August 10, 2018 · 10:15 am

AHANNA Programme launched by SL Government and Police

Addressing Sinhala-Muslim and Other Communal Tensions

Please find attached hereto a press release dated 09 August 2018, issued by the Department of Government Information with regard to the launching of the “Ahanna” programme, which aims to promote reconciliation and mutual trust among communities.  This programme, initiated by the Ministry of Finance & Mass Media and the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM), will be implemented island-wide.

The videos of the programmes held in Dehiwala and Panadura on 08 and 09 August 2018, could be viewed via the following links and are available on the Ministry’s Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW0YOnOnAxU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2us1xFetVaw&t=15s

Spend time on listening to this broadcast in Sinhala ….

LISTEN & WATCH a SAF RUGBY CEREMONY = YouTube – 848f4d836bc7a643 – 2

ALSO LISTEN TO Kishani’s DANNO BUDUNGE  = https://www.google.com.au/search?q=kishani+danno+budunge&rlz=1C1CHZL_enAU745AU745&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=fmBt4znKeKBT6M%253A%252CNkysJFNXc0W7eM%252C_&usg=AFrqEzc3I66fuGKioDHB-2WzG7BbW6-PAA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiinZThnuLcAhWDjLwKHUjaBiYQ9QEwCnoECAMQBA#imgrc=yv7BxEnTyz6I1M:

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August 9, 2018 · 10:28 pm

Young Pirapāharan’s Inspirations and Ideology: Ragavan’s Incisive Memorial in May 2009

Ragavan, being a reprint from The Sunday Leader, 24 May 2009, where the title runs “Memories of a much-mythologised rebel leader by a former LTTE fighter ” …. with the highlighting being the work of The Editor, Thuppahi

  The body identified as that of the Tamil rebels’
leader, Velupilai Pirapaharan, was carried Tuesday
through Sri Lankan troops — Courtesy Reuters

“Those who bear arms acquire and wield an extreme measure of power. We believe that if this power is abused, it will inevitably lead to dictatorship.” – Pirapaharan, from an interview with N. Ram, 1986

The LTTE’s supreme leader and commander, Velupillai Pirapaharan, along with his wife, children and the entire leadership of the LTTE, have been completely wiped out by the Sri Lankan military. The LTTE began as a guerrilla unit during the 1970’s, at its peak, it controlled vast territory and built up a conventional force consisting of an army, navy and air force. The group won many battles against the Sri Lankan Army, crushed all Tamil opposition groups functioning in Sri Lanka, and was seen as a deadly, brutal and disciplined organisation.

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August 9, 2018 · 8:53 am

A Place to Savour: Coron Island, Philippines

Coron Island

Coron is the third-largest island in the Calamian Islands in northern Palawan in the Philippines. The island is part of the larger municipality of the same name. It is about 170 nautical miles southwest of Manila and is known for several Japanese shipwrecks of World War II vintage. Because of its unique ecological features, the entire area is protected by several legal proclamations.
  • Max length: 20 km
  • Max width: 9,000 m
  • Population: 2,649 (2010)

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August 8, 2018 · 9:01 pm

Anagarika Dharmapala in Ceylon and the World: Missing Dimensions highlighted by Kemper

Sasanka Perera, in The Island, 8 August 2018, where the title is “Rescuing Dharmapala from the ‘Nation’,” …. with emphasis via highlighting in this version being an imposition by The Editor, Thuppahi

I was intrigued to see the worlds of knowledge of the past that were opened up when reading Steven Kemper’s 2015 book, ‘Rescued from the Nation: Anagarika Dharmapala and the Buddhist World’ published by the University of Chicago Press. Growing up Sinhala Buddhist in Sri Lanka, Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933) would easily be one of the most important historical characters from the recent past, we had become familiar with early in our lives. This was certainly so for my generation. As we know from that experience, Dharmapala was closely and intimately linked to the country’s Buddhist revivalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Precisely due to this reason, he was the most iconic culture hero of the Sinhala Buddhists in the modern period.

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August 8, 2018 · 7:33 am

Imran Khan set to embrace Pakistani and Indian Cricketers at his Ministerial Inauguration

Bipin Dani in The Deccan Chronicle, 7  August 2018

Fawad Chaudhry, spokesperson of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said that Imran Khan will invite all members of the 1992 World Cup-winning Pakistani cricket team for his oath-taking ceremony as Pakistan Prime Minister. (Photo: AFP)

Mumbai: Imran Khan will invite all members of the 1992 World Cup-winning Pakistani cricket team for his oath-taking ceremony as Pakistan Prime Minister. This was revealed by his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson, Fawad Chaudhry. “Due to some legal issues, we are yet to finalize the final date of the ceremony and therefore the invitations are not sent yet,” said Chaudhry. Imran Khan also has plans to invite India’s Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Navjot Singh Sidhu for his swearing-in ceremony. Continue reading →

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August 8, 2018 · 7:19 am

Transforming the Sri Lankan Army

Editor, News-in-Asia, 7 August 2018, where the title is “Sri Lankan army set to become a multi-faceted, capacity-based force”

By Editor on August 7, 2018No Comment

The Sri Lanka army, which in May 2009 did what was thought to be “impossible”, namely,  annihilate the dreaded separatist militant group, the Tamil Tigers, is today in the process of transforming itself into a multi-faceted and capacity-based force capable of tackling multifarious threats to national security from a multiplicity of sources.

The SLA, led by the tough Special Forces officer cum qualified engineer, Lt.Gen.Mahesh Senanayake, is putting his officers and men through training in various skills which will enable them  to tackle any situation, whether man-made or nature-made. Continue reading →

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July 28, 2018 · 7:38 pm

Pakistan’s Recent Experience reveals Benefits from China’s Belt & Road Initiative for Sri Lanka

Editor’s Item, News-in-Asia, 28 July 2018, where the title runs “Chief of Sri Lanka’s largest business chamber says China’s BRI an opportunity, not a threat”

Colombo, July 28 – China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), trade and infrastructure initiatives and investments in Sri Lanka’s ports could be seen as an opportunity and not a threat, the Economy Next quoting head of Sri Lanka’s biggest business chamber said.

ajendra TheagaRrajah, Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce said Sri Lankan businesses could not afford to ignore the evolving international trade patterns and the most visible of the two or three which are currently happening around Sri Lanka is the Maritime Silk Road initiative of China.

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July 27, 2018 · 3:59 pm

Visiting Jaffna Today in July 2018: Misconceptions and Issues

Jehan Perera in Island, 23 July 2018, where the title is “Coping With Nationalism In Jaffna Through Engagement”

Early in the morning as I walked down a street in Jaffna, I heard a cry “Annai, annai.” Initially, I took no notice and kept on walking, but the cry was persistent. So I looked back to see two small children behind the gate of their house. I smiled at them and recommenced my walk. But again the cry “Annai, annai” rent the air. This time I turned back and walked to the source of the sound. The elder one, a girl of about six years of age, ran away but the little one, a boy of no more than three stood his ground. Eyes gleaming and with a drippy nose he stood and smiled. I reached out through the chained gate and stroked the top of his head and he laughed happily and ran away.

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July 27, 2018 · 3:44 pm

Jayampathi Wickramarathna n Q and A on the Process of Constitution-Making

Sandun A Jayasekera in Daily Mirror, 25 July 2017, where the title runs “New Constitution for Sri Lanka : ten experts working on initial draft of Constitution”

The Constitution making process is in limbo right now and the ‘Yahapalana Government’ seems quite content with the passing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. Attempts to introduce a new Constitution has come under much criticism by many in the country. The Daily Mirror spoke to the main architect of the drafting of a new Constitution for Sri Lanka, Parliamentarian and Constitutional expert Dr. Jayampathi Wickramarathna on the issue.  Continue reading →

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July 27, 2018 · 10:29 am

Awful Events in July ’83: Will We Ever Learn

Harim Peiris, in Daily News, 23 July 2018, where the title reads “‘Never again’: The enduring lesson of July 1983, after 35 years” …. with highlights being the work of The Editor, Thuppahi

July 23 marked the 35th anniversary of one of post-independent Sri Lanka’s darkest chapters, the July 1983 pogrom against Tamil civilians throughout the country. The pogrom was sparked by an ambush of an Army patrol in Jaffna, by the LTTE, then one of several militant groups operating in the North, in which the entire platoon of 13 soldiers was wiped out.

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