Society

From Kerala to Kandy Granny was a Feminist

Admin March 7, 2020

JEEVANI SINNIAH The story of Winifred Jacobs who travelled from Kerala to Kandy in the 1800s My great-grandmother Winifred Jacobs aka Granny (front row, second from right with baby on the lap) packed all her eight children on to a ship and sailed from Kerala, India to the golden shores of Sri

Society

Reporting from Moratuwa The Carpenter’s Story

Admin March 6, 2020

SARATH MANULAWICKRAMA The story of a multi-ethnic community joined together by a common craft. Shot in and around the Moratuwa area, this Catamaran video story tells of a community connected by a common profession: carpentry. The carpenters, their employees and the business community alike are linked together with their customers in one seamless community. This […]

Society

A Commentary on Sri Lanka’s Wall Art Trend “No value in art that promotes hatred”

Admin March 2, 2020

UPEKSHA UDUWARALLA Senior Lecturer, Charles Dayananda comments on the growing public space art trend in Sri Lanka “Sri Lanka will benefit immensely if our deteriorated national unity can be repaired with art and wall paintings,” said Charles Dayananda, senior lecturer of the Art Department at Aesthetic Teachers’ College in Giragama. However, he opines that the […]

Society

Demands from Sri Lanka’s Youth Paving the Way for Lasting Peace

Admin February 9, 2020

GAYAN YADDEHIGE In conversation with youth leader P.J.T. Thanesh from Jaffna on the engagement of youth in national reconciliation We are accustomed to giving more publicity to the opinions of senior politicians and social activists when it comes to matters of peace, reconciliation and ethnic unity. Meanwhile, our youth work tirelessly on aspects missed out […]

Society

Saying ‘NO’ to Separatism Saying ‘YES’ to Harmony

Admin February 9, 2020

SARATH MANULAWICKRAMA The story of a Muslim student excelling under the guidance Sinhala teachers in this Anuradhapura town Riaz is the younger son of Razeed Nawshad and Fareena. Nawshad is a small businessman in Kada Thiha, Anuradhapura. They sent their daughter to a Tamil school but decided to send their son to a Sinhala school, […]

Society

In Conversation with actress Niranjani Sanmugarajah “Culture is not decided on at birth”

Admin February 9, 2020

A.M.FAIS The ‘TSUNAMI’ lead talks about her experience as a Tamil actress in this iconic new Sinhala film “In this country where multicultural communities live, there is nothing wrong with getting to know one another. Everyone should do it,” says actress and TV host Niranjani Sanmugarajah who played the lead role in Tsunami, a recently […]

Society

Natural Disasters Take Much Away From Us Our Humanity Was Not Carried Off in the Floods

Admin January 24, 2020

KARUNARATHNA GAMAGE They knew that swimming in the floods that took even massive tuskers away was not an easy feat. But they had no alternative but to jump into the flooded waters to save the lives of people marooned inside a bus in the floods. The floods caused by the torrential rains that soaked the […]

Society

Just one shirt for the whole year Free uniforms?

Admin January 24, 2020

VAIRAMUTHU THUSHANTHAN “If not for the free uniform provided by the state, it’s a fact that many children would be deprived of an education,” ‘What is it, Kamalam akkaa? ‘Oh …. The white shirt is not dry … that’s all’ We hear several conversations of this nature from the people of the village. “Sometimes children […]

Society

The Shoemaker’s Story Positive Attitudes that Mend Old Soles

Admin January 20, 2020

SARATH MANULAWICKRAMA Shanmugalingam is a cobbler. He stitches new soles to old shoes. Shanmugalingam is a cobbler. He stitches new soles to old shoes. The townsmen like him because he is a man with a positive attitude. He spoke with The Cataraman while at work one day and told us his story. Broken shoes come […]

Society

The Dangers of Insufficient Infrastructure: A Road Decides the Fate of the People

Admin January 20, 2020

KURINCHPPAARTHTHAN A story from the Lianweli Estate and it’s deadly roads that claim lives “A month before the baby was born, we left this place to live somewhere else. We will not return to this place for a while”’ says Sathasivam Thayaranjani who currently resides in the Lianweli Estate, about 34 Kms from Nuwara Eliya […]