SL Cricketers in Hara-Kiri vs Pakistan …… Nearly !@! – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis Madushka Balasuriya, in ESPNcricinfo, 14 September 2023, where the title of the report reaeds thus “Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis shine in chaotic finish as Sri Lanka make Asia Cup final” Hosts won final-ball thriller while chasing 252 in 42 overs, as Mohammad Rizwan’s 86* went in vain for Pakistan ………….Sri Lanka 252 for 8 (Mendis 91, Asalanka 49*, Ifthikar 3-50) beat Pakistan 252 for 7 (Rizwan 86*, Shafique 52, Pathirana 3-65) by two wickets via DLS method In a game of multiple compelling storylines, it was Charith Asalanka who stood tall in the end as Sri Lanka edged Pakistan out by two wickets in final-ball thriller in Colombo. With it, Sri Lanka made it to their 11th Asia Cup final, where they will face India on Sunday. Asalanka remained unbeaten on 49 off 47 balls to see home a nervy chase, but it ...
Michael Roberts
“Jamaican Farewell” in Sinhala ….. Not Sad to Say ….by Michael Roberts A Welcome Rendering by a Sri Lankan Lass …………….. who has now earned the sobriquet ………………………..”Mrs Harrybella Fonseka” ...
When the Ceylon Schoolboys Beat the Indian Schoolboys on Their Home Turfs in 1969-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Ranjan Anandappa, in Sunday Observer, 23 September 2007, with this title “1969 Schools Cricket Team – Best produced by Sri Lanka” CRICKET: Emphasis has been laid so much on qualified coaches and physios these days, but few knew that one of the most successful under 19 cricket teams ever to leave the shores of Sri Lanka which was undoubtedly the 1969 Sri Lanka Schools cricket team, then Ceylon, which toured India. The team was captained by former Ananda College cricketer Mithra Wettimuny [and] did not possess either a coach or a physio. It was manager A. D. Karunananda (Ananda) and assistant manager Angelo Rayer (St. Joseph’s) both strict disciplinarians who guided the boys through the one-and-a half month tour which ended in a highly successful note for [what was then known as ] “Ceylon”. The team played five ...
Sri Lankan Women’s Cricket Team trounce England in England-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis The Sri Lanka Women’s Eleven’s win at Chelmsford in England highlights the wonderful improvement in the side and gleaming prospects in the near future. The side may be benefitting from the heat wave in Europe as well as England’s decision to rest one or two experienced campaigners; but the facility and margin of victory was commanding. Andrew Miller’s account in ESPNcricinfo says it all. Besides the triumph was not out of the blue. The team won the second encounter comfortably after dismissing England for 104 runs — then reaching 110 for the loss of two wickets with 40 balls remaining. ...
Discovering Sigiriya: Jonathan Forbes’ Enterprise-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Avishka Mario Senewiratne, whose chosen title is “Jonathan Forbes and the Discovery of Sigiriya,” where it was presented in The Ceylankan, vol 26/3, August 2023 “Sigiri is the only example in Ceylon of those solitary activities, which form so remarkable a feature in the table-land of the dakka…” – Sir James Emerson Tennent Surrounded by the glorious forestry, guarded by majestic ramparts, nourished by enchanting tanks and ponds, and illuminated by those picturesque frescoes, the Lion Rock: Sigiriya is certainly a grand delight in this palm-fringed isle. Its histories and mysteries are vast. For nearly 700 years this one-time Capital of ancient Ceylon, which housed the fortress of the infamous King Kasyapa I, was lost and forgotten by those in this country. What lingered of Sigiriya were tales from the ancient chronicle Cūḷavaṃsa (sequel of the Mahāvaṃsa) and other contemporary documents. It is most likely that Kings from Nissankamalla to Sri ...
Lançarote de Seixas and Madampe: A Portuguese Casado[i] in a Sinhalese Village–by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Chandra R. De Silva, refereed article originally pubd in Modern Ceylon Studies, Vol II/1, 1970, pp. 18-34. At the end of the sixteenth century[ii] when the Portuguese came into possession of the south-western sea-board, Madampe proper, was a sizeable village inhabited by about a hundred families.[iii] Though situated some forty miles to the north of Colombo, the centre of Portuguese power and activity, Madampe was in some respects well located being within seven miles of the important port of Chilaw and within three miles of the sea, over which the Portuguese still had undisputed control.[iv] The village moreover, had twenty two minor villages attached to it, the whole forming the gabadagama[v] or royal demesne of Madampe, an area of approximately sixty square miles. Statue of horse at Taniyavalla Devalaya, Madampe (constructed 1894) …… Photo from 2017 Evidence seems to indicate that when Portuguese ...
Norah Roberts: A Letter from Her Past, April 1995 – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis My sister Norah Roberts, I now realise, was a remarkable woman. Further elaborations along these lines will follow in a second “Memoriam.” The present display is via a Letter she sent to Fr Corera of the Vanareeth House for Elders run by the Sisters of Charity in Galle on the 15th April 1995 …. a copy of which has been preserved by Moninna Goonewardena of 15 Parawa Street, Fort, Galle.[1] The copy of the Letter below will be followed by a commentary on several facets touched on within the letter; while my Ode in Praise in a subsequent essay will present details on Norah Roberts and her difficult circumstances of total deafness from her 32/33rd years on earth. No. 15. A. First Avenue, Kirilapone, Colombo 5 15-4-95 Dear Rev. Fr. Basil Correra A Happy Easter to you & ...
Placing Valentijn’s Book in Its Context-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Chandra R De Silva We should welcome the efforts of Thiru Arumugam to draw attention to the Description of Ceylon by François Valentijn ………………. (see ……………………. https://thuppahis.com/2023/08/27/francois-valentijns-description-of-ceylon/#more-74805). That work is a valuable source of Sri Lankan history, and as Sinnappah Arasaratnam has pointed out, his work has been used by many subsequent writers. However, Valentijn’s work needs to be used with caution. When Arasaratnam writes that ‘Valentijn’s is one of the most accurate accounts of the pre-European period of Ceylon history up to his time’ (p. 33), he is comparing Valentijn’s work only to those of other Europeans. Despite their defects, Sinhalese and Pali historical works written before Valentijn (from which European writers drew information) were certainly more comprehensive on that subject. As Arasaratnam himself comments, ‘it was noted that Valentijn often had only partially published his source and that he was not always the best judge of what was ...
Leopards in Sri Lanka: Good Prospects-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis WWCT in Daily Mirror, 22 August 2023 … with this title “The Leopard – An Ideal Conservation Umbrella Lankan Leopards. A Symbol of Hope” The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) – IUCN Status: Vulnerable. Estimated range loss (2016): 63% We are the IUCN Red List assessors for the Sri Lankan leopard having been members of the IUCN’s Cat Specialist group since 2002 It may be a dubious feat to celebrate, but the Sri Lankan leopard has the lowest overall loss of historic range of all the sub-species, with ~37% of its previous range remaining. This is perhaps a testament to the conservation ethic that can be found here, underpinned by religions which foster the notion of shared space and the metaphysical overlap of humans and animals. Despite many naysayers insisting that little is known about the leopard in Sri Lanka, it was clear ...
François Valentijn’s Description of Ceylon-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Thiru Arumugam in The Ceylankan Vol 26/3, August 2023, where the title reads “François Valentijn wrote a 462 page ‘Description of Ceylon’ 300 years ago … Part 2” ……… Part 1 having appeared in The Ceylankan J 102 Vol 26(2) May 2023, pp 24-25. ….. also by Thiru Arumugam First and Second Chapters [Geography] For his sources of information about the geography and history of Ceylon up to the Portugueseperiod, Valentijn relies on the Portuguese writer Diogo do Couto’s Ceylon section of his books Decadas da Asia (Decades of Asia)5. Couto was Chief Keeper of the Records in Goa from 1595 to 1616. Goa was the Asian headquarters of the Portuguese. Valentijn also took information from the Dutch writer Father Philippus Baldeus6, who lived in Jaffna from about 1656 to 1665. For the description of the interior of Ceylon he relies on Robert Knox7, as the Portuguese and Dutch had limited access ...
