Author Archives: thuppahi

About thuppahi

Sri Lankan and Australian nationality; student of Sri Lankan society and politics; sociology of cricket;
June 16, 2020 · 10:59 am

College House at University College in Olden Time, 1948-52

Tissa Devendra, in Island, 14 June 2020, where the title is “Remembering College House, K.G hall. Villa Venezia 1948-1952″

Those of us who had the pleasure (yes!) of being admitted to the  (one and only) University of Ceylon seventy-one years ago shared the distinction of being the first freshmen of newly independent Ceylon. Nervously we clustered round the portico of the elegant old mansion we, later, came to know as College House – an irreverent salute to the University College that preceded our University. The men hung about in groups of former schoolmates, as did the chattering young women draped in, yet unfamiliar, saris.

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June 16, 2020 · 5:31 am

Battling the West. For Sri Lanka. Naseby at his Best

Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, in Island, 16 June 2020 where the title is “Lord Naseby’s Paradise”

It is a great joy to come across someone who loves this country passionately. In the case of Lord Naseby the joy is enhanced by the practical aspects of his devotion, his unceasing efforts to promote Sri Lanka’s interests and to combat what he sees as unremitting and vicious hostility to Sri Lanka on the part of successive governments.

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Filed under accountability, american imperialism, authoritarian regimes, economic processes, Eelam, foreign policy, governance, historical interpretation, human rights, Indian Ocean politics, insurrections, island economy, law of armed conflict, life stories, LTTE, military strategy, modernity & modernization, nationalism, patriotism, politIcal discourse, power politics, prabhakaran, Rajapaksa regime, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, Tamil migration, tamil refugees, Tamil Tiger fighters, truth as casualty of war, UN reports, unusual people, vengeance, war reportage, welfare & philanthophy, world events & processes

June 15, 2020 · 12:23 pm

“Aiyyo” reaches the Heights of English Elegance

Aiyyoh reaches a peak …. as “AIYOH”

“Aiyyo! Aiyyo!“ What is happening in the English-speaking World! Budu Ammoh!

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Filed under accountability, ethnicity, heritage, landscape wondrous, literary achievements, performance, the imaginary and the real, trauma, travelogue, world events & processes

June 15, 2020 · 11:37 am

Remembering Rajiv Jayaweera: An Outstanding Analyst and A Sturdy Administrator

RRW in The Island, 15 June 2020 where the title runs “One with elegance in thought and letters”

But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restored, and sorrows end. —- Shakespeare/Sonnet 30

Of course, Rajiv Jayaweera was not my friend. I never saw him in person, nor heard him; but I had once seen his picture in a web publication. However, I saw him well enough through his writings as a fellow contributor to The Island, and experienced a latent relationship with him as a person whose intellectual grasp of our country’s burning issues, and whose concerns and attitudes relating to them generally matched mine; I felt  as if I had known him closely as a friend for some time. I was impressed by the meticulous attention he paid to his language in expressing his ideas precisely (a characteristic in truth tellers).

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Filed under accountability, charitable outreach, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, literary achievements, meditations, politIcal discourse, Rajapaksa regime, sri lankan society, unusual people, world events & processes

June 15, 2020 · 5:44 am

A Summary Overview of Sri Lanka’s Struggle to contain Covid

Lasanda Kurukulasuriya, in Island, 11 June 2020, with this title “Covid19 in Sri Lanka: From lockdown to ‘new normal’.”

Sri Lanka’s handling of the Covid19 outbreak has, comparatively speaking, produced commendable results. Tracing the trajectory of the response, it may be seen that early moves to prepare for what lay ahead served well to mitigate the outcome. A Task Force drawing on expertise of all relevant sectors was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on January 27th, the day the first Covid19 case was reported – that of a Chinese woman tourist.

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June 14, 2020 · 5:14 am

Extremisms. Feeling Good. John Cleese hit nail on the head

John Cleese got it right thirty years back: Virtue is built on the targeted “Other”

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Filed under accountability, communal relations, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, politIcal discourse, power politics, self-reflexivity, the imaginary and the real, truth as casualty of war, unusual people, world events & processes, zealotry

June 13, 2020 · 5:15 pm

The “Mayflower” to ‘surf’ into London on June 30th

Labour of Love – Mayflower – A Sea Change book launch on June 30th!

We’re very excited to announce that our book will be launching on Tuesday June 30th, 8pm at a special free webinar: Mayflower – A Sea Change. Do join us to find out more about this amazing book and its epic journey to publication. We will also hear about the exciting things that are going to happen for the Mayflower 400 year anniversary from its chair and visionary director of The Theatre Royal, Adrian Vinken.

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June 13, 2020 · 3:31 pm

Pablo Neruda and Thangamma … His Work in Ceylon

Dr. Kumar Gunawardane. in Island, 13 June 2020, where the title runs “Neruda and his daughter”

“It’s night time ,
I’m alone and sad,
Thinking in the light of a flickering candle,
about joy and pain,
about tired old age,
and handsome arrogant youth”
Pablo Neruda

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June 13, 2020 · 7:58 am

A Glimmer of Hope for Australia-China Relations

Fair Dinkum

It is common for governments to issue travel warnings to their citizens. Australia does it frequently. Australia’s travel warnings to its citizens have sometimes annoyed other countries such as Indonesia and Jordan, to name a few. So, it should come as no surprise that China has issued travel warnings to its citizens over concerns about a surge in racist attacks against Chinese and Asians in Australia.

Pix deployed by RMIT in Melbourne to reach out to students affected by the situation through a campaign of care

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June 13, 2020 · 6:44 am

Remembering the Medical Luminary Chris Uragoda

Ravi Deraniyagala, in Island, 12 June 2020, where the title reads “Dr. Chris Uragoda, a medical luminary and Erudite Scholar”

Dr. Chris Uragoda was a medical luminary, a distinguished literati, an eudite scholar and above all unassuming gentleman par excellence. He was blessed with an unparalled richness of precious human qualities.

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