April 9, 2024 · 1:57 am

Astute Comments on Outmigration from Lanka induced by a TPS Item

Michael Roberts

Injected commentary on articles of a political nature in websites can be good, bad or ugly. They do not always further debate or enhance our understandings of the world. By happenchance I came across an array of comments on an article in Thuppahi in 2021 which belied this last remark: virtually all the comments stimulate thinking.

Since the item in question embraced the factors that have spurred outmigration from Sri Lanka since the mid-20th century and related specifically to the departure of English-speaking Burghers and Eurasians, it is of continuing relevance today. Via their diversity and astuteness, the set of Comments encourage reflection and debate.

A passenger ship with immigrants from all over the world riving at an Australian port

 

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April 8, 2024 · 7:14 pm

Michael Tissera: A Lifetime of Grounded Achievement

Krishantha Prasad Cooray, in The Island,  7 April 2024, where the title runs thus: “Michael Tissera at 85: Gentlemen’s gentleman” ….. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Tissera with his children and grandchildren

When people who have the same first name meet up, there’s name-related humour. The more, the merrier, obviously, especially if they are good friends and enjoy friendly banter. Today I am thinking of three people who share the name Michael: Michael Tissera, Michael Sproule and Michael De Zoysa, all three who played cricket for St Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia. The first of course is the bigger name associated with the gentleman’s game.

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April 8, 2024 · 12:11 am

Vanni Hope ‘Smiles Upon’ Its Charity Work Over the Past Year

A Circular of Thanks from Ranjan Sivagnanasundaram

Dear Friends, Family, & Well-Wishers,

As we turn the page on another remarkable year at Vanni Hope, we are delighted to share with you the highlights of our journey through 2023. Last year was a testament to the power of community, collaboration, and compassion as we’ve continued to make strides or progress across Sri Lanka.

Enclosed within this email, and also accessible via our website, is our 2023 Annual Newsletter. This document provides a comprehensive overview of the projects, achievements, and financial milestones we’ve reached together. From the inauguration of Smart Classrooms that bridge the digital divide, to initiatives that provide clean water and safe housing, our efforts have been geared towards creating a sustainable and inclusive future for all in Sri Lanka.

The one & only Ranjan

 

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April 7, 2024 · 8:11 pm

Stark Images of Ethnic Retribution & Violence in Colombo, late July 1983

Photos selected by Michael Roberts & Rendered Accessible by David Sansoni of Sydney

  Commencing with a ‘shot’ of passers-by and ordinary citizens assaulting and ridiculing a Tamil person at Galle Road in Colpetty

 

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April 7, 2024 · 5:32 pm

Black Friday in Colombo: 29 July 1983

Sugath Kulatunga, …. original submission with highlighting added by the Editor, Thuppahi

That** was the story of Monday.  The Friday that followed was a stark tragedy and a national calamity which has left its bloody stain in the records of our recent history. This was my harrowing experience of Friday 29 July 1983.

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April 7, 2024 · 2:06 pm

Transforming Sri Lanka Cricket …. in 2001

Rex Clementine in Sunday Island, 7 April 2024, where the title reads thus:

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the appointment of the first ever Cricket Interim Committee. Ironically, the man who was chosen to Chair that committee, although a keen follower of the game, had little experience in its administration. Rienzie T. Wijetilleke is his name.

Orders to appoint Wijetilleke, then the Chairman of Hatton National Bank, came directly from the Country‘s President, Chandrika Kumaratunga who was well acquainted with his “no nonsense” approach to discipline and accountability.

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April 6, 2024 · 3:43 am

Pictorials: Roman Szechowycz in the Dry Zone in the 1950s

Michael Roberts

Dr Roman Szechowycz and  his brother served the newly independent island of Ceylon in its hydraulic agriculture projects in the Dry Zone in the period 1950 to 1961 …. mostly from a base at Inginiyagala in the Eastern Province where the Gal Oya Tank was constructed. We are fortunate to have some photographic ‘asides’ of a “personnel nature” — so to speak — associated with this work  The detailed descriptions presented elsewhere in TPS: viz.; …..

Experiences: Working on the Gal Oya Project in Ceylon, 1950-61

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April 6, 2024 · 12:58 am

Undermining the Australians at the Colombo Oval in 1948?

Hugh Karunanayake, in The Island, 2023 …. with his preferred title running thus: “Did Ceylon Try a Fast One on Don Bradman’s Team?”

Bradman struggles against Sathi Coomaraswamy

 

The Ceylon Team walks out to field

The last cricketing appearance by Don Bradman in Sri Lanka was at the Colombo Oval on March 31, 1948, before a capacity crowd of 20,000. The Australian Team was on their way to England for the Ashes series and stopped over in Colombo to play a one-day game against what was then called the All Ceylon XI – captained by M. Sathasivam. The game was characterized by two major controversies. The first was on the captaincy of the Ceylon team which many thought should have gone to the more experienced and accomplished F.C. de Saram. T. B. Marambe in his book “Pen sketches of our cricketers” thought that “de Saram clearly had not had sufficient contact with the common man” and the selectors preferred the popular Sathasivam instead.

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April 5, 2024 · 8:01 pm

THAT Monday 25th July 1983 in Colombo: Organized Violence within the Pogrom

Sugath Kulatunga .…. in item entitled “Black July Monday 25th” …. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

In my last post on the 4th of March, I mentioned that the time I served under Lalith [Athulathmudali] was the golden era of my public service. But it did not occur to me that I had deliberately suppressed in my mind the ugliest and nastiest week in my life as well as of the nation. That was the week of Black July of the ghastliest communal riots. Let me recall my experience of that week.

 

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April 3, 2024 · 11:37 pm

Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh Twice — Away in Bangladesh – and Move to Third in Test Table

Mahinda Balasuriya in ESPNcricinfo, 3 April 2024, where the title runs thus:  “Sri Lanka wrap up 192-run win to complete series sweep”

Sri Lanka did not take long on the fifth morning to pick up the remaining three Bangladesh wickets  •  Getty Images

Sri Lanka did not take long on the fifth morning to pick up the remaining three Bangladesh wickets  •  Getty Images

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