Jaya Ganga: The Engineering Marvel of the Kala Oya Valley-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis M. Asoka T. De Silva, in The Ceylankan, Journal 103 Vol 26/3, August 2023 Introduction: The first ancient historical record of any type of irrigation work is accredited to an inscription left by King Eannadu of Shirpurla in Southern Baby- lonia, in the ancient Kingdom of Mesopotamia, who had ruled in 4000 BC, and who mentions his construction work of several canals, one of them being known as Lummadimshar, at the side of which he made a reservoir, the first ever on record. Although the contribution of the migrant Aryans to the Indus Valley civilization has been considered negligible, it is conjectured that they did contribute considerably to the natural aspect of this cultural growth, as there seems to be valid reasons to believe that it was the Aryans who introduced the chariot, the horse and the plough, the ...
Michael Roberts
Influences in the Characterisation of the Princess in MANAME-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Ernest Macintyre, being an article entitled “The Growth of a Tragic Princess”…. published in The Ceylankan, Journal 104, Vol 26/3, August 2023 MANAME Hemamali Gunasinghe as Princess Maname in 1956 Sometimes desultory, at a passing social phenomenon in early Peradeniya that was the Japanese Noh theatre, a powerful and proximate influence on the creation of Maname and Ediriweera Sarachchandra’s sub- sequent major plays. In essentials, Noh theatre shares a good deal with Sanskrit theatre, but the latter is extinct. The texts of the Sanskrit plays do exist, but these alone were insufficient to instruct and inspire meaningful theatrical innovation. The latter needed an existing, breathing live model, which is what Sarachchandra found in Noh theatre. The influence of Noh is much clearer in his later plays, where the chorus not only narrates but comments on the happenings on the stage poetically and philosophically. ...
Aug 27, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Ediriweera Sarachchandra, Hemamali Gunasinghe, Jaffna Hindu College, Mohamed Ibrahim Marrikar
The Global Company Giants …. Remain …. As Giants-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Attend any business conference or open any management book and an encounter with some variation of the same message is almost guaranteed: the pace of change in business is accelerating, and no one is safe from disruption. Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (ai) have left many corporate Goliaths nervously anticipating David’s sling, fearing that they might meet the same fate as firms such as Kodak and Blockbuster, two giants that were felled by the digital revolution. “The Innovator’s Dilemma”, a seminal book written in 1997 by Clayton Christensen, a management guru, observed that incumbents hesitate to pursue radical innovations that would make their products or services cheaper or more convenient, for fear of denting the profitability of their existing businesses. In the midst of technological upheaval, that creates an opening for upstarts unencumbered by such considerations. Yet the reality is that America Inc ...
Aug 26, 2023
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Tagged Fatih Karahan, Michael Roberts, William Baumol
“Sinhabahu” in Adelaide for Roshan Mahanama Trust-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis A NOTICE ciruclated by ASLA and Nayan Perera in Adelaide, August 2023 Dear Friends, Adelaide Lakhanda with the Nalanda Old Boys Association of South Australia & Sri Lanka Cricket South Australia is excited to invite you to a meaningful event with an entertaining and purposeful evening. On 26th August, at the Regal Theatre Kensington, we will be screening the movie “Sinhabahu” for a noble cause. As you may already know, the Roshan Mahanama Trust is a dedicated organisation working tirelessly to empower underprivileged children in Sri Lanka. We firmly believe that every child deserves a chance at a bright future, and this belief fuels our efforts to provide them with a solid educational foundation, a healthy lifestyle, and a safe environment. ...
The Mulacari of Peradeniya University: Shirley De Alwis-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis KNO Dharmadasa, in Hanthana Night, produced by the Üniversity 0f Peradeniya Alumni Associatio Western Australia Chapter, August 2023 The word Mulacari in the Kandyan period of Sri Lankan history meant “the chief architect”. These would have been the great architects of yore like the one who designed the “Brazen Palace” (Lovamahapaya) during the Anuradhapura period. But we have no information about their titles or names. Shirley De Alwis (1898-1952) who was appointed the “University Architect” in 1946, was the man who designed the eight original Halls of Residence -Marrs, Jayatilaka, Arunachalam, Hilda Obeysekara, James Peiris, Marcus Fernando, Sangamitta and Ramanathan. He also designed the Senate Building — which was modelled on the Brazen Place, although on a modest scale. The Science and Arts Faculty buildings as well as the Geography Building are also creations of Shirley De Alwis. Today, the Peradeniya University is considered one among the ...
Aug 11, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Mr. D.R. Wijewardene, Nanu Oya bridge, Shirley De Alwis, Üniversity 0f Peradeniya
Study, Fellowship & Sport at Peradeniya Campus, 1956-60-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis PERADENIYA CAMPUS and UNIVERSITY is etched deeply into my soul: with diverse memories of places, events and personnel. Many of the friends I met within its spaces have, alas, passed away; but remain as alive as afresh in my mind. I had been placed in Ramanathan Hall as a freshman in mid-year 1957 and shared a room with Ranjit Samaraweera. His conviviality aided my adjustments to the new ‘terrain’. So did my interest in sport. The skills in cricket, soccer and athletics that I had developed at St. Aloysius in Galle were now expanded to encompass rugger, while the indoor facilities at Peradeniya also encouraged my participation in basketball, table tennis and badminton on the odd occasion. ...
Aug 10, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Bishop Wickemasinghe, Dr CR Silva, Jaffna University, Luther Jeyasingham, Peradeniya Campus
Enjoying Peradeniya Campus Life in the Late 1960s-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Sumangalika Dharmadasa, in the booklet HANTHANA NIGHT , produced by the University of Peradeniya Alumni Association Western Australia in 2023 … where her title reads “Campus Life of Yore: Through the Eyes of a Fresher”” 6th October, 1965 is a land mark date in my memory, as it surely must be in the memory banks of all the Freshers who entered the hallowed portals of the university of Peradeniya all those years ago. The sense of freedom and independence I felt after the cloistered life in school hostels was truly exhilarating. For the first time in my life, I was free to do just as I wished! I did not know then that I was destined to remain in that wonderful place for over 50 years. I knew only two people when I entered the University in 1965, Kumari Wadugodapitiya, my lifelong friend ...
Aug 10, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Dr, Dr. Hemapala Wijewardene, Dr. Kamal de Abrew, Dr. Meegaskumbura, Kumari Wadugodapitiya, Prof. Ananda Kulasuriya, Prof. Ariya Rajakaruna, Prof. Ashely Halpe, Prof. Ediriweera Sarachchandra, stalwarts of the Sinhala Dept, Thiru Kandiah and Dr. Yasmin Gunaratne – all of the Dept. of English. Then
In Appreciation of Jayantha Dhanapala-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Prasad Kariyawasam: an article entitled “Remembering Jayantha Dhanapala (1938-2023)” …….. presented in a booklet entitled “Hanthana Night” produced by University of Peradeniya Western Australia Chapter, 2023, pp. 50-52. “For those who had the good fortune of knowing and working with him, Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapla, was the quintessential diplomat, trustworthy colleague, all rounder par excellence and most importantly, a humanitarian to the core. His early life was shaped by two great educational institutions of international repute during his time – Trinity College Kandy and the University of Peradeniya. The Writer standing behind Ambassador Dhanapala at the 40 nation Conference on Disarmament in Geneva in 1984 Born on 30 December 1938, Jayantha Cuda Bandara Dhanapala was a child of pre-independent Ceylon. When he joined the Foreign Service which was called the Overseas Service at the time in 1965, Sri Lanka was still Ceylon. Jayantha, ...
Aug 6, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Jayantha Dhanapala, Prasad Kariyawasam, Trinity College Kandy, University of Peradeniya
Against The Modernist Grain: Polyandry & Other Traditional Practices that may still persist in Sri Lanka-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Asiff Hussein, courtesy of Roar Life, 25 April 2017, where the chosen title is “Three Strange Sri Lankan Customs And The Stories Behind Them” Sri Lankans had, and still have, some strange traditions that are thought of as indigenous. However, much of these have their origins in other parts of the world, especially in India, and, to a lesser extent, in the Middle East. Here are three such local beliefs and customs with exotic origins. Dola-Duka (Pregnancy Craving) Sri Lankans, and especially the Sinhalese, believe that mothers-to-be experience a longing to eat certain kinds of foods, and that if these cravings are not satisfied, it would harm her health or the child she is carrying. This is known as dola-duka. Rural folk, in particular, believe that if the expectant mother’s dola-duka cravings are not sated, she would become weak and emaciated. ...
Jul 24, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Gunasekara Gunasoma, Jana Adahili Ha Janavishvasa, Kandyan Kingdom Historical Relation, Queen ViharaMahadevi
For Humanity: Sister Aroha, A Kiwi Mother Theresa with a Sri Lankan Twang-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Woman leaves New Zealand to become a nun … Philomene Hogan aka Sister Aroha A NOTE from Myrna Setunga of Battaramulla:Michael, I have been several times to this Home in Moratuwa as well as the Home for elders in Modara. ….. . I have been twice to the Home in Calcutta and the Home in Varanasi. These nuns are the best human beings I have met from Maia ALSO SEE * https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/sunday/clips/sister-aroha-nz-s-own-mother-teresa https://twitter.com/jehancasinader/status/846582688496549888 … via Jehan Casinader http://stmmaia2017.blogspot.com/2017/04/sister-aroha.html …. A NOTE from MAIA, Monday, April 3, 2017Sister Aroha!Sister Aroha is an Srilankan Nun. She works at an orphanage where she looks after children that have been given up/ abandoned by their parents. Sister Aroha has been influenced to become a nun by Mother Teresa who she looks up to greatly. She has devoted her life to helping the poor and looking ...
Jul 24, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Jehan Casinader, Sister Aroha
