More than a doctrinal problem — The Buddha’s response to Mahaprajapati Gotami’s request to enter the Buddha Sasana forms one of the more controversial episodes in the Buddhist pantheon. The story, as told in countless narratives and chronicles, essentially makes his acceptance of a female Buddhist or Bhikkhuni order contingent on two things: his stepmother making…

Female Buddhist education in 19th century Sri Lanka — The Buddhist revivalists of the late 19th century placed great emphasis on female education. Colonel Olcott spoke of the need for Buddhist girls’ schools, claiming “the mother” as “the first teacher.” This was echoed by Buddhist men who argued that they wanted “companions who shall stand shoulder to shoulder with…

Covering 65 kilometres, the road from Colombo to Ambepussa is fairly straight. From there it turns left and right, up and down. To get to Kurunegala via Ambepussa, you have to pass Alawwa and Polgahawela. Between these regions the terrain rises, offering you a glimpse of the hill country. Then…

With input from Uthpala Wijesuriya Most accounts of education reform in British Ceylon focus on officials and administrators, rather than the people on the ground and the historical forces they had to contend with. Very little effort, indeed next to no effort, is made to situate reforms in a broader…

A shorter version of this article appeared in Global South Development Magazine. On May 18, the grace period for a USD 78 million coupon payment expired in Sri Lanka. For the first time in its post-independence history, the island nation defaulted on its foreign debt. The Governor of the Central…

In Kumar de Silva’s account, Irangani Serasinghe takes us through her life and work on her terms. It’s a fascinating and insightful book, packed with anecdotes and reminiscences that have perhaps never been made public before. By no means an actress shrouded in secrecy, Iragani hasn’t exactly turned her career…

A version of this article appeared in Himal Mag Southasia last April. The cinema of South Asia blows up in a riot of colour and spectacle, offering a melange of romance, action, and history. Despite its modest scale, this is one of the biggest film industries in the world, worth…

Review of Hector Abhayavardhana: Selected Writings. Social Scientists’ Association, 2001, 415 pages, Rs. 800 — Over the last few decades, the Social Scientists’ Association has published a number of significant books. Their prices don’t reflect their value, and their value far exceeds their prices. Through them the SSA has made an indelible contribution to the intellectual climate of this country, even if that climate seems…

In his recent work on D. S. Senanayake, K. M. de Silva explores certain controversial aspects of Ceylon’s lurch into independent statehood. Among these is the issue of the fate of the country’s Indian Tamils. Brought to the island from South India amidst conditions of famine and mass starvation in…