History & Culture - Roar Media

The Slow Death of Colombo’s DVD Shops

The reigning currency of the early-2000s entertainment industry may as well have been DVDs. More accessible, of higher quality and more conveniently sized than the VHS cassettes that preceded them, the advent of DVDs put movie magic within reach of anyone who had a DVD player, a TV and a composite cable, or even just a laptop with a DVD drive, at home — which, by the late 2000s, were most working and upper class Sri Lankans.

Who Were The Ceylon Planters’ Rifle Corps?

At a First World War memorial on the Gallipoli peninsula, off the coast of Turkey, the gravestones of three soldiers identify them as belonging to the Ceylon Planters’ Rifle Corps.

The Ancient Sri Lankan Deity At The British Museum

Over the course of its colonisation of Sri Lanka, the British Empire took possession of a number of cultural artefacts that remain in museums and institutions across England to this day.

The Thai Prince Who Became A Monk In Ceylon

The ruins of a Siamese-style dagoba on Galgodiyana island, off the coast of Matara, still remain today, despite the damage inflicted by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

Who Is The Lady In Red?

On 12 December 2021, the curators of the National Art Gallery and conservation expert Jennifer Myers made a curious discovery.

Behind what was thought to be the portrait frame of Ananda Samarakoon, who famously composed the national anthem, was a mystery painting, hidden for over 90 years.

The curators believe that the ‘Lady In Red’, painted by Mudaliyar A C G S Amarasekara in 1928, could be an unidentified social elite of the ’20s — a wife of a politician, a daughter of an ambassador, or perhaps another artist.

She wears a wedding band on her right hand, prominently displayed in the portrait.

But discovering her true identity is proving to be a nearly impossible task.

Kopi Kale: A Brief History Of Sri Lanka’s “Coffee Era”

Before #SriLanka was known for its tea estates, it was known for coffee cultivation. The country’s “kopi kale” — or “coffee era” — gradually became forgotten as the tea industry rose in popularity and profitability, but the beginnings of the local coffee industry had a lasting impact on the local economy, agriculture, and demography; a history worthy of reminding.

Colombo: The Lost Garden City of The East

Colombo was once nearly named the ‘Garden City of the East’, after an European architectural concept, which sought to create cities with the best qualities of rural life.

‘Lakmahal’: Colonial-Era Abode Turned Into A Community Library

Here is a house that once hosted galas attended by Colombo’s elite; where artists mingled with politicians when Sri Lanka was ‘Ceylon’ and under colonial occupation. Lakmahal, at number 8A, Alfred House Road, Colombo 3, has undergone many changes since. The black paint on the doors is replaced with a modern brown varnish. The once polished, red floor is now cool cut cement.

How Sri Lankan Tamils Came To Have ‘English’ Names

Many Sri Lankan Tamils have English or otherwise European names, and are often confused with Burghers or Eurasians. How this came to be constitutes a vital part of the evolution of modern Sri Lanka.

A Brief History Of Modern Transportation In Sri Lanka

Sri Lankans love cars. Since the very first one entered the island in 1902, and in the 120 years since, the country’s vehicle population has grown despite recurring import restrictions and the economic instability brought on by the civil war. Car enthusiasts and everyday vehicle owners have built a culture of passion for and pride in the vehicles they drive, and an appreciation for what it took for the country to get here. Here’s a brief history of Sri Lanka’s relationship with modern transportation.

Nazis in Ceylon: In Search Of Aryan Origins

In 1938, Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler sent a five-member team on an expedition through South Asia to trace the origins of the Aryan race — which they believed was the ‘master race’.

The Moon Men In Ceylon

NASA’s Apollo 11 spaceflight made history in July 1969 when it became the first to land humans on the moon. The historic moon landing was followed by five more — and Apollo 12, which took 3 astronauts to the moon, landed in November 1969.