Thuppahi's Blog

NEWS ITEM sent to TPS …. with Comment from “Sarcasm Pacific” …. & highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE TINDAL, Australia — Deep in the outback, a flurry of construction by Australia and the United States is transforming this once quiet military installation into a potential launchpad in case of conflict with China. Runways are being expanded and strengthened to accommodate the allies’ biggest airplanes, including American B-52 bombers. A pair of massive fuel depots is rising side by side to supply U.S. and Australian fighter jets. And two earth-covered bunkers have been built for U.S. munitions.

Continue reading →

Michael Roberts presenting a Reflective MEMO from Chandra Schaffter in Sri Lanka. Chandra is aged circa 95 and still bowling cutters & swingers.

 A: In mid-August this year my exchanges with Merril Gunaratne re his career induced me to send a note to Chandra Schaffter re the ways in which certain career choices and/or job postings had blighted the cricketing careers of many talented guys. Chandra has chosen to deepen the historical gaze and to pinpoint the fundamental ‘structural shortcomings’ of cricket in Ceylon/Sri Lanka in the period 1945-to-1996…. YES, 1996.

THIS is a must read. …. with highlighting emphasis in bold being my action.

Bradman & Sathasivam at the toss, Colombo Oval 1948  …. Ceylon team walks out to field

Coomaraswamy beats Bradman

Dear Michael

I am afraid you have got it all wrong.  I will endeavour to set out my point of view – for your agreement or dissent.

Continue reading →

Q and A between Andrew and Sanath … with Pix added via aid from David Sansoi in Sydney

Sanath Jayasuriya is Sri Lanka’s coach only in an interim capacity, as they prepare for their biggest Test series of the year. He was appointed after former coach  Chris Silverwood declined to renew his contract at the end of June. Jayasuriya has tasted some success in the job so far, with Sri Lanka beating India 2-0 in the ODI series earlier this month. He spoke to ESPNcricinfo about the challenges that England, and Bazball, will present over the next few weeks.

Continue reading →

Indunil De Silva

With my classmate and friend Lorenz Pereira and wife Kumi at the SSC after the Bradby.

Lorenz was the most gifted Sportsman at College during our generation. He was so gifted that sports came naturally to him. He captained Royal in Cricket, Rugby and Tennis and also was a coloursman in Athletics. Simple to the core with absolutely no arrogance, he is a worthy son of the late Professor EOE Pereira the father of the Engineering Faculty at Peradeniya University who is universally known for his educational skills and on whose shoulders greatness sat lightly

Continue reading →

FROM Creativity Planet on FACEBOOK

The famous Italian diver Enzo Mallorca was diving in the sea near Syracuse with his daughter Rossana, who was on the boat. As he descended, he felt something lightly hit him on the back. He turned and saw a dolphin. Then I realized that he did not want to play, but said something.

The animal dived and Enzo followed. At a depth of about 12 feet, there was another dolphin caught in an abandoned net.

Continue reading →

Rajiva Wijesinha, in The ISLAND, August 2024 …. a review of THE CEYLON JOURNAL …. 

Bottled Juice in USA

Uncle Sam is presently thrashing around cluelessly! Only option is to wave his mighty phallus!

There was the past strategy adopted against the Soviet Union where the US (under Reagan’s presidency) raised its military budget and increased the threat posture against the Soviet Union. This forced the Soviets to keep up and these actions placed a severe strain on the Soviet economy that led to the break-up of the Soviet Union.

The dummkopf Biden administration thinks that the same strategy will work against China!

 BUT what has taken place? China exports to US has smashed records, along with hopes for reshoring, nearshoring, and friendshoring. Despite high tariffs against Chinese-built products, the United States imported record volumes of manufactured goods from China in July.

Continue reading →

Visit …. https://au.news.yahoo.com/sea-lions-over-california-beach-232947784.html

Continue reading →

ERROL’s INSPIRATION at the End of the Third Days Play at OLD TRAFFORD ... within the comfort of his armchair in Melbourne

I am very pleased that Sri Lanka has shown a lot of ‘fight’ and taken the match into Day Four. Quite a few could hold their heads up high. Captain Dhananjaya comes immediately to mind along with others such as Rathnayake, Asitha, Jayasuriya, Matthews and Kamindu. All praise to Chandimal for walking out to battle at the end of Day Three after his very painful blow and visit to hospital. Well done indeed to all of them. 

I have been ‘glued’ to my screen till the early hours and yesterday I could not take my eyes off till 4am Melbourne time. Very proud viewing indeed. My pride would be excessive if they take the game into Day Five. As President of Sri Lanka, I would declare a National Holiday!

Looking forward to settling down and watching brave Chandimal and Kamindu walking out in a few hours!

Happy viewing and all the best, ……………… Errol

Kamindu Mendis reaches fifty

Continue reading →