Thuppahi's Blog

Lasantha Pethiyagoda in Colombo  Telegraph, 11 June 2026, where the title runs thus: “Suddek Alluwath Api Goda” (Latch Onto A White Foreigner, We Are All Set)”

Ever since foreign tourism was introduced to Sri Lanka, this epithet developed in scope and regularity with the ever-depreciating rupee against hard currencies. For poor people along the coastline tourist areas, this was what parents wished for the children.

Most luxury homes in fishing villages are either owned or funded by white foreigners or offspring through their often-dubious relationships with local boys, girls, women or men. No longer did fishermen, sculptors or mask-workers train their kids to follow their own trade or seek educational qualifications. Latching onto a white-skinned foreigner became the life goal.

Prof (Emeritus) Lasantha Pethiyagoda

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Sri Lanka, Serendib and the Silk Road of the Sea ... by Sanjiva WIJESINHA as a Kindle Edition

  This timely and well written book fills a major hiatus in Sri Lanka’s history. There is currently very little information available about the island’s role as a major hub in Indian Ocean trade since ancient times – and ‘Sri Lanka, Serendib and the Silk Road of the Sea’ more than adequately fills the gap…. https://www.amazon.com.au/Sri-Lanka-Serendib-Silk-Road-ebook/dp/B0GM2W96K5

Vox Populi

Wow Michael, …. referring here to the TPS essay.

An Act of Consciousness Raising: The Concept ‘Pogrom’ and its Extension to Sri Lanka

I find myself in complete agreement with you. We live in an age of genocide inflation or concept creep, where the definition of a word expands so broadly it loses its original meaning. To call the July 1983 violence a genocide is inappropriate; if left unchecked, we would indeed be forced to “invent another concept” just to describe much more extreme, systematic atrocities.

Romanians remove corpses of Jewish victims deported from Iași following pogrom

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A NOTE FROM A DINKY-DIE AUSSIE FRIEND

• The end of multiculturalism: To be replaced by monoculturalism, which is a code word for a return to the White Australia policy.
• Abolishing SBS.
• Ending free access to the ABC: Transitioning it to a subscription-based model.
• Banning Islamic migration: Explicitly blocking people moving to Australia from Muslim countries.
• Slashing immigration: Attacking immigration levels as a “catastrophe” and blaming them for the housing crisis.
• Scrapping green energy: Labeling climate change a “hoax,” canceling renewable subsidies, and pushing for nuclear power.
• Targeting transgender rights: Classifying transgender awareness and education in schools as a “dangerous ideology.”
• Scrapping the “Welcome to Country”: Removing it completely from official events.

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Desert Wanderer … with highlighs imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

It is astonishing that a country like Iran, with a modest military, could defeat the US—which deployed three aircraft carriers to the region, tried to destroy Iran, attempted to decapitate its leadership, and sought to execute a regime change operation, only to fail on all counts and push the global economy to the brink of catastrophe.

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A NATIONAL TRUST LECTURE in Colombo, 23 June 2026

Herewith the Text of An Email Memo received by The Editor, Thuppahi  on 17 June 2026

Dear Michael Roberts,

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Valkerie Baynes in ESPNcricinfo, 17 June 2026, with this headline “Ecstasy for Nilakshika and Nuthyangana as New Zealand drop the ball”

Valkerie Baynes

Kaushini Nuthyangana had a good day behind stumps  •  ICC/Getty Images

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New Zealand Women

150/6

Sri Lanka Women

(19.4/20 ov, T:151) 153/5

SL Women won by 5 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)

  Player Of The Match

Nilakshika Silva

, SL-W

54* (37)

Cricinfo’s MVP ………….Nilakshika Silva , SL-W

68.55 ptsImpact List

Nilakshika, Nuthyangana stun NZ to seal famous win for Sri Lanka

Nilakshika Silva produces finest international innings to beat defending champions New Zealand in thriller

   Andrew Fidel Fernando ... 17  June 2026, 2:43 AM (7 hrs ago)

Nilakshika Silva celebrates Sri Lanka’s famous win  •  ECB via Getty Images

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S. Ramasundaram, whose title reads “How Tamil Nadu severed religion and caste from politics” …  .https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/how-tamil-nadu-severed-religion-and-caste-from-politics/article71106370.ece

Tamil movies and Tamil Nadu politics are an inseparable jodi that has largely been of benefit to the State socially and economically.

Joseph Vijay, actor and founder of the recently floated Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), assumed office as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu last month. One cannot help but be reminded of how M.G. Ramachandran or more popularly known as MGR, also a highly successful actor, took charge as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977 and went on to win two more consecutive terms, until his death in 1987. He was the first actor-turned-CM in India.

New Delhi, India – May 27: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay arrives at Tamil Nadu Bhavan in New Delhi on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Arun Kumar/ The India Today Group via Getty Images)

Tamil Nadu chief minister C. Joseph Vijay attends the launch of Singappen Special Task Force, an elite all-women police unit formed to strengthen women and children safety in Chennai on June 9, 2026. (Photo by R. Satish BABU / AFP via Getty Images)

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