Category Archives: life stories

Ashantha’s Incisive Exposition of Sri Lankan Cricket Team’s Problems and Immediate Goals

Champika Fernando, in Daily Mirror, 19 March 2019, with this titleThe de Mel theory on World Cup”

Get the team balance right, ease the pressure, encourage unity and give the players a little freedom–this could be the winning combination for Sri Lanka to become a force to reckon with at the World Cup in June, Chief Cricket Selector Ashantha de Mel said this week.

The problem here is everyone wants to do our job, others do not know the amount of effort and data we gather to get the right team,” explains Ashantha de Mel – Pic by Priyanka Samaraweera

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A Fitting Farewell to Dishan Shiyam Careem in Galle Fort

Dishan Shiyam Careem

To all his friends & family, …..After surviving two heart attacks in 2017 Shiyam always the inspiration and pioneer during a terrible thirty year civil war passed away last week with a third heart attack at 5.25 am. Leaving two sons Amzar and Samad who will have much to face over the coming months. I have attached a picture of his funeral that brought the whole city of Galle Fort out onto the streets to pray for him and say their farewells. He was laid to rest in the UNESCO listed Galle Fort Meeran Mosque, where he can watch the boats crossing the silk route of the sea for all eternity and be at one with the ancient city he loved and never wanted to leave. On friday night, the 22nd March there will be a party celebrating his life at the warehouse in the old city – The Last Tango In Galle Fort. If you are in Sri Lanka please do go and have one last dance to say goodbye and if you are not please do stay in touch as his sons will need all of you to be around. I apologise for doing this in blocks as there are still so many people still to tell.

Best wishes always, Juliet Coombe

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Beyond Sam Power — Dibbert’s Solution from Hell for Sri Lanka

Taylor Dibbert, in National Interest, 20 March 2019, where the title is “Samantha Power Visits Sri Lanka and Ignores History” AND the principal byline runs “Barack Obama’s former UN ambassador is no longer the human-rights supporter that she claims to be” …. NB: in composing my title for this Dibbert-effort I am playing on words: Samaantha P:ower wrote a book entitled Solution from Hell

Samantha Power recently delivered a big speech in Sri Lanka. She was the keynote speaker at an event that celebrated Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s three decades in politics. Given Power’s track record, this is quite regrettable news.

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Mangala challenges Mahinda in Sweeping Denunciation

ITEM in The Island, 20 March 2019, entitled UNHRC: Mangala slams Mahinda”

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has criticized former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for challenging the Geneva Resolution on the basis of disclosure made by Lord Naseby in the House of Lords. Samaraweera issued the following statement in response to Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa’s statement dated17 March 2019 instructing the government on what its position should be when the UN Human Rights Council that is at present meeting in Geneva discusses Sri Lanka’s progress on national reconciliation:

“In his statement, as usual aimed at hoodwinking the masses, he assumes a commanding and almost martial tone. Packing it with misinformation to mislead the public, he seems to forget the small detail that he is no longer the President or even the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka – fake or otherwise. As the citizens of our country – Asia’s oldest democracy – remember very well, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s attempts to usurp the position of Prime Minister a few months ago failed miserably in the face of the determined resistance of our citizens and our independent institutions including our judiciary. My recommendation to Mahinda would be, in true friendship: lets put aside the airs. It really is impossible to engage in constructive dialogue if you give instructions and orders on policy to a government that is trying very hard to fix the several troubles that you yourself, your close advisors and those you appointed to high positions during your time as President created, especially since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009. Continue reading

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UNHRC Sessions at Geneva: The Full Monty — Video and Presentations

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From Individual Atom to God Almighty

From Individual Atom to God Almighty

Michael Roberts

 With the growth of Western civilization from the 16th century onwards and its sweeping sway in the world today, we have seen the power vested in the individual atom known as “man” in its non-gendered sense. Individuation, and its blood-brother, egoism, is the warp and woof of everyday living in most parts of the world and is most pronounced in the states identified with the “West.”

Christchurch killer in court

It is imprinted and glorified in many sports competitions: say, surfing, marathon-running, motor-cycling, gymnastics, et cetera. Its imprint has been expanded by new technology such as skateboards and fancy bikes. There are also age-old sports which sustain the emphasis on intense individual action: for instance, fishing and hunting.

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Cashmere High School in Mourning Haka for Two of the Christchurch Dead

Item in NEWSDAILY  …. 18 March 2019, “Terror attack: Christchurch students mourn classmates in stirring haka”

Children have danced side by side in an emotion-charged display of unity against the appalling acts of hate that claimed the lives of their young classmates in Christchurch. A vigil for the 50 people gunned down in Friday’s terror attack turned to a stirring scene of power and strength as school students channelled their mourning into a haka war dance.

In other parts of the city, meanwhile, families were preparing to wash the bodies of the first victims to be released by authorities. Relatives and community members tenderly perform the washing ceremony as part of traditional Islamic ritual to ready the bodies for burial.

Among those reeling from the attacks were Cashmere High School students whose peers Sayyad Milne and Hamza Mustafa were killed at their local mosque during peaceful prayer time. Sayyad was half way through year 10 at the school, where he was remembered for his kindness.  Hamza was finishing year 12 and had dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Pounding their chests, stamping their feet and chanting, Cashmere students broke out into an impromptu haka on Monday. Dozens of other children quickly joined in to support them, in a passionate display of community at the vigil that attracted thousands of tearful mourners.

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The Haka in Mourning …. So Powerful …. So Moving

One day by pure chance I witnessed TV coverage of a New Zealand Maori Regiment receiving the coffins of comrades who died in service in Afghanistan. These uniformed men went into a HAKA ceremonial war dance reserved for such occasions. Wham! Bang! It was as powerful and meaningful a recognition of loss and expression of sorrow as one could get! ….. as powerful, albeit in a different manner, as THE LAST POST.

M-Berena: “Funeral Haka – A Powerful Dance from the Soul,” https://mysendoff.com/2014/04/funeral-haka-a-powerful-dance-from-the-soul/

The Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, have been using Haka for hundreds of years. Perhaps the most well known to most people not familiar with their history is the Haka used by the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby team that’s been performed before games since 1888. Continue reading

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Pictorial and Word ‘Recipes’ for Reflection

Rohan de Soysa’s Thoughts and Snaps

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A Grand Felicitation in Print for KD Paranavitana

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