Thuppahi's Blog

Amira Cader: “Diverse voices and compelling storytelling define this year’s finalists [for the GRATIAEN PRIZE]” ** … DAILY MIRROR

The Gratiaen Trust, in partnership with the John Keells Foundation and with the support of the British Council announced the shortlist for the 33rd Gratiaen Prize, underscoring the continued vitality of Sri Lanka’s English literary scene at the British Council Colombo last week.

The winner of the 33rd Gratiaen Prize will be announced on 6 June 2026, at a ceremony celebrating the country’s literary talent and cultural expression.

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Five on the shortlist for Gratiaen Prize, …. May 5, 2026

The Gratiaen Trust, in partnership with John Keells Foundation and with the support of the British Council, announced the shortlist for the 33rd Gratiaen Prize on Monday evening. This year, a record number of entries highlighted the energy and creativity in Sri Lankan writing in English.

The five shortlisted works cover a wide range of genres, including historical fiction, contemporary satire, lyrical prose, and experimental poetry.

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Maya Hobart, in The Guardian newspaper, 9 October 2025  “Angela Hobart obituary” … with the highlights being impositions by The Editor, Thuppahi

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Natalie Finn, in Online where the title runs thus: “Maldives Diving Tragedy: What Happened on Excursion That Ended With 5 People Dead”

Five Italians, including a professor and her 20-year-old daughter, died during a scuba diving excursion in the Maldives. An investigation is underway into what went wrong.

Muriel Oddenino/Facebook; Greenpeace via AP; Albatros Top Boat; Federico Gualtieri/Facebook; Instagram

Four Italian tourists, all experienced divers, and their instructor set out on a scuba excursion May 14 in the Maldives to explore a sea cave.  None of them survived the journey.

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Earlson Forbes. … with highlights imposed by The Editor Thuppahi

Migrant and other Arrivals from Ceylon/Sri Lanka to Australia during the second half of the 20^th century have been well documented.  From the post 2^nd World War inflow of genealogy tested Burghers; to the later inflow of professionals; the Family Reunion, refugee and skilled migrant intakes; many of differing status and age have made it across by ocean liner, leaky boat and airplane to Australia.  This is not their story.

What is presented here is a glimpse of one aspect of the lives of individuals who came to Australia from Ceylon in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.  Many of these Ceylonese arrived before Australia became an Independent Nation.

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Noel Nadesan: “The passing of DBS Jeyaraj marks a profound loss in the pursuit of truth and integrity in journalism” …..https://noelnadesan.com/2026/05/18/the-passing-of-dbs-jeyaraj-marks-a-profound-loss-in-the-pursuit-of-truth-and-integrity-in-journalism/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR3qN5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4Mj ...with  highlight being the  hand of The Editor, Thuppahi

A seasoned journalist from the Sri Lankan Tamil community, he was far more than a reporter. He was a perceptive social observer whose work reflected both courage and clarity. His writing was defined by honesty—he remained faithful to his stories without embellishment or distortion. Even when one disagreed with his perspectives, his commitment to truthful reporting was never in doubt.

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“Sri Lanka’s global level Thinkers, Visionaries and Innovators in Cricket and other sports,” AI Overview, ….  https://share.google/aimode/TmiiYdHuL2iAQ3wrT

Sri Lanka has consistently punched above its weight on the global sporting stage, producing thinkers, visionaries, and innovators who have permanently transformed how games are played, refereed, and commercialized globally. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Cricket: Strategy & Technological Innovation

One: Senaka Weeraratna — The Visionary behind DRS

Though not an on-field athlete, Colombo-born lawyer Senaka Weeraratna is globally recognized as the “Father of DRS”. In 1997, he conceptualized and pioneered the Player Referral System, allowing players to challenge an umpire’s decision using technology. His groundbreaking idea was formally adapted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) into the modern Decision Review System (DRS), completely revolutionizing fair play across worldwide cricket, tennis, and football. [1]

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Item in THE ISLAND, May 2026**  … rendered usable by my Aloysian mate KK de Silva

Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning team is in Kuala Lumpur for their 30th-anniversary reunion tour, featuring a gala dinner on May 15 and a T20 exhibition match against “World Legends” at the Royal Selangor Club on May 16, 2026.

The event features legends like Roshan Mahanama, Arjuna Ranatunga, and Hashan Tillakaratne, along with coaching clinics for local, underprivileged children.

cricket (1)

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Sanjeewa Jayaweera, whose article is entitled “SriLankan Airlines Airbus Scandal, the Deaths of Kapila Chandrasena, and My Brother Rajeewa”

 Most Sri Lankans believe corruption is deeply entrenched in our country, with politicians and politically connected individuals the primary beneficiaries. Yet, only a minuscule number of corruption cases are exposed through credible investigations, and even fewer result in successful prosecutions.

Against that backdrop, the exposure of the SriLankan Airlines–Airbus bribery scandal stands out as one of the most significant investigations linked to Sri Lanka, albeit by overseas investigators. Credit must go first to officials at UK Export Finance (UKEF), and subsequently to the investigation conducted by the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

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  Riaz Aluher

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