Category Archives: education

 Yasodhara Kumaratunga: “A Butterfly’s Wise Words”

YASODHARA’s Handwritten Inscription on the Cover Page of the  pamphlet in my hands …. courtesy of the copy held by my  late departed sister, Estelle Fernando 

To ….My dearest Aunty Estelle,

Thank you for starting me off on my long trek” through the world of learning.

With Love

Yasodhara XX

EDITORIAL NOTE: The collection of  short poems in this  loose-leaf pamphlet is NOT presented below in either chronological order or paginated  order [since  the  pamphlet is NOT numbered].

A Butterfly’s

Wise Words

&

Other Poems.

                                         Yasodhara Kumaratunga

                                                with Cover Design by Yasodhara Kumaratunga

 

To my beloved thaththi with love

in the hope that the blood which

flowed so vainly from your beautiful

face would mingle with the earth

of my land, to give forth

the blossoms of Peace & Brotherhood

for which you fought so passionately.

And to my ammi for

all that you have been to me

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Charith Asalanka at Cricket: Richmond College & Sri Lanka

The  WIKIPEDIA Entry on The  Man captaining Sri Lanka Today  in the ODI Field

Kariyawasam Indipalage Charith Asalanka (born 29 June 1997) is a Sri Lankan professional cricketer who currently serves as the captain of the Sri Lanka national team in white-ball formats of T20I and ODI and is the 14th and current T20I captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team. An aggressive left-handed batsman and trusted batter in the number five middle-order batting position, who bowls part-time handy off spin. On pitches that favour spin, he has the potential to take useful wickets and contribute significantly as an all-rounder. Asalanka made his international debut for Sri Lanka in June 2021.

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Reaching Across the Skies: Young Avishka

Ifham Nizam ✍️in The Island, August 2025… with this title “From Skies to Scripts: A young editor taking Sri Lanka’s stories to the world,”  Published

At just 26, Avishka Mario Senewiratne has already done what many spend a lifetime trying to achieve. A trained pilot, published author, historian, and now Editor-in-Chief of The Ceylon Journal, Senewiratne is fast emerging as a defining voice in Sri Lanka’s literary and historical landscape. But behind the titles lies a story of deep passion, quiet perseverance, and an unwavering love for history – and the written word.

 

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Reading Richard Simon’s THOMIA

Uditha Devapriya, via Thilina Walpola in The Island, 10 August  2025 …………….. Review of “Thomia: The Entangled Histories of Lanka and Her Greatest Public School” by Richard Simon. In 2 volumes. Lazari Press. 869 pages.

Richard Simon’s Thomia is a massive undertaking, though to describe it as such is to indulge in cliches hardly deserving of such books. Where does one begin with a publication like this? It is, as the author notes at the beginning, not just a history of “Lanka’s greatest school”, but a fairly comprehensive and I would say eclectic history of Sri Lanka before and after British rule. The author is at his best when he draws attention to the parallel histories of school and country. Needless to say, he is at his best throughout.

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Protecting One’s Computer

Chandre Dharma-wardana in Canada**

Best system is to NOT use Windows operating system, and instead switch to Linux, and then use any commercial anti-virus and protection software.
More details:
  • Linux is inherently more secure:

    Linux distributions have a more robust security model than some other operating systems, with features like a strong permission system and less reliance on a central administrator.

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My Decision to leave Ceylon in 1981

Sachi Sri Kantha      

Sachi examining a winged bean pod in 1981

Prelude

Willingly, I opt to use the ‘Ceylon’ word, because I was born in the blessed island Ceylon in May 1953. The place of my birth was Chilaw, solely for the reason it was the then work location of my father Sachithanantham, then employed as a clerk in the hospital services of the Department of Health. He was 30, but my mother was only 17. My parents are from Point Pedro, and it was an arranged marriage among the kin in Point Pedro’s adjacent regions.

From 1961 to 1971, I had primary and secondly schooling at the Colombo Hindu College (Bambalapitiya, Ratmalana) and Aquinas University College. I entered the University of Sri Lanka (Colombo Campus) in January 1972, at the age of 18 years and 8 months. This entry was delayed by months, due to the JVP insurrection in April 1971. Ceylon was re-named as Sri Lanka in May 1972.

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Algal… Algal … !!! Confronting the Threat Along Adelaide’s Beaches

A Circular from Louise Miller-Frost, MP for Boothby, mid-August  2025 … with highlights imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

I spent most of Wednesday at the SARDI/PIRSA facility in West Beach with Federal Environment Minister Senator Murray Watt and Deputy Premier and SA Environment Minister Susan Close.
Scientists briefed us on the causal factors, development and impact of the bloom and possible future scenarios.

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When S. Thomas’ College Stormed into the Rugby Arena in Lanka

Sajeewa Jayakody, in  an article entitled S.Thomas’ College ’s bold beginning in rugby,” August 6, 2025 …. with  highlighting being  an  imposition by The Editor, Thuppahi

The 1961 S. Thomas’ College rugby team captained by Tony Sirimanne….

Back Row: M.Flamer Caldera, C.R. Dickson, H.R. C . D’Silva, M.N.A. Gunasekera, H.L.C. D’Silva, C.L.Perera, G. D’Silva, S.J. P. Guneratne, B.C. Molligoda, R.Jayatileke, N.Dias- Abeysinghe.

Seated: Mr P. Perera (Coach), J. Cader, H.S.Kanagaabai, T.Sirimanne (Captain), The Warden, M.G. Koch, M.Samarasinghe, Mr L.W. Abeywardena. ….

Ground: C. Asirwatham, C.H. Weerasooriya.

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Neelan Tiruchelvam: An Appreciation of His Mediatory Politics

Kagusthan Ariaratnam in Groundviews, 8 August 2025, where the title  reads “Neelan Unsilenced …” while highlights here have been added by The Editor, Thuppahi

Photo courtesy of Pitasanna Shanmugathas

NEELAN: UNSILENCED is a compelling and vital documentary that successfully situates the life of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam within the turbulent history of the Sri Lankan conflict. Its greatest achievement is providing a nuanced entry point into the war by focusing on the non-violent, intellectual and pluralistic dimensions of Tamil resistance – a perspective often eclipsed by the narrative of armed struggle. By foregrounding Neelan’s journey, the film illuminates a leader who dedicated his life to constitutional reform and reconciliation.

   Photo courtesy of Pitasanna Shanmugathas

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Appreciating Ravindra Randeniya’s Multi-Faceted Career

Uditha Devapriya  in SAPNnews,  August 2025, where the title runs thus: “Ravindra  Randeniya: Sri Lankan Actor, South Asian Artist”

 

 Ravindra (left) & Dilip Kumar (right) in New DelhiCourtesy Ravindra Randeniya

In South Asia, cinema is more than an art: it is a way of life. Sri Lanka is no exception. Despite its size, the small island-state boasts of a film industry that has won renown abroad, even if it is facing a downturn today. At its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, Sri Lankan films travelled to New Delhi, Tehran, Tashkent, even Cannes and New York.

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