This evening: stomp-stomp revolution, a ‘matri-anarchy’ rave at the Rio. In English, Colomboscope’s closing party.
But before they sail back to Java (passing the Colombo boat show), get your steps in at their curated tours on Saturday – at Barefoot, Radicle, and Colpetty Town House. Or at their answer to Gangarama: a paparé perahera strolling through Slave Island. Bayleaf has a pop-up market on all day. In a more contemplative mood? Lakmahal’s sci-fi book club – on the perils of being too clever – dissects Flowers for Alegernon. And, for the young ones, the Bawa Trust’s story club.
Sunday brings Off Centre’s rendition of The Dumb Waiter – fear not there’s dialog, the play isn’t a mime. Going by the description alone, MMCA’s talk with Bani Abidi promises to be a humourless deconstruction of humour. But we’re certain our consummate Sandev Handy will rescue it, and more.
The rest of the week is as exciting as your dating life. The fix is Rare Events’ singles mixer at Sanctuarii on Friday. No excuses for not following up with a first date. Saturday’s menu delights every palate: Stigmata, carnatic nightingale K C Chitra, Alliance Francais’ poetry-music night, a block print workshop and Anoma Rajakaruna’s documentary on the Gal Oya scheme. The Three Songs of Ceylon exhibition also continues for another fortnight.
Wunderkinds, selections for the Maths Olympiad are coming up, as is the Matara Arts Festival.
What to read
Let’s not pretend, we haven’t been to half the viharas young Dalrymple gushes about in his gorgeously informative post on Kandyan art. We hadn’t even heard of half of them. It’s a tad embarrassing that we need a chap called Sam to tell us the lore of our land. But there is hope. Tyrronne Devotta, reporting from RavanaCon, on why Ravana still matters.
The south coast real estate market is on the mend: “we are no longer in a market where every buyer assumes distress on the other side of the table.” Django Davidson now smells opportunity, as Colombo Stock Exchange’s valuations are 40% of the Bombay Stock Exchange’s.
What is distressing are looming counter-terror laws. Ambika Satkunanthan says they’re a facade of system change, while Rohan Samarajiva argues it would be a colossal economic own goal. The Central Bank’s monetary policy review held interest rates steady, even though the inflation remains below target.
Parliament’s Speaker ruled that the Judicial Services Commission exercises judicial power. Sanjit Dias disagrees, arguing it's a guarantor institution. Perhaps the antidote to institutional dick-swinging is Senel Wanniarachi’s masculinities reading list. Or less token women representation in political parties.
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