Category Archives: travelogue

Sinhala Village Roots and Jungle Lore at Discerning Depth

Sugath Kulatunga, 

responding to an Invitation from The Editor, Thuppahi after the latter had seen an extract of this detailed and invaluable autobiography in Facebook in 2023 **

1/10/2014: Written for the reading pleasure of my grandchildren.

As a child and in school:

I am very fortunate to have been brought up as a small child in a rural village in the Kalutara District of Sri Lanka, in a setting under relatively comfortable and caring conditions. I was the number two of three brothers and two younger sisters. Two more brothers were added to the family later on. We were the masters of our time and life was totally carefree. Our parents had an abundance of time for us. In addition, most of the time during the early childhood we had my mother’s sisters, who adored us, staying with the family. We also had the loving but respectful attention of the senior schoolgirls.

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Ireland Squashed in Three Days at Galle: Fidel & Danny Report

 Andrew Fidel Fernando in ESPNcricinfo, 22 April 2023 ….

Sri Lanka 591 for 6 (Karunaratne 179, K Mendis 140, Samarawickrama 104*, Chandimal 102*) beat Ireland 143 (Tucker 45, Jayasuriya 7-52) and 168 (Tector 42, R Mendis 4-76, 3-56) by an innings and 280 runs
Ramesh Mendis celebrates a wicket
Ireland’s collapse rolled into day three in Galle, as Sri Lanka’s spinners scythed through them twice, to secure an innings-and-280 run victory with Prabath Jayasuriya claiming a 10-wicket haul.

Madushka pulls off two stunning catches at forward short-leg

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The Galle Fort: Its Southern Rampart ‘Fronts’ Multi-faceted Ambience

Michael Roberts

As I walked along the Galle Fort’s ramparts on several occasions in early April this year 2023, not only did pleasant memories flood back: the intriguing present lay before me (literally in some cases) …;

while a regular ‘little tide’ of tourists (perhaps Ukrainian or Russian?) passed me every now and then. The ambience and power of setting and nostalgia enveloped me at every stage. As a youngster the ramparts were not my only passageway. The rocks at the bottom edge of the walls and/or the sea provided adventurous routes this way or that…. familair routes because one knew where the thorny corals and dangerous spots were.

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Galle Fort Today: Its Western Ramparts in the Sun

Amateur Camerawork by Michael Roberts, in Early April 2023

 I  was fortunate to benefit from the hospitality of Moninna and Gamini Goonewardena of Parawa Street and took the opportunity to record some of the work with autistic teenagers & children that was conducted at ECSAT in Wakwella Rd on the Friday (easily the most vital event during my stay).
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Fidel & Danny ‘String Together’ Melodious Accounts of Day One at the Galle Test Match

Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNcricinfo, 16 April 2023, 

Dimuth Karunaratne struck an assured 179, Kusal Mendis amassed 140, and Sri Lanka took firm grip of the Test, as that pair’s 281-run partnership for the second wicket formed the centrepiece of the hosts’ dominant day one. Not only were Karunaratne and Mendis largely untroubled by the Ireland bowlers on a flat Galle deck, they also ensured that their progress was brisk, hitting 33 fours and a six between them.

 

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Ireland’s Prospects vs Sri Lanka at Galle appraised by A Soccer Fan

Daniel Byrne, whose chosen title is The Irish arrive in Galle; A preview of the Test Series“+

When you have spent the previous four months following the fortunes of Queens Park Rangers no idea when your team may chalk up the next victory. Hence, my decision to come to Sri LFootball Club, two wins from 26 games, there comes a time when you simply have anka to follow the Test Series between Ireland and the hosts. There may even be a better chance of Ireland winning a game in th.e next two weeks than QPR.

 

 

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Galle Fort & Its Peoples in Black & White

Gagno’s Searing Camerawork

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A Thrilling Triumph for Sri Lankan Cricketers at Auckland

A NOTE by Michael Roberts, the Thuppahi, 2 April 2023

Given the likelihood of seaming conditions in New Zealand, I did not hold high expectations  from Sri Lanka’s cricket squad in their series there. Indeed, I thought there could be a whitewash. Well, perhaps the spirit of rugger and the odd shape of Eden Gardens assisted the Lankan guys and they snatched a well-deserved victory in this encounter.

The insertion of Kusal Perera and Mahesh Theekshana seems to have helped; while Wanindu Hasaranga hits the straps at last.  The absence of Lahiru Kumara was perhaps a plus: always smiling, his capricious spirit and inconsistent pace bowling is, more oftern than not, a gift to any opponents. I sometimes wonder what he has between the ears.

 Kusal Mendis scoops one behind for a sixGetty Images

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The Origins of Burgher & Malay Surnames in Colonial Ceylon

Author Unknown … sent to Thuppahi by Kodi Kodituwakku of Chandos St, Fort, Galle

The Ceylon Burgher Community is the finest exponent of this European onoma-tology in Sri Lanka, as the members of the community carry some of the world’s rarest surnames which at present verge on extinction. The ancestors of the Dutch Burghers were not necessaril.y Dutch by ethnic origin as the Dutch East India Company [recruited] hundreds of mercenaries from all parts of Europe who later reached the shores of Lanka to strengthen the Dutch garrisons on the Island. These Europeans later espoused local women and paved the way for the Lankan Eurasian Community, which later came to be known as ‘Dutch Burghers’ meaning ‘Town Dwellers’.

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A Cricketing Saga Extraordinary

Chandra Schaffter ... responding to an earnest request from Michael Roberts**

I started playing cricket from the age of five.  My father who was also a good cricketer in his time, gave me great encouragement.  Unfortunately, he died in 1941 when I was 11 years old.  Thereafter I had nobody ever interested in my cricketing career.

 

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