Thuppahi is pleased to present a photo of the key personnel located in Sri Lanka who were involved in launching the new cutting/edge academic venture known as THE CEYLON JOURNAL this year.
Category Archives: travelogue
Ceylonese Migrants to Australia in the 1950s and 1960s
Earlson Forbes, whose title in THE CEYLANKAN, vol 27/2, May 2024 is “Fortress White Australia: What early Ceylonese migrants [1949 t0 1969] were up against” … now placed in TPS in a revised form to accomodate illustrations that proved recalcitrant
The Six Australian Colonies came together on the 1st of January 1901 to form the independent Nation of the Commonwealth of Australia. From 1788 (First Fleet arrival at Sydney Cove) to the time of Federation, Australia was populated by convict and free settlers almost exclusively from Britain. The 1901 census put the population at 3.7 million. Aboriginals were not counted in this census. A small percentage of the population was made up of Pacific Islanders and Chinese. The Chinese entered Australia in the second half of the 19th century at the time of the Gold Rush in Australia (mid-19th century) and in the years following. Between 1851 and 1870 about 50,000 Chinese were estimated to have entered Australia. Pacific Islanders had been brought to Australia in the second half of the 19th century as labourers.
Filed under accountability, Australian culture, australian media, British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, demography, economic processes, ethnicity, historical interpretation, life stories, Pacific Ocean issues, racism, sri lankan society, travelogue, unusual people, working class conditions, world events & processes
Cyril Ponnamperuma: An Incisive Scientific Researcher ….. In World Class
Sachi Sri Kantha
This is an updated version of a manuscript, previously submitted to the Ceylon Medical Journal in 1996. It was rejected for publication by the then editorial team. I was not informed of any specific reason for rejection, by the then co-editor Prof. Colvin Goonaratna. My perception was, lack of a medical qualification by Prof. Cyril Ponnamperuma, could have been one reason. I also provide a rare NASA photo of Prof Ponnamperuma with Soviet biochemist Alexander Oparin (1894-1980), probably taken in October 1963, when the latter visited Florida for a conference.
Birdwatcher’s Tour at Belair National Park, Sunday 22nd September 2024
Michael Roberts,
We happen to live a stone’s throw from the Entrance to BELAIR NATIONAL PARK, the second oldest park reserve created in colonial Australia. I had little hesitation in taking up an invitation to join a Birdwatcher Tour of the arena known as Long Gully at the western end of the park on the 22nd September. Alas, it was a cold wintry day …… But …
…… there were a sprinkling of birds for the smallish cluster of about twenty people who turned up to listen to three volunteer guides with birdie-know how.
Sri Lanka’s Triumph at The Oval Analysed & Weighed
Nick Brookes, in his MURALI END site with this title “English Summer gives Sri Lanka Something to Build Upon”…… reproduced here with highlights imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi
The scene couldn’t have been any less Sri Lankan. The skies were ashen and the clouds heavy; the harsh gusts of wind warned that winter was on its way. Sri Lanka’s support staff wore hoodies and woolly hats; even the English fielders clung to handwarmers. Yet, the awful weather couldn’t keep Sri Lanka’s fans away. Nor could it keep Pathum Nissanka quiet. As he nudged the ball past backward point – declaring Sri Lanka emphatic winners of the third Test – smiles lit up South London and lion flags fluttered all around The Oval. Sri Lanka had their fourth victory on English soil.
A Muslim Militia in the East of Sri Lanka Sponsored by the State
Rajan Hoole, being Chapter 3 of his book “Sri Lanka”s Easter Tragedy: When the Deep State Gets Out of Its Depth”
- A State-sponsored Muslim Militia in the East
Mohamed Zahran Cassim, whose fate made headlines in Wahabi terror, was born in Kattankudy in 1986. In understanding his rise and death in a suicide blast of Easter, 21st April 2019, it is useful to keep in mind Velupillai Prabhakaran and how his terror machine subdued an entire people. Zahran’s zeal and ire were initially directed towards subduing the Sufi population of Kattankudy. We shall see that the patronage and protection afforded to him by a section of the Sri Lankan security establishment, changed course because of unexpected mishaps after he led an attack on Sufis on 10th March 2017. Despite efforts by his handlers, an independent magistrate issued an arrest warrant for him, making him a wanted person. Forced to leave Kattankudy, he was manoeuvred, as circumstances suggest, into becoming an instrument of suicide terror.
Filed under accountability, anti-racism, atrocities, authoritarian regimes, centre-periphery relations, citizen journalism, communal relations, demography, economic processes, ethnicity, Fascism, governance, historical interpretation, Islamic fundamentalism, island economy, jihadists, life stories, LTTE, martyrdom, Muslims in Lanka, politIcal discourse, power politics, prabhakaran, racism, racist thinking, Rajapaksa regime, religiosity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, slanted reportage, sri lankan society, suicide bombing, Tamil civilians, trauma, travelogue, unusual people, vengeance, violence of language, world events & processes, zealotry
Chance Encounters: A Pot Pourri of Books on Sri Lanka
Michael Roberts
I have a large stock of books and an even larger stock of typed up paper material in my messy study. Looking over some of the books I came across some that I had not read or even glanced at. I present a selection of a half-dozen that aroused my interest …. arranged in chronological order.
I invite commentary on any of these books by personnel who happen to have read them or had some friendship with the authors.
Filed under accountability, cultural transmission, economic processes, education, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, life stories, meditations, patriotism, politIcal discourse, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real, travelogue
An Intriguing Photo: Charlie Chaplin at the Dalada Maligawa in 1932
The issue of the OTHERS with Charlie Chaplin at the Dalada MalIgawa in Kandy in 1932 has raised a modicum of interest among some Sri Lankans. So, I present some of the information and conjectures that have been presented in Email exchanges or Facebook commentary…. Editor, Thuppahi
Bangladesh Bury Pakistan: Two-Nil Win in Tests
Michael Roberts
In what is a RED-LETTER DAY in the history of cricket Bangladesh beat Pakistan twice in Test Matches played away. In the Second Test held at Rawalpindi in Pakistan, they secured a convincing win by six wickets.
What is more, they unveiled a new speedster, Rana -who claimed in the second innings and …. in the first innings of the second Test match. Rana’s bowling carries extra punch because he is tall—looming over his team-mates when they cluster.
Oh, No! No! Sri Lanka at Lord’s Test Match
Nick Brookes, ... with highlighting imposed by The Editor,Thuppahi
The collective cry of consternation went up from the press box, the stands and living rooms across Sri Lanka, as news filtered through that Dhananjaya de Silva had won the toss and elected to bowl.
The old adage is hackneyed, but perhaps with good reason. At Lord’s, look up not down. Dhananjaya’s eyes were somewhere else. It was a perfect summer’s morning. Any blades of grass which once lived on the pitch had disappeared. All the signs said bat first.
