Category Archives: heritage

March 31, 2024 · 2:30 am

Elephant Orphanage & Elephant Lore: Dilmah Initiative at Uda Walawe

Kamanthi Wickramasinghe, in Daily Mirror, 25 March 2024, where the title reads thus: “Üda Walawe ETH: A home away from home for baby elephants”

Spectators witnessing another busy feeding hour at the Uda Walawe ETH —Pix courtesy: Dilmah Conservationh

Inauguration of ‘Elephant Knowledge Walk’ 

In a bid to spread more awareness among visitors to the Uda Walawe ETH, Dilmah Conservation in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Conservation renovated the ‘Elephant Knowledge Walk’ to educate local and international visitors on why the Asian elephant needs to be protected. Apart from that a souvenir shop was also opened to support local communities.

The Uda Walawe ETH was set up to rehabilitate elephants that were orphaned due to various reasons including the Human-Elephant Conflict. At the ETH, elephant calves have very little contact with humans which is vital to boost their chances of survival in the wild. Here, human interaction is only limited to feeding hours. The calves are being fed every three hours with infant milk but also encouraged to develop natural foraging habits including grazing.

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March 29, 2024 · 1:39 pm

For Ceylon. Roman Szechowycz in Gal Oya, 1950-61

Andreas Szechowycz … detailing his father’s dedicated work in the Gal Oya Project in the 1950s and in communication with  Michael Roberts in ways that mark his deep attachment to the island

Group Photo – Dr. Roman Szechowycz in middle.

L-R: Mr. (not legible), Mr. P. W. Richards, Mr. Coel Menai North Wales UK, Dr. Roman Szechowycz, Dr. A. J. Kostreamaks Bongor, Mr.. Anwari Dilmy Indonesia, Mr. B. A. Abeyvickram Colombo, Mr. R. A. DeRosaryro Colombo

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March 29, 2024 · 10:16 am

Differentiation in the Foundations of Criticism in Recent Struggles in Sri Lanka

Abeysekara, Ananda …. presenting a synopsis of an article with the same title presented in the web journal Academia  …………………. https://www.academia.edu/116523255/Buddhism_Politics_and_Criticism_in_a_Time_of_Struggle_in_Sri_Lanka

As I have argued elsewhere (Abeysekara 2002), the relation between religion and politics changes in historical debates. Debates themselves are forms of “criticism” in that debates change the questions of who and what constitute the parameters of religion and politics.[1] In that sense, I want to think about how the relation between religion, politics, and the state became the subject of debate during postwar Sri Lanka and ask what such a debate may say about our postcolonial politics and democracy itself.

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March 27, 2024 · 12:37 am

Percy Abeysekera as Large as Life

Percy Abeysekera aka “Pissu Percy” has, alas, passed away; but, as we celebrate good cricket this week pursued in Bangladesh where Sri Lanka was led by a man from the south nurtured in Richmond College, we can savour the world of cricket with Percy of St. Aloysius and Sri Lanka.

http://www.islandcricket.lk/photos/somebody-stop-percy-abeysekera

Somebody stop Percy Abeysekera ….. Submitted by Hilal on January 7, 2009 – 18:48

Taken at the 5th and final one day match between Sri Lanka and England at the R Premadasa stadium on the 13-Oct-2007. A bespectacled, 62-year-old grandfather, Percy Abeysekera is perhaps Sri Lanka’s most exuberant supporter.

Photographer/Owner:  Chamil Thanthrimudalige

Source…. 

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March 26, 2024 · 8:55 pm

Ancestral Genealogy and the DBU’s Marvellous Service

Nick Van Der Hoeven, whose choice of title was “The Dutch Burgher Union “………………  while highlights have been imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi …………………………………………………………………………… snSpedtoorh3fi1c80a115m1h307g3u8i82016f0i28a6c396l64390307fi  ·

I have been reflecting on how lucky we are (as a group) to have such incredible access to the history of our ancestors. Yes, its very interesting: the diverse biological backgrounds (Dutch, British, Prussian, French, Portuguese, local etc). I am, however, a second generation Australian-born Burgher on my father’s side (plus Hungarian on mothers) and no doubt have a different reading history than those who ‘lived it’ back in Ceylon for those 500 years of colonisation.

 

For me the greatest gift is knowing the names and some of the stories of ancestors dating back 22 generations — regardless of where they are from. This is unique and is in my opinion one of the greatest legacies of the DBU. The shipping manifests, the Dutch churches, the British churches, the various journals and off course the DBU records themselves. Continue reading →

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March 24, 2024 · 7:50 pm

C. A. Lorenz of “Karlsruhe” as Propertied Gentleman in British Ceylon

Avishka Mario Seneviratne, in The Sunday Island, 24 March 2024, where the title reads “Karlsruhe and the properties of Lorenz” …. with highlighting being impositions by The Editor, Thuppahi

The history of this abode is both historic and tragic concerning the life of Lorenz. The origins of this abode are unknown. Its structure is essentially Dutch, but its occupants of various eras have made their additions to its architectural setting. Lorenz had been eyeing this property for some time. Previously, it was owned by Governor Charles McCarthy’s brother. Just like Elie House, this property opposite the Welikada Prison was situated at a higher elevation in comparison with its surroundings. Originally this property was in two blocks of land covering 11.5 acres. After purchasing this property from Dr. Dickman and Dr. Wambeek, Charles Lorenz, who was mortally ill arrived here in early 1871. Sadly, this would be his final abode as Lorenz passed away in August 1871.

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March 21, 2024 · 6:14 pm

Experiences: Working on the Gal Oya Project in Ceylon, 1950-61

Andreas Szechowycz, presenting a Memoir-cum-Report entitled “Gal Oya Project (1950-1960): Dr. Roman W. Szechowycz & the Gal Oya Development Board”

Dr. Roman W. Szechowycz was employed by the Gal Oya Development Board from 18 July 1950 to 1961. He arrived in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) with his wife Sabina (nee Czekan) Szechowycz and their 3-year-old daughter Maria. I was born in October 1951 in Colombo. During the time in Sri Lanka, we lived in Inginiyagala next to the post office.

My parents were displaced people who after World War II ended were in Hanover Germany in the British Sector. My father’s home was in northwest Ukraine and my mother’s home was in southwest Poland. These areas were occupied by Russians after the conclusion of World War II.

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March 20, 2024 · 8:01 pm

Colombo Ladies serving Hindu Ladies College in Jaffna

Goolbai Gunasekara in The ISLAND Newspaper, 17 March 2024 … entitled “My time at Hindu Ladies College”

Following in her mother, Clara Gunaskara nee Motwani’s footsteps, principal and teacher Goolbai Gunasekara revolutionised the sphere of English education in Sri Lanka …. & this account is her trip down memory lane.

Mrs. Visaladhy Sivagurunathan, a philanthropic Hindu lady, had gifted the property of Hindu Ladies’ College to the school in 1943. [My] Mother […. of the Motwani  lineage] …. was the school’s fifth Principal. Under her, the first Past Pupils’ Association was formed, with Mrs. Jeevaratnam Rasiah as its first President. Miss Thambu (Mother’s long suffering Tamil tutor) was its Secretary. Just recently, I was invited to speak to the Colombo branch of the HLC alumni.

I met a former HLC teacher there — Mrs Navaratna, formerly Leela Ponniah — along with many old friends. The reverence in which Mother was held was very heartwarming, and it was a moving experience to hear the stories they related of instances in which Mother had touched — and sometimes directed — their lives.

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March 20, 2024 · 7:08 pm

Mareeba: An Albanian Muslim Community in Outback Queensland

VISIT … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_ZvzG1WtlM

756,306 views Mar 13, 2024

OnePath Network travelled all the way over to North Queensland to meet with the Muslim Community of Mareeba. They are a small rural community of Albanian farmers that have been here for over 100 years. Their story is nothing short of inspirational for Muslims around the world. We uncovered how they not only were able to blend in so flawlessly into Australian culture but also the secret behind their ability to survive for so many generations. Enjoy their story! Read more real stories from right here in Australia of how local Zakat has transformed peoples lives, empowering generations to come:

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March 19, 2024 · 1:06 am

“Elie House” in Mutwal & Its Illustrious Occupants in the 19th Century

Avishka Mario Senewiratne, in The Island, March 2024 with this title: “Old Mutwal, Elie House and Lorenz”

 Elie House, water colour by Andrew Nicholl

 The history of this most historic and valuable abode Elie House dates back to the days of Philip Anstruther, the Colonial Secretary of Ceylon from 1833 to 1845. Anstruther was a capable Civil Servant, who won the popularity of both the home Government and the inhabitants of Ceylon. Capt. James MacDonald Henderson states in his book The Rebellion in Ceylon, “Had this gentleman [Anstruther] but retained his appointment of Colonial Secretary, there is every reason to believe that the rebellion of 1848, with its long train of miseries and misfortunes, would never have occurred”.

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