Category Archives: unusual people

The Western Pitch Exposed by Sachs & Mearsheimer

Matt Gable  ….. WATCH    https://www.youtube.com/live/VkS9zukrCFA?si=Un2HLPdhlqRVMLF5

Jeffrey Sachs takes a similar view to mine about the Jolani and General Petraeus meeting at the UN a few days ago. Fast track in this interview to 24’50 and the phrase beginning,  “Switching gears before we go ..” we see the same film clip at the UN of Petraeus expressing deep concern for the hand-chopping head-chopping terrorist Jolani followed by Sach’s readings of Petraeus and Syria.
Sachs    …..  Mearsheimer

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A Searching Review of Hoole’s Book PALMYRA FALLEN

Sachi Sri Kantha, in Ilankai Tamil Sangam, September 15, 2025 in an article entitled….A Critique on Rajani Thiranagama’s Assassin- Suspect ‘Bosco’ presented at https://sangam.org/a-critique-on-rajani-thiranagamas-assassin-suspect-bosco/  & addressing central aspects of the book. Palmyra Fallen (2015) by Rajan Hoole 

Introduction

Sept 21st marks the 36th death anniversary of human rights activist Dr. Rajani Thiranagama (1954-1989). At the time of her death, she was affiliated to the University of Jaffna. Last July 26th, Prof. Michael Roberts re-posted chapter 3 of Dr. Rajan Hoole’s 2015 book ‘Palmyra Fallen, from Rajani to War’s End’. Having been a long-time critic on the activities of Rajan Hoole and his University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) coterie, I forwarded my comments to the ‘Tuppahi’s blog’, and Prof Roberts had kindly posted it, with his own interpretation……[https://thuppahis.com/2025/07/20/political-complexities-in-jaffna-the-killing-of-rajani-thiranagama/].

 

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World Political Propaganda TODAY: Revelation vs Deception at the Heights

Matt Gable, in an  email communication ….where The Editor has  taken  the  liberty of inserting his  own  highlights

It is worth watching the first 16 minutes of a presentation  by Rick Sanchez – a Cuban-born US citizen currently living in Moscow and hosting a TV show for RT.  He is a good journalist.  Here, Rick looks briefly at common elements in three recent protests in different regions of the world – Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines.
We are told all three protests involved students, Gen Z, were social media driven,  and used the same manga pirate flag depicting the Jolly Roger wearing Luffy’s straw hat.

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Professor JB Disanayake: A Multi-Faceted Career of Achievement, Dedication & Service

Sandagomi Coperahewa, in The  Sunday Times, 8 June 2025, where the title  reads thus: “Felicitating  Lanka’s Foremost Linguist”

I am writing this brief essay in connection with the felicitation ceremony for Emeritus Professor Deshamanya J.B. Disanayaka, the most senior academic and a distinguished figure among contemporary Sinhala scholars in Sri Lanka. The ceremony will be held on 13th June 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the New Arts Theatre, University of Colombo, with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka presiding as the Chief Guest. I take this opportunity to reflect on Professor Disanayaka’s contributions to the advancement of Sinhala studies and on my association with him as a teacher, mentor, and scholar.

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Anura Kumara Dissanayake: His Life & Career Thus Far

Sunil  Thenabadu, in Brisbane, in CEYLON TODAY, 22 September 2025, where  the title  runs thus: “Reflecting  on One Year of Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Presidency” … presented here with  highlighting imposed by The  Editor. Thuppahi

“The JVP totally declines violence/aggression.” Twice the JVP took up arms; however, in the future, we assure the people of Sri Lanka that this will never, ever recur. We guarantee the people that the only way we will come into power is by winning their trust. We assure the people of Sri Lanka that we will never, ever take up arms again. During the last 25 years, the JVP has been subjected to violence on numerous occasions; however, we never wish to resort to violence again. AKD has assured the public, so they need not have any fear—the JVP has ‘rejected violence forever’! This is the assurance given by the JVP’s leader, Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayake, one of the most charismatic and extraordinary politicians ever to enter the local political arena. Dissanayake was unanimously named the leader of the JVP at the 7th National Convention of the Party, held on 2 February 2014.

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London’s “Aragalaya”? A Populist Revolt ….. From the Right!

A NOTE  from  AVI YEMENI to BERTRAM DANIEL,  September 2025 

Hey Bertram,

Finally, the world is uniting against the Cabal and the control

I’ve covered a lot of rallies in my time, but I’ve never seen anything like what unfolded in London on September 13.  An enormous number of people flooded the streets for Tommy Robinson’s Unite the Kingdom rally. The atmosphere was electric. It wasn’t just another protest; it felt like a cultural revolution in motion.

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Pursuing World-Class Creative Writing in Sri Lanka

Dr Sasanka Perera, in The Island, 15 September 2025, with this title “Writing with passion and conviction” 

My intention [here] is to reflect on writing with passion at a time Sri Lanka is producing writing, at least in the Sinhala language, that is worthy of being introduced to the world. When I say this, I am thinking of creative writing. There is no such promise by and large when it comes to academic writing. And it does not seem to me that the idea of promoting our writing, ways of writing, and reaching to the world, are issues seriously addressed by our universities, despite their focus in training young people in language and literatures. Unfortunately, however, the idea of writing, though central to all disciplines in social sciences and humanities, has been under-emphasised to the extent of being made almost invisible in academic, professional and popular discourses today in our country.

 A Set  of Pix of  Martin wickremasinghe,  Sarachchandra, Tambiah, Obeyesekera. Sir-Gurusinghe THAT was not amenable to easy  reproduction]

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DOWNTON ABBEY calls it a Night !!

Michael Roberts

This epic and fascinating TV series serial has brought its curtains down and called it a night  [to alter the idiom]. My first  intimation of this event was in reading Ed Potten’s account in The Australian 13-14  September 2025 ….but  I cannot  access this news item because the !@#!$!!! paper demands money for web-access ….even  though  I receive the print-paper daily.

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EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all About It … in  Wikipedia = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downton_Abbey

Downton Abbey is  … {was] ….. a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes. It first aired in the United Kingdom on ITV on 26 September 2010 and in the United States on PBS, which supported its production as part of its Masterpiece Classic anthology, on 9 January 2011. The show ran for fifty-two episodes across six series, including five Christmas specials.

‘Downton Abbey’ Duo Talk Success And Controversy, But Some Questions Are Off Limits

Tom Branson and Lady Mary return  for the final Downton Abbey movie(Image: Rory Mulvey/Focus Features)

 

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Tony Peries: First Lankan Director of George Steuarts

Being  CHAPTER ELEVEN of The George Steuart Story  1835-1985 ++

THE FIRST SRI LANKAN CHAIRMAN

When a young Sri Lankan walked into the office of George Steuart on February 1, 1953, no one is likely to have imagined that he would become not only the first Sri Lankan Chairman of what was then essentially a British firm, but also the youngest man to hold that important office.

The young man, whose name was John Francis Anthony Paul Peries, and was generally known as Tony Peries, had been edu cated at St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, and had applied for a post as a trainee Tea Taster. His father, ·W. Peries, a Director of Mackwoods, was held in the highest esteem in agency circles.

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Peter Mayer: Straddling USA-India-Australia via Academia

Michael Roberts

 The world of university lecturers is quite varied and cannot be easily distilled. My experience is mostly based on my years teaching at Peradeniya University n Sri Lanka (1960-62 & 1966-76) and Adelaide University from 1978-2004—besides exposures to the environments in Oxford, Chicago, Heidelberg & Bielefeldt.

I have decided to introduce my TPS readership to some personnel from this highly-variegated field. My first choice has been an easy one: PETER MAYER is an easy man – personable, talented, multi-skilled and well-travelled. As vitally, he is an American who has married an equally personable lady named “Latha” who is from India.

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