Category Archives: patriotism

January 12, 2025 · 1:54 pm

The Maaveerar Dead as A Perpetual Inspiration For Eelam

Mario Arulthas, in Al-Jazeera,  9 January 2025 …. with highlightinging emphasia imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

The Maaveerar Dead as A Perpetual Inspiration For Eelam

The nationwide electoral success of the anti-establishment NPP does not mean Tamil nationalism is on the decline.

An election official holding a ballot box gets off the bus outside a vote counting centre after the voting ended for the parliamentary election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, November 14, 2024 [Thilina Kaluthotage/Reuters]

“They’re trampling on our graves with their boots,” said Kavitha, a Tamil woman, as the torrential rain lashing our faces washed away her tears. Standing barefoot and ankle-deep in mud at the site of a former cemetery in Visuvamadu, Sri Lanka, she was lamenting the adjacent military base built on the graves of fallen Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fighters, including that of her brother.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, anti-racism, authoritarian regimes, centre-periphery relations, chauvinism, communal relations, cultural transmission, democratic measures, disparagement, economic processes, education, Eelam, electoral structures, ethnicity, fundamentalism, governance, heritage, historical interpretation, Indian Ocean politics, insurrections, language policies, legal issues, life stories, LTTE, military strategy, parliamentary elections, patriotism, political demonstrations, politIcal discourse, power politics, power sharing, prabhakaran, propaganda, racist thinking, religiosity, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, slanted reportage, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, Tamil migration, Tamil Tiger fighters, terrorism, the imaginary and the real, trauma, truth as casualty of war, unusual people, vengeance, war reportage, world events & processes, zealotry

January 10, 2025 · 1:19 pm

General Shavendra Silva Retires …. AN Outstanding Leader Amidst Controversy

Dilrook Kannangara, in LankaWeb, 1  January 2025 with this title “The Greatest Hero of Our Time: A Tribute to General Shavendra Silva on His Retirement” 

The most decorated military officer of the Sri Lanka Army has retired from all military posts after 41 years of service to the nation. These years saw most violence in the island nation. He was also one of only two four-star Generals of the army. He commanded not only the 58th Offensive Division of the army during the Humanitarian Operation (2006-2009) but also simultaneously commanded the Commando Regiment. A tremendous achievement. He made the most contribution to the 2009 military victory over Tamil terrorism, thanks to which close to 4,000 Sri Lankans of all ethnic groups get to live every passing year.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under accountability, governance, heritage, historical interpretation, life stories, military strategy, patriotism, performance, politIcal discourse, security, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, unusual people, war reportage, world events & processes

January 10, 2025 · 12:41 am

Don Bradman embraced within the Thuppahi Realm

Don Bradman Memorabilia in Adelaide’s Sri Lankan Realms … https://thuppahis.com › 2024/06/06 › don-bradman-me…

6 June 2024 — This Thuppahi post is a potpourri of Memorabilia around the Persona of Sir Donald Bradman …. with an ink-sketch of Don Bradman by Douglas Davies

*******

Don Bradman at Cricket in Ceylon in 1930 …. Yes, 1930….  https://thuppahis.com › 2023/03/06 › don-bradman-at-…

6 Mar 2023 — On 3 April 1930, at Colombo Cricket Club, Donald Bradman played his first game of cricket outside Australia. He treated the crowd to plenty of shots …

 

 

 

 

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Filed under accountability, art & allure bewitching, Australian culture, Colombo and Its Spaces, cricket for amity, cricket selections, cultural transmission, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, performance, photography, Sri Lankan cricket, travelogue, unusual people, world events & processes

January 9, 2025 · 1:29 pm

Remembering Priya Suryasena’s Lyrics

Sunil Thenabadu, in Ceylon Daily News, January 2025

Priya Suriyasena’s popularity will remain evergreen even after his death. With his soul-touching lyrics and iconic tunes, the genres of pop, soul, rhythm, and blues will continue to resonate with new generations.
Priya Suriyasena entered the music arena in the early 1970s, alongside artistes of the calibre of Neela Wickremasinghe, Malini Bulathsinhala, Mervin Perera, and T.M. Jayaratne. From his younger days, Priya was a huge enthusiast of Indian music stars such as Lata Mangeshkar, Mohamed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, and Asha Bhosle. Priya was an acclaimed lyricist, composing both lyrics and music, and submitting them to SLBC for auditions. His initial songs accepted by SLBC authorities—Etha Ran Viman, Mata Wasana, Adaraneeya Neranjana, and Sudu Paravi Rena Se—became everlasting hits. With these songs, Priya rose to fame overnight. Over the next five decades, he maintained his prominence, producing some of the most popular songs in Sri Lanka, including: Andura Andura Mage, Sanda Tharakawo Handawee, Sarasatha Nima, Hadawatha Illa, Heta Dawase, Malsara Hinawa, Apasu Enawa, Ratakin Eha, among others.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under art & allure bewitching, Colombo and Its Spaces, cultural transmission, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, performance, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, theatre world, unusual people

January 9, 2025 · 11:43 am

An Epitaph For Lasantha Wickrematunge

Sabanayagam Varagunam in Daily Mirror, 8 January 2024, where the title reads “Lasantha Wickrematunge: A National Hero’s Enduring Legacy” … with highlighting here being the imprint of The Editor, Thuppahi

Wickrematunge’s courage was not merely a product of his profession; it was an intrinsic part of his being

January 8 marked a dark and somber day in Sri Lanka’s history, as our thoughts went back to Lasantha Wickrematunge, the fearless journalist and an indefatigable champion of human rights, who fell victim to a brutal assassination. Sixteen years have passed since his untimely demise, but Wickrematunge’s adherence to justice and human rights cemented his status as a national hero that continues to inspire generations.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under accountability, atrocities, authoritarian regimes, centre-periphery relations, citizen journalism, communal relations, cultural transmission, democratic measures, Eelam, electoral structures, ethnicity, governance, life stories, LTTE, martyrdom, patriotism, politIcal discourse, power politics, press freedom & censorship, security, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, truth as casualty of war, unusual people, war crimes, war reportage, world events & processes

January 8, 2025 · 1:30 pm

Touring Sri Lanka promoted by “Good News”

A NOTE from Naushan

The digital version of the inaugural Good News Collection shares positive and uplifting stories from across Sri Lanka. It celebrates local heroes, sports victories, new infrastructure developments, the country’s growing appeal as a travel destination and much more.

Link: https://online.fliphtml5.com/pgkmm/aysu

THIS ‘Work’ highlights the Lanka Monthly Digest’s Awards Night 2024 as well as “Bawa’s Legacy”

ALSO NOTE

https://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2020/07/25/dutch-bungalow-porch-frontals-exposures-within-galle-fort/#more-44379

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under ancient civilisations, architects & architecture, art & allure bewitching, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, photography, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real, tourism, travelogue, wild life, world events & processes

January 6, 2025 · 1:20 pm

Meeting Professor Hilali Noordeen in Galle via Karen Roberts

Michael Roberts

In late 2003 or early 2004 I was privileged to receive an invitation from Nazreen Sansoni of Barefoot to participate in the Galle Literary festival where the central events took place within the precincts of the Galle Fort — a familiar spot replete with memories of my childhood and youthful experiences.

Dr Hilali Noordeen

Karen Roberts

As it happened one of the literary stars featuring in the manifold ‘events” of the GL Festival was Karen Roberts, whose background and literary work was known to me. She was, I stress, no relation, though she had been educated in a school in Wellawatte that was a stone’s throw away from my sister Estelle Fernando’s abode in Hampden Lane Wellawatte.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under art & allure bewitching, communal relations, cultural transmission, education, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, life stories, literary achievements, medical marvels, meditations, patriotism, performance, rehabilitation, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, teaching profession, unusual people, world events & processes

January 2, 2025 · 3:19 pm

The Tsunami’s Impact on Infrastruture in Sri Lanka

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, centre-periphery relations, ethnicity, governance, historical interpretation, island economy, life stories, patriotism, sri lankan society, the tsunami 2004, welfare & philanthophy, working class conditions, world events & processes

December 30, 2024 · 12:42 pm

Nostalgia: Memories of X’mas Fellowship among the Colombo Chetties of Colombo in the 1950s

Dr. Remy Perumal in Sunday Times 22 December 2024 …. with this title “Dreaming of a joyous Colombo Chetty Christmas of yesteryear ” ………… The writer is a retired Consultant Physician living in the UK

In the early and mid-1950s, Sri Lanka was a united, harmonious nation. They were Christmases before politicians inflamed nationalist fervour, for political gain and drove a wedge between communities. With Christmas this year coming at a time of political change, we hope it will be a turning point fostering a new era of unity.

Ours was an average Colombo Chetty family of five. We lived within walking distance of St. Lucia’s Cathedral and St. Benedict’s College.  Family traditions and religious convictions moulded our views and our approach to the celebrations.  Our Christmases were celebrated within our means.

 Mater Dolorosa Church: Where Colombo Chetties congregated for Christmas

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under anti-racism, art & allure bewitching, charitable outreach, Colombo and Its Spaces, cultural transmission, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, performance, religiosity, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, tolerance, world events & processes

December 26, 2024 · 3:59 pm

A Poignant Tale … “I Am Not Lighting A Candle Today”

Buddhika Dassanayake, …. reflections presented on 26th December 2006

Its been two years since a friend called one morning, as we were studying for exams, to ask why lamp-posts were shaking. Two years since another friend called from Galle Hospital; tired, depressed, fiercely determined to see things through, utterly helpless. Two years since we heard that Tharini was missing; that the place we stayed at the last time we visited Unawatuna had disappeared along with the occupants.

 

Murali , Mahela & Kumar at a refugee camp on the east coast …having taken emergency supplies

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, centre-periphery relations, charitable outreach, citizen journalism, communal relations, cultural transmission, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, performance, politIcal discourse, refugees, rehabilitation, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, tolerance, trauma