Two Toronto-based Sri Lankan writers unveil books

Freeda Villavarayan. (Picture: Rupane). Sunil Tantirige (Picture: Facebook) Freeda Villavarayan’s debut Sinhala novel Guru Senehasa was released early this year, while Sunil Tantirige unveiled his English memoir The House of A Thousand Memories in 2019. This article is based on…
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Toronto-based writer Freeda Villavarayan publishes her debut Sinhala novel

The book cover and author Freeda Villavarayan Guru Senehasa (Sevvandiyakage Kathawak)by Freeda Villavarayan. 2021 REVIEWED BY SUNIL TANTIRIGE GURU SENEHASA – Sevvandiyakagee Kathaawak – “සෙව්වන්දියකගේ කතාවක්” is a book written in Sinhala by a dear friend of mine, Freeda Villavarayan.…
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Restored film ‘Hansa Vilak’ released to mark 40 years

Dharmasiri Bandaranayake and Swarna Mallawarachchi in a scene from Hansa Vilak. Hemal Ranasinghe in new Sinhala film Maariya Dharmasiri Bandaranayake’s award-winning Hansa Vilak (Swan Lake) was released recently to commemorate the 40th anniversary of this iconic landmark of Sinhala cinema.…
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Young Nigerians in 100 must-read black authors’ list

Only Canadian found in the list is Scarborough-born David Chariandy. Nigerian writer Akwaeke Emezi whose father is Igbo and her mother Indian Tamil More than half a dozen Nigerian writers feature in a list of 100 must-read black novelists compiled…
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Colombo showbiz news

Shyam Fernando, Nilukshi Amanda Silva and Nilwala Vishwamali SHYAM FERNANDO IN MANI RATNAM’S ‘PONNIYIN SELVAM’ Sri Lankan actor Shyam Fernando is famously known as the star who played Indian star Anjali Patil’s husband in Prasanna Withanage’s award-winning classic With You,…
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Sri Lanka’s magic mats and folk poetry

Island’s famous mat designs. (inset) Radio presenter Dr. Swarna Chandrasekera Two British visitors to Ceylon during the time of ancient kings wrote extensively on the island and its culture.   Dr. John Dewey and Robert Knox waxed lyrical about the islanders’…
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Chandana Liyanage: Unsung hero of Sinhala drama music

Chandana Liyanage seen with his family. He attributes the success of his music career to their encouragement and support The father of Sri Lankan street drama, Gamini Haththotuwagama, picked Chandana Liyanage for his street drama troupe after seeing him play…
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Shiromie Fernando: First child superstar of Sri Lanka

Two faces of Shiromie Sri Lankan child star Shiromie Fernando was just five years old when her uncle, a leading musician in the heady days of early pop music, wrote her hit Konda Namagena, a humorous and an affectionate look…
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