Category Archives: world affairs

February 18, 2019 · 2:31 am

Remembering Adiel Anghie, 1941-2015

Upali Obeyesekere, President, JPAA Canada, in a testimonial in 2015, entitled  “Adiel Anghie, the Peterite superstar”

Adiel Anghie was a phenomenal product of St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya. He was a brilliant all-round student who excelled in studies and sports. He entered the medical faculty of the University of Ceylon from his alma mater after a colourful sports career that saw him lead the St. Peter’s College Rugby Team in addition to the Cricket Team. This is a rare combination for any sportsman at school level. To top it all, Adiel scored a brilliant century (101) in the 1961 JosephianPeterite Encounter that was drawn.

Adiel Anghie captained St. Peters College Cricket Team in 1961. Team picture annexed herewith
Standing L to R: Tissa Jayaweera, David Heyn, Travice Fernando, Rohan Abeysundera, Sam Rajah, Adithiya de Silva, Maurice Deckker
Seated L to R: Tyrone Le Mercier, Richard Alles, Adiel Anghie, Richard Heyn, Didacus de Almeida

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January 31, 2019 · 3:19 pm

The Split within the JVP in 1983 and the Programme of State Repression in the 1980s

Lionel Bopage, in Sri Lanka Guardian, 29 March 2019,where the title is ‘The Frozen Fire’ — Art and Political Reality

There are diverse views about the politics of the JVP and the inherent limitations contained in their political discourse. In particular, many of the views that exist regarding the politics of comrade Rohana Wijeweera and his assassination have contrasting narratives. In such an environment, even coming forward to produce a cinema work like ‘The Frozen Fire’ is a matter that needs commendation and appreciation.

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January 14, 2019 · 1:28 pm

Chettinad’s Palaces in View

T. S. Subramanium,in Frontline, 7 December 2018, with photos by Velankanni Raj …. where the title runs “The Palaces of Chettinad”

The palatial decorated homes of Chettiars in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu are symbols of a colonial-era architectural heritage marked by opulence. The stately mansions of Nattukottai Chettiars of the Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu are a statement of the affluence the mercantile community enjoyed at the height of its prosperity during the British Raj. The palatial houses, with the built-up area measuring anywhere between 20,000 square feet (1,858 sq. metres) and 70,000 sq. ft (6,503 sq. m), were mostly built in the period between the early 1800s and the 1940s. The Chettiars had set up flourishing trading and business enterprises in Burma (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (including Java and Sumatra), Vietnam, Mauritius and the Philippines.

       At the Chettinad palace, a large patio with “thinnais”

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January 8, 2019 · 3:04 pm

Galle Fort and Its Literary and Pictorial Fare: A Partial Bibliography

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December 19, 2018 · 2:55 am

Water Purification in the North Central Province in Pictures and Place List

With Scott Walker and Bill Deutrom in the forefront …. SEE https://thuppahis.com/2018/12/14/scott-walkers-charitable-outreach-in-sri-lanka/#more-33094 FOR DETAILS

 Note the sensible footwear

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December 17, 2018 · 2:39 pm

Palitha Manchanayake’s Life and Times

Ubeyasiri Wijeyananda Wickrama, reviewing Palitha Manchanayake’s Interesting Episodes in Life …. with highlighting emphasis imposed in arbitrary fashion by The Editor, Thuppahi

On the basis of positive responses that the author had on his earlier publication ‘Some Recollections and Reflections’ he was encouraged to produce the current episodes relating to his life. This book consists of 32 narratives in the form of episodes in its contents. The author has presented an introductory preface while the foreword is by the H.E. High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Australia, Mr Somasundaram Skandakumar.

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December 6, 2018 · 4:05 am

Wickrema Weerasooriya leaves Our World

Rohan Pethiyagoda, Daily News. 6 December 2018, where the title is “Wickrema Bida Adieu“

Sri Lanka is the poorer due to the passing away last Tuesday of Dr Wickrema Sena Weerasooria. There were so many aspects to his life, and he was so many things to so many people, that it is difficult to know where to begin. Most Sri Lankans who can yet recall the J.R.Jayewardene presidency remember Wickrema as the all-powerful Secretary to the Ministry of Plan Implementation, one of the few ministries of which the President was the subject minister.

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November 26, 2018 · 1:32 pm

KM de Silva’s Biographical Routes to the Recent Past

Sri Lanka: The Recent Past by Kingsley M. de Silva is now on the bookshelves in Sri Lanka.

The doyen among the contemporary historians of the island has deplye personal biographical expirences and his considerable reserch material to pen biographical tales that can illuminate our history, Editor, Thuppahi

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November 26, 2018 · 12:32 am

Rich Veins of Legal Insight in Social Media Readings of the Sri Lankan Constitution?

An Editorial Comment

While many of us are aware of the widespread interaction on social media, the degree of political insight embedded within the multitude of exchanges is both unknown and questionable..The political mess in Sri Lanka and the intriguing debate on the existing constitutional provisions has thrown up conflicting interpretations from legal experts and political scientists from every which way. From my sceptical stance on this set of issues, I have spotted some intelligent comments within my web site; but not collected them.  Ratnawalli, whose essay on the topic seems to have been exorcized and blocked  by a number of Editors of the  main-line press in Lanka as well as  the web-engines  Colombo Telegraph, has collected a number of pertinent comments -arising from the the interpretation ‘voiced’ by Suri Ratnapala — a Professor of Law whose credentials ensured publication — in Colombo Telegraph. I have over-ridden the title she suggested, viz: “Sri Lankans take to social media to interpret their Constitution as ‘experts’ trip over 19A” …….. Thuppahi-Man…. adding his own emphasis by colour as well as a different title … and cartoon!

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November 16, 2018 · 5:21 am

Populist Musings from Kusal Perera invokes a Pox on all the Parties

Kusal Perera, in Daily Mirror, 16 November 2018, where the title is “Geopolitics of resolving conflict with a redundant Constitution”

The SC decision has pushed Rajapaksa into back foot defence on a daily basis, reacting to the Wickremesinghe strategy of taking decisions in a Parliament that remains prorogued but accepted by Western interests as Constitutional.  

The Supreme Court (SC) decision to issue a stay order on the Gazette notification dissolving Parliament is given a completely distorted interpretation by Yahapalana Experts, to be in line with the Western power bloc.   Their accredited envoys in Colombo act firmly in legitimising the Government of their choice. On that strength, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya convened the prorogued Parliament, though constitutionally the Speaker has no such power.

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