Category Archives: sri lankan society

June 16, 2025 · 9:57 am

That Pioneering Journal, the CJHSS, a Peradeniya Uni Product

Chandra R De Silva**

The Ceylon Journal of Historical and Social Studies was published twice a year by The Ceylon Historical and Social Studies Publications Board which was constituted in 1958.
THE CEYLON HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL STUDIES PUBLICATIONS BOARD was composed of the following personnel: S. ARASARATNAM, B.A. (Ceylon), Ph.D. (Lond.) …; R. K. W. GOONESEKERE, LL.B.  (Ceylon), B.C.L. (Oxford) …; H. A. I. GOONETILEKE, B.A., Dip. Lib. (Lond.), Dip. Lib. (Madras), F.L.A. …; H. A. DE S. GUNASEKERA, B.A. (Ceylon), M.Sc. Econ., Ph.D. (London)..;  L. S. PERERA, B.A., Ph.D. (Ceylon) …; RALPH PIERIS, B.A. (Ceylon), B.Sc. Econ., Ph.D. (Lond.) Editor….; K. M. DE SILVA, B.A. (Ceylon), Ph.D. (Lond.), Managing Editor….; A. J. WILSON, B.A. (Ceylon), Ph.D. (Lond.)
    S. Arasaratnum ….
Ian Goonetileke

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June 13, 2025 · 6:43 pm

Olke Andringe: A Burgher Lineage in British Ceylon

Coreene Kennedy  ·

I thought that I would share this abridged version of the story of my 4th great grandfather Olke Andringa; I do have the full document, all the references, research document details available if anyone wants them. Otherwise, enjoy the read!

Below is the signature of my 4times Great Grandfather Olke ANDRINGA.

The Andringa family can trace their line back to around 1341 in Franeker, Friesland. At that time Friesland was an independent state that was coveted by the Hollanders. There were frequent wars, sieges and uprisings until 1422 when a truce was declared. In 1522 Friesland and Holland came under Hapsburg rule and the wars ended.

Born on December 26th, 1741, in Kuinre, Netherlands to a family that bought timber from across Europe he joined the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a sailor in 1759.

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June 13, 2025 · 2:37 am

OLD Ceylon in British Times: Postcard Scenes Rare

I came across a few postcards —some B & W, others in colour– among the messy lots of books and pamphlets in my study. David Sansoni in Sydney assures me that they are rather rare and has made them presentable in the public domain. …. Michael Roberts placing them in TPS with plaudits to David.

  Mount Lavinia beach

 

 

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June 11, 2025 · 2:36 am

Democracy At Peril? A Forum …. to Dine On

Factum EPIGS Summit, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 11–12 June 2025**

Join us at EPIGS’25 for this panel discussion featuring journalists, civic tech leaders, and election experts from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Pakistan, and the Maldives as they unpack evolving electoral narratives and explore challenges to platform integrity across Asia. Hear regional insights, real-world experiences, and ideas for safeguarding democracy in the digital age.

 

THE PANELISTS
o Rohana Hettiarachchi (Sri Lanka) – Executive Director of People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL)
o Che De Los Reyes (The Philippines) – Journalist and Media Development Specialist
o Aishath Adnan (The Maldives) – Co-Founder of Women in Tech Maldives
o Harindra Dassanayake (Sri Lanka) Co-Founder of Muragala
o Dulanjaya Mahagamage (Sri Lanka) – Manager – Social Media and Research at Hashtag Generation
o Usama Khilji (Pakistan) – Co-Founder and Director of Bolo Bhi and the Vice Chair of the Global Network Initiative
• Moderator – Rajni Gamage (Sri Lanka) – Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore (NUS).

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June 8, 2025 · 10:03 pm

Sri Lankan Cricket’s Baptism of Fire on The World Stage, 1975

Rex Clementine

Exactly 50 years ago to this day, Sri Lanka played their first ever international cricket match. It was the 1975 World Cup and it indeed was a baptism by fire; bowled out for 86 by West Indies.

Anura Tennekoon and Clive Lloyd at the toss.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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June 5, 2025 · 9:48 pm

For Humankind: Jaffna’s Medics in Eternal Service

Abbi Kanthasamy, … an item circulated by Charles Schokman of Australia, early June 2025, with this title “A Beacon Amidst the Bleeding: What Jaffna’s Doctors Taught Me About Life”

I’ve spent most of my adult life building things. Businesses, brands,
homes, arguments. Always chasing—the next goal, the next deal, the
next piece of validation in a world that measures worth by margins and
milestones. But this past week, watching my mother fight for her life in a small hospital in northern Sri Lanka, I was reminded of something I had forgotten: not all heroes chase.
  … Dr Samuel Fiske Green

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June 5, 2025 · 12:47 am

A Documentary on the Pattini-Kannagi Cult in Sri Lanka

A Film Documentary on the Kannagi – Pattini cult in Sri Lanka will be prsented at the Goethe Insitutute on the $th June eveningat 6.30 pm ….

This event is part of a series of initiatives marking the conclusion of the Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peace in Sri Lanka (SCOPE) programme, co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office. The event will also be a part of the Film Forum at Goethe-Institut.

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June 4, 2025 · 8:39 pm

A Review of Norah Roberts’ Book … GALLE AS QUIET AS ASLEEP

Bandu De Silva in LankaWeb 2012 reviewing GALLE AS QUIET AS ASLEEP by Norah Roberts

 

https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2012/08/26/galle-eternal-charm-book-review-galle-as-quiet-as-sleep-by-norah-roberts/

 

Galle: Eternal charm   =  Book Review Galle as Quiet as Sleep By Norah Roberts, ….  August 26th, 2012

The title Galle as Quiet as Sleep made me reflect for a long time. I asked myself how this title could fit in. Finally, I reconciled myself to it. Yes, GallE’s heritage is a quiet one. The people of Galle as Norah Roberts will tell us made their contributions quietly. Even now, the town after dusk or at early dawn is so calm and placid that one does not get the feeling of being in a big city. Certainly not like Kandy which has lost its old charm. Kaluwella with its old Kittange with the Kovil adjoining it still reminds one of the 19th century or early 20th century. One could still have a glass of plain tea served by a Tamil boy in an ol style tea kiosk as one met with in Batticaloa at Habarana twenty years ago. The Tamils do good business thee without any problem.

 

 

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June 2, 2025 · 6:45 am

An Electoral Duel of Titans, 1952-1970s: Colvin vs Jayasinghe

Avishka Mario Seneviratne, in FACEBOOK, where the title runs thus: “Colvin vs. Jayasinghe: The Battle for Wellawatte–Galkissa, 1952 and Beyond”

In the early years of Sri Lanka’s post-independence democracy, few figures stood as tall—both intellectually and politically—as Dr. Colvin R. de Silva. A Marxist firebrand, brilliant lawyer, and founding member of the LSSP, he was famed for his thunderous oratory and razor-sharp debates in Parliament. But in the 1952 general election, following the sudden death of Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, the winds shifted. Even as an MP, Colvin maintained a flourishing legal career and was widely regarded as one of the country’s top criminal lawyers. His most famous courtroom victory came when he was defending national cricket hero Mahadevan Sathasivam, accused of murdering his wife. Though doing only his job, the case left a bitter taste among many voters in Colvin’s own electorate, who saw the defense as ethically troubling. The middle-class Tamils, especially in Colombo and its suburbs felt uneasy with the case.

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June 2, 2025 · 5:27 am

Sri Lanka’s Shipwreck Treasures ….

Gothami Meepe, text of a verbal presentation presented here with underlining emphasis imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

Viewers of the Zoom lecture organised by Heritage Alliance Lanka were captivated as the Maritime Archaeologist, Mr. Amalka Wijesuriya, unfolded the treasurers hidden underwater around our island of Sri Lanka. Amalka is a Lecturer of History & Archaeology at the University of Ruhuna and hails from the historic town of Ambalangoda. His parents had often pointed out historical carvings and drawings in the area, creating a strong interest in Sri Lankan history within him. The renowned Archaeologist, Prof. Senaka Bandaranayake’s influence during his university days, had created a special interest in the history of the Galle Port and the heritage buried in our ocean.

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