Amira Cader’s Appraisal of the Gratiaen Award Short-List

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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Gratiaen Prize in Lanka: Five in Shortlist

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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Vale: Angela Hobart …. Scholar Philanthropist

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

My mother, Angela Hobart, who has died aged 86, was a social anthropologist who specialised in the study of the sacred art of Balinese shadow puppetry, by which poet-priests tell stories, projecting shadows of puppets at night under the flickering light of a coconut oil lamp.

She first encountered shadow puppetry when living in Bali in the early 1970s, and conducted research into the topic for many years afterwards, resulting in two books on the subject, Dancing Shadows of Bali: Theatre and Myth (1987) and Healing Performances of Bali: Between Darkness and Light (2005).

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Scuba Diving Deaths in Maldivian Cave ….

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.

The body of instructor Gianluca Benedetti was recovered later that day from the mouth of a cave in the archipelagic country’s Vaavu Atoll. The four others—Monica Montefalcone and her daughter Giorgia SommacalFederico Gualtieri and Muriel Oddenino—were found inside the cave May 18, the culmination of a multi-agency search effort that was postponed May 15 by bad weather and temporarily suspended the next day after a Maldivian military diver died during the recovery mission.

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Australia’s Dictation Test and Early Arrivals from Ceylon

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 20th century have been well documented.  From the post 2nd 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 19th and early 20th centuries.  Many of these Ceylonese arrived before Australia became an Independent Nation.

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Vale DBS Jeyaraj …..

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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Innovations in Sport: Sri Lankan ‘Spearheads’

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. [1234]

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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Sri Lanka’s 1996 Champs in Many-Sided Trip to Malaysia Today

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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High-Level Corruption: The Sri Lankan Airlines in World Gunsights

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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Hajj, Qurban and the Importance of Coexistence: Restraint in Complex Circumstances

  Riaz Aluher

Every year, Muslims around the world celebrate the sacred season of Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha, remembering the obedience, sacrifice, and faith of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.). One of the important practices connected to Eid-ul-Adha is Qurban — the sacrifice of an animal — which symbolizes devotion to Allah and the willingness to share with the poor and needy.

In Islam, Qurban is a respected and rewarding act of worship. The Holy Quran states: “So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].”— (Surah Al-Kawthar 108:2)

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