Category Archives: security

March 8, 2025 · 12:16 am

Full-Frontal: The Trump-Zelensky Spat …… Implications

Dr. Matthew Crosston  … article in Modern Diplomacy with the title reading: “Trump vs. Zelensky: Popping the Proxy War”  …. presented here wthout the accompanying photos [tech issues]

History will likely look back on the three-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war and note that it was the beginning of the end in real terms.

After the sensationalized public breakdown between Presidents Zelensky and Trump in the Oval Office, an off-the-rails meeting now witnessed and commented on endlessly the world over, it is difficult to imagine the conflict on the Eastern front of Ukraine is going to just continue on as before.

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February 22, 2025 · 10:13 am

Migration Scams Rampant in Sri Lanka

Niruni de Mel in The Island, 16 February 2024 … where the title runs thus: “Scammed and Stranded: The Dark Side of Sri Lanka’s Migration Industry”

A fisherman from the quiet town of Mannar sold his mother’s, sisters’, and sister-in-law’s jewelry and, with a loan from his brother, paid a migration agent Rs. 12.8 million for a Canadian visa. Months later, he discovered the agent had vanished, leaving his family in crippling debt and his dreams in ruins. His story is not unique. Across Sri Lanka, countless desperate individuals fall prey to fraudulent migration schemes, losing their life savings in the process.

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February 4, 2025 · 11:46 pm

Responsibility … “Duty of Care” on the Cricket Field: Senake’s Thoughtful Essay

Michael Roberts 

In THIS MEMO inspired by Senaka Weeraratne’s article below, I present two striking photographs to illustrate the amateurish and rudimentary nature of treatment for those subject to serious injury on the cricket field in the 20th century in contrast with the jeep-ambulances and medical staff attending matches in recent decades. Howeer, these facilities did not prevent PHIL HUGHES from succumbing to “death-by-bouncer”  during a Sheffield Shield match.

Duleep Mendis bing carried off the field by Mevan Pieris & Dennis chanmugam (two teammates) after he was felled by paceman Jeff Thomson at the ODI match at Kennington Oval in London during the World Cup Prelims in summer 1975

When Phil Hughes wes felled in Sydney in 2014, there was a jeep with a stretcher available to carry him off …. Alas, he died in hospital; whereas Duleep suvived, played on and is still in the cricket circuit as a coach. C’est la vie.

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January 21, 2025 · 3:07 pm

Kittu, Tamil Tiger Commander, reaches the Heights of Wikipedia

WIKIPEDIA Item: … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittu_(Tamil_militant)

Colonel Kittu (Tamil militant)

 

Born S. Krishnakumar

2 January 1960
Died 16 January 1993 (aged 33)

Indian Ocean
Nationality Sri Lankan
Years active 1978 –1993
Organization Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Sathasivam Krishnakumar (Tamil: சதாசிவம் கிருஸ்ணகுமார்; 2 January 1960 – 16 January 1993; commonly known by the nom de guerre Kittu) was a Sri Lankan Tamil rebel and leading member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a separatist Tamil militant organisation in Sri Lanka.

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January 14, 2025 · 8:19 pm

An Elephantine Blockage in Sri Lanka! … & An Elephantine Problem!

Wasantha Chandrapala, in Daily Mirror, 12 January 2025

The Tempitiya-Mahaoya road in Ampara has been closed for traffic and pedestrian movement for the past three days due to an injured wild elephant frequenting the road. Residents of the area said the closure of the road had disrupted civilian life.

HEADLINE in DAILY MIRROR, 12 January 2025 = “Elephant closes Tempitiya-Mahaoya road for three days”

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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.

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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.

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December 26, 2024 · 11:03 am

Remembering the TSUNAMI …. 26 December 2004

Michael Roberts

The Roberts family were assembled at a house-for-hire off Goolwa and near a beach in South Australia when the first news of the devastating tsunami of 26th December 2004 hit the headlines. One of the first inklings the world received about this massive disaster came from Galle in the southwestern corner of Lanka. This was through a series of photos or a movie-camera display of a body of seawater moving from left of screen to right with cars and bodies amidst the debris….. and the walls of the Fort of Galle in the background.

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December 23, 2024 · 7:06 pm

Gamini Seneviratne’s Critical Readings of the Sri Lankan Scenario

Gamini Seneviratne, in The Island, 23 December 2024, where the title runs “What AKD and NPP should bear in mind” … reproduced here with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

This is to thank you [the ISLAND newspaper] for drawing attention to the dangers posed by India to our society and its culture and other basic resources as well as its on-going exertions towards encroaching on our maritime territory.

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December 11, 2024 · 2:07 pm

Targetted — By Richard Woolf’s Slashing You-Tube Visuals

ITEMS sent to me by my old Aloysian mate Sarri Junaid in Canada…

Trump’s Failed War on China ….

How long will Trump last

Europe is An Economic Basket-case

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