoni Fabrics. Barefoot embraced fabrics; setup exclusive boutiques, in Colombo and Galle, Sydney and Seoul Korea; a bookshop, a Gallery, a pulsating café where cross cultural groups were at ease over a cup of tea or listening to Jazz. Barefoot also was the home of the Gratiaen Prize, the Sri Lankan equivalent of the Booker Prize, a Prize initiated by Booker laureate Michael Ondaatje and named after his mother’s family. The late Hildon Sansoni and Michael’s mother were first cousins.

Barbara in her individual capacity and in collaboration with others was also the author of several books.

Teaming up with Geoffrey Bawa, Barbara and Laki supported by Ismeth Rahim, Ulrik Plessner and Anjalendram and a large number of other artists worked ovr time to evolve and usher in an indigenous architectural ethos and style.

Geoffrey Bawa and Barbara had grown up like siblings, though there was a generation gap. Geoffrey’s father, Benny Bawa, and Barbara’s grandfather, James Albert van Langenberg were legal luminaries and both very close friends. Benny had deviled under James Albert’s father. Every morning the two friends traveled together from their homes to Hulftsdorp in a horse and carriage. Van Langenberg lived at Merten in Guildford Crescent and Bawa at Chapman House, Darley Road. Their wives were also so close that Barbara’s mother Bertha inherited her name from Geoffrey’s mother.

Like the Bawas, the Spittels were close to the Daniel family. Mrs R.L.Spittel’s mother was a sister of A.Y.Daniel’s wife, Barbara’s grandmother. Christine Wilson, R.L.Spittel’s daughter, though older than Barbara remained close to her all her life.

Another family Barbara’ parents were fond of were the Barbers. This quotation from R.Y.Daniel’s diary describes it best:

“Your Uncle Cyril Barber owned 800 acres of the best cocoa in the Island, in Ukuwela. Barber’s Cocoa was much appreciated in the First World War. We ate it in the trenches. Cyril was responsible for that high standard of chocolate.

“After the war, to enable his brothers, who had been on active service, to come out and take a share in the family business, he moved to “Blackstone” in Mahawella, which he owned. After his brothers returned to England and one of them, Jim, had died, Cyril’s son Reginald went to Ukuwela. The estate was called “The Grove”.

“You, my dear children, will remember the happy times which you spent at Blackstone, which was a second home to us. Your Uncle Cyril and Aunt Edo were excellent hosts and loved to have the members of the family around them. Cyril manufactured his own cigars, liquor, vinegar, kept poultry and cattle and grew most of his foodstuffs. All this was much appreciated by his guests. Everything was of such a high quality”.

It was at Lukkanon, however, the home of Ern and Etta Mack that Barbara felt happiest. Here she was received by her aunts and uncles and grandmother who were all living there. Her genius was recognized but so was her eccentricities accepted without reservations. The good, the great and those in need visited this house but all received the same welcome. Lukkanon has gained historical significance after Michael Ondaatje featured it in the internationally acclaimed best seller “Running in the family”.

Barbara’s grandmother, Ethel Van Langenberg was herself an artist. She was adept at doing miniature paintings. Ethel and her daughters were very committed to works of charity.

The van Langenbergs were devout Roman Catholics. It was therefore natural for the Irish nuns Sister Canice and Sister Good Council of the Good Shepherd Order in Ceylon to ask Barbara to help the mothers in need who they were looking after to be trained for a meaningful job and if possible to give them a livelihood. What Barbara has done on this subject in the last 70 years is phenomenal.

A H

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Features

US’ drastic aid cut to UN poses moral challenge to world

Published

2 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

An UN humanitarian mission in the Gaza. [File: Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency]

‘Adapt, shrink or die’ – thus runs the warning issued by the Trump administration to UN humanitarian agencies with brute insensitivity in the wake of its recent decision to drastically reduce to $2bn its humanitarian aid to the UN system. This is a substantial climb down from the $17bn the US usually provided to the UN for its humanitarian operations.

Considering that the US has hitherto been the UN’s biggest aid provider, it need hardly be said that the US decision would pose a daunting challenge to the UN’s humanitarian operations around the world. This would indeed mean that, among other things, people living in poverty and stifling material hardships, in particularly the Southern hemisphere, could dramatically increase. Coming on top of the US decision to bring to an end USAID operations, the poor of the world could be said to have been left to their devices as a consequence of these morally insensitive policy rethinks of the Trump administration.

Earlier, the UN had warned that it would be compelled to reduce its aid programs in the face of ‘the deepest funding cuts ever.’ In fact the UN is on record as requesting the world for $23bn for its 2026 aid operations.

If this UN appeal happens to go unheeded, the possibilities are that the UN would not be in a position to uphold the status it has hitherto held as the world’s foremost humanitarian aid provider. It would not be incorrect to state that a substantial part of the rationale for the UN’s existence could come in for questioning if its humanitarian identity is thus eroded.

Inherent in these developments is a challenge for those sections of the international community that wish to stand up and be counted as humanists and the ‘Conscience of the World.’ A responsibility is cast on them to not only keep the UN system going but to also ensure its increased efficiency as a humanitarian aid provider to particularly the poorest of the poor.

It is unfortunate that the US is increasingly opting for a position of international isolation. Such a policy position was adopted by it in the decades leading to World War Two and the consequences for the world as a result for this policy posture were most disquieting. For instance, it opened the door to the flourishing of dictatorial regimes in the West, such as that led by Adolph Hitler in Germany, which nearly paved the way for the subjugation of a good part of Europe by the Nazis.

If the US had not intervened militarily in the war on the side of the Allies, the West would have faced the distressing prospect of coming under the sway of the Nazis and as a result earned indefinite political and military repression. By entering World War Two the US helped to ward off these bleak outcomes and indeed helped the major democracies of Western Europe to hold their own and thrive against fascism and dictatorial rule.

Republican administrations in the US in particular have not proved the greatest defenders of democratic rule the world over, but by helping to keep the international power balance in favour of democracy and fundamental human rights they could keep under a tight leash fascism and linked anti-democratic forces even in contemporary times. Russia’s invasion and continued occupation of parts of Ukraine reminds us starkly that the democracy versus fascism battle is far from over.

Right now, the US needs to remain on the side of the rest of the West very firmly, lest fascism enjoys another unfettered lease of life through the absence of countervailing and substantial military and political power.

However, by reducing its financial support for the UN and backing away from sustaining its humanitarian programs the world over the US could be laying the ground work for an aggravation of poverty in the South in particular and its accompaniments, such as, political repression, runaway social discontent and anarchy.

What should not go unnoticed by the US is the fact that peace and social stability in the South and the flourishing of the same conditions in the global North are symbiotically linked, although not so apparent at first blush. For instance, if illegal migration from the South to the US is a major problem for the US today, it is because poor countries are not receiving development assistance from the UN system to the required degree. Such deprivation on the part of the South leads to aggravating social discontent in the latter and consequences such as illegal migratory movements from South to North.

Accordingly, it will be in the North’s best interests to ensure that the South is not deprived of sustained development assistance since the latter is an essential condition for social contentment and stable governance, which factors in turn would guard against the emergence of phenomena such as illegal migration.

Meanwhile, democratic sections of the rest of the world in particular need to consider it a matter of conscience to ensure the sustenance and flourishing of the UN system. To be sure, the UN system is considerably flawed but at present it could be called the most equitable and fair among international development organizations and the most far-flung one. Without it world poverty would have proved unmanageable along with the ills that come along with it.

Dehumanizing poverty is an indictment on humanity. It stands to reason that the world community should rally round the UN and ensure its survival lest the abomination which is poverty flourishes. In this undertaking the world needs to stand united. Ambiguities on this score could be self-defeating for the world community.

For example, all groupings of countries that could demonstrate economic muscle need to figure prominently in this initiative. One such grouping is BRICS. Inasmuch as the US and the West should shrug aside Realpolitik considerations in this enterprise, the same goes for organizations such as BRICS.

The arrival at the above international consensus would be greatly facilitated by stepped up dialogue among states on the continued importance of the UN system. Fresh efforts to speed-up UN reform would prove major catalysts in bringing about these positive changes as well. Also requiring to be shunned is the blind pursuit of narrow national interests.

Features

Egg white scene …

Published

2 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Hi! Great to be back after my Christmas break.

Thought of starting this week with egg white.

Yes, eggs are brimming with nutrients beneficial for your overall health and wellness, but did you know that eggs, especially the whites, are excellent for your complexion?

OK, if you have no idea about how to use egg whites for your face, read on.

Egg White, Lemon, Honey:

Separate the yolk from the egg white and add about a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and about one and a half teaspoons of organic honey. Whisk all the ingredients together until they are mixed well.

Apply this mixture to your face and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes before cleansing your face with a gentle face wash.

Don’t forget to apply your favourite moisturiser, after using this face mask, to help seal in all the goodness.

Egg White, Avocado:

In a clean mixing bowl, start by mashing the avocado, until it turns into a soft, lump-free paste, and then add the whites of one egg, a teaspoon of yoghurt and mix everything together until it looks like a creamy paste.

Apply this mixture all over your face and neck area, and leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off with cold water and a gentle face wash.

Egg White, Cucumber, Yoghurt:

In a bowl, add one egg white, one teaspoon each of yoghurt, fresh cucumber juice and organic honey. Mix all the ingredients together until it forms a thick paste.

Apply this paste all over your face and neck area and leave it on for at least 20 minutes and then gently rinse off this face mask with lukewarm water and immediately follow it up with a gentle and nourishing moisturiser.

Egg White, Aloe Vera, Castor Oil:

To the egg white, add about a teaspoon each of aloe vera gel and castor oil and then mix all the ingredients together and apply it all over your face and neck area in a thin, even layer.

Leave it on for about 20 minutes and wash it off with a gentle face wash and some cold water. Follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.

Features

Confusion cropping up with Ne-Yo in the spotlight

Published

2 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Ne-Yo: His management should clarify the last-minute cancellation

Superlatives galore were used, especially on social media, to highlight R&B singer Ne-Yo’s trip to Sri Lanka: Global superstar Ne-Yo to perform live in Colombo this December; Ne-Yo concert puts Sri Lanka back on the global entertainment map; A global music sensation is coming to Sri Lanka … and there were lots more!

At an official press conference, held at a five-star venue, in Colombo, it was indicated that the gathering marked a defining moment for Sri Lanka’s entertainment industry as international R&B powerhouse and three-time Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo prepares to take the stage in Colombo this December.

What’s more, the occasion was graced by the presence of Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka, and Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism, alongside distinguished dignitaries, sponsors, and members of the media.

Shah Rukh Khan: Disappointed his fans in Sri Lanka

According to reports, the concert had received the official endorsement of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, recognising it as a flagship initiative in developing the country’s concert economy by attracting fans, and media, from all over South Asia.

Nick Carter: His concert, too, was cancelled due to “Unforeseen circumstances

However, I had that strange feeling that this concert would not become a reality, keeping in mind what happened to Nick Carter’s Colombo concert – cancelled at the very last moment.

Carter issued a video message announcing he had to return to the USA due to “unforeseen circumstances” and a “family emergency”.

Though “unforeseen circumstances” was the official reason provided by Carter and the local organisers, there was speculation that low ticket sales may also have been a factor in the cancellation.

Well, “Unforeseen Circumstances” has cropped up again!

In a brief statement, via social media, the organisers of the Ne-Yo concert said the decision was taken due to “unforeseen circumstances and factors beyond their control.”

Ne-Yo, too, subsequently made an announcement, citing “Unforeseen circumstances.”

The public has a right to know what these “unforeseen circumstances” are, and who is to be blamed – the organisers or Ne-Yo!

Ne-Yo’s management certainly need to come out with the truth.

However, those who are aware of some of the happenings in the setup here put it down to poor ticket sales, mentioning that the tickets for the concert, and a meet-and-greet event, were exorbitantly high, considering that Ne-Yo is not a current mega star.

We also had a cancellation coming our way from Shah Rukh Khan, who was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka for the City of Dreams resort launch, and then this was received: “Unfortunately due to unforeseen personal reasons beyond his control, Mr. Khan is no longer able to attend.”

Referring to this kind of mess up, a leading showbiz personality said that it will only make people reluctant to buy their tickets, online.

“Tickets will go mostly at the gate and it will be very bad for the industry,” he added.