Category Archives: cultural transmission

March 3, 2025 · 6:16 pm

The Invincible Thomian Cricket XI of 1965

Somasundaram Skandakumar

That Thomian team in 1965 was like Bradman’s Invincibles. They fielded a superbly balanced side that smashed all records as Barney Reid led their bowling with uncanny control and very late and sharp inswing, while Sarath Seneviratne their skipper and Anura Tennakoon spearheaded the batting.

At Tea on the second day following on with two hours to go we were eight down and the Thomians were celebrating. Wadugodapitiya was joined by our dear Lakshman Thalayasingham and they defended stoutly as the minutes ticked by until a few minutes before close Thalay was out stumped playing on his back foot

He never lived that down

The last pair held firm and we escaped with an honourable draw.

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Filed under accountability, art & allure bewitching, cricket for amity, cricket selections, cultural transmission, heritage, intricate artefacts, landscape wondrous, life stories, performance, Royal College, S. Thomas College, self-reflexivity, Sri Lankan cricket, sri lankan society, unusual people

March 3, 2025 · 12:57 am

Misunderstanding Manorani Saravanamuttu’s Character in Film

A Critical Review of the Film “RANI” which is entitled “Did Rani Miss Manorani?” with the sub-title “A film that avoids the “Mannerism” of a Biopic” by Rani Bhagya Rajapakshe ….

“This is only how Manorani sees Richard. It doesn’t have a lot of what Richard did. Although Manorani is not someone who pays attention to the happenings in the country. It was only after her son was kidnapped that she began to feel that this was happening in the country. She had human emotions. But she was a person who smoked cigarettes and drank whiskey and lived a merry life.” …… Interview with “Rani” film director Ashoka Handagama by Upali Amarasinghe – 02.02.2025 ‘Anidda’ weekend newspaper, pages 15 and 19

The above statement shows the key attitude of the director of the movie, “Rani” towards the central character of the film, Dr. Manorani Sarawanamuttu. This statement is highly controversial. Similarly, the statement given by the director to Groundviews on 30.01.2025 about capturing the depth of Rani’s character shows that he has done so superficially, frivolously?

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March 1, 2025 · 2:03 am

Biographical Inspirations in Life: Examples within This Site

An EDITORIAL NOTE, 27 February 2025

Items within this site have drawn over 780 hits each day of this week, ranging from 986 on Wednesday 26th February to 000 on the Monday 24th…… A fair sprinkling of visitors looked at biographical tales honing in on individuals — in some cases on what we call “Vales”. Readers may derive insights from a listing of these items: …. after all, friends matter and many famous personalities evoke tales of achievement that inspire.

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February 27, 2025 · 12:22 am

A Vibrant Debate around A Vibrant Singer –Kishani

Darshanie Ratnawalli

Controversies surrounding new renditions of popular songs do have a sociological basis…or rather a basis which owes something to sociological factors. But it’s silly to think it’s all sociological. Enjoyment of music is a function of individual taste which is unpredictable and cannot be slotted so easily into neat sociological cubbyholes. Why did some people react so violently to Kishani’s rendition? Why did a Sinhala TV morning show host liken it to a screeching of a female cat in heat? It’s because a powerful operatic voice trained to hit top notes can sound too powerful for ears used to and raised on Hindustani based music. But no……. even that is not right. Popular music lovers of any country may find opera outside their groove zone. See this video of Whitney Houston, Sting and Elton John attempting to sing an opera aria with Pavarotti …… (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2mMPz_a4vY)…..

YOUTUBE.COM

Whitney Houston, Pavarotti, Sting, Elton John – La Donna e Mobile 1994

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February 26, 2025 · 12:54 am

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage Celebrates Its 50th Year

Amal Jayasinghe, in The Island, Sunday Edn, with Pics by Ishara Kodikara and this title “Sri Lanka’s first elephant orphanage celebrates 50 years”

Sri Lanka’s main elephant orphanage marked its 50th anniversary on Sunday February 16 with a fruit feast for the 68 jumbos at the showpiece centre, reputedly the world’s first care home for destitute pachyderms. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage lavished pineapples, bananas, melons and cucumbers on its residents to celebrate the anniversary of their home, which is a major tourist attraction.

A few officials and tourists invited to the low-key celebration were served milk rice and traditional sweets while four generations of elephants born in captivity frolicked in the nearby Maha Oya river.

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February 25, 2025 · 11:57 pm

Vale: In Appreciation of Dr. Sisira Jayasuriya, A Committed Scholar

Sarath Rajapatirana & Premachandra Athukorala, whose appraisal is entitled “In Memoriam: Sisira Jayasuriya, 1946-2025″

The distinguished economist Professor Sisira Kumara Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka-born and a scholar who spent much of his professional life in Australia, passed away on 18 February 2025, after a prolonged battle with cancer. Sisira was a remarkable man: a highly respected economist whose intellectual contributions ranged far and wide; an influential public intellectual; a wonderful teacher, mentor, and institution-builder; and a deeply loved friend to many people across cultures and all over the world. Continue reading →

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February 25, 2025 · 5:38 pm

Rambanctious Middle-Class Ceylonese of Yesteryear

A NOTE from the THUPPAHIYAA, 25 February 2025

This email memo from a ‘middle class’ Sri Lankan born before World War Two and nurtured in an elite college whci addresses mates nourished in the same schools and planter/military circles is of considerable socio-political significance. Its implications are all the stronger because the “Letter” is An Epitaph for Richard Hermon, an Extraordinary and Rambanctious Sri Lankan of the Old School.

AN EMAIL MEMO from Retd Major Lalin Fernando to a Circle of Ceylonese Pals, 23 February 2025

Dickie was in Alison, a bit junior to me. His cousins Duncan and Tyrone were there too Dickie played Rugby with me in the 2nd XV v SPC (1955) on their grounds when he was 14 or less. There were no age groups then. The Peterites average age would have been around 19. It included their Cricket captain Ken (20 yrs old) but not Russel Duckworth. Dont know if Lakshman Serasinghe too played. Our oldest would have been 16 or so. The first XV match was played before our match as the seniors wanted to watch the CR v CH match. It left us brats to the after the match mercies of the Bamba crowd!

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February 25, 2025 · 9:25 am

Some Biographical Items in TPS Visited Yesterday

Michael Roberts

The THUPPAHI Web-Site has a wide range of biographical tales presented over the years. The items listed below are among those that attracted a few hits yesterday. In marking this result, I seek to remind readers of personnel who have contibuted towards our island’s varied history.

https://thuppahis.com/2020/09/30/the-joseph-family-of-british-ceylon-service-to-mankind

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February 22, 2025 · 9:04 am

Richard Simon’s THOMIA …. On The Launching Pod Now

THOMIA …. with the world and the moon in its sights and landing sites

RICHARD’s NOTE, 20 February 2024

Two important Thomia-related things happened yesterday. First, I had a call from Softwave to confirm that the first completed copies of the book would be delivered today, 20 February, as promised. Second, I made a call of my own, to confirm with the proprietors of the Barefoot Gallery Cafe that I shall be holding the official launch of Thomia there on the fourth of March.