Veins of Influence: Colonial Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in Early Photographs and Collections, by Shalini Amerasinghe Ganendra
[This book is a pioneering monograph that brings a rich array of early and previously unpublished images of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) into the global discourse of photography, pairing a striking lens of visual appreciation with distinctly humanizing perspectives.
Filed under accountability, architects & architecture, art & allure bewitching, British colonialism, Buddhism, commoditification, Dutch colonialism, economic processes, ethnicity, female empowerment, governance, heritage, Hinduism, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, life stories, modernity & modernization, photography, photography & its history, plantations, Portuguese imperialism, power politics, religiosity, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, the imaginary and the real, tourism, transport and communications, unusual people, wild life, working class conditions
Ron Slee of Flinders University & Adelaide, …… with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi and some End Notes added
My interest in visiting Sri Lanka has been building for decades, generated by my friendship with two Sri Lankan nationals with whom I play tennis, Michael Roberts and Justin La Brooy. Justin had written me a very helpful short history of the country and added his recommendations of where to see wildlife and scenic beauty and Michael had sent hundreds of photos and personal stories that helped me plan my visit.
Unexpectedly this year,[1] I was able to spend 11 memorable days in their country of origin, including two days visiting Galle Fort where Michael had grown up in the 1940s and 50s.
Avishka Mario Senewiratne
In 1923 Ceylon was a different place to the Sri Lanka of today. The land was ruled by the Empire’s masters, ensconced in their ‘Britishers Only’ Colombo Club near Galle Face Green. The Ceylonese had, however, formed their own rival Orient Club located near the racecourse.
Filed under accountability, architects & architecture, British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, charitable outreach, cultural transmission, education, Empire loyalism, ethnicity, governance, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, martyrdom, military expenditure, politIcal discourse, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, trauma, world events & processes, World War II, World War One
Paddy Hintz in The Weekend Australian, 25 October 2023, bearing this title “Jungles, curries and wild elephants: why Sri Lanka is a ride”
We’re just in time to climb into Kandalama’s beautiful infinity pool and be” mesmerised by fireflies as monkeys sift through the trees beside us.
The morning tour is spectacular. Sigiriya Rock Fortress features cascading water gardens, a vertigo-inducing climb to find the remnants of a paranoid and murderous king’s domain (complete with ancient swimming pool) and a cliff-face cave full of frescoes of scantily clad concubines.
Sigiriya rock fortress, Sri Lanka. Photo: Dylan Shaw
Lam Seneviratne, whose preferred title is “100 Years of Royal College at Reid Avenue”
A centenary in the life of an Institution is a very long period and calls for much celebration. However, for Royal College, now 188 years old, a grand celebration to mark 100 years at Reid Avenue may not be appropriate.
Filed under architects & architecture, British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, Colombo and Its Spaces, cultural transmission, economic processes, education, education policy, Empire loyalism, governance, heritage, historical interpretation, life stories, modernity & modernization, patriotism, Royal College, sri lankan society, unusual people, world events & processes
Compiled by Retd SLAF Group Captain Kumar Kirinde, with this title “Berlin Wall: The Guarded Concrete Barrier That Once Encircled A Part of the German Capital”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall
Introduction
The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that encircled West Berlin of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG and referred to as West Germany), from 1961 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic (GDR and referred to as East Germany). FRG belonged to the post war USA led Western Bloc of countries and GDR to the USSR led Eastern Bloc.
Filed under accountability, architects & architecture, authoritarian regimes, ethnicity, foreign policy, governance, Hinduism, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, legal issues, life stories, political demonstrations, politIcal discourse, power politics, security, trauma, unusual people, world events & processes
Editorial in Daily FT, 8 June 2023, which is entitled “Archaeology Department must act impartially in N & E” … with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi
The past few months have seen several protests held in the North and East over the acquisition of land to construct new Buddhist shrines. It has been alleged that Buddhist monks aided by army personnel have been engaged in these questionable activities with the tacit approval of the Archaeology Department which have led to tensions among the local population and the military.
At a recent meeting with Archaeology Department officials, President Ranil Wickremesinghe weighed in on the issue and chided Department officials for taking money from Buddhist monks to carry out their work and reminded them that they do not work for a private firm but a Government institution that has to act according to the law.
Filed under accountability, ancient civilisations, anti-racism, architects & architecture, Buddhism, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, cultural transmission, ethnicity, governance, heritage, historical interpretation, legal issues, life stories, politIcal discourse, power politics, Rajapaksa regime, religiosity, religious nationalism, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, tolerance, travelogue
Dr. Dharmaratna Herath
A detailed book on the history of the Tooth Relic. This is the extended version of the PhD thesis of the author submitted to School of Oriented and African Studies(SOAS), University of London in 1974.
This was first priced for Rs14,000. But it is now available for Rs 8,500 (extra 10% off if purchased from Vijitha Yapa or Visidunu at CIBF).
Filed under architects & architecture, art & allure bewitching, Buddhism, cultural transmission, heritage, historical interpretation, Indian traditions, landscape wondrous, life stories, literary achievements, politIcal discourse, religious nationalism, sri lankan society, unusual people, world events & processes
MAR Manukulasooriya, in the Sunday Observer, 1 October 2023 with this title “A distinctive Dutch archaeological site in South-East Asia”
The Jaffna Fort is near the coastal village of Gurunagar [within the Jaffna Peninsula]. It was built by the Portuguese in 1619 under Phillippe de Oliveira as a four-sided garrison with ramparts, corner bastions and moats following the Portuguese invasion of Jaffna.
Filed under accountability, architects & architecture, art & allure bewitching, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, cultural transmission, Dutch colonialism, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, LTTE, politIcal discourse, security, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, world events & processes
thuppahi
