November 12, 2024 · 12:46 am

Rajiv Gandhi’s Reasoning behind the IPKF Operation

Madhur Sharma, in Outlook.com, 28 November 2022, where the title runs thus “Why Rajiv Gandhi Sent IPKF To Sri Lanka And How LTTE Played Both Sides” .… with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord with Sri Lankan President Junius Richard Jayawardene in 1987. Under the pact, the Indian military was deployed as the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka. Soon after the deployment, the circumstances changed and IPKF was engaged in combat by the Tamil armed group LTTE.

Rajiv Gandhi with Anton Balasingham, Pirapaharan & AN Other in India ….. and Pirapahrana & MGR chat in South India

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November 11, 2024 · 11:15 pm

Michael Caine … His Life and Times, 1933 et seq

Maurice Joseph Micklewhite …….. born 1933 … became Michael Caine, actor; NOW Sir Michael Caine….. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Caine

 A – Listen this You-Tube Review = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQU-7GW-TlY

 

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November 11, 2024 · 11:00 pm

Kiwi Cricketers Relax with Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka

Rex Clementine in The Island, 7 November 2024,

The New Zealand cricket team took a breather, immersing themselves in the natural splendor of Minneriya, where they witnessed the breathtaking ‘Gathering’ — a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle where elephants congregate around the Minneriya Reservoir during the dry season. It’s a sight to behold, one of the world’s most captivating wildlife events, and a must-see for nature lovers.

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November 11, 2024 · 8:19 pm

Brig. Halangode’s Random Thoughts on the Eelam Wars

AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE by Michael Roberts, 11 November 2024

Brig Retd Hiran Halangode sent me the Memorandum presented below as a RESPONSE to one of my reprinted articles on ‘’Religious Strands in the SL Tamil Rebellions of the 1970s to 2009.’’[1] As indicated by him, the memo presents a series of desultory thoughts and do not amount to a thorough-going academic essay. However, they serve as an incentive towards reflection. I have taken the liberty of inserting highlights to spotlight especially significant or controversial thoughts.

SL Army troops in defensive positions in the Vanni circa 2008

 

BRIG. HIRAN HALANGODE (retd) in Response to MR On Fri, Nov 8, 2024 …… presenting …… https://thuppahis.com/2022/10/02/religion-within-tamil-militancy-and-the-ltte/

Hi Michael,

An excellent effort. I have a few points which may be of interest to you. Random thoughts in fact.

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November 11, 2024 · 4:37 pm

Kiwis Secure Remarkable Win at Dambulla in Second ODI

Andrew Fidel Fernando

Roughly 20 days after the women’s team won the T20 World Cup, and about a week after the men’s Test team completed a whitewash of India at home, New Zealand’s cricketers continue to do the near-impossible.

On this occasion they defended 108 all out on a tricky – but far from unplayable – Dambulla surface. Lockie Ferguson bowled only two overs before having to leave the field because of a calf injury, but he claimed a hat-trick to rip out Sri Lanka’s top order, as he collected figures of 3 for 7.

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November 10, 2024 · 12:02 pm

Ranil’s Hand in the Batalanda Killings?

VISIT this item sent to me by a Richmondite Medic residing in Britain with this note: 

 I recently heard Ranil W’s name linked to Batalanda but did not know what it was about.  This blog reveals all, what a murderer R is,as well as what crimes most of the political leaders before him also did. Watch and make your mind up.   Author Nandana [Weerarathne] is an investigative journalist  who had self-exiled himself until  the fall of  RW from power.…………….. Shocking!

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November 10, 2024 · 11:40 am

Sri Lanka beat Kiwis in First 20-Over ODI at Home

Michael Roberts

After a tremendous series in India where they defeated the home team three times in a  row, a New Zealand second string squad captained by Santner visited Sri Lanka to participate in a 20-over series. In the first match at Dambulla on the 9th November, this side did well to stretch the home side despite assembling only 135 runs on a turning track. In Foulkes theys eem to have unearthed a bowling allrounder with promise.

 

 

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November 8, 2024 · 2:12 pm

A Golden Tourist Destination Today …. Sri Lanka

Item in Daily Mirror, 7 November 2024

Sri Lanka awarded ’’Most Desirable Island in the World

7 November 2024            Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka has been voted as the “Most Desirable Island in the World” according to the results for the 23rd Annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 

According to the travel magazine ‘Wanderlust’, Sri Lanka has risen from last year’s eighth place to take Gold in one of the Awards’ most thrilling turnarounds. 

Destinations, tour operators and travel brands have been recognized across 22 categories, including the Most Desirable Countries and Cities in Europe and around the world at the 23rd Annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards.

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November 7, 2024 · 1:06 pm

Assorted Data on Walter T. Stace

A = A Note from Lucy McCann at the Bodleian Library in Oxford – Michael Roberts, some years back…

At the Institute of Commonwealth Studies there is an autobiography of W.T. Stace as a civil servant in Ceylon, written in 1964 – ………………see https://archives.l………………libraries.london.ac.uk/Details/archive/110022875

There is also something about his appointment to the Ceylon Civil Service in the India Office Papers at the British Library and some correspondence with him among the papers of philosopher George Edward Moore at Cambridge University Library – …………see https://archives.libraries.london.ac.uk/Details/archive110022/875

Best wishes,  Lucy

Historical view of Kandy. 

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November 7, 2024 · 11:24 am

Sri Lankan Association Treated in Adelaide’s Parliament

 

 Zoe Bettison, Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs in the South Australian Government headed by Peter  Malinauskas, marked her long fellowship with ASLA, namely, the Adelaide Sri Lanka Association, by treating and feting the Association’s members to dinner and cameraderie at Parliament House on October 2024.

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