June 24, 2022 · 2:18 pm

The Cliff-hanger Match at Khettarama: Reflections …. the Day After

Michael Roberts

The fourth ODI held at Khettarama on the June, as we know, was magnificent match …and a cliff-hanger. With the benefit of a night’s sleep, I can venture on a more considered commentary.

Cricket is a great leveller is it not!! The skipper Dasun Shanaka had jolted the world with a heroic innings of the Maxwell variety in the second ODI at Palleakele. But, here, at Khettarama in the 4th ODI, he proved to be a lemon: running between the wickets like a novice …. with the first run taken in a dawdling manner, he was run-out at a crucial time.

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June 24, 2022 · 1:43 am

Is China’s Eclectic Mix of Communism with Capitalism a Threat?

Tomasz Kamusella, in The Conversation, 26 October 2021, where the title runs thus “How China combined authoritarianism with capitalism to create a new communism”

After the 1989 fall of communism in the Soviet bloc, five self-declared communist states remain today: China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea and Vietnam. Belarus and Venezuela can also be added to the mix as they fulfil the criteria of a communist state – even though they do not officially invoke the ideology. So, at present, the number stands at seven. The question is, now that capitalism is the engine of China’s economy, what is communism today? And if the number of communist states is poised to grow in the near future, as some predict, what does this prospect mean for democracy?

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June 23, 2022 · 12:21 pm

Fairyland! Cricket in Khettarama! ….. Forgetting the Politico-Economic Hellhole Beyond

Andrew Fidel Fernando, in ESPNccricinfo, 22 June 2022,…. where the title reads “In a parallel universe, Sri Lanka offer a glimpse of normal, happier times”

Is this it? Have they arrived? Is this the new Sri Lanka? The future? Bright? Blinding as the sun? Fairyland!

Sri Lanka celebrate after clinching victory•AFP
Energy. Remember that? Batters who will whisk the team out of a hole. Bowlers who will make an anthill of a target seem like a forbidding Himalayan peak. Fielders who don’t comically clang into each while circling under a gently descending catch. It has been long enough. Too long. Years since #SangaMahelaDilshanMalingaHerathMurali.

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June 22, 2022 · 10:30 pm

Passionate Sri Lankan Fans awarded “MoM” Award

Errol Fernando, adjudicating from Melbourne, decided that the MAN of the MATCH Awad should be presented to the awesome, ……….. jolly, …….passionate Sri Lankan fans

From: Errol Fernando
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 10:08 PM
To: sunil perera <sunilp1943@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: 3rd ODI

Apart from giving my ‘Man of the Match’ to a batsman or bowler, Sunil, I have also over the years given it to the umpire, third umpire, groundsman, coach, selector or sports psychologist. Sometimes even to the player’s wife, the Woman of the Match. Recently, in the Lord’s Test, I gave it to the ball because it was the actual change of ball that enabled England to beat New Zealand.

Yesterday, in the series-deciding  game at Colombo there were contenders such as Asalanka who were more than worthy of MOM. However, my winners were  the spectators. They were wonderful   –   passionate, ecstatic, deliriously happy and an inspiration to the players.

Fantastic achievement from Sri Lanka to win the series.  Nice to finish with a 4-1 result tomorrow………………..All the best, …………………….. Errol

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June 22, 2022 · 4:10 pm

A Slashing Picture of Australia’s Policy towards Boat People

Binoy Kampmark, in The Island, June 2022, where the title reads “

When it comes to the tawdry, hideous business of politicising the right to asylum, and the refugees who arise from it, no country does it better than Australia.  A country proud of being a pioneer in women’s rights, the secret ballot, good pay conditions and tatty hardware (the Hills Hoist remains a famous suburban monstrosity) has also been responsible for jettisoning key principles of international law.

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June 22, 2022 · 3:36 pm

Another Pulsating ODI Win by Sri Lanka ….Just!

Michael Roberts 

Where Sri Lanka’s pulsating win on Sunday 20th June seemed on the cards as the game moved on towards a climax with Sri Lanka’s batsmen in command, the match on the same grounds at Khettarama in Colombo on Tuesday the 22nd was a nailbiter in the last over. The unlikely near-hero for Australia was their last-minute spinning stand-in Matthew Kuhnemann.

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June 22, 2022 · 2:33 pm

An Australian Minister’s Homespun Reading of Sri Lanka’s Crisis

#7NEWS #BREAKINGNEWS #srilanka

DR KEITH SUTTER : Sri Lanka in TURMOIL – worst economic crisis in 70 years | 7NEWS …..June 21, 2022 ………………………27,741 views

7NEWS Australia

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister has travelled to Sri Lanka after hundreds of asylum seekers have been turned back in recent weeks. The country is struggling with its worst economic crisis in 70 years. Leading to shortages of food, medicine and fuel. And prompting fears of growing social unrest

.

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June 21, 2022 · 1:54 pm

A Remarkable ODI Triumph carved out by Sri Lanka

Andrew McGlashan in ESPNcricinfo, 19 June 2022, where the title reads “Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant maiden ODI hundred secures big chase” …. with highlighting imposed by the Editor, Thuppahi

A magnificent maiden ODI century from Pathum Nissanka and a well-paced innings from Kusal Mendis, that was only ended by what appeared to be cramp, headlined a record Sri Lanka chase against Australia to earn them a 2-1 series lead with two games remaining.

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June 20, 2022 · 2:06 pm

Galba’s Tales of Parliamentary Affairs from the Inside: “Wow”!

Hugh Karunanayake, … with the title and the highlighting being impositions by The Editor, Thuppahi

Nihal Seneviratne, the former Secretary General of Sri Lanka’s Parliament which he served with distinction and diligence for 33 years, has published his autobiographical memoir entitled “Memories of 33 years in Parliament”.  Written in a very readable, chatty style of prose, it is indeed a compendium of the highlights of the nation’s legislative workings over the past three decades. 

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June 19, 2022 · 6:13 pm

The Exploitative World Economic Order: A Revealing Nutshell from Jeffrey Sachs

Jeffrey D. Sachs is a world-renowned economics professor, bestselling author, innovative educator, and global leader in sustainable development…. (https://www.jeffsachs.org/).

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