Category Archives: patriotism

Pissu Percy is Not RIP …. Hodi Heleyi Heleyiaaaahhhh

Michael Roberts                      

The burgeoning news in August that Percy Abeysekera had passed away — news that spread faster than Percy’s sprints around the boundary during his younger days — is FALSE. Percy is merely in hospital.

As an Aloysian who is a tad younger than Percy, let me note that as a 14-year old I was part of the cheering squad marshalled by Percy and Royle Barthelot when the Aloysian cricket team faced opponents at the Galle Esplanade.

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VANNI HOPE — Its Multi-Faceted Philanthropic Outreach

 “Enhancing Access to Education for Disadvantaged Children in the Rural Area of Sri Lanka”

Dear Friends, Relatives and Well Wishers, …………………………………………… Thank you once again for helping Vanni Hope to serve under privileged individuals and families in the very remote communities in Sri Lanka. The power of education is what binds the nation, lets come together & contribute to Education.

 

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Lançarote de Seixas and Madampe: A Portuguese Casado[i] in a Sinhalese Village

Chandra R. De Silva, refereed article originally pubd in Modern Ceylon Studies, Vol II/1, 1970, pp. 18-34.

At the end of the sixteenth century[ii] when the Portuguese came into possession of the south-western sea-board, Madampe proper, was a sizeable village inhabited by about a hundred families.[iii] Though situated some forty miles to the north of Colombo, the centre of Portuguese power and activity, Madampe was in some respects well located being within seven miles of the important port of Chilaw and within three miles of the sea, over which the Portuguese still had undisputed control.[iv] The village moreover, had twenty two minor villages attached to it, the whole forming the gabadagama[v] or royal demesne of Madampe, an area of approximately sixty square miles.

Statue of horse at Taniyavalla Devalaya, Madampe (constructed 1894) …… Photo from 2017

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Convincing Win for Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in Asia Cup Encounter at Pallekele

Madushka Balasuriya, in ESPNcricinfo, 31 August 2023 ,where the title of this review reads  “Pathirana, Asalanka lead Sri Lanka to vital opening win” 

Fifties from Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama saw home a nervy chase in sluggish conditions, as Sri Lanka kicked off their Asia Cup campaign with an ultimately convincing five-wicket win over Bangladesh. The result means Sri Lanka have one foot in the Super 4 stage, while Bangladesh face a must-win tie against Afghanistan.

Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama revived the chase after the loss of three early wickets Getty Images

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“Mama Papa,” aka MarcSri, sustaining Disabled Children in Kalutara

There are numerous worthy charities all over Sri Lanka. MAMA PAPA is just one … but is now one I have chosen to support and to advertise. I encourage friends and relatives within easy reach of the institution to visit, assess and place their thoughts in this THUPPAHI spot….. Michael Roberts

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Sinhalese & Tamils Locked in Prejudice?

Michael Roberts 

An interesting chat with Mark LaBrooy in Melbourne on the phoe today induced me to re-visit my old SIGNATURE PIECE on “The Sinhala Mindset” in my Thuppahi site ….. Some of the commentary is as enlightening today as refreshing. That inserted by Jane Russell on 1 March 2012 and Chandre Dharmawardena’s  response  should continue to stimulate our thinking TODAY.

The problems of YESTERDAY still persist today.

Note that Jane is an Oxford graduate who secured her Ph.D in History at Peradeniya under KM de Silva’s supervision in Peradeniya in the 1970s. She has lived for lengthy spells in Sri Lanka since then because of her deep commitment to individuals and places within the land.

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Ceylon’s Sporting Magicians at Cricket from the 1950s & 1960s

This photograph of several sporting personalities in Sri Lanka’s past reached me via Lorenz Pereira this week  — prompting me to locate pictorial ‘grabs’ from their cricketing past from the rambling records of Thuppahi and Cricketique.

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Remembering Lakshman Kadirgamar: Sri Lanka First

DBS Jeyaraj, inDaily Telegraph,16 August 2023 .. where the title reads Lakshman Kadirgamar’s Jaffna Tamil Christian heritage”

Lakshman Kadirgamar’s 18th death anniversary was observed last Saturday. The former foreign minister fell victim to a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sniper in Colombo on 12 August 2005. Kadirgamar was one who defined himself first and foremost as a Sri Lankan. This endeared Kadirgamar to a very large number of Sri Lankans. However the fact remains that he was by ethnicity a Tamil and a Christian by religion. His parents hailed from Jaffna. This article focuses on Lakshman Kadirgamar’s Jaffna Tamil Christian heritage.

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Matilda’s Defeat & Nostradamus in Adelaide

 

SOME IMMEDIATE RESPONSES

“Amazing that Irene also had a premonition that the Matildas would lose 3-1” …..   Ralph Shlomowitz caressing his partner

“Poor Roberts he was asking for it. Shall I organize some Pretzels 🥨 🥨🥨🥨🥨🥨🥨🥨🥨for the Spectators ?” …. Herbert Perera from Deep in Germany

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In Appreciation of Dr Susiri Weerasekara, A Servant of Humankind

Arjuna Perera: In Loving Memory of Dr. J. K. S. Weerasekara, a Remarkable Doctor and Beloved Uncle … A Vale & An Adieu in Facebook

With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to a truly extraordinary individual, my wife’s uncle, who departed from us last Monday. As we reflect on his life, we are reminded of his immense contributions as a gifted Orthopaedic surgeon and as an exceptional human being. His legacy as a doctor goes beyond the operating room. Through his expertise and care, he touched the lives of countless patients, providing healing and comfort in their times of need. His dedication to his profession was a shining example of selflessness and compassion.

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