Places: an exhibition titled ‘House,’ positioned as a journey through creativity and innovation that started 60 years ago in 1964, opened yesterday evening at The Barefoot Gallery.

At the time of writing, I was yet to attend the opening, but the invitation said that the exhibition was ‘a collection of interior design ideas from the designers of Barefoot, based on the original notes by Barbara Sansoni, displaying the power of colour and design in transforming living spaces’.

The line about the power of colour captured my interest, of course, for it is Sansoni who opened our eyes to striking colour combinations in captivating geometric designs and forever redefined handloom in Sri Lanka.

According to the Barefoot website, the designers who will be featured at the exhibition are as follows: “⁠Poorni Wijesinghe and Binara Marasinghe, known for their innovative use of space and colour; ⁠Shaunagh Aluwihare, who works with sustainable and eco-friendly materials; ⁠Vidurangi Gunarathne and Tharushi Wijerathne, whose work bridges the gap between the traditional and modern; ⁠Sophia Sansoni, for whom eclectic style is paramount; ⁠Nelun Harasgama and Preethi Hapuwatte, known for their quirky work in pastels and textured white; and ⁠Gnei Raseen, known for her jewel coloured patchwork dresses.”

As someone who has wandered through the vibrant store over the decades, bewitched anew each time, I cannot wait to see what this exhibition holds.

‘House,’ which promises solutions for those seeking inspiration or with a passion for design, will remain open until 29 September.

Produce: over the last few weeks, the area just before the turn-off to Park Road on Havelock Road has been a riot of colour, featuring stalls packed with stacks of ripe red rambutan, pungent green-brown durian, juicy yellow mangoes, dark purple mangosteens, and more.

With rambutan being one of my favourite fruits, I always find myself there each time the season comes around. Prices are somewhat steep this time – Rs. 20-25 per fruit – but still irresistible, given that one doesn’t get to enjoy rambutan through the year.

Tip: I don’t know if this method will work for everyone, but I eat lots of rambutan in one sitting and avoid getting a sore throat by peeling a bunch and washing them first. I also put the bowl of washed rambutan into the fridge for a while, because I’ve found them easier to eat when slightly chilled.

Plates: another place that’s bursting with colour – and flavour – is the Mount Lavinia Hotel’s Governor’s Restaurant every Sunday, when the Sri Lankan dinner buffet ‘Ape Kaema’ spread is served.

With hopper, roti, and sweetmeat action stations, along with a whole lot of starters, salads, pickles, sambols, all kinds of meat and vegetable curries, lots of carbs – strings, rice, kottu, and more – and desserts, this buffet will definitely see repeat visits from me. It’s really no surprise that it’s so good, given that renowned Chef Publis Silva is at the helm of culinary affairs at the hotel.

I especially enjoyed the boiled manioc with kochchi sambol from among the starters, followed by the utterly delicious egg roti which is made then and there (the best I’ve ever had), along with the yummy hoppers, the superb mutton curry, the pol sambol, which was just perfect, and the super spicy lunu miris.

One dish that definitely didn’t suit my taste buds was the chicken galpathuru malpani. It’s made with toddy and I served myself a piece fuelled by curiosity, but I couldn’t take more than one bite. The beef dummassa next to it was great though and the jackfruit kottu, which I forgot to try, looked very appealing.

It’s not just food that you will enjoy here; if you’re a fan of Sinhala music, you will be glad to hear the calypso band which sets the mood for this Sri Lankan feast. Their song selection and performance are simply lovely while being non-intrusive.

Tip: the buffet opens at 7 p.m. so be there on time and set the stage for a superb Sri Lankan dining experience by serving yourself some hot-off-the-grill egg roti first.