Courtesy of KEITH BENNETT in Australia ….. for the generations of the 11950s-t o-1970s
The Stupas of Anuradhapura: Reflections
Chryshane Mendis, whose chosen title is “Living landscapes or Ruined landscapes? A Reflection through the Stupas of Anuradhapura”
The approach I am taking in this article is a subjective interpretative one based on my study experience of landscape approaches. I will be looking at the three main historical stupas of Anuradhapura, the Ruwanwalisaya, the Abeyagiri Stupa and the Jethawanarama Stupa in relation to their current conservation and restoration status from a landscape perspective. I attempt not, to take the reader on a strict academic pathway, but on a personal thought provoking journey in this article.
Vijaya Malalasekara: An Eloquent Appraissal from Rohan
Rohan Wijayaratna, in 7 February 2022, with this title “The Incomparable Vijaya Malalasekara”
It was the Royal–Thomian of 1963. Royal batting second were facing a formidable Thomian total of 254 for 8 declared. Before long they were heading for trouble at 34 for 3. That’s when a fresh-faced youngster still only 17, made his way to the middle. Before his arrival, he was subjected to a copious dousing of well-meant advice from Saliya Atapattu – a former Royal sporting personality, seated next to him in the pavilion. It was all about what must be done to avert a possible calamity, since that possibility now seemed staring Royal, squarely in the face.
Kota Uda? Sri Lankan Cricket?
A Picture capturing the Present State of “Play”
.… BUT, THEN, so is the government in the same state of ….. YES KOTA UDA
When Ceylon was under Attack by the Japanese Imperial Thrust, 1942
Jayantha Somasundaram, in The Island, 8 April 2022, where the title runs thus: “The Turn of the Tide”
Eighty years ago on Easter Sunday 5th April 1942, Ceylon came under attack by a Japanese armada. The Battle for Ceylon was going to be a duel of skill, nerves and grit between the pilots of the approaching Japanese Carrier Fleet and the RAF fighter pilots defending Ceylon.
On 26th March 1942 Vice-Admiral Chūichi Nagumo Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Imperial Navy’s main aircraft carrier force, sailed out of Kendari in the Celebes (now Sulawesi in Indonesia). It consisted of the First Air Fleet with the carriers the Akagi, the Hiryu, the Soryu, the Shokaku and the Zuikaka, along with the Third Battle Squadron made up of the battleships the Haruna, the Hiei, the Kirisbima and the Kongo, accompanied by two heavy cruisers and ten destroyers heading for Ceylon. “In striking power” says naval historian H. P Willmott of the US Naval Institute in Empires in the Balance, “virtually the same as the force used against Pearl Harbour.” Continue reading
Filed under authoritarian regimes, British colonialism, historical interpretation, landscape wondrous, law of armed conflict, life stories, military strategy, politIcal discourse, population, power politics, security, sri lankan society, transport and communications, trauma, war reportage, world events & processes, World War II and Ceylon
Newsline: Paikisothy Saravanamuttu in Discussion with Faraz Shauketaly
Faraz Shauketaly of NewslineSL: with Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu on leadership crisis in SL (05 April 2022) #eng Subscribe us: http://bit.ly/NewsfirstSubscribe Watch more videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/NewsFirs… Like us on Facebook: https://fb.com/NewsfirstSL Follow us via Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewsfirstSL
Filed under accountability, centre-periphery relations, democratic measures, economic processes, energy resources, governance, historical interpretation, island economy, legal issues, life stories, modernity & modernization, patriotism, performance, politIcal discourse, power politics, press freedom, vengeance, violence of language, welfare & philanthophy, world events & processes
John Landers’ Concerns re Australia’s Policy towards China
“Citizens Insight” hosts Interview with John Lander conducted by Robert Borwick ……………………….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4JWcv2FQAg
AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS’ PARTY = Veteran Australian diplomat speaks out against war danger Interview with John Lander, Former Deputy Ambassador to China (1974-76), Former Ambassador to Iran (1985–87) Hosted by Robert Barwick, Research Director of the Australian Citizens Party Contact the Australian Citizens Party campaigns: PHONE: 1800 636 432 EMAIL: info@citizensparty.org.au WEB: http://www.citizensparty.org.au Contact John Lander: voicealive@aol.com.
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Ratmalana Airport! Aiyyo! Aiyyo!@#!!!
Captain Elmo Jayawardena, whose original title runs thus “Ratmalana — in Emperor’s New Clothes”
A few days ago, I read in the papers that Sri Lanka has opened another International Airport (RML) at Ratmalana on the 27th of March. There was a photograph too, the arrival of the first plane, a Maldivian Airline Dash-8, twin turboprop 50-seater that flew from Velana Airport in Hululle to Ratmalana. The aeroplane was welcomed with arches of water canon salutes created by the fire engines of the Airport Fire Brigade. There were Kandyan dancers in attendance too plus a VVIP contingent to celebrate the opulent opening of the new International Airport. Of course, the day’s fanfare cost millions, that is what the newspapers said. 
Saluted welcome-then cancelled flights
Filed under accountability, disparagement, economic processes, governance, historical interpretation, island economy, landscape wondrous, life stories, modernity & modernization, performance, politIcal discourse, pulling the leg, Rajapaksa regime, security, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, taking the piss, transport and communications, travelogue, unusual people, world events & processes
A Kilted Scottish Lady who confronted the Fascists in spain in the 1930s
Item in Glasgow Live 20:41, 3 April 2022, bearing this title “Remembering Fernanda Jacobsen: The kilted woman who left Glasgow to fight fascism”
Barely 20 years after women got the vote, Glasgow secretary Fernanda Jacobsen became the unexpected leader of Glasgow’s ambulance unit that travelled to Spain in 1936
By Glasgow Live 20:41, 3 APR 2022
A Glaswegian woman in a kilt with a ‘big bottom’ hardly sounds like your typical war hero. But that’s exactly how Fernanda Jacobsen was described by those that met her when she was sent to Madrid – the beating heart of the social revolution – to help the wounded as the Republican government faced off rebel armies in 1936.
17th January 1937: Members of a Scottish ambulance unit in Glasgow before their second visit to the Spanish Civil War
Filed under accountability, authoritarian regimes, charitable outreach, Fascism, female empowerment, historical interpretation, life stories, martyrdom, performance, politIcal discourse, security, self-reflexivity, the imaginary and the real, travelogue, unusual people, war reportage, women in ethnic conflcits, world events & processes
