Culture & Heritage

Indians took the tea the British were marketing to them, added spices, milk and sugar, and transformed it forever. Chai can be enjoyed alone, but it excels in company [Courtesy of Prerna Kumar] I remember jumping up to sit on the kitchen counter one afternoon. My five-year-old self wants to watch my mother making chai. She pushes me away from …

The Gira Sandesha composed in the 15th century is a typical Sinhala Sandesha or Messenger Poem where a parrot serves as the Messenger. This poem refers to a people known as Baburan: matvana abin kaṅsā kā ralu paralu attana kusum rat mal kanä lā lakulu gatvana maguru leḷavā ädä ädä ravulu sit mena bamana baburan raňga bala yahalu   “Have a …

Little is it known that the Muslim community of Sri Lanka also have a caste group. This is the Osta caste who have not traditionally intermarried or interdined with the rest of the community. They are very much part of the local Muslim community but also distinct in their own way, and this is what makes them unique. The Osta …

The Arabs and their mixed breed descendants played a very important role in the business life of Sri Lanka in mediaeval times. Maritime trade to do with imports and exports was dominated by them before European colonists made inroads here. However there introduction of exotic species of fauna and flora to our country has largely gone unnoticed. Here are some …

Arabs in Singapore were once one of the wealthiest communities but faced huge losses after WWII. Today, the community is trying to rebuild their legacy Arabs in Singapore are working hard to carve out a new legacy and honour those who came before them (MEE/Illustration)Walking down the streets of Singapore, the global financial hub known for its rich cultural blend …

This video is about the history of the Khan Memorial Clock Tower, in Pettah, Colombo, and about the contributions made by the Parsi ‘Khan’ family to the people of Sri Lanka (formerly, British Ceylon). I have also shared details about the history of Parsis in Sri Lanka.