The Captivating “Story of Sri Lankan Cricket” by Nicholas Brookes

Martin Chandler:…. in CricketWeb, 14 August 2022, reviewing Nicholas Brookes: An Island’s Eleven: The Story of Sri Lankan Cricket, The History Press, 2022, 535 pp, Rating: 4.5 stars …. with highlighting emphasis imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

In the final sentence of his preface Nicholas Brookes expresses the view; For as much as I’ve tried to ‘tell the story of Sri Lankan cricket’, this work is merely a starting point. This is, I presume, a reference to the paucity of existing literature on Sri Lankan cricket rather than an attempt to downplay his own contribution to that particularly genre. It is inevitably unfortunate and disappointing that, to date, none of Muttiah Muralitharan, Arjuna Ranatunga, Samantha Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara or Rangan Herath have been persuaded to write an autobiography, but the game in Sri Lanka does at least now have a comprehensive history, and one I hope might become the touchstone for similar histories of the game in Ireland, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

The full Sri Lankan training squad in Colombo with the bus taking them to Nuwara Eliya for acclimatization & training prior to the journey to England for the 1975 World Cup  with Asst Manager Neil Perera standing on the left and Trainer Raja Wickremasinghe and Manager KMT Perera standing on the right

Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under accountability, art & allure bewitching, British colonialism, centre-periphery relations, cricket for amity, cricket selections, cultural transmission, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, performance, photography, politIcal discourse, S. Thomas College, self-reflexivity, Sri Lankan cricket, sri lankan society, travelogue, unusual people, world events & processes

The Flinders Ranges in Australia: A Marvellous Place bidding for World Heritage Listing

David Penberthy in The Australian – “World recognition coming into view for the Flinders Ranges” 

It is one of the most ancient and fossil-rich places on earth, its centrepiece the gigantic Wilpena Pound basin, its towering gums the inspiration for Australia’s greatest landscape painter Sir Hans Heysen.

Flinders Ranges tourism operator Kristian Coulthard with visitors to the “gateway of the Outback”. Picture: Tourism Australia

But beyond South Australia, little is known about the Flinders Ranges, which lie just four hours’ drive north of Adelaide at what’s known as the gateway to the Outback.

 

 

 

 

 

Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under art & allure bewitching, Australian culture, australian media, economic processes, education, heritage, landscape wondrous, life stories, photography, tourism, travelogue, world affairs

Homage to Andrew Symonds from Australian Cricket & Townsville

Andrew McGlashan in ESPNcricinfo, 28 August 2022, where the title runs thus “Roy 388: Townsville pays tribute to Andrew Symonds”

 Symonds‘ children were at the centre of tributes to him during the opening ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe in Townsville.
The outfield was emblazoned with Roy 388 – Symonds’ nickname and Test cap number – in memory of the former allrounder who died in a car accident west of Townsville in May.

Andrew Symonds’ family and friends honour him in Townsville  •  Getty Images Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Australian culture, australian media, charitable outreach, cricket for amity, cultural transmission, heritage, landscape wondrous, life stories, meditations, patriotism, performance, self-reflexivity, unusual people

A Vale in Appreciation of Dr Lal Samarasinghe: Cardiologist, Aloysian, Exemplary Human Being

LK Hettiarachchi, A Vale in 2015

Dr. Lalantha Abaya Samarasinghe, M.D., of Saddle River, NJ passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2015 after a fierce struggle with a motor neurological disease. He is survived by his beloved wife, Rayani; his children Rushan, Dinuka, and Melanie; his children-in-law Tina Moyer, Sarah Samarasinghe, and Craig Balderston; and his grandchildren Sarah Moyer, Hailey Samarasinghe, Sawyer and Oliver Samarasinghe, and August and Gordon Balderston.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under cultural transmission, ethnicity, heritage, life stories, performance, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, travelogue, unusual people, welfare & philanthophy

Gala Dinner in Sydney Gathers ‘Gold Dust’ for Children in Sri Lanka

Kumudini Hettiarachchi in Sunday Times, 28 August 2022, where the title is Together they made it happen in Australia for the love of Sri Lanka”

Under the gavel went exotic and unique items such as works of art, a piece from Limited Edition cricket memorabilia, a Best of Sri Lanka holiday package and a bat signed by a cricket great……..and in the audience were celebrities, all linked by their love for Sri Lanka’s children.

  Legendary Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath, auctioning the bat Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under art & allure bewitching, Australian culture, australian media, charitable outreach, cultural transmission, economic processes, island economy, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, unusual people, welfare & philanthophy, world events & processes

Way Back Then: The Zambesis of St. Aloysius and Galle

Rex Perera

Over sixty years ago, in 1960, a few Aloysians gathered together to form a musical group. It was organized by the highly talented Neville Wickremaratne hailing from a musical family. The teaming up of two brothers Mervyn and Rex Perera initiated this group into the work of  catering for parties of close friends. At that time the Band was known as the Rhythm Ramblers. When the college carnival (Golden Showers) started, a few more Aloysians joined the group. They were Ralph Gunathileke (box guitar) and Leon Cramer and Royston Watts, two Coormanites, on clarinet.

Seated: Joseph Orloff and Neville Wickremaratne. Standing: Leon Cramer, Ralph Gunathileke, Mervyn Perera, Rex Perera, Royston Watts, Anton Gunathileke

Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under art & allure bewitching, cultural transmission, education, ethnicity, heritage, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, life stories, patriotism, performance, sri lankan society, unusual people

Ominous Events in Pakistan Today: Lessons for All Asians & The World

Fair Dinkum

Watch “Pakistan’s Western-backed coup regime hits PM Imran Khan with ‘terrorism’ charges to silence dissent”  … …………………….. https://youtu.be/g9IzwCAYbZY 

This ITEM is a worthwhile discussion and analysis of the situation in Pakistan featuring a young Pakistani scholar, interviewed by Ben Norton.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s supporters gather in Rawalpindi on Sunday to protest Imran Khan’s removal from government [Sohail Shahzad/EPA-EFE] Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under accountability, american imperialism, authoritarian regimes, conspiracies, disparagement, doctoring evidence, governance, historical interpretation, Islamic fundamentalism, landscape wondrous, legal issues, life stories, politIcal discourse, power politics, self-reflexivity, the imaginary and the real, unusual people, vengeance, world events & processes, zealotry

Adani Group from India is A Potential “Black Rock” for Sri Lanka

Darini Rajasingham-Senanayake, in The Morning Leader, 24 August 2022, with this title “IMF privatising and the Adani Greenwash”

Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been rocked by massive protests against austerity measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Structural reforms with austerity have resulted in soaring inflation, currency depreciation, poverty, and inequality that is eroding the Argentinean society and economy, while enabling the bailout of private lenders and vulture funds like BlackRock.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, debt restructuring, economic processes, foreign policy, governance, historical interpretation, IMF, Indian Ocean politics, island economy, life stories, politIcal discourse, power politics, self-reflexivity, the imaginary and the real, trauma, truth as casualty of war, unusual people, world events & processes

Macron’s Speech marks Escalating Western Disasters

Kim Wilsher in Paris …. in The Guardian, 25 August 2022, with this title Macron warns of ‘end of abundance’ as France faces difficult winter,” … and with this qualifying sub-note: “sombre first cabinet speech after summer break criticised as snub to poor who have already made sacrifices”

Emmanuel Macron has warned the French they are facing sacrifices and what he called the ““end of abundance”, at his government’s first cabinet meeting after the summer holidays. The president, speaking before ministers at the Élysée, said the country was at a “tipping point” and faced a difficult winter and a new era of instability caused by climate change and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

 

Emmanuel Macron, second from left, chairs his first cabinet meeting after the summer break. Photograph: Mohammed Badra/EPA

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, american imperialism, atrocities, australian media, authoritarian regimes, disparagement, economic processes, electoral structures, governance, historical interpretation, law of armed conflict, life stories, military strategy, politIcal discourse, power politics, truth as casualty of war, Ukraine & Its Ramifications, unusual people, vengeance, war reportage, world events & processes

A Sturdy Lankan Student Protest Petition, 22 August 2022

A PETITION: Stop Labelling Student Protestors as Terrorists. 22 August 2022

We are a group of feminists writing to call urgent attention to the extra-constitutional attempts of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to suppress dissent. Lacking a popular mandate, hunting down student protestors and activists, including a LGBTIQ activist has become a central strategy of the political élite to retain power. The latest move by the GoSL is to brand three student leaders and the student union they represent, the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF), as ‘terrorists’.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, disparagement, governance, historical interpretation, human rights, life stories, martyrdom, patriotism, performance, political demonstrations, politIcal discourse, power politics, press freedom, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, the imaginary and the real, trauma, truth as casualty of war, unusual people, vengeance, world events & processes, zealotry