March 21, 2025 · 4:45 pm

The THOMIA is Flying ….

A Note from Richard Simon, 21 March 2025

It’s taken longer than I expected – just like everything about this project has – but I’m happy to say the first batch of overseas orders was posted via Expedited Mail Service yesterday. We have to do them in batches for reasons of practical logistics: (a) there’s just Lionel the Cat Herder and me to carry these 3.3kg bubble-wrapped and manila-swathed bricks about, and (b) only so much room on the post office parcels desk to accommodate them; not to mention (c) other customers in the place staring daggers at us and our time-consuming transactions. But we got them off anyway, after sacrificing one to the nice lady behind the counter who wanted it opened so that she could see what was inside. Obviously that one did not go off yesterday, so my apologies to Mr T.A. of Castle Hill, NSW, whose nude and blue-bushing copy we brought back home for rewrapping. It will go off in the next batch, sir, I promise.

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March 20, 2025 · 7:38 pm

Gamini Dissanayake: A Spearhead for Sri Lankan Cricket

Navin Dissanayake in  The Island, 20 March 1995

Cricket has long been Sri Lanka’s greatest unifier. It is the sport that makes the world see us as more than just a small island—it makes them respect us, remember us, and recognise our strength.

But Sri Lanka’s rise in world cricket did not happen by accident. It was built on foundations laid decades ago, by leaders who saw the potential in our game long before we had the trophies to prove it.

One of those leaders was my father, Gamini Dissanayake.

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March 20, 2025 · 6:57 pm

Pungent Rare Mushroom sprouts up in Galle Area

News Item in  Ceylon Today,  March 2025

A rare species of mushroom, which is considered one of the most unique in the world, has been discovered at a journalist’s residence in Hapugala, Galle, according to the Ceylon Journal of Science.

This mushroom species was first discovered in Malaysia, and later reported in Madagascar. Prior to this, it had been documented in Sri Lanka in 1919 at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens among fungi. After a long gap, this species was reported again in Sri Lanka in 2023, with the discovery made at the home of a journalist couple, Sajeeva Wijeweera and Sirangika Lokukarawita, in Hapugala, Galle, following heavy rainfall.

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March 20, 2025 · 6:17 pm

Lesser Known ‘Armwrestles’: The Baluchistan Liberation Army Within Pakistan

An Item in FRONTLINE …. Produced in India & One of the World’s Leading Journals

In yet another blow to Pakistan’s internal security, militants seized control of a train in the Bolan area of Balochistan on March 11. The Jaffar Express, with around 500 passengers in nine coaches, was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. An army spokesperson said that the attack was quelled the next day after all 33 militants were killed. He added that 21 passengers and four soldiers were slain by the militants. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility for the attack.

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March 20, 2025 · 5:39 pm

Ravi Ratnayeke Visits SL Cricket Museum at SSC

A News Item in Web-Space: ……………..

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March 19, 2025 · 8:47 pm

Big Cricket Matches in Sri Lanka: Long-Lasting …. Evergreen ….

Item circulated by Keith Bennett

𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗿𝗶 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮…………………………………….. It’s fiesta of 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 in Sri Lanka right now, which commenced in February and expected to go on until May this year. Most of the Big Matches are now converted into 03 Days, after a request made by Sri Lanka Cricket and Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association to all the Schools who are playing traditional Big Matches to extend their play from two days to three days. Until this year, it was a norm for schools to opt to play for three days once crossed the 100 years, a tradition set by Royal College and S.Thomas’ College (Royal-Thomian Battle of the Blues) in 1979 with their centenary encounter.

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March 16, 2025 · 6:53 pm

THAT 624-Run Partnership That Remains A Record

A Note From S. SKANDAKUMAR in the hills of Uva, March 2025

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene scored  624 runs in partnership for the third wicket for Sri Lanka vs South Africa at the SSC grounds in 2006. This remains a world record for any wicket. Harry Solomons in Sydney, being Harry, marked this great feat by sending a pictorial MOMENTO to a former ambassador in Australia who was also a cricketer and a cricket commentator, namely, Somachandra Skandakumar.

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March 16, 2025 · 5:16 pm

An Epitaph for Charlie Ramanaden THEN, 13 March 1997

Dushy S. Perera

Jerry ‘Anna’ to his relations, Sir to his numerous subordinates and Charles to his friends, passed away suddenly whilst playing tennis (a sport close to his heart) partnering his son Pravin, at the Annual Darrawela Club Tennis Meet on 15th March, 1997.

He once told a friend that he would like to die playing tennis and also mentioned to me that he would like to see a Trogon (a rare endemic Ceylon bird) before he dies. It was only on the last Poya that Charles along with his good friend Doca drove into the Peak wilderness and had a glimpse of this endemic bird. So, in a sense, his wishes had been fulfilled.

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March 16, 2025 · 12:58 pm

Trimming the Teams & Sharpening Skills: Lanka Cricket

Rex Clementine, in The Island, 16 March 2025, where the title reads “Chandraguptha in the running for a Test spot”

We have just witnessed a fiercely contested First-Class season culminate in Bloomfield being crowned champions – a long-awaited triumph after 15 years in the wilderness. The tournament had all the hallmarks of a riveting contest, but as the dust settles, a significant shake-up has taken center stage.

PIX censored by Malware = Ron Chandraguptha was unstoppable in the First-Class final, delivering a match-defining knock that secured Bloomfield’s first title in 15 years. A strong showing in the NSL could now earn him a Test cap

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March 15, 2025 · 9:04 pm

In Memory of Mark Cooray, Sri Lankan Scholar & Patriot

Michael Roberts 

One of my batchmates at Peradeniya University when I entered in 1957 was Mark Cooray. He resided at Arunachalam Hall and not at Ramanathan Hall where I was. But both of us were churchgoers and attended the Anglican Chapel where Fr Lakshman Wickremasinghe led the flock in charismatic manner.

The various modes of Christian fellowship and the activities organised by the Student Christian Movement – both within Pera-Uni and in island wide conferences – brought Mark and me into frequent interaction. On occasions I even lodged at his parental residence in Kollupitiya [aka Colpetty] within Colombo during visits there for this or that [even though I had two sisters living in the city]. His mother was as sweet and supportive a figure one could ask for.

In brief, we were buddies – a friendship made all the stronger when he and Noreen Fernando fell in love and tied the nuptial know at some point. Noreen had been part of the Peradeniya SCM and was one of the sweetest women one could ask for.

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