5) Along the River Seine Martin Wickramasinghe and the Sri Lankan Mind

Along the River Seine: Martin Wickramasinghe and the Sri Lankan Mind | Literary Evening

by Upcoming Events

🎬 The Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the Martin Wickramasinghe Trust, presents a special literary evening, screening, and discussion: “Along the River Seine: Martin Wickramasinghe and the Sri Lankan Mind.”

 

📚 This event explores and reflects on the life and work of Martin Wickramasinghe (1890–1976), one of Sri Lanka’s most influential literary figures. A self-taught intellectual, Wickramasinghe engaged deeply with global thought, drawing inspiration from French literary giants such as Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac, Guy de Maupassant, André Gide, and Jean-Paul Sartre.

 

🗼 The session will also reflect on his intellectual and cultural connections with France, including his visit in 1968, highlighting the influence of French literature on shaping the modern Sri Lankan mind.

 

🎥 The evening will feature a screening of Rendez-Vous Special with Yasmin and Kumar, centred on the legacy of Martin Wickramasinghe, offering insights into his enduring contribution to literature and thought.

 

💬 The screening will be followed by a discussion led by Uditha Devapriya, providing a deeper understanding of Wickramasinghe’s work and relevance today.

 

📅 Date: 29 April 2026
⏰ Time: 06:30 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, No. 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 7

📧 Free registration: events@alliancefrancaise.lk 

4) L'une chante, l'autre pas- French Film

L’une chante, l’autre pas | French Film Screening

by Upcoming Events

🎥 “L’une chante, l’autre pas” (Restored Classic)- directed by Agnès Varda

 

⚡ The film is a feminist musical. Two young women live in Paris in 1962. Pauline (17), a student, dreams of leaving her family to become a singer. Suzanne (22) takes care of her two children and faces the tragedy of their father’s suicide. Life separates them, and each lives her own struggle as a woman. Pauline becomes a singer in a traveling activist group after experiencing a difficult relationship in Iran. Suzanne overcomes her hardships and works at the Family Planning center. Ten years later, they reunite during a feminist demonstration. By the end of this chronicle, they are together again, with their grown-up children.

 

📅 Date : Thursday 23 April 
⏰ Time : 7:00 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

🎟️ Free entrance
💬 English subtitles available
🔞 For audiences aged 18+

L’Argent de poche- French film

L’Argent de poche | French Film Screening

by Upcoming Events

🎥 “L’Argent de poche” (Restored Classic), directed by François Truffaut

⚡ À Thiers, dans le Puy-de-Dôme, a handful of children experience the final weeks of the school year, eagerly awaiting the holidays: Bruno, Patrick, Laurent, Mathieu, and Franck, not to mention Martine… Each lives at their own pace, bringing life and spirit to this village, where the two teachers, Miss Petit and Mr. Richet, struggle to capture their attention as the summer camp approaches.

📅 Date : Saturday, 11 April 
⏰ Time : 3:00 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

🎟️ Free entrance
💬 English subtitles available
🔞 For audiences aged 10+

La Haine- French film

La Haine | French Film Screening

by Upcoming Events

🎥 “La Haine” (Restored Classic), directed by Mathieu Kassovitz

 

⚡ All night long, clashes erupted between the youths of the “Muguets” housing project and the police because Abdel, a sixteen-year-old boy, was beaten during an interrogation and is near death. Among these kids, blinded by hate, are three ordinary boys: Hubert, Saïd, and Vinz. Together, they are about to experience the most important day of their lives—the day when the fourth “hero” of the story makes its appearance: a gleaming, chrome-plated 9mm Beretta that a plainclothes police officer reportedly lost during the riots.

 

📅 Date : Thursday, 09 April
⏰ Time : 7:00 PM
📍 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo, 11, Barnes Place, Colombo 07

🎟️ Free entrance
💬 English subtitles available
🔞 For audiences aged 13+

 

Pop-up Easter Card Workshop

Pop-up Easter Card Workshop

by Upcoming Events

🌸 Celebrate the joy of Easter with a fun-filled creative session at Alliance Française de Colombo! Children will get the chance to explore their imagination and craft their very own colorful pop-up Easter cards to take home or gift to loved ones.

 

📅 Date: Saturday, 04th April

⏰ Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

 

👧🧒 Open to children aged 8 and above

🎟️ Free entry – registration required (limited spots available)

📧 Register now: stagiaire.culture@alliancefrancaise.lk

Academic posts 2025 (11)

London O/L May-June 2026 Revision Seminar | Edexcel & Cambridge

by Latest News

📢 Get ready for your London O/L French exam with our full-day revision seminars at Alliance Française de Colombo!
🗓️ Sundays, 5th, 12th and 26th of April 2026
⏰ 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

💳 Registration cost for one day: 6000 LKR per day
💳 Registration cost for two/three days: 5000 LKR per day

📅 Register before 27th March
⚠️ Limited seats available—reserve yours now!

🌐 www.alliancefrancaise.lk
📩 info@alliancefrancaise.lk
📞 011 205 5255 

koyaanisqatsi

Travelling Plants — A Transdisciplinary Exhibition

by Upcoming Events

Events

Join us for a month of immersive art, workshops, discussions, screenings & performances. Experience how plants — and stories — travel across space, time, and culture.

  • 6–26 June 2025
  • 11 AM – 7 PM (Closed Mondays)
  • Studio Kayamai, 302 Havelock Road, Colombo 5

Curated by Lina Vincent, this exhibition brings together four artists whose practices intersect deeply with the natural world, exploring the links between ecology, science, culture, and society through the lens of contemporary art.

Featuring works by:
Rashmimala (India) | Karolina Grzywnowicz (Germany) | Waylon D’Souza (India) | Wendy Therméa (Reunion Island, France)
Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Events

Koyaanisqatsi — Film screening presented as part of Travelling Plants

Join us for a rare screening of Godfrey Reggio’s 1982 cult documentary Koyaanisqatsi, featuring an iconic score by Philip Glass. A cinematic meditation on the imbalance between nature and modern life, this immersive, dialogue-free film combines slow motion, time-lapse, and arresting visuals to explore humanity’s impact on the planet.

  • 6 June 2025
  • 6:00 PM
  • Goethe-Institut, 39 R.G. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 7

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

“Cyan” — The Color of Departure

Cyanotype Workshops with Lojithan Ramanathan
As part of the Travelling Plants exhibition, artist Lojithan Ramanathan leads two immersive workshops exploring Cyanotype — one of photography’s oldest and most enchanting processes. Using only sunlight, water, and iron salts, participants will create striking Prussian blue prints that capture textures, silhouettes, and layered memories on paper and fabric.

Lojithan’s Cyanotype-based practice bridges photography, sculpture, and installation, exploring themes of migration, non-belonging, and nostalgia. These sessions offer a reflective space to slow down, experiment, and connect with the elemental beauty of light, shadow, and material.

  • 10 & 14 June 2025
  • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Studio Kayamai, Havelock Road, Colombo 5

Free registration: events@alliancefrancaise.lk

Travelling Plants is presented by Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Lecture: Bangalore’s Lalbagh — A Chronicle of the Garden and the City

Explore the layered histories of Bangalore’s Lalbagh Botanical Garden — a site often described as a botanical cosmos for its vast collection of flora, deep colonial roots, and enduring place in the city’s cultural memory.

This talk by Suresh Jayaram — artist, art historian, curator, and founder of Visual Art Collective/1.Shanthiroad Studio, an international artists’ residency and alternative art space in Bangalore — brings to life his acclaimed book Bangalore’s Lalbagh: A Chronicle of the Garden and the City (2021). A montage of historical, anthropological, and personal narratives, the book reflects on Lalbagh not only as a garden but as a living archive of biodiversity, urban transformation, and cultural legacy.

  • With Suresh Jayaram
  • 12 June 2025
  • 6:00 PM
  • Goethe-Institut, 39 R.G. Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 7

Home to centuries-old trees, economically and ornamentally significant species, and rare flora, Lalbagh is both a scientific resource and a public sanctuary. Jayaram’s deep engagement with the site reveals its complex identity—as a colonial imprint, ecological hub, and beloved city space.

His previous work includes Whatever He Touched, He Adorned, a publication and exhibition on German horticulturist G.H. Krumbiegel. Through his practice, Jayaram builds connections between art, ecology, and urban history.

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut, Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Free entry | All are welcome

Ethnobotanical Stories and Exchanges Between Sri Lanka, India, and Indian Ocean Islands – Panel Discussion

Join us for an engaging panel exploring the movement of plants, people, and knowledge across the Indian Ocean — during the Chera, Pandya, Chola, Vijayanagara, and Sri Lankan dynasties, as well as through Arab trade routes and colonial encounters.

Featuring diverse perspectives across art, ecology, and history, the discussion will reflect on ethnobotanical narratives and the complex relationships between culture and the natural world.

  • Suresh Jayaram — artist, art historian & arts administrator
  • Soham Kacker — plant ecologist & Curator of Living Collections, Geoffrey Bawa & Lunuganga Trusts
  • Waylon James D’Souza — transdisciplinary artist & designer
  • Meghal Perera — multidisciplinary researcher
  • Moderated by Sandev Handy — artist, curator & art educator
  • 14 June 2025
  • 5:00 PM
  • Alliance Française de Colombo, 11 Barnes Place, Colombo 7

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Image Credits: The Herbarium of French Institute of Pondicherry

Ethnobotanical Stories and Exchanges Between Sri Lanka, India, and Indian Ocean Islands — A workshop

Join us for an interactive mapping and art-making workshop exploring ethnobotanical knowledge and cultural exchanges across the Indian Ocean region. Participants will engage in a collaborative mapping exercise using large sheets or whiteboards, followed by the creation of a symbolic ‘kolam’ using seeds, objects, and flower art inspired by Sri Lankan traditions — a reimagining of the third part of the Travelling Plants exhibit, which could not be brought into the country.

  • Waylon James D’Souza
  • 15 June 2025
  • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Studio Kayamai, Havelock Road, Colombo 5

Free registration: events@alliancefrancaise.lk

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Foragers — Film screening presented as part of Travelling Plants

Join us for a screening of Jumana Manna’s Foragers, a poignant and gently humorous exploration of wild herb foraging in Palestine/Israel. Blending documentary, fiction, and archival footage, the film follows the journey of za’atar and ’akkoub from the hills to the kitchen — and the legal trials faced by those who gather them under restrictive conservation laws.

  • 17 June 2025
  • 7:00 PM
  • Alliance Française, 11 Barnes Place, Colombo 7

Free registration: events@alliancefrancaise.lk

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Drawing from Nature: Still Life with Sri Lankan Flora — A workshop for kids (7+ years)

A fun and educational art workshop introducing children to the world of botanical art through Sri Lankan flora. Participants will learn about the history of botanical illustration in Sri Lanka, explore the basics of still life composition, and create their own artwork using native plants and fruit as references. Children will be guided in using pencils and paintbrushes to explore shading, texture, and visual storytelling.

  • 19 June 2025
  • 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
  • Studio Kayamai, Havelock Road, Colombo 5

Free registration: events@alliancefrancaise.lk

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Sensory Encounters of Leela Bhumi (Playful Earth) — A workshop with CoCA Art Studio

Step into an immersive sensory experience inspired by Leela Bhumi (Playful Earth) — a mobile, multifunctional space rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, ecological memory, and cultural heritage. This workshop invites participants into a space of collective memory, healing, and reconnection through touch, scent, sound, and movement.
Guided by ancestral wisdom and ecological storytelling, participants will engage with natural materials and respond through playful, intuitive making. Here, the boundaries between artist and participant, memory and imagination, dissolve — co-creating moments of care, curiosity, and communion with the Earth.

  • 24 June 2025
  • 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  • Studio Kayamai, Havelock Road, Colombo 5

Free registration: events@alliancefrancaise.lk

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Les Algues Vertes (Green Tide) — A film screening presented as part of Travelling Plants

When three men and forty animals are found dead on the beaches of Brittany, the culprit is no mystery: green algae. Based on a true ecological scandal, Les Algues Vertes follows journalist Inès Léraud as she unravels a complex web of silence, political pressure, and environmental neglect. Through encounters with whistleblowers, scientists, farmers, and politicians, the film reveals a gripping contemporary story about pollution, journalism, and the struggle to expose hidden truths.

  • 25 June 2025
  • 7:00 PM
  • Alliance Française de Colombo, 11 Barnes Place, Colombo 7

Free admission

Les Algues Vertes (France, 2023) | Duration: 1h59 | Directed by: Inès Léraud | Cinematography: Olivier Boonjing | Music: Adrien Jolivet

Presented as part of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Echoing Nature’s Resonance — A sound performance by Rachel Chanmugam

Join us for the closing event of Travelling Plants — a meditative sound journey led by sound alchemist and healer Rachel Chanmugam. Blending elemental and animal sounds through live looping and minimal melodic layering. The immersive performance will also include interactive elements such as audience-generated elemental sounds and deep listening to Plantwave.

  • 26 June 2025
  • 6:00 PM
  • Studio Kayamai, Havelock Road, Colombo 5

Free registration: events@alliancefrancaise.lk

Presented in the framework of Travelling Plants — a transdisciplinary exhibition exploring ecology, culture, and the natural world. Born from a creative residency at the French Institute of Pondicherry in March 2024, Travelling Plants is presented by the Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française de Colombo, in collaboration with the French Institute of Pondicherry and Studio Kayamai.

Sri Lanka’s Creative Green Map

by Upcoming Events

🌏The Routes we Take | Sri Lanka’s Creative Green Map

🌿The Alliance Française de Colombo is delighted to collaborate with the EUNIC Cluster in Sri Lanka, Good Life X, and fellow cultural and diplomatic missions for “The Routes we Take”. The Routes we Take is a symbol of the commitment of a community of like-minded creatives who take on the challenge to tackle environmental crises.

✨️From sustainable fashion to innovative inventions, the digital map comprises a diverse set of brilliant minds ready to shape the future of Sri Lanka and beyond.

🗺️Discover and connect with creative individuals and organizations in Sri Lanka who celebrate the values of sustainability, circularity, and regeneration! Discover the map through the link:

https://therouteswetake.com/map

🌆Community & Events

Find details of events and updates on our growing creatives who work in sustainable, circular, and regenerative practices!

https://therouteswetake.com/community-and-events

🤝Join “The Routes We Take” digital map!

Apply now to be included in the map, our applications are available in English, Sinhala, and Tamil.

https://therouteswetake.com/join-the-map

La Vie en Rose – A recital by Gehan Cooray with Menaka Sahabandu

by Upcoming Events

The Alliance Française de Colombo invites the operatic baritone Gehan A Cooray and the pianist Menaka Sahabandu for a recital consisting a selection of French Operatic Arias, classical melodies and songs from Broadway and Hollywood.

Gehan’s repertoire for the evening spans across the French operatic composers Georges Bizet, Ambroise Thomas and Charles Gound as well as Italian classics and well known works from musical theatre.

The limited tickets prized at 3000 LKR are available at the Alliance Française de Colombo front office.

There is a discounted rate of 1500 LKR for the Alliance Française members and students.
For more information, do email events.afcolombo@gmail.com

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Kinder workshop for Arts and Crafts with CHIARA ARMELLINI!

by Upcoming Events

The Alliance Française de Colombo is excited to host the Paris-based, Italian illustrator Chiara Armellini for an arts and crafts workshop for kids between the ages of 6-10. Chiara’s workshop will be linked to her book of illustrations “Devinettes en Petits Morceaux” which is based on getting to know animals and their characteristics.

We expect the kids to know how to cut with scissors for the crafts workshop if they are taking part in this delightful experience.

This is a project supported by the French Embassy to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, in partnership with Villa Swagatan by French Institut in India and French Embassy in India.

Do get registered as only a limited amount of seats are available.

📅 Date: Saturday the 10th of February
⏰️ Time: 9.30-11.00am
🏠 Venue: Alliance Française de Colombo
📝 Free Registrations: events.afcolombo@gmail.com