Roar Media Archive - History & Culture

Welcome to Roar Media's archive of content published from 2014 to 2023. As of 2024, Roar Media has ceased editorial operations and will no longer publish new content on this website.
The company has transitioned to a content production studio, offering creative solutions for brands and agencies.
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Did Sri Lanka Throw Out A Chance To Win An Olympic Medal In 1976?

With a star athlete in their delegation and more than 30 rival nations boycotting the Games, Sri Lanka would have faced its best chance at a medal during the 1976 Olympics. Instead, the country’s delegation unexpectedly withdrew its 13-member team from the Games at the last minute, offering no official reason, and costing marathon runner S.L.B. Rosa — then ranked 11th in the world — what would have been the peak of his career.

Tara: The Sri Lankan Deity At The British Museum

The histories of nations and civilizations are contained in the art, architecture and artefacts of their people — however, colonial interventions have resulted in so many of these pieces of history being removed and moved far away from their places of origin. Sri Lanka is no stranger to this; many of the island’s ancient treasures have been carried off across the seas to Britain, or to the homelands of other colonisers.

Last Chance To Play: The Boys Who May Miss Their Big Match

Two weeks into March 2020, a little more than a month after Sri Lanka identified its first case of COVID-19, the annual three-day cricket match between Royal College, Colombo and S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia went ahead with no restrictions in place.

“You Must Be Willing To Look At Uncomfortable Histories”: Shamara Wettimuny— #The Debrief w/Roel Raymond

In this very first interview of the second season of #TheDebrief, Roar Media Editor-in-Chief, Roel Raymond speaks to historian Shamara Wettimuny on a number of key events from #SriLanka’s past.

The Loneliest Disease: Patients Of The Mantheevu Leprosy Colony

The hospital is over a century old. Built for the purpose of segregating leprosy patients under a colonial ruling, the hospital in the middle of a small island in Batticaloa still continues to provide a home for two patients who have nowhere else to go.

Adults Only: Colombo’s Most Notorious Cinemas – Part 3: Rio Cinema

This is the third in a series of photostories illustrating the history and decline of Colombo’s “adult film” cinemas.

How LGBTQ+ Creators Are Changing TikTok In Sri Lanka

In a TikTok that has been viewed more than 143,000 times, Tharusha Mudalige (@tharusha_mudalige) lip-syncs along to a modified version of a popular audio clip. It is in response to a comment on one of his previous posts, that floats at the top of the screen: ‘Why are u wearing a girls t-shirt’.

Pride: A History of LGBTIQ Activism In Sri Lanka

As #PrideMonth comes to an end, we look back at the history of Sri Lanka’s LGBTIQ+ movement, 0ne of the earliest in the South Asian region.

Adults Only: Colombo’s Most Notorious Cinemas – Part 2: Ritz Cinema

This is the second in a series of photostories illustrating the history and decline of Colombo’s “adult film” cinemas.

Ramadan 2021: Reliving Community and Culture

When one thinks of Ramadan, community is often the first thing that comes to mind. For Muslims, this holy month is very rarely a solitary time — iftar spreads, late-night prayers and charity projects all require the participation of extended families and communities. Short eats are dropped off at the neighbours’ homes, potluck dinners are organised, and family matriarchs sit and stir vats of kanji that could feed entire suburbs.

Adults Only: Colombo’s Most Notorious Cinemas – Part 1: New Ricky Cinema

This is the first instalment in a series of photostories illustrating the history and decline of Colombo’s “adult film” cinemas. The popularity of these cinemas peaked in the 1980s and ’90s, as imported pornographic movies proved popular with local audiences and guaranteed profits for film halls. With time, increased social conservatism and the widespread availability of “adults–only” content online sent these cinemas teetering on the brink of dissolution, where many still remain.

Colpetty Market: A Relic Of A Colombo Gone By

There is a vivid memory at the back of my mind. It is a Sunday morning; returning from Church, my mother and I visit the local pola.

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