August 11, 2022 · 8:45 pm

Roads and Bridges in Ancient Sri Lanka

Introduction by Gp Capt Kumar Kirinde [retd], SLAF … & crafted by Chamara Sumanapala, …. & presented in The Nation Sunday Print Edition, date not specified

Below is an article on roads and bridges in ancient Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura era). The article also talks about the major roads linking Anuradhapura with the ports of Dambakola Patuna (in Jaffna Peninsula), Mahatitta (near Mannar) and Gokanna (Trincomalee) and the road linking Anuradhapura with Magama (present day Tissamaharama) in Ruhuna.

 

Stone Bridge close to Mahakanadarawa Reservoir (Mihintale)
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August 11, 2022 · 8:06 pm

The Tiger Snakes of Chappell Island: Full of Venom but not Venomous!

Raffaella Ciccarella, in 9NewsCom, 10 August 2022, where the tile runs thus “Australia’s own snake island, where ‘giant’ tiger snakes slither”  …. with highlighting added by The Editor Thuppahi

A small 323-hectare granite island off the coast of Tasmania is home to what’s been described as “giant” tiger snakes, which have evolved in isolation from their mainland counterparts.

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August 11, 2022 · 1:52 pm

Understanding the Chinese Government’s Position on Taiwan

Fair Dinkum, responding here in an original essay to China’s White Paper on Taiwan ++ … with underlining emphasis in blue added by The Editor, Thuppahi

On 10 August 2022, China released a white paper on Taiwan reunification. This paper sets out the history of Taiwan as an integral part of China, but it also details significant US subversive activities in Taiwan aimed at encouraging successionist movements and gives a justification for a military response to US meddling by China under specific conditions. The paper stipulates that foreign meddling into Taiwan means Beijing must retain use of force as an option. According to the white paper, Beijing prefers a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but foreign powers meddling in Chinese domestic affairs and encouraging secessionism on the self-ruled island may make this impossible.

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August 11, 2022 · 1:38 am

Marvels of Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Sri Lanka

Lois L. Kersey, a “History Enthusiast” … whose choice of title ran thus: “Sigiriya: Views ofa Foreign History Enthusiast” …. see  https://www.quora.com/ (Post by Lois L. Kersey

You are looking at one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world called Sigiriya which is believed to be one of the palaces of Ravana. This amazing place located in Sri Lanka is like nothing in the world, that is why it is also called the 8th wonder of the world. Now you must be thinking that what is so special about this site. It’s actually a huge monolithic rock, about 660 feet tall, and you can see it has a flat top, as if someone cut it with a giant knife. At the top are incredible ruins that are extremely mysterious.

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August 10, 2022 · 9:29 pm

The Geopolitics of the Pacific Ocean,1842-2022

Michael Roberts

 Writing as a non-specialist after listening to the Chinese Ambassador’s speech at the Australian Press Club today,[1] I venture on what may seem to be outrageous geo-political hypotheticals by looking at Tasmania’s relationship with the continent of Australia. That is, I am deploying this outrageous issue as a thought-provoker.

 

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August 10, 2022 · 2:48 pm

Ambassador Wang Xining’s Address at the Australian Press Club

ABC Net Item, 10 August 2022, with this title “Chinese diplomat Wang Xining’s National Press Club address blames Canberra for fractured relations with Beijing”

Wang Xining is not a fire-breathing ideologue. In fact, China’s Deputy Head of Mission has a reputation in Canberra as a bit of a charmer — smooth, cerebral and cultured.

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August 9, 2022 · 9:33 pm

Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel

Jordan Baker “Charming and unapologetic: Sydney’s Anglican archbishop isn’t afraid to be out of step with the times”

Kanishka Raffel’s election as Archbishop of Sydney broke the mould. His predecessors are all of European descent; his heritage is Sri Lankan. Many of those who went before him were sons of Sydney’s Anglican dynasties, and attended its sandstone schools; he moved to Australia as a boy and went to Carlingford High.
 Anglican Archbishop Kanishka Raffel was born a Buddhist. CREDIT:LOUIE DOUVIS

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August 9, 2022 · 8:59 pm

Three Sri Lankans Amidst in Marquee Pool for UAE IPL

A Web Announcement in ESPNcricinfo, 9 August 2022

“We are very excited that a select number of UAE representative-players, from our current pool, will also be considered and signed on to participate in the league. It is also extremely important to note that these (UAE) players will form part of the team’s playing XI,” Mubashshir Usmani, general secretary of the Emirates Cricket Board, said.

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August 9, 2022 · 12:53 pm

Mary Rodgers: Broadway Baby

Daniel Okrent, in The New York Times, 5 August 2022, where the title  is  “Broadway Baby: The Astonishing Autobiography of Mary Rodgers” by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green

Mary Rodgers with her father, Richard, in 1959, the year “Once Upon a Mattress” opened on Broadway. Credit: Photofest

Let’s start with a full disclosure: I’m a sucker for Broadway — one of those theater fans who will see five different productions of the same show, who genuflect before cast albums from the ’50s, who inhale theater gossip as if it really mattered.

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August 8, 2022 · 11:55 pm

Defections from Lanka: Commonwealth Games Athletes and SL Navymen in USA

Item in Sunday Times, 7 August 2022 …/ taken from AFP and sent to me by Jayantha Somasundaram of Canbera

It is no secret that these days Sri Lankans are trying all sorts of ways to leave the country whether legally or illegally as the economic crisis drags on. The latest is a group of nine Navy sailors who reportedly jumped ship in the US.

The 50-member crew was to join the world’s largest international naval exercise — RIMPAC 2022. Following the exercise, they were scheduled to organise return passage home in a new Sri Lankan Navy vessel, the former USCGC Douglas Munro, which was recently decommissioned and transferred to Sri Lanka under a foreign military aid agreement.

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