Pulse Magazine Issue 007

ISSUE 007 | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER Rs. 400/- UK £6.00 US $15.00

Stephanie Dushyanth

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PAGE 10 | www.pulse.lk

PUBLISHING HOUSE: Mango Publishers (Pvt) Ltd. No. 320, T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.

Tel: 00 94 115 882 662

EDITORIAL: Mayanthi Hatharasinghe (Events) Sachitha Kalingamudali (Digital) Aazam Ameen (Content Provider)

GUEST WRITERS: Aanisha Cuttilan Ashwini Vethakan Azam Fahmy Gamer.lk Harshini Fernando Malinda Seneviratne Nishara Fernando Rashmeen Perera Saruchi Dissanayake Sharleen Suwaris Vandana Hiranand

The season is upon us and what better time to reflect on how we can all come together to make each other’s lives a little more joyous by offering the warmth and comfort of friendship, respect,

LAYOUT:

and understanding. This Christmas, we hope that Sri Lankans

Indika Anuradha (Design Consultant) Ian Mark Subramaniam

appreciate that we are united by far more than that which divides

SALES & MARKETING: Binoth Geeganage binoth@mangopublishers.lk

us, and that the hopes of our children rests on our ability to see past those differences.

Thouseef Hashim thouseef@mangopublishers.lk

In this issue of Pulse, we feature on the cover the newlywed

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY:

who talk to us about making their relationship work while

Luxshmanan Nadaraja

superstar couple Stephanie Siriwardane and Santhush Weeraman, pursuing their careers and sharing their dreams.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Aruna Alwis Kasun Dheegodagamage Kaveeth Milinda Ravindra Laksiru R.P. Romesh S S L Aarachchi

We also have interviews with Russel Arnold on cricketing life on the pitch and now behind the mic, and with Hans Billimoria, on the work of the Grassrooted Trust dealing with taboo subjects and his dream of a systemic educational intervention that generates

SPECIAL THANKS:

attitudinal and behavioural change in the way Sri Lankans respect

Janeeth Rodrigo Eric Wijeratne Fahad Fazal Imara De Chickera Lisa Perera Mahika Chandrasena

themselves and others.

We feature designers Dimuthu Sahabandu, Charith Wijesekera, and Kamil Hewavitharana. We also celebrate Sri Lanka being named the top destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet by offering

PRINTERS:

you a few ideas of off the beaten track places that you can explore

Printage (Pvt) Ltd.

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS: Mango Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Sales Office: 45/6, Alwis Place, Colombo 03 Tel: +94 11 588 26 62 sales@mangopublishers.lk No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission of the publisher.

next year.

And to make your Christmas more special, we bring you some hearty, easy to make and delightful to enjoy recipes from Sri Lanka’s very own masterchef Koluu. Mixologist Jeroen Misseghers also created two Christmas cocktails especially for our readers.

The Pulse team has had a great year bringing you the best of Sri Lankan life – we hope you’ve enjoyed our content and as always,

Pulse magazine is published in co-operation with Pulse website www.pulse.lk

we love hearing from you and welcome your feedback.

And that’s a wrap for 2018.

We wish every one of you a joyful Christmas and a glorious 2019 filled with precious moments and happiness and fulfilment.

PAGE 14 | www.pulse.lk

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 15

in this edition of Instafamous

Personality

44

Page

176 Page

Russel Arnold

Travel

Stephanie Sansoni

66 Page

Florence in 72 Hours

Fashion Food

18

Page

Dimuthu Sahabandu PAGE 16 | www.pulse.lk

74 Page

Christmas with Koluu

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 17

A Peek into the Life of

Photographer - Anushika Fernando Models - Medhavi and Nimshi Hair and makeup - Dil Sapukotanage Location - Raux Brothers

PAGE 18 | www.pulse.lk

Dimuthu Sahabandu With his intricate embellishments and signature fabric manipulation, Dimuthu Sahabandu has definitely risen to stardom in the fashion industry of Sri Lanka.

Referred to by some as the maestro of haute couture, the sophistication and elegance of his designs have taken the runway by storm time and time again. To learn more about this incredibly talented yet humble personality, we asked him a few questions!

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 19

was amazing and I learnt most of what you can’t learn in design school, so using that experience, I gradually started Dimuthu Sahabandu Collections. I initially began with a single retail collection when a retailer in Colombo approached me and asked me if I was interested in starting a line for them. Even at that time, I didn’t really have a set plan or time frame; it just happened by chance but thankfully it grew to what it is today.

Tell us about your experience on Sri Lankan runways

Where did your passion for design stem from?

Well for me, fashion design happened by chance because I actually initially planned on being a textile designer. I did science for my A-Levels and I was supposed to study textile design afterwards, which meant I had to get involved with an Art & Design Foundation, and for that, I chose AOD. At AOD, they do a little bit of everything; fashion, interior, marketing, all of that together. So there, I got a hint of what fashion would be like. Back then, AOD didn’t really have the entire three year programme based in Sri Lanka so I flew off to Singapore to do my BA in Fashion and Textile Design, and that’s how it came about. I didn’t really have everything planned out but it kind of just lead from one thing to another and here I am!

How was Dimuthu Sahabandu Collections established?

As soon as I returned to Sri Lanka after my BA, I worked with a lecturer who taught me in school, Kanchana Thalpawila, who has her own brand, KT Brown. I was much like her assistant or intern, and was very much taken by how she worked and how she takes on the idea of fashion. I worked with her for close to a year and by then I wanted to start my own line too. My time at KT Brown

PAGE 20 | www.pulse.lk

My first show was actually in 2010 at Sri Lanka Design Festival, as it was known back then. It was done by AOD and, as one of their Alumni, they wanted me to launch my new label at one of their shows. Back then, there was a segment called Centre for Creative Enterprise which was a platform that introduced new designers. Back then, SLDF was actually a very small show but following that, I did Colombo Fashion Week in 2011, showcasing in the Emerging Designer Showcase. I actually won the GenNext Award that year, winning myself a spot in the IPL After Match Fashion Shows. It was after that that things really began to kickstart; the media started writing about me and talking about me. I’ve been showcasing my designs there every year since then.

Would you say that a Dimuthu Sahabandu piece has a signature look to it?

I guess so! The only explanation I have for the elaborate embellishments on all of my creations is that my first passion was to be a textile designer and a textile designer is somebody who improves or manipulates surfaces. So more than the fashion factor of it, I think I’m always taken by what you can

do to manipulate a fabric and come up with something completely different to what you started with. Changing surfaces or working on the surface of things is something I’ve always been passionate about, so I think that somehow ends up in the work I do.

Tell us about your international shows I got to showcase at the IPL After Match Fashion Shows in India for receiving the GenNext Award in 2011 at Colombo Fashion Week. I had two shows - one in Pune and one in Hyderabad that year, and the following year as well. I also participated in Asian Designer Week that was held in New Delhi in 2017, and my latest international show was Hong Kong Fashion Week that was held this year.

What was a “wow moment” for you as a designer?

Back at the 2011 IPL Fashion Shows, Deepika Padukone was actually in the audience and wanted a few of my pieces and I ended up gifting an outfit to her! The same happened with Anushka Sharma! Unfortunately, I couldn’t track them down after the show to actually get a picture of them in the outfits.

What are your future plans for Dimuthu Sahabandu Collections?

I mean I’ve never really had a plan! I guess I’m one of those people who takes it as it comes but that kind of thing works for me. I know it’s not the most inspiring thing to say, but it really helps me focus on what I’m doing right now because when I make plans for the next 10 years I get quite worked up and I’m much at peace when I focus on what I’m doing right now and let things fall into place.

E OTIC CARS

TM

Launch of

KING OF THE MAMBO

Launched in partnership with Dubai-based management company Infini Concepts, the sounds of South America will bring alive the Galle face hotel with the opening of ‘King of the Mambo’

Gehan

PAGE 22 | www.pulse.lk

Shaziya

Shalini

Desiree

Samadi

Chinthaka

Nelum

Jessica

Travis

Sajee

Nethmi

Robert

Tatum

Shalin

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 23

Sprays Sanjeev

John

Natasha

Tariq

Harini

Chandana Treshan

Maya

Tarja

Teruni

Timothy

Shirendra and Tari

PAGE 24 | www.pulse.lk

Yohann

Nadun

Dineshi

Mona

Anitra

Dirk

Annette

Keahra Ornella

Nadia

Kasuni

Maleeq

Mr and Mrs Hardy Jamaldeen

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 25

Christmas Mint Julep

Hot Buttered Rum

What you need:

What you need:

• 50 ml Spiced Gold Rum

• 50 ml Gold Spiced Rum

• Angostura bitters

• Ground spices (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg)

• 10 mint leaves

• Brown sugar

• 10ml Strawberry-cardamom sugar syrup

• Butter • Whipping cream

To Make the syrup: • Dice 250 g of strawberries • Add 250 g of sugar and 10 crushed cardamom pods • Mix well and refrigerate for 2 days • Remember to stir the strawberries every few hours • Strain with a tea sieve

Recipe: • Put the cocktail ingredients in the glass and give them a stir

To Make the Hot Buttered Rum Batter (store in the fridge to be used when you like) • Mix butter with ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and brown sugar to make the Hot Buttered Rum batter • Add 2 (or 3 for sweet tooth) tablespoons batter in a mug • Add 50 ml gold spiced rum • Top off with boiling water and stir until the batter is dissolved • Garnish with whipped cream and sprinkles of ground spices

• Add crushed ice and mix well • Add more crushed ice to top the glass • Garnish with mint, strawerry, spices and flowers • Sprinkle some icing sugar on top as a finishing touch

Location The Steuart, Colombo

PAGE 26 | www.pulse.lk

Jeroen Misseghers is a mixologist, whose passion is to create distinctive customized cocktails that draw inspiration from an occasion or hosts or guests, weaving a story into the drink served. Jeroen finds Sri Lanka an amazing place for a mixologist, with its many fascinating spices, teas and tropical fruit. He runs Dash of Lanka www.dashoflanka.com

JAT

Celebrates

25th Anniversary

Eline

PAGE 28 | www.pulse.lk

Richard

Vajira

Anika

Joyce

Aelian

Anika

Vajira

Mangala and Shamila

Dhiraj

Zarina

Eline

Charmaine

Saminda

Ramona

Chandani and Thushari

Richard

Migara

Dinusha

Shelani

Nishal

Udeshi

Nalaka

Lilani

Manori

Shantha

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 29

Launch of Urban Island

Asanka

This unique store located in Colombo 7 presents a new take on the tropical modern lifestyle of Sri Lanka through a collection of homeware, gifts, sarees and handpicked designer wear, that have been locally designed and made.

Vraie

PAGE 32 | www.pulse.lk

506, New Galle Road, Weligama T:+94 (41) 225 4422 E: reservations@w15.lk www.w15.lk

Mahavihara Road, Ahangama Kanda, Ahangama T: +94 (91) 228 3672 E: reservations@w15escape.lk www.w15escape.lk

Alexandra Villas No 18, Alexandra Road, Colombo 06 T: +94 76 898 5922 E: reservations@av15.lk www.av15.lk

Nelum, Sandra, Kyria and Bianca

Shalin

Rasshmeen

The Conrads

Chandupa

Sabeetha

Thushari

Kavinda, Prashani and Isuru

Reuter

Rathnapala

PAGE 34 | www.pulse.lk

Prithi

Niranga

Haresh and Anomal

Jayanie and Kumudika

6 Series GT Launch

BMWAsia and Prestige Automobile Ltd, launched the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo (GT) at an event held at the Hilton Colombo on 6 November.

Roshal

Lilakshi

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 35

Chathuri Juvenita

Kanchana

Bushan

Anushka

Mr and Mrs Harsha de Silva

Yesmin

Dampiya

Chamila

Banuli PAGE 36 | www.pulse.lk

Harshini

Dharmachandra

Dr. Thurul

Shankar

Chandi

Anjani

Lakshman

Praveen

Tirosha

Royal College

Union Dinner Dance

This year’s Royal College union dinner dance was celebrated in style at Hilton, Colombo

Isuri

Chandana

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 37

Fazeela

Shibly

Yasas

Marlon

Imra

Sudharshini

Yashodara

Ruki

PAGE 38 | www.pulse.lk

Mr. and Mrs. Abeyratne

Sandun

Ruwan

Sajee

Chinthi

Dilini

Harin

Ishan

Champagne Tasting

at Uga

A curated champagne tasting was held at the UGA residence recently with Thibault de Tailly from Champange Devaux.

Natali

Ryan, Rachael and Natalie

PAGE 40 | www.pulse.lk

Malini and Zai

Nadiya

Sharya and Susan

Nuwangi

Yoshan

Mariyam

Suren

Amritha

PAGE 42 | www.pulse.lk

Natali and Chameli

Navinka

Sonali

Sharya

Charuthya

Erik and Thibault

Rahul

Shashi and Nirosh

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 43

He makes it interesting even for those who really don’t know the subtleties of wickets.

Wickets are in that rectangular piece of turf in the middle of a cricket ground.

Russel Arnold brings it alive for all of us, or rather tells us about the life there is on a particular wicket and sometimes declares that it is dead.

Russel

Arnold found the gaps and got the runs PAGE 44 | www.pulse.lk

by Malinda Seneviratne That’s Russel Arnold the commentator, long retired from competitive cricket. Those who are old enough would know of his exploits as a batting allrounder but in the case of those who are young, already handicapped by having to digest enormous amounts of information about a wide range of subjects, those old stories even if remembered can easily be forgotten.

Russel Premakumaran Arnold was born and bred in Colombo. He is the youngest in a family of four and has two brothers and a sister. His father died when he was just a few months old, but Russel recounts that his mother, an accountant, never made them feel in want. He didn’t complain and neither did his siblings.

Cricket had always been part of his life. Living close to Frazer Park in Dehiwala, Russel, like all boys his age, spent a lot of time playing softball cricket. ‘There were around ten matches being played at the same time.

We played cricket all day,’ he remembers.

Graduation to hard ball cricket had to happen in school. That was St Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya. Like other cricket-crazy kids, he turned up for practices. He would make the ‘A’ team in every age group he played in, always as an opening batsman.

Growing up was all about cricket for young Russel. ‘We played. We looked up to the greats of the time. For me, Roy Dias, Allan Border, and Dean Jones were special. I watched Rumesh Ratnayake bowl. We had to pay 2 rupees to go to the upstairs of the pavilion. We cut class to watch our skipper Ranmore Martinez play and of course watch his deputy Rohan Paulpillai bat’.

At school he had come under the watchful eye of Brian Seneviratne. ‘He took care of us, as did Mr Duckworth, Darrel Wimalaratne and Dilip Somaratne at various points of my time at St Peter’s.’

‘I performed well and consistently in junior cricket. When I played in the Under 15 team I scored back to back hundreds. We had a good team although we never won the championship, usually falling short in the semis.’ When he moved to the Under 17 category, he found it hard to compete with older kids because he was small. ‘My friends played First XI when they were under 15, but I could not until I had finished the Under 17 season. I shot up only after the OLs. And so Russel graduated into the First XI. ‘I was

in and out in my first year and cemented my place only towards the latter half of the season, being picked for the last seven matches in 1990/91.

‘I played the entire 1991/92 season. I was the Vice Captain that year. I scored almost 1,500 runs which included five centuries against St Thomas’ Mt Lavinia, St Benedict’s, St Sebastian’s, Prince of Wales and Wesley. I was adjudged the Best Bastman that year and was runner up at the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards.’

Interestingly, their arch rivals, St Joseph’s, also had a star, a cricketer who would later be Russel’s team mate in the national team: Chaminda Vaas. ‘That Big Match was dubbed “Vaas vs Arnold”. I didn’t score much in the Battle of the Saints, but Vaas didn’t get me out either.’

In August 1992 Russel got picked for the Under 19 tour of England. This was after his first full season in the First XI. This meant he would have to skip his Advanced Level examination. Russel insists that he was good with numbers and that back then he didn’t have any regrets about his academic work suffering on account of cricket: ‘we were young then, cricket was going nice…but now I feel I should have thought about my studies more.’

Russel made plenty of fifties and although he didn’t score any centuries, he got enough runs to be adjudged Man of the Series. He also received the bonus of being picked for the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team tour of Bangladesh.

‘That meant more experience. I got to be with seniors,’ he recalled.

Although he missed many games that school cricket season, Russel still scored around 1000 runs. He was the captain that year and scored 76 in the Big Match. St Peter’s beat St Joseph’s in the 50-over encounter that year and also won the Premadasa Trophy. He mentioned Mario Villavarayan, Hemal Wimalasekera, Indunil Anthony, and Asanga Perera among ‘the greats’ he played with at school.

He got plenty of job offers after leaving school, but Russel ended up working for Hatton National Bank (HNB). ‘They were very supportive of my cricket. My colleagues, especially, extended their support by covering up for me when I had to go for practices. I represented HNB in the Mercantile A Division until I retired from cricket. We won the title almost every year. We had a good team which included

the likes of Kumar Dharmasena, Avishka Gunawardena, Pramodya Wickramasinghe, and Saman Jayantha.’

He also played for the Nondescripts Cricket Club and had a few good seasons with them.

He recalled that the Sri Lanka team was very strong at the time and that it was difficult to get into the team. The opening came in 1997 in a practice game against Pakistan. ‘Actually Chaminda Mendis was to open the batting, but he was injured. So I got the opportunity.

I scored 140 in that match.’

Again, fortuitously, that evening during practices Roshan Mahanama had got injured.

The Test was just two days away. ‘Things happened very fast. It was all unexpected.

Different. I was nervy. All of a sudden you realize that you are playing with guys you’ve been looking up to. But then you realize that it’s time to compete and see if you are as good as them. I scored a couple of twenties in the first test and a half century at the SSC in the second. Then I had to sit out. I was essentially the extra batsman. I got at least one innings on every tour and I scored a century on each occasion.’

After the 1999 World Cup, the selectors decided to blood youngsters. This meant that Russel would get more regular opportunities.

‘I grew up and debuted as an opener, but of the 44 tests I played I only opened in nine.

The three centuries I scored were all as an opener. I averaged 50 plus as an opener. I was probably not the most technically correct batsman, say, like Marvan [Atapattu], but I felt that trying to live up to that correctness was a burden. To my mind it was all about “runs”. I knew how to get runs. If I go back, I would do just that…score runs the way I knew.’

Russel was moved down the batting order in the ODIs on account of his temperament, ability to read situations, handle pressure and get the best out of the tail. ‘Tests are a different ball game. The game was evolving.

Players were hitting more fours and sixers.

As for me, I focused on hitting the gaps and getting runs. Coaches, for example, would have theories about boundaries per balls.

Again, as I said, it’s about runs, whether they come in singles or boundaries.

The record shows that Russel Arnold scored 1821 runs in 44 Tests at an average of 28.01.

He scored three centuries and ten fifties. In 180 ODIs he scored 3950 runs at an average of 35.26. This included one ton and 28 half centuries. He was regularly called up to bowl in ODIs and took 40 wickets at a decent www.pulse.lk | PAGE 45

economy rate of 4.83. To date, he notes, no one has been able to nail the Number 6 position in the team. That was his until he retired.

‘We had a core of senior players who knew each other well. We knew when to do what. We were always ready.

We knew how to adjust and when. So I knew my role and I played it to the best of my ability.’

Russel recalled those who had played a major role in his development as a cricketer thus: ‘The national coaches Bruce Yardley and Dav Whatmore were special. There was also a lot of guidance at the NCC in the early days. There was Ranjith Fernando, Rumesh Ratnayake, Gamini Wickramasinghe, and Amal Silva. They’ve helped a lot, not just in terms of cricket but in life as well. My teammates also played a mentoring role; players like Aravinda, Mahanama, and Arjuna. Among my peers, Murali and Mahela. Pramodya too. I felt comfortable and happy.

‘Looking back, I must say that playing for Sri Lanka was massive for me, even though it was a rough ride and quite a grind. A lot of players didn’t get that opportunity. It made for a great lifestyle. I was able to travel all over the world.

Sometime in 2005 Russel decided he would retire after the 2007 World Cup. He had become a father by that time. He figured that he had other things to do in life. The following year Russel moved to Sydney where he lives with his wife, 14 year old son and nine year old daughter. That’s when he’s not traveling the world to work at what has become his new vocation, cricket commentary.

PAGE 46 | www.pulse.lk

‘I think I was lucky. TV companies usually go for cricket captains. I had the language skills and that helped. Initially I was particular about getting the English right but then I decided that I am a Sri Lankan, that it was my uniqueness and that the most important thing was to make sure that I was understood. The trick, I feel, is to be natural. I sometimes throw in a Sinhala or Tamil word and offer a Sri Lankan perspective.’

He is a Level 3 coach and that too is a career option.

He does his charity work as a Trustee at the Foundation of Goodness which Muttiah Muralitharan was instrumental in setting up. In general, looking back, Russel Arnold is a happy camper.

‘I like living in a little corner.

I will ride the commentary field as long as I can. I am aware that it’s a very small piece of cake. Eventually there will be others who will challenge me, younger players who’ve retired and think of a new career in cricket, people who are fluent in English. For now, it’s good.’

It’s been a while since we last saw Russel Arnold hitting the gaps, scoring runs the way he knew how, turning his arm if the team needed him to do so, but he will continue to describe the pulls, cuts, glances, sweeps, and hooks.

He will read match situations and translate it all in a language that the rest of us can understand. He won’t light up the stadium with scintillating performances with bat or ball or athleticism, but he will illuminate things with insights, wit and unique communication skills.

‘I thank God for all the blessings everyday,’ he says.

‘We are blessed too, thanks to you,’ we could say.

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 47

Meet & Greet

at The Ritz - Carlton Residences, Colombo Zhong Tian Ding Hui (ZTDH) Investment Company Limited together with The One Transworks Square Management hosted a graceful “meet & greet� cocktail reception at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Colombo, Sales Gallery at No. 114, Chatham Street Colombo 1, on Thursday, 27th September 2018, which occasion was graced by the Regional Vice President for Hotel Development in South Asia Mr. Kiran Andicot and Marriot International and Ritz-Carlton Director for Design and project management for Asia Pacific Mr. Mandar Zaware.

Veena

Kishu

PAGE 52 | www.pulse.lk

Alex Lovell & Friend

Shanker

Jeff

Mr. Jaideep Wahi and Mr. Kiran Andicott

Santhush

Mr. Mandar Zaware and friend

Mr & Mrs Hiran Karunarathne

Noa and Sabrina

Joyce

Aelian

Rukshan

Piyum

Asiri

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 53

LAUGFS Holdings’ Newest Entrant in the Retail Space When you first step into the brand new KOKATH store, you are immediately met with a concept that is still rather fresh and unfamiliar to the Sri Lankan consumer. But of course, this is meant in the best way possible.

From the bright lights to the methodical and inviting arrangement of the store, you can spend quite a while browsing through. The name KOKATH is derived from the Sinhalese word for everything; so even if you pop in just to have a look, you will surely leave only after making a few purchases.

This modern retail concept has existed in Japan and the Southeast Asian region for several years, so needless to say it has been tried and tested and thus proved to be a major success. While there are some stores in Sri Lanka that may feel like they offer the same concept, KOKATH stands out as their focus is household requirements. They cater to all ages, and this means everyone in the family. Stationary for the kids, office supplies for professionals, cosmetics for the fashionconscious and even gardening and kitchen supplies.

Probably the stand out feature of all their products would have to be their minimal and appealing design coupled with their functionality. You no longer have to choose between form or function as KOKATH has simply changed this equation to Form=Function! You would never imagine that simple everyday objects would fit in so much better in and around your home if they are designed and matched well to their purpose.

The products that are offered are imported from Japan, thus they meet all of their stringent quality and safety standards. However, quality doesn’t mean a high price. Nothing in this store is higher than 585 rupees. Just a simple glance or even a feel of whatever item catches your interest will enable you to instantly know that these products have been made to last.

For now, their only store is located within the K-Zone complex in Ja-Ela but they have plans of expanding to Colombo. Await the opening of a brand-new store in the commercial capital that will boast an even wider array of products to choose from, including small furniture. Their new store will also feature a variety of premium products as well. In addition, with

holiday season coming, KOKATH will be your one-stop-shop for all your contemporary holiday dĂŠcor.

In the long run, KOKATH has big plans to expand out into the Southeast Asian region to take this concept to new heights. For now however, step into their outlet and you will see what they really are all about. If you prefer to shop for supplies in the comfort of your home, their online platform, kokath.lk has their entire inventory. This concept is about to take Sri Lanka by storm, so go on and be a part of it.

G24-G25 K Zone, Ja-Ela. | 0115051051 | info@kokath.lk | www.kokath.lk

TOP 10

Off The Beaten Track

Travel Destinations

i n Sr i Lank a

for 2019

Sri Lanka, our beautiful paradise island, garnered the coveted #1 spot on Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2019. From its magnificent beaches to its wildlife, ancient relics, and architecture, Sri Lanka has a lot to offer, to tourists from across the globe. During peak season, however most tourist attractions become crowded and planning a trip out of Colombo may seem tedious.

We’ve listed here ten spots from around the island that offer you a secluded, serene holiday, away from the bustling popular sites. Whatever your interests, we hope you find a new place to explore in 2019.

PAGE 56 | www.pulse.lk

1. Chasing waterfalls at Ellewala Ella Located down Deraniyagala Panakure Road, Wellawaya, the Ellewala Ella is an enchanting, hidden waterfall which can be reached through the main Ella – Wellawaya road. It is isolated in a forest area and not crowded, unlike other waterfalls in the area.

4 metres in height, this waterfall is perfect for a refreshing bath after a strenuous hike or tiring road trip.

Distance from Colombo – 238 km Nearby attraction – Rathmal Vehera Ancient Temple

2. Safaris at Wasgamuwa National Park Home to over 140 species of birds, up to 150 elephants, amongst other animals like monkeys, wild boar, deer, buffalo, and rarely-sighted leopards, there are a number of safaris open to the public for excursions through the park. Accommodation within the park is also available in the form of either wildlife bungalows or campsites.

Distance from Colombo – 236 km Nearby attraction – Mahaweli River (which borders the park)

3. Hot Air Ballooning in Dambulla Nothing says elation like a hot air balloon ride from Dambulla, in which you can appreciate Sri Lanka from a bird’s eye view.

Release your inhibitions and drift in absolute bliss as you glide across the Central Plains.

However, hot air ballooning is thoroughly weather dependent so do pick your travel dates wisely!

5. Hiking in Wangedigala The Wangedigala Mountain is located in Belihuloya, Kalupahana and forms a mountain chain along with the popular Horton Plains, Bambarakanda, and Adara Kanda.

Wangedigala which translates to mortar-rock is the ideal location for campers and trekkers because the view from top is absolutely breathtaking, making every climb worth it.

Distance from Colombo – 170 km Nearby attraction – Bambarakanda Falls

6. Views at Elephant Rock in Athugala Located in Kurunegala, the Athugala Rock, or the Elephant Rock is 325 metres in height and, as the name suggests, resembles the shape of an elephant. At the top of the rock, sits an 88 ft statue of Lord Buddha is placed, making it a great destination for devotees. The town of Kurunegala can be viewed from the top of the rock too, rendering it a scenic aspect.

Distance from Colombo – 106 km Nearby attraction – Ibbagala Rajamaha Viharaya

7. Bathing at Kanniya Hot Springs in Trincomalee

9. Diving at the Great Basses Reef in Kirinda A small village lined with a spectacular beach, Kirinda, is home to the Great Basses Reef, a great destination for deep sea dives. It encapsulates various caves, tombs, wreckages and ample site to explore the depths of the ocean populated by an array of species including eagle rays, clown fish, trevally, turtles, triggerfish and more.

Distance from Colombo – 270 km Nearby attraction – Kirinda Vihara Maha Devi Temple

10. Hiking in Thotupola The Thotupola Kanda, with a height of 2359 metres, is the third highest mountain in Sri Lanka, located within the Horton Plains National Park. The trail soars at the beginning with an ascent of about 250 metres, and the total trail is about 1.5 kilometres. Trekkers can enjoy panoramic views of mountain ranges, valleys, and on a clear day even Adam’s Peak.

Distance from Colombo – 175 km Nearby attraction – Baker’s Falls Happy traveling!

Yet another attraction on the East Coast, the Kanniya Hot Springs, also known as the Seven Hot Water Wells, although popular, deserves a mention on this list due to its vivid history. Square in shape and 3 to 4 feet deep, the temperature of the wells differ, from one spring to another which makes this archeological protected site all the more special.

Distance from Colombo – 160 km Nearby attraction – Dambulla Cave Temple

Distance from Colombo – 266 km Nearby attraction – Gayathri Siddhar Kovil

4. Deep Sea Fishing in Kuchchaveli

8. Surfing in Ahangama

One of the primary occupations in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, deep sea fishing is renowned in Kuchchaveli for its clear waters. Frequent catches here include barracuda, king mackerel, yellow fin tuna, and mahi mahi, so if a nice long sail is what you crave, look no further. Other activities include whale and dolphin watching.

Ahangama, in comparison to Weligama, Mirissa, and Hikkaduwa is one of the less surfed spots along the South Coast.

The wave type is most commonly reef break with a high frequency in waves.

However, the beaches can be rocky and may contain sea urchins so take precautions!

Distance from Colombo – 297 km Nearby attraction – St. Mary’s Church, Kuchchaveli

Distance from Colombo – 139 km Nearby attraction – Handunugoda Tea Museum

04 07

03 02 06

10

01

05

09

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 57

Heidi and Catherine

Jaishree

Desiree

Harshini

Brian

Nadiya

SHARING THE FRENCH WAY OF LIFE

with Softlogic, Delifrance and Chef Roth

‘Sharing the French way of life’; Indeed that’s exactly what took place when Softlogic Restaurants Pvt Ltd, the Authorised Franchisee for Delifrance in Sri Lanka, and a fully owned subsidiary of Softlogic Holdings PLC, together with Delifrance, hosted an evening of culinary savoir faire, together with highly acclaimed 2 Starred Michelin Chef Michel Roth.

Justine

PAGE 58 | www.pulse.lk

Bjorn

Rosy

Mala

Surekha and Tenisha

Ramani

Jutine and Alexia

Radhika

Tarja

Mandy, Ashok, Chef Roth and Fabrice

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 59

Yoshi

Fabrice

PAGE 60 | www.pulse.lk

Gerald

Suresh

Farrah, Ravia and Poorni

Mandy

Anusha

Ashok

Danu

Kishore

Emerald

Welcome to our

COLOMB O

Colombo’s Finest Sports Lounge Featuring video walls and Large Format Displays screening up to 8 sporting events daily.

Open from 5:00 pm to 12.00 am daily At the Old Dutch Hospital, Colombo 1

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 61

Heba

HI LIFE Exhibition

Hi Life presented the #HiLifeFashionExhibition a three day fashion and luxury extravaganza showcasing premium fashion designers and renowned labels from India.

Sorell

Theja PAGE 62 | www.pulse.lk

Prateek and Adnan

Ramani

Sujeewa

Kalpa and Tara

Sonali

Dineshi and Saroja Sangeetha

Reina PAGE 64 | www.pulse.lk

Himali

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 65

Florence

in 72 Hours Florence has abundant art, architecture and splendour to offer tourists, who are transported back to the city’s glory days during the 14th to 16th centuries. Florence was indeed the heart of Europe’s intellectual awakening and was a seat of learning, culture, and commerce – earning itself the nickname “The Cradle of Renaissance”.

History buffs would be fascinated to learn that Florence is known to have played host to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, and Galileo and was ruled by the Medici Dynasty.

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region, which is about 200km away from Italy’s capital Rome. The verdant countryside of Florence is littered with vineyards and orchards and villas and farms.

We give you the ultimate guide to taking in the glorious sights and experiences of Florence in just three days, so you can make Florence a part of your next Eurotrip.

PAGE 66 | www.pulse.lk

Duomo Florence Florence’s iconic cathedral stands tall over the city with its magnificent Renaissance dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, with the baptistery right across. The cathedral named in honor of Santa Maria del Fiore is a vast Gothic structure built on the site of the 7th century church of Santa Reparata, the remains of which can be seen in the crypt.

The Best Time to Visit Picking out the best time to travel to a foreign country is always tricky; you need to keep in mind that the weather should suit us islanders! As such, the best time to visit Florence would be between the months of July and October where the weather is milder, so that you can spend more time outdoors.

Ponte Vecchio This medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy is noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common.

Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewelers, art dealers and souvenir sellers. The Ponte Vecchio’s two neighbouring bridges are the Ponte Santa Trinita and the Ponte alle Grazie.

The Ponte Vecchio is every shopaholic’s dream and undoubtedly gets a big thumbs up from Pulse!

Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi The Uffizi Gallery is home to Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation” as well as renowned works by Cimabue, Giotto, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Raphael and many others. Witness some of the most iconic Renaissance pieces while you enjoy a stroll through one of the world’s most transcendant art museums. If you have the time, add a visit to the second most-visited gallery, Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze, to behold the glorious sight of Michelangelo’s original “David” sculpture.

FUN FACT: Florence harbours the very first gelato shop!

Town of Siena - Tuscany Surrounded by olive groves and the vineyards of Chianti, Siena is one of the most beautiful citadels in Tuscany.

Set on three hills, the city is drawn together by winding alleyways and steep steps, whilst the Piazza del Campo stands at its heart, and the Duomo and St Maria della Scala serve as additional cultural landmarks. In addition to the bustling daily life of the streets and squares of the city, Siena offers many cultural events, concerts, cinema, theatre and a wide range of sporting activities.

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 67

Gayathri

Upeksha

Kanchana

Uditha

Bevin

Thurstanite Dinner Dance

This year’s edition of the Thurstanite dinner dance was themed, “Sands of time” and it surely was a hit among all the guests.

Anuruddha

PAGE 68 | www.pulse.lk

Jayani

Dr. Dumnida

Tharanga

Suranjith

Maduri

Aruna

Sithmini

Renoza and Suranga

Mohan

Sajeewi

Sharmila

L.C Lee

Mohsen

Parisa

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 69

DFCC

ICONNECT Launch Leading the banking industry in pioneering FinTech solutions, DFCC Bank has launched DFCC iConnect; a fully integrated Payments and Cash Management (PCM) System

Mr. Lakshman Silva and Mr. R. Jansz

Nilmini, Sheron, Melissa and Dennesen

Indika

PAGE 70 | www.pulse.lk

Rumal

Gillian, Ms. Cook and Samathri

Priyatha

Rohana

Senaka

Sonali, Thilanka, Sheron, Mandira, Dilushini and Pathum

Damayanthi

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 71

Sajith

Ariyadasa

Chaminda

Rohan

Praveen

Thushara

Theepatharan

Amila

Renuka

Leonie

Indresh

Padamakumara

Feroze

Thusitha

Thusharani

Geethanga

Chandana

Thilini

Suresh

Sampath, Suresh, Dinesh and Navindra

Mushin

Mubarak

PAGE 72 | www.pulse.lk

Rohan

Shardha

Amitha

Discover a world of piquant Indian cuisine at Hilton Colombo’s finest multi-faceted restaurant.

GRAZE KITCHEN offers a selection of authentic Indian cuisine prepared

by Chef Chandan and his team of experts.

From rotis to tandoori, biriyani, curries and homemade condiments, this Indian pod offers it’s discerning diners an exotic meal.

Among an array of cuisines offered at Graze Kitchen are; Sri Lankan, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Western, Vietnamese, Turkish and Thai specialties.

Open for Breakfast I Lunch I Dinner

For reservations, please call +94 11 2492 492 / 2544 644 For more information, visit www.hiltoncolombo1.com / HiltonColombo / hiltoncolombo 2 Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha | Colombo 2 | Sri Lanka T: +94 11 2492 492 / +94 11 2544 644 | F: +94 11 254 4657 | E: colombo@hilton.com

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 73

Christmas with Koluu

Leg of lamb with Christmas spices • 2 large onions, finely chopped • 4 garlic cloves, sliced • 5cm fresh root ginger, shredded • 2 tbsp. olive oil • 1 leg of lamb (trimmed and pricked with a fork) • 2 cinnamon sticks • 8 cloves • 6 cardamom pods • Good pinch saffron • 2 bay leaves • 2 tsp. ground coriander • 3 tbsp. ground cashew-nuts • 850ml chicken stock • 250 grams dried apricots or a large tin of apricots drained Fry the onions, garlic and ginger in the oil for about 5 mins, in a pan large enough to accommodate the leg of lamb. Add the lamb and fry until browned.

Add the spices, cook over the heat to release their flavours, and then add the cashew- nuts. Pour in the stock and season to taste. Cover the pan and simmer for 60 mins, basting the leg of lamb often. Add the apricots, and then simmer 15 mins more until the lamb is tender. Thin with a little water if the sauce starts to get too thick.

Take out the cooked leg of lamb and let it rest for 15 minutes, then slice off the bone, place the sliced lamb on a platter and pour the gravy over and serve with steamed rice.

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Mashed Potatoes with Cheese • 01Kg baby potatoes • 100ml cream • 400 grams shredded Cheddar • 100 grams spring onions thinly sliced (chives) • Salt and crushed pepper • Juice of 01 lime Cut potatoes in half and place in a pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Work on other dishes while you are waiting for the water to boil.

When water boils, add the potatoes and some salt, 2 big pinches, and boil for 10 minutes or until tender. Drain and return potatoes to the hot pot. Smash potatoes with masher and combine with cream and cheese. When cheese melts into potatoes, add chives and salt and pepper and re-smash. Add the lime juice. Taste the potatoes and adjust seasonings.

Lemony Mince Pies Use paper muffin cases to cook the mince pies, so that the pastry will be nice and thin, and the finished pies are easy to remove from the baking tin.

• 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting • 60 grams ground cashew-nuts

Maple Syrup Glazed Ham • 1 boneless cooked ham

Baked Sweet Potato

• 75 grams icing sugar

• 4 medium-size sweet potatoes • 5 tablespoons light brown sugar

• 175 grams salted butter, chilled and diced

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 2 egg yolks

• 160ml cider

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 820 grams mincemeat (bottled or make your own)

• A pinch of ground cloves

• Finely grated zest of 2 lemons or lime

Using a sharp knife score the layer of fat on the ham in a criss cross fashion around meat with thin layer of fat.

• Pinch of crushed pepper • 75 grams of salted butter • Vegetable oil, for greasing roasting tray

• 2 tbsp Amaretto (almond liqueur)

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 12-hole muffin tin, lined with paper cases

• 100 grams of chopped Cashew nuts Preheat the oven to 190°C. Lightly scrub the sweet potatoes under cold running water. Place the potatoes on a roasting tray and bake until tender, 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the potatoes to cool slightly before cutting off the top third of the potatoes lengthwise.

Scoop out the flesh using a large spoon (leave enough on the base so the skin holds its shape) and reserve bases.

Add the potato flesh, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, crushed pepper and butter to a food processor.

Process until the ingredients are completely combined and the puree is smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle a roasting tray with a little oil.

Set the potato skin bases upright on the tray and fill with the mixture.

Combine the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar and cashew nuts in a small bowl. Sprinkle the top of each stuffed sweet potato with the sugar-pecan topping. Bake for 10 minutes. Finish the potatoes under the broiler for the top to brown, 1 minute, if desired.

• 1 tbsp brown sugar, to dust

Put the flour into a processor with the ground almonds and icing sugar and pulse for 30 seconds. Add the butter and whizz until the mixture forms crumbs. Add the egg yolks and 1-2 tbsp cold water and process again until the pastry just comes together. Knead the dough lightly on a lightly floured surface. Wrap and chill for 1 hour.

Mix the mincemeat, lemon zest and liqueur. Set the oven to Gas Mark 5 or 190°C and put a flat baking sheet in the oven to heat up.

Roll out two-thirds of the pastry and stamp out 12 rounds using the larger cutter. Press these into each paper case in the muffin tin.

Spoon in 2 tsp of mincemeat into each pastry case. Brush the pastry edges with water.

Roll out the rest of the pastry and stamp out 12 rounds using the smaller cutter. Use mini cutters to stamp out tiny festive shapes in the centre of each round, if you like.

Top each mince pie with the small pastry round, sealing well at the edges.

Sprinkle tops with brown sugar. Put the muffin tray on the hot baking sheet

• 4 tbsp maple syrup • 4 tbsp wholegrain mustard

• Salt and pepper

Mix the glaze ingredients together and pour over the ham. Bake in oven preheated to 180°C for 30 mins, making sure to baste well every ten minutes.

Allow to rest for 30 minutes or serve chilled.

Orange glazed carrots • 500 grams carrots • 03 fresh oranges freshly squeezed • 1 tablespoon salted butter • Salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 tablespoon picked fresh dill leaves • Salt and crushed pepper Cut a 1-inch chunk off one end of a carrot at an angle. Roll the carrot a quarter turn and cut another 1-inch chunk at an angle. Continue rolling and cutting all of the carrots into 1-inch chunks. Combine the carrots and orange juice in a large saucepan.

Add enough water to just cover the carrots. Add the butter and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are tender and the liquid has reduced to a glaze, for about 20 minutes. Top with the dill and serve.

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 75

Sumaiya, Shiham and Lakshika

Shalu

Stephanie

Geetanjali and Divya

Salomi and Himali

PAGE 76 | www.pulse.lk

Sachini

Michael

Ramani

Poorni

Harshani

Thushen

Nelum

Desiree

Ashok

Francesco

Mariangela

Daniel

Charini

Launch of

YAMAMAY

Arthi

Niromi

Odel launched Yamamay, Italy's leading brand in lingerie and beachwear earlier this month!

Erandi and Harshi

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 77

Seasonal Festivities at GFH Galle Face Hotel kicked off their seasonal festivities with the traditional cake mixing and the lighting of the unique Christmas tree made out of kites.

PAGE 78 | www.pulse.lk

Charith and

Eric

MAIC THE DYNAMIC DUO BEHIND

PAGE 80 | www.pulse.lk

Does your background in advertising help in any way?

Of course, it does! Our experience in the advertising industry led us to understand that there is a lack of ideas when it comes to the décor industry. For example, when you consider wedding décor, the first thing that comes to mind is flowers. We love it when a client tells us not to use flowers because there is so much more that can be done. When we work with a couple, we sit down with them and talk about everything from where they met to what they eat and even the crazy things that they have done. This is how we get inspired.

To what do you owe your success?

We firmly believe in delivering to our clients on time without skimping on quality. A lot of service providers do not deliver on time and that is by nature, a Sri Lankan thing. So, our secret to success is also one of our greatest challenges.

In what ways are each of you different and how do you use that to create a synergy?

Eric is usually on the frontlines; he breaks the ice and starts up a conversation with the client. Meanwhile, I look into the technicalities and calculations because the little details really do matter. But of course, we share the same interests so when we come up with an idea, we collectively build on it and present it to the client.

A school yard friendship that blossomed into one of the most successful décor businesses in Sri Lanka is certainly a noteworthy story. Charith and Eric have managed to fuse business and friendship, fueled by passion, to create some of the most stunning weddings and events this city has ever seen. Here is how they do it.

Let’s start with how you two know each other and the story behind the name

what we would call it, and this was decided twelve years prior!

We have been friends pretty much forever, from grade one at St. Peter’s up until now.

Professionally, both of us have a background in advertising. As for the name, back in the day during our school life we had already coined this name which comes from a combination of our names and nicknames.

If we were to ever start a business, we knew

How did you two know that this was something you wanted to do?

Both of us have done décor related work in the past individually and collectively but it really took off when a colleague at work approached us and said, “Hey, I want you guys to handle the décor for my wedding”. So that is what definitely brought us together on a further level.

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 81

Business and friendship do not usually mix, how do you guys pull this off?

planning ideas for them. Some even say that meeting us is like a counselling session!

We step on each other’s toes quite often, but we would never want to lose our friendship for business. This is something we are very careful of; if there ever is a problem we stop and immediately talk it through to have it resolved. When we are with clients, we are professionals, we do not feel the need to show them that we are friends because to the client, that really isn’t important. We sometimes do end up befriending our clients though, because they do share intimate details about their lives with us when we are

With Christmas around the corner, what can people do to decorate their homes?

PAGE 82 | www.pulse.lk

Christmas is all about family, so we would like to see a lot of personalisation. If you love dogs, why not decorate your tree with dog bones? If family is what is most important to you, snap a few polaroids and hang them up on the tree rather than traditional ornaments. This is so much better than doing a commercial tree that you see in every hotel lobby. There are so many DIY things that can

be done as well. A simple indiappa thattu or dara mitiya spray painted gold can be turned into something that will not only look good but also start up a conversation. This season, express yourself and your family through your décor that is personal to you!

Any final takeaways for our readers?

We have had many people that have encouraged and supported us along the way.

Even if it was a simple like on our facebook page or a personal recommendation, we would like to thank all of you because we wouldn’t be what we are today if not for all of you.

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 83

Cake Mixing at

Taj Samudra

Welcoming the much-awaited Christmas Season, Taj Samudra Colombo hosted the Christmas Cake Mixing Ceremony recently.

Danu

Charini

Adrian

Roshani

Ruvishka and Shobita

Shavendra

Harshini and Ann

Harshi

Asheila and Nilusha

Sanjay

Janice

Chandi and Thaminidri

Ritu

Amit

Aviram and Santhosh

Sujeewa and Chethana

PAGE 86 | www.pulse.lk

Natasha and Binali

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 87

Where to Get Your

Ah, December! The most wonderful time of the year has bestowed itself upon us and in every corner, the spirit of Christmas in the form of end of the year sales, Christmas carols resonating on every radio station; and of course, the dazzling Christmas decorations!

Is it really Christmas if Colombo is not lit up and bejeweled with the finest of décor? Purchasing the decorations however can be quite a task with the abundance of festivities and proceedings. So, to ease up your burden, here’s a list of stores to get your Christmas décor this season!

PAGE 88 | www.pulse.lk

Christmas

Décor

This Year

1. Tori House

Unique gifts and home décor galore!

Although it is a high-end store, their artsy and sturdy décor makes it all worth it. They have Christmas trains for the kids, household items such as themed dish sets and canisters, and even advent calendars making it truly a festive affair!

Where: 7, Siebel Avenue, Kirulapone, Colombo 5. / 446, Nawala Road, Nawala Contact Number: 0761785172 Website: www.torihouse.lk

2. Odel One of the more prominent locations for Christmas shopping is Odel. While it has

many other branches, the department store situated in Colombo 7 would be your best bet for wider selection, making it a one stop shop for all things festive. They sell quality baubles and trinkets to adorn your Christmas tree.

Where: 5, Alexandra Place, Colombo 7 Contact Number: 0114625800 Website: www.odel.lk

3. Style Boutique by Studio Stitch Here’s an online boutique with an exclusive collection of home décor and more! Majority of the products are handmade, adding a nice touch to your collection of décor. To mix things up, Studio Stitch is to host holiday workshops for kids at Tiny Hop from the 10th

to 14th of December so your little ones can engage in seasonal activities and make décor themselves!

complete Christmas lunch or dinner. They offer an array of candles so you can take your pick and thank us later!

Contact Number: 0777318552 Website: www.studiostitch.lk

Where: 213, Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7 Contact Number: 0112686043 Website: www.paradiseroad.lk

4. Arpico Super popular for Christmas décor shopping, Arpico Super Centre has many branches making it the most accessible store out of the list. The Hyde Park branch has more variety so that would be the best option for Christmas tree ornaments. There’s also the added benefit of being able to shop for other household items and groceries as well.

Where: 69, Hyde Park Corner, Colombo 2 Contact Number: 0114732725 Website: www.arpicosupercentre.com

5. Booteek Sri Lanka Booteek SL markets products handmade by underprivileged women and young adults with special needs. They offer really cute crafted décor and even greeting cards to show your loved ones you’re thinking of them this holiday season.

Where: 119/4, Kynsey Road, Colombo 6 Contact Number: 0773469966 Website: www.booteeksl.com

6. Paradise Road While this store is quite upscale, you are bound to find uncommon and aesthetic Christmas décor; even trendy home décor such as table mats and place settings for a

7. Jiggles Store Jiggles is known for their party décor and event planning, but this time of year, they should definitely be on your radar for baubles, ornaments, and banners. The bonus here is that the store is located down Havelock Road, which is a prime spot for Christmas trees which are freshly available and even Christmas themed vendors to complete your shopping!

Where: 215, Havelock Road, Colombo 6 Contact Number: 0114949733 Facebook: Jiggles Store

8. House of Fashions Both stores offer affordable options for Christmas décor in all shapes and sizes; even bulk items. They also sell miniature trees, adorable Christmas themed owls, and other festive knick knacks. For those of you who like to go big with décor, their bulk items would be perfect for you.

9. Townchic Living What’s life without the ease of online shopping? Townchic Living is an online store which sells IKEA-imported, and locally manufactured products. The store works on pre-order basis and offers Christmas gift wrapping, snow globes, themed paper dining sets, and so much more. So drop them a message and get ordering!

Facebook: Townchic Living Instagram: townchic.home

10. Shirohana Change things up this Christmas by adding flowers as a part of your decoration process.

From dried flower wreaths to center pieces and even tree toppers, flowers can be very versatile and Shirohana does it all! They even customize according to your preference!

Even though they have many branches, we recommend Shirohana Atelier for its quick service.

Where: 21/3, Alfred House Gardens, Colombo 3 Contact Number: 0112598277 Website: www.shirohanaflowers.com So there you have it, 10 stores you can purchase your Christmas décor from! Get shopping and deck the halls!

Where: 101, D. S. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8. / 28, R. A. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 4 Contact Number: 0112154555 (Borella) / 0112580620 (Bambalapitiya) Website: www.houseoffashions.lk

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 89

Down

the

PAGE 90 | www.pulse.lk

Charith Wijesekera has captured the imagination of brides to be with his magical portfolio of wedding attire that has made him a buzzword in the industry today. Creating beautiful masterpieces that enhance the natural beauty of his brides, selftaught designer Charith spoke to us about his craft, his vision and his inspirations.

Aisle

with

Charith

1. Tell us a little bit about Charith I come from a family of five and I am the second child. I have two sisters. I lost my father last year. My mother is my business partner, my older sister was working in banking industry and joined me after her resignation from her previous profession while the youngest runs her own salon.

2. How did you find yourself in this profession?

You could say that design is in my blood. It’s a talent I’ve acquired from my mother.

My childhood days were spent by playing by her work station and using all the beads, lace, and thread. I would observe my mother while she stitched and as I got older I would help her in designing dress patterns.

3. Have you followed any formal courses in fashion or bridal design?

No I have not. Everything I learned, I learned informally or by helping my mother.

4. Which do you prefer designing? Wedding dresses or bridal sarees?

I don’t really have a preference, I simply make it my goal to dress up a bride with a new creation beyond her desires. But apart from bridals, I do like designing dresses.

For me, it’s all about creating new styles and trends in the industry.

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 91

5. When designing for a bride, what inspires the design?

When I first meet a bride I picture her in my imagination and how she should be turned into a beautiful masterpiece. This vision is then translated into my sketches and the final outfit. The materials and colour combinations working together play a big role. I must also say that I appreciate the freedom that the brides give me when designing.

6. Which designer would you say inspires you?

I don’t have one name but many great talented designers that I look up to-to mention few...Michael Cinco, Coco Chanel, Manish Malhotra, and Karl Lagerfeld.

7. Do you believe in the saying “Less is more”?

Yes I certainly do. Why change totally someone who is already so beautiful.

Selecting a wedding dress is more than just a fitting... it’s a process a memory in the making

Stephanie Siriwardena and Dushyanth Weeraman are as real, hilarious and bubbly as you would expect them to be when you see them on-stage. Having been together for five years, the duo started a new chapter in their lives as man and wife earlier this year with a romantic and intimate wedding celebration in Italy. This is a dynamic duo that has definitely struck off the Couple Goal of balancing successful careers and a marriage while prioritising happiness and living a full life.

Pulse worked around their hectic schedules to have a chat about what it takes to be successful in work and life. We can definitely vouch that this couple wins hands down when it comes to mischievous banter and has a flair for finishing each other’s sentences.

So here it is a sneak peek into the lives of Colombo’s hottest newlyweds!

01

Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?

S: The short answer would be that I live to eat and dance! See..all my childhood I was bullied for my weight and I carried that insecurity well into my adult years until one fateful accident changed my outlook on life. We are given one life and I believe we need to live that life to our fullest. Don’t be afraid to take risks, challenge yourself and just LIVE. Enjoy your days to your fullest...eat everything you want to and be nice to people!

D: Well...I for one am a completely different person! I’m pretty easy going...I live a life of simplicity! I don’t believe in chasing materialistic things. I like to challenge myself.

Growing up my parents taught me that it’s not about winning...it’s participation that matters, and I for one lived by that principle but while growing up with an older sibling who does challenge himself and push himself I watched him and did exactly that. It’s not an obsession about winning but about proving to myself that I can do it.

02

How did the two of you meet?

S: Oh, Darling...You tell the story.

D: Well I was performing at a charity event that was hosted by a young girl and boy. I was backstage getting myself ready to perform - you know running around and preparing when I noticed Stephanie putting make up on the little 8 year old girl. That’s when I realized it was Stephanie as in Stephanie Siriwardena- the same Stephanie who had just sent a friend request on Facebook about two week before! I then realized that the “polite” thing to do would be to walk over there and say “ Hi” – but I chickened out! I was very shy - I still am! So I tried to buck up the courage to talk to her. I walked around the auditorium but then I realized

Stephanie and

Dushyanth

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she probably noticed me walking around. I needed a better excuse to make my way and speak to her… so I placed my jacket on the other side of the auditorium and again made my way towards her to pretend in front of her that I’d forgotten the jacket!

S: Yes, and all the while I watched him run around mumbling “Jacket…my jacket” It was so abrupt and odd!

D: Yeah, when you look back at it you realized that it probably only made sense in my head. To her I was this dude just mumbling to myself around her saying “my jacket”.

But anyways, we eventually started talkingwhen another mutual friend who was also performing that night came on over and started talking to her. After sometime the topic switched to “Oh you look great” and then “No I’ve put on weight”.

S: Ah, yes! So while my friend said I looked great I was just telling her how I was abroad and that I’d eaten so much and I’d definitely gained weight. She kept shutting it down and at one point nudged him and was like “Dushyanth, tell her she looks great, she doesn’t need to lose weight” to which he eyed me and then said “Yeah…you could lose a bit of weight!” I was shocked, I kept thinking “who the hell is this man!” And I thought he was so weird and that made me curious... .

I guess it was that underlying curiosity that led to us hitting it off.

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D: That’s her story... but I knew... in her head she wanted me!

03

What are some of the things you like to do as a couple?

S: Archery, rollerblade, rock climbing, we love to sit in and watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S, we love to cook and oh we love to play poker and board games.

D: Dancing of course and singing!

S: Oh yeah! He hates when I start singing along while he practices at home.. he quickly changes the song to a Sinhala one cause he knows I can’t sing too well in Sinhala.

04

Where do you like to travel?

S & D: Europe and when it comes to Sri Lanka we don’t get to travel around much unless it’s for work.

D: I think the last holiday in Sri Lanka I remember was in Vil Uyana S: Yeah…That was for our first anniversary five years ago!

05

If you could describe each other in three words what would they be?

S: He is…wise, hilarious, and kind.

D: Generous, extremely humble, and emotional.

06

Do you believe in giving each other space in a relationship?

S: Oh I hate that word! He loves that word D: It’s the extrovert in her...and whenever I’m not around she will never stay at home - she needs to be out as well.

S: To be honest with our busy and clashing schedules, we barely get time together as it is- which is a major factor as to why we started working together as well and we ‘ve reached a point in our lives where we relish each other’s company... but I mean yeah, in those early years space was needed... him more than me!

She is generous, extremely humble, and emotional.

-Dushyanth

D: Well that’s because of my job... I’m required to be creative and in order to do that I need space and time alone with my thoughts to think of new ideas. It’s not about “us” or “we” I just need that creative time for myself.

S: I’ve learned that when he does need his space to just leave him to it. Infact, we actually have a room dedicated to it at home.

07

What inspires you?

S: I’d say God…and being open, I truly believe that our whole world runs on energy and it is only when you’re in a certain mental state that you allow yourself to be open where that wave or idea enters. I mean, think about it - that’s why many individuals across the world have similar ideas. See, as children we are so open to everything, but as we get older and get “educated” our open views become more narrow - we see things in tunnel vision so I believe you have to break all these boundaries and binaries that we ourselves have created and only then can we be truly creative.

I also believe that Dushyanth inspires my work as well... he inspires me every day.

D: It’s the same with me - through her, I’ve learned a lot but what inspires, I’d say another

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is Buddhism…I listen to Bhana all the time. My car is constantly tuned to it.

S: I’d say it was real and by real I mean intimate.

08

D: See, working in the show business industry we didn’t want any preshoots or shoots or anything to gain publicity. We didn’t want people to get involved or help us for the wrong reasons.

What is it like working together?

S&D: Terrible!

S: It’s because we’re both type ‘A’s so it’s like Clash of the Titans working together!

D: We both have huge ideas and we get married to them, and when I say let’s do some of it (like I said, I like simplicity) that’s when things go down!

S: But it’s not so bad...We do enjoy having each other’s company and the thing is individually I can have a good idea and he can have a good idea but when we come together we create something great...It’s fabulous and I think that synergy is something we need to learn to work on…It’s a learning process.

09

Can you tell us a little bit about the wedding?

S&D: It was just beautiful. It was something beyond what we hoped for and we are so grateful.

S: We wanted it to be very simple. We didn’t want our life or this special moment to become a show.

D: Yes, and those who did step forward or did offer to help us in any way did so from the love that they have towards us. We were not trying to pose for different cameras or for a brand as most celebrity weddings go, we did it for ourselves only with those near and dear to us.

S: We are so grateful to the friends who came forward and helped us- who did so for their love towards us. Like with Michael and all my wedding dresses, I can honestly say each stitch was one with love and then there was Viran and Shane who literally flew in the night before the whole thing! That’s how they treated our special day. And we honestly felt so humbled and grateful for the love they showed us.

D: We also loved the closeness and togetherness that we felt with all our loved ones there.

We love to sit in and watch F.R.I.E.N.D.S, we love to cook and oh we love to play poker and board games.

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He is…wise, hilarious and kind.

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-Stephanie

S: We rented out a castle for a week for the wedding and we literally just dumped all our relatives and all our friends in that one castle!

We had no idea as to how they would react because some of them had never met each other before but we did it anyway.

D: And it ended up being all the more special because of how everybody got along and how people spent their time together and helped each other.

S: Even the venue… it holds a special place with me because it was the same place my parents got married, and that was one of the main reasons we even chose to go there.

10

How do you make time for each other with your schedules and social commitments?

D: Oh, we run on Google and iPhone calendars.

S: It’s funny actually because sometimes we don’t know each other’s schedule and then end up realising our events cross or sometimes we’re both working the same event.

But working together helps because that’s probably the only time we get to spend time together. When it comes to major holiday events like Christmas or New Years Eve, we almost never get to see each other.

D: But hopefully this Christmas we just might get to spend it together.

11

What would you consider the next phase or goal for the two of you as a couple?

D: Well, individually we have made our names and we have our separate brands and becoming a couple definitely gave both our brands a boost, so I guess the next phase would be to combine our talents and our brands to create a whole new brand together giving us a common product and a chance to work together.

S: Yes, I told Bathiya we’re going to give him a run for his money! Their B&S is going to soon become D&S!

12

Stephanie, you’ve opened a new charity foundation.

Could you tell us a little bit about it?

S: It’s called the Stephanie Siriwardena Foundation. It’s something that came to me when I myself was at my lowest. A passion of mine is social work. I love helping others, because one day when I do die I want to know that I was able to bring a smile to someone else’s face because that’s all you get to take back with you.

I had just had two slipped disks and I was in the accident ward for over a month and I saw so much that frightened me. They told me they couldn’t move me and so I had to remain there. A month in the hospital and a month at home. I couldn’t walk for the longest time.

That was when the initial thought to start the foundation came to me. That is when I signed my papers for my foundation. A few months later I started to walk again and the first thing I started with was a Women’s Week which I hope to continue the year as well. The main topic covered was awareness on violence against women and then I worked with young girls who have been sexually abused.

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Apart from music is there anything else you have in common?

S: Meditation. We both love to meditate and I think that is actually one the bases of our relationship in the sense that that is something we spoke about and liked doing together. But apart from that we love quality family time, we love get togethersD: Yes we love hosting - we love having people come to visit us!

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This is a project that is currently ongoing as the next phase is to open a transitional ward to help them recover. In the meantime, we helped rebuild toilets and wells in many rural areas. This year I’m also working with the women in prison and the foundation is creating 100 care packages for 100 women.

These care packages will last the entire year and we are also helping set up a multivocational training center in hope to rebuild the women in prison. Dushyanth and I visited the prison just last week with the help of the lovely officers there and we could honestly see that there was so much that needed to be renovated.

The prison will be our prime focus for the next year and we hope to have the care packages ready for release by December. The foundation does not have a website as yet but we do have an email address for those who wish to contact us or help us. The email address is Stephanie.S. foundation@gmail.com

13

As a couple who both have strong careers, what advice can you give your readers and fans about balancing both worlds?

S: Respect each other’s careers and understand each other and help each other to thrive.

D: Do not expect anything in return.

S: Trust. It all comes down to Trust. For me I think it also means being honest. Speak.

Communicate. You have to communicate honestly to your partner good or bad. If not, there is no correcting it, adapting or compromising. What I’ve learned is even if you are not married - you just treat that relationship like a marriage.

Photography by: Luxshmanan Nadaraja Location: Kingsbury Hotel

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Models - Visna, Ishanka Photographer - Nuwan Tharanga Hair and Makeup - Romesh Atapattu, Capello Salon Design by - Kamil Hewavitharana Location - Shangri-La Hotel

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Models - Ornella, Harini Photographer - Nuwan Tharanga Hair and Makeup - Romesh Atapattu, Capello Salon Design by - Kamil Hewavitharana Location - Shangri-La Hotel

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Models - Ishanka, Visna, Harini, Ornella, Raya, Danniel, Twincle, Tasla, Amanda Photographer - Nuwan Tharanga Hair and Makeup - Romesh Atapattu, Capello Salon Design by - Kamil Hewavitharana Location - Shangri-La Hotel

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Models - Ishanka, Ornella Photographer - Nuwan Tharanga Hair and Makeup - Romesh Atapattu, Capello Salon Design by - Kamil Hewavitharana Location - Shangri-La Hotel

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EXQUISITE SPACES, INSIDE AND OUT Apartments price starting from LKR 49 million.

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Bridal Runway 2018 The International Academy of Beauticians Graduation Show 2018, Bridal Runway, took place at the Hilton Colombo this November.

The star-studded event featured elegant designs and breath-taking creations by the graduating students of IAB, followed by cocktails to round-up an eventful evening.

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Brian

Nelum

Kamil

Sangeetha

Sumudhu and Wasantha

Dhananjaya

Madu

Fouzul

Sampath

Ramzi

Ramani

Achini

Jinalee and Madhusha

Danushka

Gerald

Charith

Sajini

Hasini

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Galadari

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Lighting up the spirit of the season, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was held at the Galadari Hotel!

Sampath

Dannielle

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Gerald

Anita

Surakshi

Gayani

Joel

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Asian European

Fashion Week The first French Sri Lankan fashion show in Colombo by AEFW featured designer collections from several French, Sri Lankan, Indian and American designers.

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Hans Billimoria wants human dignity for everyone – regardless of their HIV sero status, sexuality, vocation or substance use. He founded The Grassrooted Trust which works to change the way Sri Lankan society perceives and treats marginalized people. The Trust pursues attitude change through relationship education and reproductive health education to generate open dialogue on sex, relationships, sexuality and the issues people face. His aim? To help people appreciate the values of respect, self-esteem, empathy and consent from a very young age.

We spoke to Hans about his work, his hopes and the challenges he encounters.

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HANS B IL L IM O RIA 1. Who or what first inspired you to begin the Grassrooted Trust?

2. What was your vision when you first established the Trust?

The work I did at the grassroots in India with Deep Griha Society, working with people living with HIV, people who use drugs, sex workers (both women and Trans) necessarily made us look to a grassroots approach in Sri Lanka.

Human dignity - regardless of HIV sero-status, sexuality, vocation, or substance use.

3. Since you first started the Grassrooted Trust, how far do you think you’ve progressed in terms of creating awareness on key issues in society and providing solutions to those who are oppressed?

In the beginning we looked to work within the system, and took on consultancy gigs from UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, ILO where we had the opportunity to also work with marginalized groups, and young people, helping demystify issues around sex and sexuality, violence, and misogyny. By 2013 we realized that this approach was limited to project cycles; pictures that looked good in reports, and wasn’t sustainable. Peer educators we trained were cut loose with no follow up or support beyond the

project cycle. Research we did sat on shelves and wasn’t disseminated. This approach paid well, but had little or no impact in the long term. That’s when we turned to education in schools – a long term approach to education reform i.e. relationship education in schools based on the fundamentals of respect for self, other and difference. We started working on curricula and modules that schools can use. We started working with Health Science teachers to help them effectively implement the existing Health and Physical education syllabus. We started to focus on the selfesteem of the child, on concepts like empathy and consent – all in the knowledge that this approach, in the long term, can bring about real change in how we perceive and treat each other.

4. How open are people to accepting and discussing such issues in the present day?

Paba read to me from a newsletter her mother had helped write in 1981 as an activist in the Kurunegala area. The issues that mattered then were the lack of access to safe abortions, sexual harassment on public transport, teenage pregnancy rates, violence against women and girls…what has changed almost 40 years? Campaigns, marches, all these are great at making ourselves feel better, making us feel like we’re doing something, but what we need to do is change attitudes, affect behaviour.

To do that we need to be open about sex and relationships and sexuality, and the realities people face. The NIE curriculum has coined a new term for sex in terms of male or female – “biological gender” because it

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appears they don’t even want to use the word sex in reference to male and female. Is it any wonder then that we were world champions googling sex from2011-2014, and then again in 2016, and that Homagama retained their number one position as a town googling sex in 2017? So how are we to discuss sex work and the rights of people who use drugs, and the need to repeal sections of our penal code that criminalize love between man and man or woman and woman? There is no short term fix. Campaigns, marches, all these just help us feel better about ourselves and validate our existence. They make no difference to how people are treated and continue to be treated.

5. Do you feel society has become more welcoming towards the marginalised, or do we still have a long way to go?

Miles to go before we sleep.

6. Has becoming a father changed or impacted your perspective on these issues in any way?

Yes. It has given us a renewed sense of purpose to help put in place a process that one day has the potential to have a knock on effect on us being kinder to each other. There is no magic bullet as people, we will probably always struggle with our prejudices…but I believe and imagine in a future that can be more hopeful than what we think is in store for us now. Dreamer no? No harm.

7. In a country as conventional as Sri Lanka, the victims of abuse and those who are marginalised may not feel comfortable coming forward to share their stories. How do you create a safe environment to empower them to tell their side of the story?

First make sure they know you don’t judge them for being who they are. This is the most sensible first step. Once they know this, they open up, and trust you with their story. Also, never break the trust that they have put in you. Never ever sensationalize or make sexy their facts, their reality. We have to respect their journey and their story and represent it as it has been told to us.

8. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your journey?

Me, Myself and I. Fortunately I have a partner that kicks me out of bed when I feel overwhelmed. Paba continuously challenges and inspires me.

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“Campaigns, marches, all these are great at making ourselves feel better, making us feel like we’re doing something, but what we need to do is change attitudes, affect behaviour.

To do that we need to be open about sex and relationships and sexuality, and the realities people face.”

9. Out of the many projects you’ve conducted over the years, which are you proudest of? bakamoono.lk as a resource on sex and relationships in all three Sri Lankan languages is probably what we’re most thrilled about in terms of the beginning we’ve made, but like I said, miles to go before we sleep.

We need to convince the NIE to include a comprehensive age appropriate approach to sex and relationships, so that every student that becomes a lawyer, doctor, policeman and politician is exposed over time to information that promotes human dignity for all. Then, perhaps one day I can sleep longer without Paba kicking me out of bed.

10. You’ve frequently used the arts as a medium to communicate some of the issues that are not often addressed. How effective have you found this method to be?

V Day, since 2011, soon went from being an attempt at awareness to a cathartic experience for us. It helped us cope with the realities of violence in Sri Lanka we encounter through our work. We tell stories to challenge those who come to watch our show, and it can be quite the show. It’s about not allowing them to ignore, at least for one night a year, our collective lived reality.

In 2020, after 10 years of V Day, we plan to stop and start making short films, in all three languages, so as to ensure we can reach a

wider audience. Story telling can help change people’s perspectives, and we’ll use that as often as we can, but it pales in comparison to the structured education intervention I’ve outlined. Schools are set up to include parents as partners in the intervention. To help promote more positive and healthy relationships between parent and child, with open lines of communication that will help prevent and arrest incidents of sexual and other forms of violence. Education. Done right. That alone has the potential for real attitudinal and behavioural change. Japan is an excellent example of what is possible as seen with their transformation post World War II. Everything else, like theatre and film, helps, just helps.

11. Have you ever felt discouraged about your cause and achieving your vision?

Yes. If only my pillow could talk. It’ll freak you out man. Don’t laugh. It will.

12. Sometimes, those who work towards helping the marginalised also face discrimination and ridicule.

Do you have any words of encouragement towards them?

Get up and keep going. Don’t stop. Weep. Dry your tears. Feel. Hug someone you love. On with the dance.

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Asia Food Festival at Mainland China

Anusha

Aaliya

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Dhara

Prithvia

Himali

Fenu

Mainland China recently hosted the Asian Food Festival which gave foodies a chance to experience a fusion of exotic Asian food.

Jai

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Nethmi

Black Fouzul Hameed’s 2019 Fashion Show

Rajitha

Rozanne

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Dilruk

Fouzul

Shalin

Dhananjaya

Harris

Dinesh

Ajai

Treshan

Desiree

Introducing a “brand new story” with their seasonal collection this week, Fouzul Hameed and Hameedia presented its fashion showcase for 2019 – BLACK. The show was choreographed by Ajai Vir Singh, with the collection set to inspire the trends

Indi

Sahan

Nelum

in men’s fashion in the coming year.

Sangeetha

Priyanthi

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Treshan

Fouzul

Indi

Sahan

Shanith

Fazil

Yasara

Nayana

Anusha

Lucky

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Tariq

Deepak

Ranil

Nimna

Nipuna

“DESIGN ISURU UNEXPECTED” SANDEEPA

Says the Sri Lankan Interior Designer

JAYATHILAKA

On his Journey of outstanding artistry

Dutch House - Bandarawela

When we look at Design and assume it should be a certain way, he challenges that

by asking “why”? Free spirited by birth and an Interior Designer by choice, Isuru Sandeepa Jayathilake dropped his IT degree to honour his innate desire to work with shades and shapes. His fearless expressions from the colour pallet and imaginatively designed traditional motifs creating homes-away-from home has now become the buzz of the design talk. His Mantra is creativity first and feasibility second as it lets him take an ethical stance to support artisans and conserve traditional crafts, which he passionately present this miraculous art by way of interior designs to people who value it.

“DESIGN is so simple That’s why it’s so complicated” -paul rand Starting his career as an Assistant Kitchen Designer, Isuru Sandeepa Jayathilaka gradually climbed the rungs of the ladder to become the head of designing within 06 years of joining Centrepoint Interiors Pvt Ltd. This first stint of his career was not only the most challenging but also was the most inspiring where he realized a treasure chest of priceless experience which soon led him to start his own company - IJ Interiors.

IJ interiors specializes in the design of Kitchens, High-end apartments, Private residences, Villas, Bungalows, Restaurants, and Luxury showrooms. We sat down with this rather interesting character to gain some insight into his career.

Text by- Chethinie Gunaratne

Tell us about yourself

and what you do?

I am a Colombo-based Interior Designer with eleven and counting years of practice. I work with clients across the country to create distinct and comfortable interiors that enhances lifestyles while retaining a strong sense of place. I collaborate with clients throughout regions on multi diverse residential and commercial projects to achieve a balance of design, comfort and function to create interiors that are both current and enduring.

What about your school life?

Our Lady’s School Nuwara Eliya was my primary school and I persued my secondary education in St. Thomas’ College Bandarawela .

How did you get into this field?

As a child, my parents’ view of the grown up Isuru was a Software Engineer, but this area of work was of least interest to me. My passion has always been Art. Colours and forms have always been an endless source of inspiration to me. I have always known that I can be myself with hues and designs. Although persuing a career as a Software Engineer was not something that I even dreamt of, I decided to commit to it to gratify my parents.

However, the fire in my stomach to create art grew wild and I began to “feel” that my call is for interior design. Thanks to my understanding parents, they consented me to drop the Software Engineering Degree and endorsed me to follow my heart. Today, they are the proudest of what I do!

What makes you unique as a designer?

I think there are two factors.

• My ability to collaborate with colours. The essence of the magic I create is in the colours I use. I don’t believe in following rules when it comes to using colours in my work. I convince my clients to go for a wider palate and they always end up happy with the results.

• My usage of traditional Sri Lankan motifs to create designs.

They not only give my designs a sense of a unique identity but also a feeling of Sri Lankan pride.

What did you learn from the humble beginnings of your career?

When I was an assistant kitchen designer at Centrepoint Interiors Pvt Ltd, I learnt to manage my time as well as how to relate to a wider range of clients and projects. Working with top kitchen brands in the world such as Signature Kitchens, Nolte, Oppein and Express Kitchen helped me to get the touch and feel of quality and class.

Who inspires you and why?

Karim Rashid and Philippe Starck, due to their bold and eccentric use of colors.

Do you think you can be a role model to other interior designers in Sri Lanka?

I sincerely hope so. It’s been an amazing journey for me so far. If I am to say something for aspiring Interior designers - Be authentic. Feel the fire in you.

Don’t blindly follow others just because he or she is famous. We are all creators in our own special ways, so be original in YOUR own way. Eventually, you will see that you have created a place for you even without you noticing it. Being original is what will take you to where you want to be and what will keep you there will be perseverance, integrity, respect to others and no compromise to quality.

When all is said and done, Isuru is proud to be the only designer to have designed over 6000 unique, state of the art kitchens in Sri Lanka. He is now ready to manufacture his own kitchens in Sri Lanka under his brand which is scheduled to be launched in the near future.

His milestones and work features;

+94 77 27 27 734 isuru@ijinteriors.com www.ijinteriors.com ijinteriors ijinteriors isuru sandeepa jayathilaka

Azarya | The Dutch House Bandarawela | Hoppa Galle Fort Chealsea Gardens Villa | Staron Solid Surface showroom Bay Villa Balapitiya | Luxmi Impex Office Colombo Dumplings Cafe - Galle Fort

This breadth of experience encompasses all his work and he particularly enjoys the collaborative process which involves working with architects, craftspeople and contractors to fully express his clients’ vision for their spaces.

Anuradha

Nelum

Kavindi

Dasuni

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Pimms and Art at Galle Face Hotel

Savithri

The Galle Face Hotel recently hosted Pimm’s & Art, a unique experience where guests enjoyed sipping on Pimms cocktails while browsing the various arts and crafts for sale.

Nesha

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GRIP DELMEGE

GRIP NORDIC REDEFINING LIFESTYLE THROUGH WORLD-CLASS EUROPEAN AND SWEDISH DESIGNS

Grip Delmege and Grip Nordic are subsidiaries of the prestigious Delmege Forsyth, a market leader in consumer goods and diversified solutions. Grip Delmege and Grip Nordic are also members of the blue-chip cluster ‘Vallibel One’.

Leveraging the seamless resources, experience, and expertise of the group, the companies have ventured into delivering total interior solutions, with a spellbinding range of bespoke interior designs. In an exclusive interview, CEO of Grip Delmege Pvt Ltd and Grip Nordic Pvt Ltd, Mr. Tharinda Silva elaborated his views on the exclusive solutions offered by the two brands.

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Why do you have two distinct companies to offer interior solutions?

recent project was King of the Mambo at Galle Face Hotel.

Grip Delmege is specialised in providing total interior solutions for business clients as well as residential customers. Grip Nordic, on the other hand, provides bespoke furniture solutions inspired by world class European and Swedish designs.

What type of solutions are offered

by Grip Nordic?

Can you tell us about the services offered by Grip Delmege?

Grip Delmege caters to a wide array of solutions ranging from floor to ceiling. In other words, total interior solutions for a household or an office work space. With the experience and expertise garnered by providing interior décor for office spaces, we have recently ventured into adorning residential spaces, varying from stand-alone houses to high rise apartments. Our most

Grip Nordic offers an exclusive collection of furniture that has been meticulously designed and manufactured to the highest quality. The designs have been inspired by the world’s finest haute couture furniture designs. What’s more, our products place special emphasis on functionality and convenience, giving more value for money for our customers.

Do you use special type of wood or material to manufacture these furniture?

Yes. We use ethical timber, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) obtained from our Group’s estates.

In comparison to the market rates, what can you tell us about the pricing of your solutions?

Grip Delmege’s interior solutions and Grip Nordic’s furniture solutions are offered at attractively competitive rates.

How do you maintain a competitive price range for your solutions?

We want more people to beautify their homes and office spaces. Therefore, we have entered into strategic partnerships with our cluster companies, enabling us to drop the extra overheads significantly. These companies - ranging from logistics and aviation to financial firms – help us to deliver products

without the intervention of intermediaries, thereby cutting down costs spent on intermediate businesses, transportation and other stakeholders. Thanks to this approach, we’re able to provide a whole new experience of interior styling for the masses, but also offer high quality designs at competitive prices, and stay ahead of the competition.

Can you name some of the projects successfully completed by Delmege interior solutions?

We have completed a host of projects including Galle Face Hotel – King of the Mambo, Dialog Modernized Technical Office at Akbar Building (400 seating), Dialog Call

GRIP NORDIC Furniture inspired by the world’s most sought after designs

Total interior solutions with alluring

Centre at Access Tower II (650 seating). In addition, we have been awarded the HSBC Branch at Union Place, MAS - Noyon Lanka as well as the Qatar Visa Centre, Royal Ceramics and LB Finance office premises.

bespoke designs

Hotline: 0763851029

GRIP DELMEGE

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Drapes of

2018 The saree made a comeback this year as many of Colombo’s fashionistas were seen embracing its elegance

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Chalani

Fashion Designer, Model, Pageant Queen

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Coming back to the industry, what challenges do you face?

Chalini Rathnayake recently bagged the Second Runner Up position at Miss Asia 2018, making Sri Lanka dazzle at the international competition. We sat down with Chalini to talk about her journey and her career in a rapidly changing industry.

Tell us a little bit about yourself My name is Chalini Rathnayaka and I am 24 years old. I hail from Kurunegala although currently I live in Kirulapone. I am a trainee fashion designer and a part time model.

Wijesooriya, Serieen Slemmarman, Lucky Susil, Hiran Wijesekara, Diliganz and Hi life.

From the Miss Asia team, none of this would have been possible without; Dr Ajith, Jebitha ma’am, everyone from Saj Earth Resort and of course, our groomer, Alieana.

We need to be updated about the industry since it changes so fast. New contemporary trends keep coming in, so we have to fit into the mould by modifying our work and improving our talents. It requires a lot of dedication and involvement.

What is the most rewarding thing about it?

It gives me happiness because I absolutely love what I do. They say if you do what you love for a living, you won’t work a day in your life!

What are your hobbies and interests?

Writing, short stories and poems are my forte.

Other than that, I am just a regular girl who enjoys the simple things in life.

How did you get into this industry?

I would actually call it an accident. One of my friends applied for me for the ITN Avurudu Kumariya. At first, I was hesitant to participate but my father gave me the support to proceed with it. I ended up getting into the finals and people started contacting me for work. So far its been about two years since then.

What were some of your career defining moments?

The first instance was Miss intercontinental 2017 where I got selected to the top 8 and took home three mini titles; Miss Talent, Personality, and Elegance. The second would have to be Miss Grand Sri Lanka 2018 where I got into the top five. And of course, most recent would have to be when Brian Kerkoven nominated me as Miss Asia Sri Lanka, where I became the runner up.

Tell us more about your experience during Miss Asia 2018 My journey began on the 2nd of November and ended on the 11th. I never expected to be the second runner up in an international pageant, so I was surprised to say the least!

We stayed in a resort called Saj Earth resort.

The owners were the sweetest people and treated us like princesses. To us it felt more like a vacation rather than a competition because for those few days we felt like one big family. I want to thank many people for making this happen and being a part of this; my heartfelt gratitude goes out to; Brian Kerkoven, Kamil Hewavitharana, Michael

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“

“

I am just a regular girl who enjoys the simple things in life.

Who are your inspirations?

Inspiration is everywhere.

Every time I meet someone new, I always learn something, or I have a small takeaway from my experiences. But if I had to name someone it would be my father. He had a lot of troubles and barriers, but he never gave up regardless of the situation.

What would you like to change about this industry?

The stigma associated with being a model in Sri Lanka must change. People need to realize that we are professionals too who work in a very important and worthwhile industry.

As this industry has a global presence, what is unique about it that is only seen in Sri Lanka?

There is a Sri Lankan charm that cannot be explained. Our models aren’t as fair or tall but they carry that unique island charm that cannot be put into words. When you see it, you know exactly what it is!

What advice do you have for those starting out their career in modeling?

Never give up. If you want to be a part of this industry, come with the mindset that you will have failures. Be ready to face them and rise above them. This is an industry which is hard to sustain as there are new faces daily so you should always benchmark yourself to be better than yesterday.

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CULTURE COLOMBO An authentic Sri Lankan experience!

The very new Culture Colombo is already wildly popular for its authentic Sri Lankan dining experience and on our first visit, we were impressed with the attention to detail in infusing true Lankan-ness into each aspect of the restaurant. You walk into the soothing instrumental sounds of Sri Lankan classics and are welcomed by service staff who are attentive, accommodating and well versed with the menu.

The restaurant is well laid out and spacious with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Our drinks were the self-explanatory King Coconut Lime (LKR 250) and an excellent homemade version of Ginger Beer (LKR 300).

For mains, we had the Chicken Bamboo Biryani (LKR 795) that everyone’s been raving about. Their fragrant Biryani is served at the table out of a bamboo tube and our chicken biriyani came with plenty of chicken with traditional accompaniments such as chutney, raita, green peas, cashew curry, and an egg.

were certainly not for the faint hearted. They offer a choice of carbs (roast paan or rice) and serve a side of onion sambol. The half portion is meant for two but was generous enough for three of us. We also wanted to sample their Northern fare, opting for the Elu Mas Yapanaya Kramayata (Jaffna Style Mutton) (LKR 950), a lovely dish of cubes of mutton slow-cooked in heady Jaffna spices.

We tried their take on the Chicken Cheese Kottu (LKR 690) which was a hefty portion full of chunks of chicken, veggies and gooey, cheese.

Pure indulgence!

For dessert, we tried Watalappam (LKR 400) which was a perfect rendition that would leave you craving for more.

We also chose the Mixed Seafood Dry Bowl (Half ) (LKR 2690) out of their signature Mati Walande Dry Curries. The Walande came with copious servings of cuttlefish, crab, prawn and fish. The spice levels

Culture Colombo is a much needed addition to Colombo’s restaurant scene which is surprisingly nothing short of high quality, authentic Sri Lankan offerings.

LOCATION:

25, Kensington Gardens (Off Duplication Road), Colombo 04

OPEN FROM:

12 PM – 3.30 PM | 6.30 PM – 11 PM

CUISINE: Sri Lankan

PRICE RANGE Rs. 1500-2500

RATING Read the full review on pulse.lk

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SANTAI COLOMBO A taste of Malaysia in the heart of Colombo!

also tried the Teh Tarik (cold) (LKR 350) which is your basic milk tea that tasted just fine.

curry, crunchy kerepok (crackers), sprats and the perfectly done fried egg with a runny yolk.

Entering Santai, meaning “relaxed”, it is quite apparent that the establishment has stayed true to its name. The restaurant exudes a homely atmosphere with gentle lighting and soothing instrumental music playing in the background.

We had the Satay Kambing (LKR 950) appetizer which proved to be the winning dish of our meal.

The mutton was succulent and juicy, the seasoning was perfect and the peanut sauce was the cherry on top. Although on the pricey side, the mutton satays did pack that authentic Malaysian punch.

For dessert, we had the Ice Kacang/ABC (Ais Batu Campur) (LKR 850), a satisfying sugar rush and brain freeze consisting of shaved ice, rose syrup, gula melaka sauce, toasted peanuts, creamy corn, different jellies, red beans, and a scoop of ice cream. Santai sources their gula melaka from Melaka and the 100% pure natural coconut palm sugar is excellent.

Santai’s menu offers Nyonya favourites like Roti Canai, Satay, Nasi Lemak, Nasi Gorang, Nyonya Laksa, Cendol and Ice Kacang. While they do not serve any pork or beef, their menu includes a wide selection of seafood, chicken and mutton dishes as well as several 100% vegetarian dishes. Here’s what we tried on our first visit there: From their drinks menu, we picked the Green Apple and Calamansi Juice (LKR 500) which was absolutely refreshing on a warm day; its sweet and sour taste complemented our food very well. We

Our mains were Nasi Lemak with Mutton Rendang (LKR 1200) and Nasi Goreng Kampung (LKR 1050); we definitely preferred the latter. The Nasi Lemak tasted fine, but we found the mutton too dry.

Generally the entire dish was on the dry side. The fragrant coconut rice and delicious sambal was what saved the dish.

Every element in the Nasi Goreng blended perfectly-from the tempered and seasoned rice, to the tender crispy chicken, heavenly vegetable

We tried another gula melaka dessert the Kuih Ketayap (LKR 650) which consisted of thin pandan flavoured crepes rolled with shredded coconut, cooked in gula melaka. It’s sweet, but not so sweet that you feel guilty after eating it. The crepes were thin and soft as well.

The service was quick and our food arrived fresh and warm to make this a very pleasant experience.

LOCATION: 01, Maitland Place, Colombo 7

OPEN FROM: 12 pm – 3 pm | 6 pm – 10.30 pm

CUISINE: Malaysian

PRICE RANGE Rs. 1500-2500

RATING Read the full review on pulse.lk

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KING OF THE MAMBO Sea Breeze and Cuban Extravagance!

The iconic Galle Face Hotel has upped its game, with the launch of the Cuba-inspired King of the Mambo, an incomparable dining experience set against the breathtaking Colombo sunset. The setting, the bright and cheerful atmosphere and the pulsating vibe of the music, transport you straight to Havana’s streets. King of the Mambo is a superb addition to Colombo’s dining and entertainment options.

King of the Mambo offers a range of cocktails some of which have a unique Cuban twist and boast flavour profiles that you wouldn’t imagine working well together.

We had the Black Mambo (LKR 1850), a blend of tequila, raspberry liqueur, fresh pineapple juice and blue curacao which comes garnished with slices of dehydrated pineapple and a cool “King of The Mambo” necklace that you can take home

as a memento. The tequila and pineapple make for a great merger of refreshing flavours. The El Republicano Bananero (LKR 1600) was akin to a lip smackingly alcoholic banana milkshake; a concoction of gin, creme de banana, pineapple, and clove syrup which may sound odd, but worked well together.

Appetizers Fried calamari is definitely a local favourite and Calamarcitos Calientes (LKR 950) with its Cuban twist doesn’t fail to impress. Served with chilli flakes and lime, the calamari is lightly batter fried and topped off with fried curry leaves. It’s served with two dipping sauces, a spicy red sauce, and a ranch-like white sauce.

We ordered the Tacos Dominicanos (LKR 1250) which was our favourite dish of the night. The perfectly seasoned, tender pulled beef

on crispy tacos came with sour cream and avocado guacamole. The tacos are served with coleslaw and shredded cabbage, and would even suffice as a main if you aren’t too hungry.

The Paella Valenciana (LKR 3,350 for 2/5900 for 4) came loaded with clams, mussels, king prawns, calamari and fish. The paella rice had just the right level of bite but we found the seafood a tad overcooked. The seafood broth was flavoursome and made for a well-made paella, even though it probably wouldn’t be our first pick when we return.

Of their desserts, we tried the Ron Del Mambo (LKR 850), Mambo’s rum baba. The delicious cake was soaked in rum-infused syrup, and filled with whipped cream, stewed peaches, strawberries and candied orange peel. We also had the Volcán de Chocolate (LKR 850) a moist, oozing, decadent chocolate lava cake that was just mind blowingly good.

LOCATION: Galle Face Hotel, No 2, Galle Road, Colombo 33

OPEN FROM: 5pm – 12am

CUISINES: South American

PRICE RANGE Rs. 2500-3500

RATING Read the full review on pulse.lk

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BOWL’D Healthy fast food with a Hawaiian twist!

Bowl’d is a wholesome dining experience that will take you by surprise (in a good way) with their versatile menu that offers a range of customisable Poké Bowls, with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and even options for those looking for low-carb and gluten-free meals.

For drinks, we opted for the Strawberry Ice Tea (LKR 350) which was a perfect thirst quencher – the strong zesty flavour of fresh strawberry made it a great beverage. We were also quite pleased with our second choice the Gotukola Limeade (LKR 250) a super refreshing, if somewhat watered down combination of gotukola, lime and kithul honey.

The Poké Nachos (LKR 750) was an absolutely amazing appetiser consisting of salmon and tuna sashimi, spicy soy marinade, tempura battered seaweed chips, spring onions, tobiko, panko, and wasabi mayo. The good quality cubes of salmon and tuna, paired with the crispy nachos made for

the perfect treat and even though the portion may seem small for the price, considering the ingredients that go in, we’d say it’s totally worth it.

Both Poké Bowls were garnished with spring onions, sesame seeds, pickled cucumber and pickled ginger.

For the Teriyaki Chicken Poké Bowl (Large – LKR 900, Small – LKR 800), we went with the half and half option of red rice and white sushi rice. The bowl included teriyaki chicken cubes, sweet corn, carrots, onions, red bell pepper, shredded seaweed, wonton crisps and chilli mayo. For the Tangy Tuna Poké Bowl (Large – LKR 1050, Small – LKR 950), we went with a zoodle base, and the bowl included tuna, passion fruit soy sauce, mango, chopped green chillies, onions, red cabbage, tobiko, panko, shredded seaweed, and chilli mayo.

Out of their Dessert bowls, we opted for two of their ‘Nana Bowls, banana based health conscious desserts that tasted heavenly! The Strawberry version (LKR 750) consisted of strawberry, banana, house-made granola (yas) and coconut chips – a filling, crunchy and fruity dish. The Dragon Fruit ‘Nana Bowl (LKR 750) was almost too pretty to eat but is unfortunately a seasonal option as dragon fruit is seldom available.

The Poké Bowls were labelled as the house favourites and this dish really showed us why.

The super healthy elements combine perfectly to create flavour explosion; the mango and passion fruit soy sauce and tobiko worked very well. We’d probably pick a different base the next time though because we found the zoodles too watery.

We loved the laid back vibe at Bowl’d with reggae music playing in the background. The staff and owners are very friendly and very accommodating, and are happy to explain the menu and make recommendations. They plan to incorporate breakfast options to the menu soon. Kudos to Bowl’d for their eco-friendly use of bamboo straws, wooden bowls, cane coasters, and even coconut shells.

LOCATION: 30, Sea View Avenue, Colombo 03

OPEN FROM: Tuesday to Sunday - 12 pm to 9 pm, closed on Mondays

CUISINE: Multicuisine

PRICE RANGE Rs. 500-1500

RATING Read the full review on pulse.lk

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Joy, Love and Family with

Amagi Aria When translated, “amagi” refers to a song that doesn’t stop its melody and “aria” is the highest note that resonates within that song.

It certainly is quite a unique name for a hotel and for good reason; simply put, the rest, relaxation, and luxury will not cease. During this festive season, the sound of Amagi will certainly resonate through Negombo as they have many exciting things planned for this month of joy, love, and family.

Starting things off, Amagi Aria will host a fabulous Christmas eve lunch and dinner, featuring many traditional elements including the one thing that no festive meal will be complete without, decadent turkey. Expect a lot of activities on Christmas Day that both the young and old can enjoy. You will be able to see the skills of the chefs displayed through many action stations. All of this will follow through until Christmas dinner.

One thing that you can expect is that the cuisine offered will simply get better and better!

In terms of entertainment, what better way to enjoy a

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Christmas dinner than with smooth live Jazz playing in the background. Amagi has also planned something never seen before as they will take pride in showcasing the only Christmas tree to float along the banks of the stunning Negombo Lagoon. They haven’t forgotten the kids as Santa Claus will make an appearance before he continues his journey across the world. Expect staff to also be a part of the nights festivities as the carol for your enjoyment.

To ring in the new year, Amagi Aria has gone completely out of the box. This will not be your mainstream dinner dance where you have no memory of the night before. Their fantastic buffet concept will be street food this year, featuring European, Sri Lankan, Thai, Malay, Singaporean favourites and more. You can walk down one pathway full of action stations and end up visiting

every corner of the world. In addition, carvery stations and a lavish sushi spread will also be present. As for entertainment for the night, Amagi will be having a live DJ to keep your toes tapping and arms swinging. The icing on the cake is that you can bring your own booze! If you would like to turn this night into a mini vacation, they are also offering 50 percent off on local rates for rooms during this festive season.

As for Amagi Aria, the new year will really be one that defines them as a player in the hospitality industry. Considering that they were recognized by Expedia as the most improved hotel for 2018 out of some 6000 registered hotels in Sri Lanka, this just goes to show that they are here to stay. So, go on and make those reservations with your family and loved ones for the season at the one and only Amagi Aria, Negombo’s Hidden Secret.

Tips for your

FOXY

Our skin goes through a lot of changes as we age and it’s important to give our skin the right balance of vitamins and nutrients to keep it looking its best.

But it is also important to change your makeup game as your skin ages - the tricks you used on your face during your twenties and thirties won’t always work as you approach the forties.

The dreaded ‘mature’ word now applies to your skin too as your tone and texture change, elasticity diminishes, and suddenly you have unwelcome friends like fine lines and even notice changes to your eyelids and brows.

Here are some beginner make-up tips for mature skin:

1. Make sure you use a light foundation or tinted moisturizer.

As our skin matures the collagen and elastin beneath the skin breaks down and it is

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40s

inevitable that fine lines start popping up.

However I believe that these can be reduced to a great extent with the correct treatments right from the beginning. When your skin is young it can absorb heavy foundation, but as skin matures its advisable to keep your coverage light and natural. This will prevent your makeup from cracking every time you smile or make facial expressions. Find a liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer that works best for your skin to enhance it rather than to weigh it down. Heavy foundation can dull your skin and sink in to your fine lines.

2. Make sure to fill in your brows.

Be extra careful when trimming your eyebrows next time; there’s nothing like thin eyebrows to make a woman look even older than she really is. Therefore make sure you don’t over pluck, and maybe invest in a good brow growth serum to make them fuller.

TIP- use soft strokes when filling your brows so they look as natural as possible.

3. Curl your lashes

Curling your lashes and using thicker mascara can make your eyes look bigger and brighter.

This helps you look more youthful.

TIP-If you have short lashes, use lengthening mascara.

4. Opt for lighter, glossier lip shades Glossier lip shades will help enhance your pout and make your lips look bigger. Lips get their shape mostly from collagen; as the body ages it produces less of this critical protein. Therefore the lips start to lose their plumpness. Using darker matt shades will emphasize this.

Written by Rashmeen Perera Fashion Blogger

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Mr and Mrs Dilshan Ferdinando

Aarthi

Dilshan

Shalin

Soraya

Anusha Charles

Muhunthan

Dhara

Dilrukshi

Keith

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Charini

Farrah

Annika and Latika

Sabina

Eraj

Thimal

Shilpa

Viraj

Crish

SERENIA RESIDENCES Groundbreaking And Celebration Lakshmi

Michelle

Aravind

Raja

Himali

The unique luxury residences in Talpe - Galle, Serenia celebrated the commencement of construction on their project on 22 October at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo. www.pulse.lk | PAGE 157

Asanka

Anoma

Yashodhara

Christoper

Ajai

Thaha

Viky

Indian Design Forum in Sri Lanka India Design Forum (IDF) held their first event in Sri Lanka on 18 October, 2018. India Design Forum was initiated as a comprehensive design conference in 2012 to cater to all disciplines of design.

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Shihaam

Secrets

TO LOOKING BETTER IN PHOTOS...

We live in a world that’s obsessed with social media and although you may be 100% satisfied with the way you look in front of the mirror a bad picture can leave you unhappy at times…but you don’t have to be a model or a diva to know how to pose for a camera. Here’s some TIPS & TRICKS that can certainly make you look great at all those special occasions during this festive season:

The key to a beautiful photograph is when you smile naturally, therefore do not fake a smile, be as natural as you can.

Better posture Pretend you are squeezing a lemon in between your shoulder blades. This will help you hold your body straight for better posture. Standing up straight really does make a difference, not only will it elongate you in photos, but it also gives you confidence.

Avoid double chins This is a common problem that we often worry about when clicking pictures. And here’s the trick; always remember to move your chin a little forward and downwards.

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Makeup secrets Contouring can make you look amazing in photographs. A little bit of highlighter on the cheekbones and the inside angles of the eyes will make you look amazing.

and put the arm closest to the camera on your hip. Try standing with one leg slightly in front of the other and putting your weight on the back foot.

Cross your ankles Know your best side, and use it all the time Now this might sound a little crazy, but we all have a better side to our face. The best way to find out is to take a few selfies of each side and compare to see which you prefer the most.

If you are being photographed head on (full length), this will make your hips look narrower and your legs look longer.

Hide your arm fat and have instantly thin arm Always try to hold your arms out of your body, jamming your arms up against your body will flatten them and make you look much broader. Position your body at 45 degrees

Written by Rashmeen Perera Fashion Blogger

RELAUNCH OF ROBATA GRILL AND LOUNGE

Ramona

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Charini

Treshan

Nelum

Movenpick Colombo recently celebrated the relaunch of their exclusive Japanese restaurant and sushi lounge, the Robata grill and lounge.

Kinita

Gayan

Chandana

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Easy Made

Skincare

If you had to pick on one flaw of yours what would it be? Dull day for the mere fact that what is made at home is always skin? Skin pigmentation? Maybe it’s a terrible case of acne? cleaner, healthier and more effective.

With over 20 years in the beauty industry, Tina Burtus believes that natural home remedies trump expensive cosmetics any Here are a few of her most popular home remedies. Try them out and let us know what you think!

For Pigmentation and Dark Circles

For Firm Skin and Dry Skin

Acne

Products required:

Products required:

Products required:

• Juice of one potato (6-10 tablespoons)

• Gram powder (Kadala piti)

• Apple cider vinegar

• Turmeric powder

• Sugar

• Milk or yoghurt

• Bee’s honey

• Bee’s honey

• Yogurt

• Sugar

Procedure:

• Sandalwood powder (Red/ white)

The procedure is very simple.

Procedure:

Mix all ingredients together and apply on your skin.

Mix together sugar, two tablespoons of tumeric powder and a small cup of milk.

Leave the mixture on for 20 minutes.

• Yoghurt • Bee’s Honey • Sugar • One green cucumber (grate the cucumber and extract the juice. Pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze it over night) Procedure: Extract potato juice by peeling and grating the potato and squeezing the shredded potato with a cloth Add sugar to the potato juice and scrub it well deep into your skin.

Wipe your face with cotton pads and use a tissue to remove your dry skin.

Mix well and scrub on to your face.

Leave it on for about 3- 5 minutes and wipe off with damp cotton pads.

Now take the remaining juice and add bee honey, yoghurt and a cube of cucumber juice.

Thereafter, apply the mixture of gram powder, turmeric powder, sandalwood powder, yoghurt and bee’s honey.

Massage it all over your face and around your eyes.

Leave it on for 20 minutes.

Leave the mixture on for 20 minutes.

Wash off and apply sunscreen before going outdoors.

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Wash and wipe off the mixture and dry your face with tissue.

Apply sunscreen before going outdoors

Rinse off

The Porsche Club Sri Lanka The Porsche Club Sri Lanka recently held an exciting cocktail event at the Jetwing Colombo Seven to announce and acknowledge the new partners of the club.

Jerome and Dimitri

Dinesh

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Chamira

Thilanga

Mubeena

Roshan

Ravi

Hirosh and Menaka

Launch of

Boutique at Horton Place

The grand opening of the Boutique at Horton Place took place on the 3rd of November

Minoli

Vraie

Viren, Salman and Dhiren

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Rosy Jameela and Shyama

Inoma

Tehseen

Rabia

Fazil

Tracy

Tanuja

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Crowning Glory Hair transplant procedures are becoming popular in the country could you explain what this procedure is?

It is a surgical procedure that moves hair follicles from one part of the body to a balding part of the body. This is a minimally invasive procedure. We select donor site follicles from a site that is genetically resistant to balding and plant them into the bald scalp.

Explain the technicalities of this procedure There are two main ways in which donor grafts are extracted: follicular unit transplant (FUT) and follicular unit extraction (FUE).

The FUE technique is the most commonly used technique. With this FUE harvesting technique, individual follicular units containing 1 to 4 hairs are removed under local anesthesia; this micro removal typically uses tiny punches of between 0.6mm and 1.0mm in diameter by a machine. The surgeon then uses very fine needles to

puncture the sites receiving the grafts, placing them in a predetermined density and pattern, and angling in a consistent fashion to promote a realistic hair pattern.

Is this technique right for anybody?

Yes, primarily in the initial consultation, the surgeon assesses the patient’s general medical condition and analyzes the scalp, discusses their preferences and expectations, and advises them on the best approach and what results might reasonably be expected.

This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, with mild sedation (optional) and injected local anesthesia.

Is this painful?

No! This procedure is performed with mild sedation and local anesthesia.

What about recovery time?

You will need to be sure to properly care for your hair after the FUE transplant. You can resume most normal activities three

Dr T. Sabesan Consultant Face & Jaw Surgeon, with special interest in Cosmetic Facial Surgery.

days after surgery. Your doctor will give you specific instructions for washing and caring for your hair initially.

What results can we expect following the procedure?

A hair transplant will leave you with a natural look and a recovered hairline. The actual results will depend on many factors; the skill of the surgeon, general medical condition / skin condition of the patient and postoperative care.

How quickly will new hair grow?

Usually the process of growing new hair is not immediate. In fact, you may have to wait up to eight to ten months before you start seeing growth, but you may begin to notice some hair growth after three to four months.

Is it possible to lose the hair that was transplanted?

It is normal to lose transplanted hairs shortly after your procedure. The transplanted follicles shed their hair shafts but the follicle will remain in the scalp and grows new hair shafts over the next several months.

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Jaffna

Food Festival at the Galadari

Featuring culinary delights from the north, the Jaffna Food Festival 2018 was held at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo

Kamil

Anil

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Brian

Asha

Anita

Imran

Gayani

Anita

The Insta-Famous

Stephanie Sansoni With a charming personality as sweet as her voice, the incredibly popular singer Stephanie Sansoni rose to fame through social media!

Amassing over 57,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 49,000 followers on Instagram, here’s everything you’ve wanted to know about the girl behind the voice, the talented Stephanie Sansoni

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3 words that perfectly describe Stephanie I would say I am ambitious, compassionate, and stubborn

What made you want to create your own YouTube channel?

I didn’t have a specific plan in mind when I started. It was back in 2014, and was a very spontaneous decision!

What do you prefer – making covers or performing?

I enjoy both but covers take a bit of effort; you have to record, film, and edit. In that sense, performing is much easier I’d say.

How often do you post covers?

Once a month.

Would you call yourself Instafamous?

I think I am insta-famous, but I always give priority to my YouTube channel.

What is your Instagram aesthetic and how do you maintain it?

I mainly focus on my music, but I like to highlight bits and pieces of my lifestyle as well, such as working out, going to university, dining, and more.

Tell us about your first time making a cover and posting it on social media Right after my A-Levels back in 2014, I was bored and didn’t have anything to do. So I decided to film my first cover and post it! It was ‘Thinking Out Loud’

by Ed Sheeran and it gained quite a lot of views, comments, and made want to post again.

Tell us about your career and journey in music I started posting covers more consistently since 2016 and I think I’m in a fairly good place right now.

I’ve been given many opportunities to perform at events and now I’ve started work on my original songs, along with a couple of other musical projects I’m working on at the moment.

languages so I think I could practice any song in any language and pull it off!

English or Sinhala covers?

I’d have to go with Sinhala covers.

What is the most popular cover you’ve ever made and the cover you love the most?

The most popular has been ‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran; it has over a half a million views as of today.

My personal favourite is the cover of Daffodil Male.

What does the future hold for Stephanie Sansoni?

I would like to improve myself as an artist and a singer.

I’m ambitious - I have big dreams, and my wildest dream is to go international someday! But for now, I’m going to go with the flow and see how it all falls into place.

What languages do you sing in?

Right now, I sing in Sinhala, English, Hindi, Spanish, and Maldivian. I have a knack for

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Roberto

Radika

Tanuja Deepak

Ayesh

Thiyasha

Thiyasha

Prithi

Nelum

Shalini

Ramona

Gayantha

Tiesh Launches Collection de Perles

Ramani

Harris

Gayan

Kinita

Sri Lanka’s luxe jewelry brand Tiesh, recently launched their new collection in celebration of the nearing festive season.

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On the beat with

Bebop

& Barking the

Crickets

Zoe, Pablo, Paulino, and Keith; these extremely talented musicians have been taking Shangri-La’s Capital Bar and Grill by storm as of late through the unique genre of Electro Swing, putting a Jazzy spin on contemporary pop songs and more. We had to find out about their story, and you’d be surprised to find out that a band with such amazing chemistry have only been together for a short while.

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How did this all begin?

After Kyle from Shangri-La put the concept together, we received a few phone calls and through the grapevine we ended up meeting each other. It’s almost like we formed an instant connection!

How has the journey been so far?

Interesting to say the least! We are all new friends here from different parts of the world and we have been learning about one another through music; the connecting factor that brings us together. Sometimes our audiences are amazed as they cannot believe that we have been together for such a short while.

Is there a story behind the name?

That would be Kyle’s idea, he wanted something unique that wasn’t just the three bald guys and the curly haired singer. It’s a great way to introduce people to Jazz as well, so our guests won’t think it is boring.

Paulino: In school I was into acting and for some reason acting connected with music. I started playing drums through that connection.

Zoe: I sang while growing up but never professionally. I was in the corporate world working for an oil company when one day someone heard me singing. I was asked to quit my job and sing and its been around 15 years since then. I’ve never looked back.

Who inspires you all?

Keith: Charlie Parker and John Coltrane Pablo: Miles Davis, and folkloric music which I get exposed to as I love travelling

As a group do you have a favorite genre of music?

Paulino: Bill Evans, Dave Weckl, and Tony Williams

We all like a whole variety of music depending on our moods.

Everything from jazz, soul, RnB, house and rock to even country.

Why electro swing?

How did each of you get into this industry

This is more of an experiment for all of us. It is a challenge to get people to genres outside of their comfort zone. Pop music however, appeals to everyone and that is our hook. We put our own electro swing spin on modern pop songs and people are introduced to something new!

Keith: I started back when I was five. So it has been 45 years now.

My dad was a pastor, so I started learning to play the organ even though my first instrument was drums. As I moved forward through elementary and junior high school, I took my skills forward.

Pablo: I was a jazz piano player but I was fascinated by beatboxing. I would love to reproduce what I heard from famous beatboxers

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What are the most challenging aspects you face?

Well, we are new friends in a new place. Of course, there are new traditions and customs. It is wonderful, but it is a different experience culturally as well. The venue is also looking for a new concept so

creating a sound according to a venue is always a challenge. So far we’ve seen repeat customers who bring new friends along and tell us that there is nothing like this here in Colombo so it is very encouraging as well.

What is your secret to success?

It’s the exploration of finding something and doing it well. We are passionate about it and always deliver a hundred percent. The magic happens when we reach that culmination.

“Please come experience what we do because we do it with passion and love and the cool thing is we are all so different and we speak different languages but the music brings us together. So why not come here and let the music bring you together and have a good time!?”

CJS Partners

Asha

with Asha De Vos Inspired by the colours and textures of Sri Lanka’s ocean waters, Colombo Jewelry Stores (CJS) uses its newest collection, Ocean Blues to raise awareness on marine conservation, working with Dr. Asha de Vos and Oceanswell.

Ashani

Ajai Stephanie PAGE 184 | www.pulse.lk

Savanjeeth Christina

Jan

Nelum

Ian

Sajeda and Jamila

Rishini

Minky

Ashan

Anne

Shehan

Romany

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Launch of

Aura Haute Couture’s Festive Collection

Aura Haute Couture, the choice of the discerning fashionista unveiled their dazzling Festive Season Collection at their beautifully appointed boutique on Rosmead Place in the presence of Her Worship the Mayor, Rosy Senanayake

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Deepak

Nilanthi

Meenakshi

Gayathri

Rosy

Anusha

Anusha

Sachini

Sabeetha

Mifra

Surakshi

PERERA AND SONS BRINGS YOU CHRISTMAS EATS FOR A SEASONAL TREAT It’s the season that caresses our senses with the chilly draughts ushered in by the most wonderful time of the year.

Local shop windows change into beautiful Christmas sceneries while the streets of Colombo gradually transform into a wonderland of colourful lights. But most importantly, it is that time of the year when Sri Lankans all over begin craving for that sweet Christmassy treat.

festive season. Offering a delightful twist to the conventional fruit cake, this delicious seasonal variation came into being after Sri Lanka adopted the Christmas cake tradition from the British.

P&Shas always been the go-to place for all sorts of mouth-watering finger food. But as Christmas approaches P&S introduces a new kind of treat to their repertoire of delicacies; one that is more seasonal in nature.

Founded in 1902 by Charles Perera, P&S has been doing their part to spice up the season for over 114 years and their contribution to the Christmas spirit is a sweet collection of goodies that include.

The Dutch Breudher –Breudher isn't even remotely Sri Lankan, as this cake is a result of the Dutch influence on Sri Lanka. This buttery indulgence is rich in eggs and of course butter, with a yeasty fragrance and sweet taste.

Perfect with cheese or jam, our Breudher makes a great gift to take to any party.

Mince Pies - a mince pie is a sweet pie of British origin, filled with a mixture of dried fruits and spices and is traditionally served during the Christmas season, in much of the English-speaking nations around the world.

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The P&S Yule Log -originating in France, the Yule Log is a traditional dessert served close to Christmas especially in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Quebec and several former French colonies. Made of sponge cake to resemble an actual Yule log, it is made with a recipe that dates back to the 19th century.

Love cake-a delicious, lightly spiced, sweet, fragrant cake made out of semolina. The standard recipe for Love Cake uses equal amounts of butter, sugar, cashews, a lot of eggs and a good amount of candied fruits, essences, spices and honey.

Christmas cake - it’s almost impossible to have Christmas without Christmas cake; the perfect addition to the

With over 154 outlets around the nation, P&S invites you to try out their range of Christmas delicacies, passionately prepared by their very own team of experienced chefs.

Come to P&S and satisfy that seasonal craving as we celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

Howard

Launch of

Out of the Blue

Independent Marine Researcher Howard Martenstyn launched the second edition of Out of the Blue among friends and family.

The book showcases his incredible work on Sri Lankan marine life.

Maeve

Priyanka

Russell

Lara

Terina

Varuni

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Ayoma

Laila

Priyanka

Anuruddha

Laila

Dilith

Neela

Nelum

Howard

Mahesh

FOUR TASTY SOLUTIONS TO THE POLLUTION IN YOUR BODY The type of meals we consume on a daily basis may not always be the best for our bodies. We should be more mindful about keeping our system clean. Drink a cup of green tea coupled with a healthy, nutritious diet and daily exercise to feel a complete difference. It helps to cleanse your system from within, making you feel fresh and clean!

ZERO CALORIES

Pure

Honey Lemon

Citrus

Mint

Rs.145/-

Rs.155/-

*Green tea naturally contains zero calories when consumed without milk and sugar

Rs.155/-

Rs.155/-

Rs. 145/- Upwards

Oktoberfest in Colombo

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Year after year, Oktoberfest celebrations in Colombo are always a hit! Here are some scenes from the events held at Hilton and Waters Edge.

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Royal College Batch of

2008

Dinner Dance

Thanuri

Ruchaka

Senuri

Shehan

The royal college batch of 2008 recently hosted a dinner dance to catch up and reminisce the golden days.

Shamika and Osanda

Navaka

Gimhani

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Thushani

Kanchana

Nadeeka

Sanjanee

Tharanee

Chamara

Keshia

Lasitha

Steffan

Aseka

Chandika

Siyan

Sethpriya

Pasanda

Janaasi

Imanda

Samurdhi

Devinka and Thishakya

Shehan

Binusha

Ashwini

Ashwini

Vinoshi

Adrian

Janaasi

Suhashi

Rashika

Senuri

Shamika

Thanuri

Prashani

Vinoshi

Rashika

Siyan

Binusha

Tharanee

Thishakya

Chamidu

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The Much-Anticipated Concept

Boutique at Horton Place

OFFICIALLY OPENED

Boutique at Horton Place is a premium ladies concept boutique located in the heart of the Colombo, along Horton Place. The store aims to fill the void for the innovative fashionista that empowers the leading ladies in Colombo who stays true to their vibrant lifestyle.

“We are trying to transport an innovative concept to the crowds in Colombo, which is available in some other parts of the world.

We have identified that Colombo has many opportunities for those who desire to revolutionize the fashion arena, as it is one of the hottest destinations in the region.

Therefore, we have decided to initiate the idea of designing and providing custom garments for your perfect evening wear. The boutique will be catering to all the ladies who are struggling to find their dream wardrobe

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of perfect fit or taste, ” Tahira Areeb, Fashion Designer and Chief Executive Officer of Boutique at Horton Place mentioned at the event.

The mission of this project is to empower leading ladies who wish to change the world. These progressive women, who keep exploring unique products away from the mainstream mall retailers to define their unique personalities, will find their dreams come true at Boutique at Horton Place. The boutique consists of an eclectic mix of fashion items including products in the beauty range, home decor, stationery and jewelry, which are imported from the quality retail spaces in the USA. The premises are also home to the Peppermint Café which serves premium

American diner food and is open 24 hours.

The Peppermint Café is an independent counter service café, serving coffee made with Sri Lanka’s Premium Mountain grown arabica beans along with an indulgent menu for you and your pet.

Boutique at Horton Place is the perfect highend shopping destination with handmade couture garments for the fashion forward yet sophisticated savvy shopper in Colombo.

The staff is dedicated to delivering special and unique statement pieces to customers’ wardrobes that can be translated to any occasion they prefer. The facility is also complemented with premium gift-wrapping services. The Boutique is located at No 62, Horton Place, Colombo 07 from afternoon to midnight every day of the week.

The Best of Culture 2018

2018 is nearly at an end, so we’ve rounded up our top picks in the world of books and film guaranteed to widen your horizons, and bring a host of emotions to the surface. So let’s dive into the recent past, and revisit the tales that most impacted the world.

Film Bohemian Rhapsody

‘It’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, I feel good, and no one’s gonna stop me now’ from watching BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY! The man, the band and the music that made you break free; that’s right, Queen relives the spotlight on its main man, brought back to life by the always amazing Rami Malek.

It is without a doubt the movie of the year and maybe perhaps one for the ages for those who grew up with the music of the legend himself. Guaranteed to get your heart pumping to the emotion and your soul rocking to the music, this is the movie not to miss. And to those sitting on the fence feeling skeptical about the efforts to celebrate the

life of a legend, we say, ‘You see it there.., darling, then it’s there!’

Can You Ever Forgive Me? Usually known for her iconic comedy roles, the side-splittingly hilarious Melissa McCarthy explores more unfamiliar territory. In fact, by taking on this true story, she may forever mar her reputation as the funny girl we all know and love.

McCarthy plays biographer Lee Israel, who in sheer desperation as her career plummets, resorts to forging and selling letters by famous literary figures - a grand scheme, doomed for disaster. It follows Israel’s memoir of the same name, and is in fact strangely relatable to those of us who feel we have failed at life, and have nowhere to go.

Isle of Dogs Twenty years into the future, Japan faces a crisis - an outbreak of canine flu, after which the mayor banishes all dogs to Trash Island.

A year for the directors…..

This year marked several critically acclaimed directorial debuts, with the likes of famous faces like John Krasinski, Bradley Cooper, Jonah Hill and Bo Burnham stepping behind the camera and taking their first crack at the big screen.

A Star is Born Although technically the fourth remake of the original 1937 film (not counting the Bollywood version), Bradley Cooper’s first stint as a director received widespread praise from critics and viewers alike, while Lady Gaga’s riveting, emotional performance garnered much applause. A reimagining of a passionate, moving tale, Cooper expertly combines the modern with the classic, bringing new life to the age-old story of love, dreams and tragedy.

A Quiet Place Praised by the king of horror himself as an ‘extraordinary piece of work’, A Quiet Place is survival at its most entertaining. Silence taking the lead in a talkie at the era of loud blockbusters, this is a movie that shows the

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struggle of responsible parenting with the added danger of a race of creatures that devours anyone who dare make any sound.

Need we say more?

Eighth Grade In a world where emotionally disturbed adults and made-up superheroes wearing tight clothes are the faces of the silver screen there come movies like Eighth Grade. Exploring the world of an introvert, struggling through life at the Eighth Grade, this is what fresh movies are all about. An authentic take on life's fakeness; the movie follows a coming-of-age teenager trying to define her life around youngsters her age while remaining true to her identity. We all know how difficult it can be to fit in, and for those of us who don't, here's to finding out.

One 12 year old boy braves all the forces rallying against him, and sets out on the journey of a lifetime to recover his dog, Spots.

A beautifully executed stop-motion animation voiced by a stellar, incredibly diverse cast, it’s unforgettable, unique and completely human - by definition a signature Wes Anderson, and one of his finest efforts yet.

Won’t You Be My Neighbour?

Let’s face it - everything about the world right now seems to be focusing on the negative except for this documentary on Fred Rogers, considered to be the nicest, kindest soul to appear on TV. This poignant discussion on the unlikely star of Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood and its legacy could not have come at a better time, reminding us that kindness and compassion is essential to our survival as a species, and that its power knows no bounds.

Books Circe - Madeline Miller Genre: Fantasy, Fiction Fans of the Greek myths, this one’s for you.

The story of Circe is fairly well-known considered by most to be a powerful witch possessing ‘an adamantine heart’, she dwells on the island of Aeaea, and turns unwitting strangers into beasts when they least expect it.

This critically acclaimed bestseller is a vastly different take on the original content, speaking from the point of view of Circe herself, and revealing a flawed, misunderstood immortal being. We get that it’s a misnomer, but it makes her far more endearing, and a rather relatable heroine you’ll want to get to know.

Warlight - Michael Ondaatje Genre: Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Seven years have passed, and the master weaves his magic once more. Brought to us by the famed Sri Lankan-born Canadian author and poet, this intensely captivating story, much like its title, simultaneously hovers between a sense of light and darkness.

Following the end of World War II, fourteen year old Nathaniel and his older sister stay behind in London, while their parents move to Singapore. They are left in the care of a mysterious and questionable character called The Moth, whom they suspect of various

nefarious dealings. As a now older Nathaniel mulls on his past, we discover a thrilling narrative of intrigue, love and violence which holds one spellbound.

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup - John Carreyrou Genre: Non-Fiction, True Crime, Business Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction - and what’s pure fiction can be made to look like the truth. On that note, here’s a riveting page-turner that deals with the rise and fall of Theranos, a multimillion dollar start-up dealing in biotech.

Bringing to light the underlying scandal behind the fraud that shocked the world, journalist John Carreyrou follows the story of Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO, largely considered to be the female Steve Jobs.

Promising a revolutionary solution towards faster blood testing, it’s the tale of a company valued at over $9Bn, with a tech that was worthless - probably the biggest corporate fraud since Enron.

The Overstory - Richard Powers Genre: Fiction, Environment/Nature It’s so easy to shut out the agonising call of the wild and wonderful world around us - and that’s why this book is sheer perfection. This powerful novel transforms the landscape through its undying message of hope, even as it reaches towards the sky, grasping at our last fragments of empathy and compassion.

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark - Michelle McNamara Genre: Non-Fiction, True Crime For those of you still ‘in the dark’, writer Michelle McNamara was in pursuit of The Golden State Killer, a term she herself coined, when she died under tragic circumstances.

In February 2018, nearly two years after her death, her life’s work was published, finally seen to completion by her lead researcher and a close colleague.

The Golden State Killer was a figure shrouded in mystery until April this year, when he was finally arrested - a serial killer/rapist believed to have committed three different crime sprees across California from ‘74- ‘86, each resulting in a different moniker created by the press. With over 13 recorded murders, and over 50 confirmed rape cases, he was a truly worthy adversary.

Here, McNamara doesn’t simply detail his exploits, but explores the terror he instigated, and the impact he left in his wake - terrifying communities and leaving them destitute.

It’s a painting of a vulnerable America, her own long-standing obsession, and her team’s intense, torturous investigation as they buried themselves in following the trail of a murderer.

The trees are speaking.

Listen. There’s something you need to hear.

www.pulse.lk | PAGE 199

Chandana

Isuri

Launch of Ashen and Gayan

Next Generation of

Apple iPhones

at X Station Mobitel recently hosted a fun filled night of music and entertainment as the next generation of Apple iPhones was launched at the X Station.

Chandana

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Yasiru and Chamith

Banu, Chanux and Saranga

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Mark, Clifford and Roshitha

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Sparks presents

‘Shakes on Stage’ The production of Shakes on Stage was held on the 4th of November 2018, at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre. Plays featured were; Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, All the world’s a stage from As You Like It, A midsummer night’s dream and King Lear.

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THE HUT Bringing the Spotlight back to Mt. Lavinia

Some of you may have been there but all of you have heard the name before. Little Hut has been one of Colombo’s oldest nightspots, with the buzz surrounding it beginning in the 70s when internationally acclaimed local sensation Hussain Jiffry was in the band named Galaxy with superstar Noeline Honter.

The Hut is now about to be revamped and catapulted into contemporary times as the management of it has been handed over to Elite Promotions & Events (PVT) Ltd. The man behind it all is none other than Richard De Zoysa. To him, nurturing young musicians and giving them the opportunity to showcase their talents has always been a passion. He seeks to change the image of The Hut from a nightclub to more of a music lounge. This landmark venue will now be promoted as the quintessential entertainment hub in the city.

Expect The Hut to be open for six days of the week with live music performances starting at 8pm. As for those lazy Sundays, head over to The Hut to indulge in the sultry sounds of PAGE 206 | www.pulse.lk

smooth jazz. The management has promised that there will be at least one live concert a month. Corporates can rejoice as there will be many theme nights for all of those in the industry to mingle with their competitors for one night.

The cream of Colombo’s musical talents will grace the stage at The Hut; Sherriden and Sunset Band, Wildfire, and Mirage have all been contracted to perform for the next six months. New and exciting female talent will also be featured with the backing of live bands. This, coupled with a video DJ screening the live concerts, will make every night at The Hut unforgettable.

Once the night is done, you don’t have to worry about stopping at wayside street food outlets. Kotthu and Kiribath will be served at The Hut after midnight at the best prices, prepared to the best culinary standards thanks to the talents of the Mount Lavinia Hotel Chefs. What better way to enjoy this rather than by the beach complemented with stunning visuals?

Membership will be offered to the music lounge without an entrance fee to selected guests and as always, there is no entrance fee for ladies. So, get ready Colombo, The Hut is back and ready to change the way you let loose on those nights when you just feel like you have to party!

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Special Degustation Menu with

Sylvia Altare and Elena Altare Held at Rare at the Residence, this event consisted of 3 courses paired with 3 different Elio Altare wines from Barolo.

Dhilp

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Mr and Ms Tylor

Eranda

Kaleel

Dinesh

Silvia and Elena

Mr and Ms Niranga Hettiarachchi

Rode

Rob

Suranga

Kaleel

Dhilp

Sam

Naushard

Naushard

Shiran

Rakitha

Shiyani

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CRYPTO AND BLOCKCHAIN

for the uninitiated Blockchain, for all intents and purposes is pretty much a digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value. Think of a spreadsheet that is duplicated thousands of times across a network of computers. Then imagine that this network is designed to regularly update this spreadsheet and this is the basic concept of blockchain.

The information stored on a blockchain exists as a shared and continuously reconciled and verified database. This database is not stored in any single location but across a network, meaning the records are truly public, easily accessible and verifiable. No single version of the information exists posing no risk of data corruption by a hacker. Blockchain technology is similar to the Internet, in that it has a robustness built-in to the system.

Although commonly associated with Bitcoin, blockchain technology has many other applications. Bitcoin is merely the first and most well-known uses. In fact, Bitcoin is only one of about seven hundred applications that use the blockchain operating system today.

Imagine two entities (eg banks) that need to update their own user account balances when there is a request to transfer money from one

customer to another. They need to spend a tremendous (and costly) amount of time and effort for coordination, synchronization, messaging and checking to ensure that each transaction happens exactly as it should.

Typically, the money being transferred is held by the originator until it can be confirmed that it was received by the recipient. With the blockchain, a single ledger of transaction entries that both parties have access to can simplify the coordination and validation efforts because there is always a single version of records, not two disparate databases.”

Cryptography, crypto for short, is something many of us use daily without realizing it as many popular messaging apps such as WhatsApp use encryption. Its one of the core aspects of blockchain technology. Put simply, cryptography is the method of hiding and revealing, better known as encrypting and decrypting, data and information through various forms of complex mathematical algorithms. Information that is encrypted can thereafter only be read by intended recipients who would know how to decrypt it and no one else. Cryptography ensures that users can only edit the parts of the blockchain that they “own” by possessing the private keys necessary to write to the file. The mathematical algorithms that handle such encryptions are called ciphers.

Crypto and blockchain, two terms that have made quite the rounds over the past year. We take a look at the basics behind the concept and why it should matter to you.

The most widely used modern form of cipher across the world is called AES. It is an opensource project, free for anyone to use and its code is open to viewing by the public. The cipher has no vulnerabilities discovered to date and is also used by the National Security Agency (NSA) in the United States as the tool of choice for encrypting information. Therefore, the information recorded on a blockchain is regarded to be as secure as it gets.

According to Forbes, hundreds of millions of dollars have already been invested by some of the world’s biggest companies on the future of the blockchain. Businesses that are currently working on blockchain-based services include IBM, which is trying to build a tracking tool for shipping companies and retail chains, Eastman Kodak, which is experimenting with the blockchain to create repositories for stock images, and Spotify which wants to use the blockchain to manage copyrights. Investors in blockchain projects include Peter Thiel, Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, as well as Google, Goldman Sachs, Visa and Deloitte. All of these companies and experts are betting millions of dollars that a decentralized ledger can do things that other forms of technology just cannot.

An example of a transaction can be found below: Jim wants to send money to mary

The transaction is represented online as s block

The block gets distributed across the network

transaction is valid

The block is added to the chain, reconciling across the network and creating a permanent record

Jim’s recored of ownership of the money moves to Mary

The

Scarlet

Letters

Following a hushed pregnancy and a lonely birth, the story continues with the naming ceremony and our homecoming.

At the heart of it all, you never really understand the power of self-preservation until you are up against it. The minute I returned to my room and the nurse cleaned me up and helped me to get into the bed, the rep from the adoption agency, a mousy woman who had the most expressionless, emotionless face I had ever seen, entered with Baby Daddy and handed me a stack of documents. It was all I could do not to scream. In that heated moment, I never noticed the nurse who was still hanging around the room, silently observing what was going on. I looked at Baby Daddy shifting uneasily by the door and told him the “No” that would break our relationship beyond repair. I knew in that moment that he would never be by my side again. I thought I would be heartbroken but the truth was that I was just relieved.

I had put in such a supreme effort to make him happy but I knew I couldn’t give the baby away. He had been my companion and my best friend since we were 16 years old and even though it hadn’t been a lifetime, we had been through a lot and I expected his support. But when I saw how badly he just wanted to distance himself from us, I knew I had no choice but to let him go. My focus had readjusted itself on a new life. The room was foggy with confusion and an uncomfortable silence filled the air with the adoption agency clearly displeased with the turn of events. The clarity of the “No” I uttered knocked the silent observer in the room into gear and she did what I would have done had I been able to move; she kicked them all out and told me not to worry about a thing.

Absolutely exhausted and undeniably shattered, I slept. I slept until the nurse brought me a literal bundle of joy in a rectangular glass case that had stickers stamped all over it for tests that had been completed. I had no idea what tests had been done or what the results were having zero experience in what to expect or inquire about. I remember seeing the name tag on the basinet and the hospital understanding the situation, had given her my name temporarily, fulfilling a promise I made to my father that I would always maintain our family name. It was a special moment for me. When I filled out the baby’s name in the official documents to issue her birth certificate I proudly filled in the last name with my own. Yet, it was such an unceremonious moment, with only the nurse helping me fill what was possibly the most significant document I would sign in my life. I was so worried that the baby would one day grow up and ask me, what were you thinking when you gave me this name? I didn’t feel I was qualified to name another human being; to bestow upon them a part of their identity. During my pregnancy I wrote out a list of names I liked and asked Baby Daddy to pick out one that he too liked.

When it came time to fill the first name, as bitterly disappointed as I was with him, I still had hope that he would someday find the courage to own up to his responsibilities and I wanted desperately for this child to know that she was made with love and to have some connection to him. So in that lonely hospital room, I filled the slot for the first name with the name he had chosen.

The hospital’s policy was to evacuate occupants 24 hours after the birth, given all had gone well, which it had, although we didn’t even realize it in all the commotion. But, I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to go, because I had nowhere to go. Baby Daddy was not going to be pleased that I was returning to our apartment with the baby he was hoping would have been deleted by now. So they let me stay for three peaceful days while I gathered my strength. When I finally did return to the apartment, Baby Daddy promptly informed me that he was leaving to Canada to visit his grandmother and would only return after the winter vacation was over. I broke down. I mean, seriously? I could barely walk, we didn’t have a stick of furniture barring a table and four chairs, it was the middle of winter, and I had no job. There was no food in the house and in those days mobile phones weren’t as common and I didn’t have one. I put up a big fuss; I mean I really panicked. I didn’t know what to do. I really had no idea how to take care of myself let alone a three-day old infant. Baby Daddy was not interested in my plight whatsoever and solely focused on how to get to Canada as quickly as possible. But he couldn’t ignore the sound of my wailing and finally resorted to calling his main supporter- let’s call her the ‘Mother of Sorrows’, whose advice was to stock the apartment with some food and leave a temporary phone connection on his way out the door.

The loneliness and anxiety at being locked in an apartment was crippling at first. I didn’t feel confident enough yet to move on my own and we didn’t have any winter clothes or in the baby’s case, any clothes at all to even try to attempt to leave in the middle of winter. I needed help, I needed to overcome the postpartum depression that was shutting me down and I needed to get a grip- I needed to find the strength to make sure we survive.

The Realist’s

Guide to being

Santa Claus

(and not getting caught) Before we had kids, I used to think that playing Santa Claus was going to be one of the most amusing things about Christmas. I pictured me stuffing a pillow into my spouse’s Santa costume and giggling quietly but delightedly as I watched him load presents into stockings, while our little angels slept on peacefully.

Reality of course doesn’t really come close. I admit my spouse once did have a costume complete with hat , and for the first couple of years our eldest (who was none the wiser) had her gifts delivered by a fully bearded and costumed Santa who was ready with a very acceptable “HO HO HO” should she awaken and spy him at the foot of her bed. These days, three kids later, such elaborate efforts are way beyond either of us. Now, we are less Santa and more ninja in our methods.

First, I go in and switch the night light off.

Then we creep in, palms sweating, arms loaded with boxes, being careful to not let anything rattle, squeak or (worst of all) play an inane song. We sink to our knees and stuff as many gifts as possible into the relevant

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stockings. The rest, we place at the foot of the beds. While doing this we wave our fists at our male dog who has sauntered into the room in order to attempt a casual wee on the aforementioned stockings.

We then put the night light on again and back out of the room, scanning sleeping faces to ensure that we have not been detected, and dragging the extremely recalcitrant dog with us.

We then obediently and silently eat the cookies and drink the hot chocolate neatly set out by the kids. Spouse manfully makes convincing reindeer bites in the carrots. We switch our alarms off, who needs them on Christmas day anyway? It’s the one day of the year when the kids are guaranteed to rise bright eyed and bushy tailed at the crack of dawn.

Of course the whole Santa gig begins long before you actually deliver the presents. I am (slightly) ashamed to admit that my attempts to rig the game in my favour have increased over the years and now involve several steps.

1.Practise keeping a straight face – You will need this so that you don’t grimace involuntarily when they write their lists and you are filled with panic about a) where you are going to locate that item b) how you are going to afford it.

2. Tell them that Santa SHOPS LOCAL – Avoid point a) above by telling them Santa likes supporting the local economy and only purchases things from stores within reasonable driving distance of your residence.

3. Confirm that you have a very close relationship with Santa – don’t be afraid to tell them that you have Santa’s personal mobile number on speed dial, thus allowing you to verify all things naughty or nice.

Word of warning though, put a password on your phone so that they don’t go through your phonebook in an attempt to call Santa themselves (been there, done that).

4. Blame those elves – explain that they don’t make everything from scratch anymore since there are just too many kids in the world and they are too busy sourcing, wrapping and tagging gifts to actually make any. Remember to have an answer to the question, ‘What do they do from January to November?’ Organic farming is my go to.

5. Seriously though, don’t let Santa be the one to give your child the big ticket items – this helps control b) in the first point. Santa needs to have a budget, he visits everyone after all! If you want to get your child something expensive then don’t pretend that it came from the big man in red, just take the credit yourself. This is the same advice I would give anyone who is thinking of getting me the Lego Hogwarts Castle for Christmas, just saying. *grins hopefully*

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Christmas Tree Lighting at Shangri-La Shangri-la Hotel Colombo kicked off its seasonal festivities with the lighting of the Christmas tree earlier this month with many in attendance

Timothy

Sajad

Johann

Romesh

Nadeera

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Eric

Mayanthi

Sajad

Rehana

Jeniffer and Dilani

Kumar

Timothy