Thuppahi's Blog

Item in THE ISLAND, 21 January 2026, entitled “Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya de Silva return for England ODIs”

Charith Asalanka, who was sacked as Sri Lanka captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup, will resume leadership duties in the upcoming ODI series against England, with the selectors also recalling Dushmantha Chameera and Dhananjaya de Silva after their recent absences in the 50-over format.

Charith Asalanka will continue to lead the ODI side despite losing the role ahead of the T20 World Cup [CricibuzAsalanka had cut short Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan midway, returning home along with Asitha Fernando before the T20I tri-series after falling ill, but is now deemed fit to lead the side once again. Chameera’s comeback strengthens the pace attack, while Dhananjaya de Silva adds depth and versatility to the middle order. Lahiru Udana, who featured in the ODI squad in Pakistan, is the absentee this time around.

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Observer in  a Black Sea Resort

Trump says peace no longer interests him, after the Nobel Peace Prize committee snubbed him.  He was deeply offended he didn’t get the peace prize: after all, he ‘stopped 8 wars in 9 months’. He claimed one of those wars went for 3,000 years, before the time of Jesus Christ.

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ITEM in NEW YORK TIMES, 15 January 2026…. “Chinese Universities Surge in Global Rankings as U.S. Schools Slip”

Harvard still dominates, though it fell to No. 3 on a list measuring academic output. Other American universities are falling farther behind their global peers. Until recently, Harvard was the most productive research university in the world, according to a global ranking that looks at academic publication.

Harvard …..

That position may be teetering, the most recent evidence of a troubling trend for American academia. Harvard recently dropped to No. 3 on the ranking. The schools racing up the list are not Harvard’s American peers, but Chinese universities that have been steadily climbing in rankings that emphasize the volume and quality of research they produce.

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ESPNcricinfo staff: “Vikram Rathour joins Sri Lanka as consultant batting coach till end of T20 World Cup”

The appointment is “with a primary focus on the team’s preparation for the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2026,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement on Thursday. Rathour will join the squad on January 18, four days before the start of Sri Lanka’s white-ball series at home against England, and remain with the team till March 10. The final of the T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled for March 8.

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An Observer in a Black Sea Resort

U.S. President Donald Trump wants countries to pay at least $1 billion to remain on the Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ beyond a three-year limit, according to the text of the body’s charter obtained by multiple media outlets (including the Times of Israel, Bloomberg and Reuters). Under the draft charter, participating nations are limited to three-year terms. To bypass these term limits and secure permanent membership, countries must contribute at least $1 billion in cash within the first year of the charter’s entry into force. While the White House has described reports of a ‘fee’ as misleading—stating the board simply offers permanent status to partners showing a ‘deep commitment’—the leaked charter specifically outlines the $1 billion threshold as the mechanism for earning that status.

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Dr NISHAN  DE MEL reviews the situation in Sri  Lanka today in his typical incisive and holistic manner. Listen. Then post critical comments and sharpen our reflections …Thuppahi Editor

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Dr Minna Thaheer, in The Sunday Times, January 2026 Tour de Force

Yhe idea of discussing a book by an economist acknowledged as a masterly scholar and practitioner by his peers is quite unnerving for a non-economist. Hearing Dr Nimal Sanderatne’s book praised by other distinguished economists associated with the Gamani Corea Foundation—an institution founded by the legendary economist and statesman Dr Gamani Corea to promote research into economic development—makes me feel perhaps inadequate for the task.

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Shreshth Shah, a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx … in ESPNcricinfo ….

Oliver Peake (Australia)

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Abhijato Sensarma… in ESPNcricinfo where the title runs thus: “Under-19 World Cup 2026: Everything you wanted to know but didn’t know whom to ask”

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Item sent by Jeevananda Keerthisena

Venayagampillai Shanmuganayagam, aged 85, passed away peacefully in Markham, Ontario, on January 15, 2026. He was born on May 30, 1940, in Point Pedro, Sri Lanka.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and respected academic, Mr. Shanmuganayagam lived a life defined by intellect, principle, and quiet service. Raised in humble beginnings, he learned early the values of perseverance, selflessness, and responsibility, qualities that shaped both his character and his life’s path.

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