Category Archives: the imaginary and the real

Prosecute the Financial Coterie Who Guided Sri Lanka into An Abyss

Sanjeewa Jayaweera, in The Island, 3 July 2022, where the title runs thus “When will the Gang of Four be held accountable for their irresponsible decisions?”

Most living in Sri Lanka feel like they have got into the boxing ring with Muhammad Ali. The ferocious punches thrown regularly are taking their toll, with most either on their knees or on the canvas. The final punch that will knock us out seems inevitable, but the question is when? Cabraal, W D Lakshman, P B Jayasundara and S R Attyglla

The Group of Four: SR Attygalle, N. Cabraal, PB Jayasundera, WD Lakshman

The pounding started initially with queues to buy milk powder for children, which then got extended to buying cooking gas, then to long power cuts, and now to queues extending several kilometres to buy petrol, diesel, and kerosene. Along the journey of suffering, we have also been penalized with hyperinflation. The saying “it never rains but it pours” seems so accurate.

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Breaking News: Subterfuge via the Obituaries for the Dead

Thalif Deen in New York

When Daya Perera was our UN ambassador, I had a perennial battle of wits -– and, most of the time, he had the last word. He once dismissed news stories in the Lake House newspapers as largely “bogus”. Defending my old establishment, I told him that people in Sri Lanka read the Daily News, at least for its obituaries. And Daya shot back: “Even those obituaries are bogus!”.

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Harrowing Background for Cricket in Galle

Sam Goodwin, in Yahoo!sport,  29 June 2022,  where the title runs thus“Harrowing detail in photo of Aussie cricketers on Sri Lanka tour”

Australia's cricketers, pictured here in Sri Lanka during the nation's economic crisis.
The Australian cricket tour of Sri Lanka is taking place during the nation’s economic crisis. Image: Getty/Twitter

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USA has taken over Sri Lanka, has it not?

Jonathan Manz, in LankaWeb, 13 June 2022, with this title Pivot-to-Asia’ – America Executes a Lightning Coup to Take Control of a Strategic Island in the ‘Indian-Ocean’,”

Bewildered, reeling and confused, Sri Lankans are just beginning to pick up the pieces of the jigsaw to decipher the events of Black-Monday, 09 May 22, when America, with its all-too-familiar ‘false-flag’ operations, executed a lightning Coup, to take control of the strategic Island in the Indian Ocean. 

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Only in Australia: Meaningful Roadsigns

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Senaka Calls for a Ticker-Tape Farewell for the Aussie Cricket Teams

Senaka Weeraratna

Give Aussies a Ticker Tape parade as a farewell gesture by driving them through the streets of Colombo (near Galle Face Green) once this popular Australian cricket tour is over.

This is exactly what the Australians did in Melbourne on February 20, 1961 when they bid goodbye to the West Indian Cricket Team led by Frank Worrell. Australia beat West Indies by 3 to 2 in a close contest which went down to the wire.

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Errol Fernando’s Reading of the Day’s Play at Headingley

Errol Fernando to one “Gavin,” 25/26 June 2022

Predictions under the McCullum/Stokes alliance are totally impossible, Gavin.   England 55 for 6 chasing 329 and now 264 for 6  starting  all-important Day Three.  I was WAY off with my prediction in the previous Test.  Way off indeed, even by my standards.

However, I now have the perfect solution. I will make my usual prediction which I will keep to myself. I will then send you the OPPOSITE prediction  –  something completely absurd and ridiculous  –   and sure enough that is most likely to happen under McCullum/Stokes!  If I had done that in the previous Test I would have been hired by the bookmakers.

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Fairyland! Cricket in Khettarama! ….. Forgetting the Politico-Economic Hellhole Beyond

Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNccricinfo, 22 June 2022,…. where the title reads In a parallel universe, Sri Lanka offer a glimpse of normal, happier times”

Is this it? Have they arrived? Is this the new Sri Lanka? The future? Bright? Blinding as the sun? Fairyland!

Sri Lanka celebrate after clinching victoryAFP
Energy. Remember that? Batters who will whisk the team out of a hole. Bowlers who will make an anthill of a target seem like a forbidding Himalayan peak. Fielders who don’t comically clang into each while circling under a gently descending catch. It has been long enough. Too long. Years since #SangaMahelaDilshanMalingaHerathMurali.

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Passionate Sri Lankan Fans awarded “MoM” Award

Errol Fernando, adjudicating from Melbourne, decided that the MAN of the MATCH Awad should be presented to the awesome, ……….. jolly, …….passionate Sri Lankan fans

From: Errol Fernando
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 10:08 PM
To: sunil perera <sunilp1943@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: 3rd ODI

Apart from giving my ‘Man of the Match’ to a batsman or bowler, Sunil, I have also over the years given it to the umpire, third umpire, groundsman, coach, selector or sports psychologist. Sometimes even to the player’s wife, the Woman of the Match. Recently, in the Lord’s Test, I gave it to the ball because it was the actual change of ball that enabled England to beat New Zealand.

Yesterday, in the series-deciding  game at Colombo there were contenders such as Asalanka who were more than worthy of MOM. However, my winners were  the spectators. They were wonderful   –   passionate, ecstatic, deliriously happy and an inspiration to the players.

Fantastic achievement from Sri Lanka to win the series.  Nice to finish with a 4-1 result tomorrow………………..All the best, …………………….. Errol

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An Australian Minister’s Homespun Reading of Sri Lanka’s Crisis

#7NEWS #BREAKINGNEWS #srilanka

DR KEITH SUTTER : Sri Lanka in TURMOIL – worst economic crisis in 70 years | 7NEWS …..June 21, 2022 ………………………27,741 views

7NEWS Australia

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister has travelled to Sri Lanka after hundreds of asylum seekers have been turned back in recent weeks. The country is struggling with its worst economic crisis in 70 years. Leading to shortages of food, medicine and fuel. And prompting fears of growing social unrest

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