St. Anthony’s College, Kandy, in Aerial Sweep-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis An ‘Excursion’ by Victor Melder of Melbourne, our Doyen of Collectors & Bloggers A NOTE from Michael Roberts, Feb 2023: My experiences of these grounds were largely through cricket matches, either as a player for Peradeniya University or as a spectator when the odd international match occurred at the cricket ground. One of the latter matches that is partially logged in my memory is when I watched Duleep Mendis deploying deft footwork against the Indian spinner Venkatraghavan. ...
Michael Roberts
The Development of Transportation in Ceylon, 1800-1947-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis L. A. Wickremeratne aka Ananda Wickremeratne** The history of transportation in Ceylon forms an interesting backdrop to the economic developments of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In the beginning of the nineteenth century however, military exigencies rather than economic considerations were the determining factors in the construction of roads by the colonial government. Understandably, much attention was centered on the recently acquired Kandyan territories over which the British were determined to strengthen their hold. The Satinwood Bridge at Peradeniya (a description questioned by /Gerald Peiris) The principal mode of access from Colombo to Kandy lay along a line of military forts and fortresses. This route which in later times came to be known as the old road to Kandy,[1] ran through Hanvalla, Avissavalla, Ruvanvalla, Hettimulla, Attapitiya, where fort king had been constructed, and across the Balana pass to Kandy. From time to time ...
Feb 22, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged The Development of Transportation in Ceylon
Sri Lanka Today as “Paradise” in Pieces …. Deeply Decimated – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis Capt. Elmo Jayawardena, in The Island, early February 2023, where the title runs thus: “75 Years – What have they done? It is a paradise misplaced” Our island was called Lanka in pre-King Vijaya times. Valmiki’s immortal Ramayanaya had King Ravana ruling the land from the city of Lankapura. That was almost four thousand years ago. The Arab traders termed it Jaziratul-Yaqut, island of rubies. Some called it Serendib, some Ceilan, from which the Portuguese picked Ceilao and the European mapmakers coined Ceylon. Many were the names from the many that came. Bar none, everyone agreed and noted in their chronicles that this Island was indeed the complete Paradise. We never created it. Let’s be honest about that part. We simply inherited. The gods from their celestial dome, in their infinite kindness, gifted this Paradise to us, the ...
Australia’s Policy towards Sri Lankan Refugee Migrants after the Civil War-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis JUDITH BETTS & CLAIRE HIGGINS: “THE SRI LANKAN CIVIL WAR AND AUSTRALIA’S MIGRATION POLICY RESPONSE: A HISTORICAL CASE STUDY WITH CONTEMPORARY IMPLICATIONS” …. AN ARTICLE PUBD ON 16TH MAY 2017 …. SEE HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1002/APP5.181 ** Abstract: Sri Lanka’s civil war lasted almost 26 years and cost tens of thousands of lives. Since the end of the war in 2009, several thousand asylum seekers from Sri Lanka have sought protection in Australia, but both Labor and Liberal/National Coalition governments have taken a restrictive approach to their arrival and have expressed support for the Sri Lankan government. This article explores Australia’s response to the protection needs of Sri Lankans during an earlier era, at the outbreak of the war in 1983, when a Labor government processed Tamils ‘in-country’ under Australia’s Special Humanitarian Program. 1 Introduction The Black July ...
Feb 13, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Special Humanitarian Program, Sri Lankan Refugee Migrants
Gamini Goonesena as a Legend-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Hugh Karunanayake, presenting an old article from 2012 once again, with this title “Farewell to a Legend of Our Times” … with “Times” standing for the past inhabited by us octogenerians … & ….. the highlighting here being the intervention of Thuppahi A gathering of family, friends, former schoolmates, and members of the Australian cricketing fraternity, assembled at the South Chapel of the Rookwood Cemetery on Friday 12 August 2011 to bid farewell to the legendary Gamini Goonesena one of the greatest achievers Sri Lankan cricket has ever known. Former Australian test cricketer and all rounder Alan Davidson, a close friend of Gamini, delivered the eulogy reflecting on his long and distinguished cricketing career and of his gentle and friendly countenance which endeared him to all who made his acquaintance. There were no religious obsequies at the funeral – something which typified ...
Feb 10, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Gamini Goonesena, Sonny Ramadhin, Sri Lankan cricket
Lamentations: Jeyaraj’s Black Review of Sri Lankan History-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis DBS Jeyaraj, in The Daily Mirror, 4 February 2023, where the title reads “75 Years of Independence and the Tamils of Sri Lanka“ A SUMMARY: They invited Indian political leaders to the peninsula and held mass rallies and processions. Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, C. Rajagopalachariar, Sarojini Nayudu and Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay are some of these. It was only in 1833 after the Colebrooke-Cameron Reforms of 1832 that predominantly Tamil territories were integrated into a unified Ceylon. Until then they were administered separately. The rationale was that independence from the British had only resulted in being ruled by the Sinhalese. There was only a change of masters. So, Independence Day was nothing to celebrate, but only to be observed as a black day, it was argued. ...
Feb 8, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged D.S. Senanayake, modern Nation State, President Wickremesinghe, Sir Oliver Goonetilleka
Lanka’s Independence Day Gathering in Adelaide in Pictures – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis Bandula Alahakoon has professionally captured the Independence Day Celebrations held at a Community Centre in Hectorville, Adelaide on Saturday 4th February with Dr Charitha Perera (Hony Consul), Nayan Perera (servingas compere) and such personnel as Nazli Farook and Mano Ransoma supporting the organising work and marshalling of ‘troops’. Nazli Farook on left and Dr Charitha Perera chatting in the course of the evening (with no signs of harrassed pressure). Religiosi from the Buddhist Vihare, the Hindu Temple and a young prist from a Islamic mosque provided blessings, while Dr Colin Fernando presented a Christian Message in his inimitable style. Zoe Bettison, Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs in the South Australian Parliament graced the occasion and Professor Derek Frewin (Medical Faculty, Adelaide University) was among the dignitaries present. Ms Bettison delivered a brief speech; while Nayan ...
Remembering DS Senanayake on Sri Lanka’s Independence Day – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis The first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) D.S. Senanayake entered the National Legislature in 1924. He was relatively unknown in the country and was pushed into prominence by his elder brother F.R. Senanayake, who was a very popular and active figure in the social and political arena. Many were surprised and taken aback to see D.S. entering the political field, as they were expecting his brother F.R. to fit the role. Perhaps the only person who had faith in D.S’s capability at that time was none other but F.R. Senanayake himself. Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as it was then known was under foreign domination from 1505 to 1948. Three Colonial Powers namely the Portuguese, Dutch and the British ruled parts of the island till 1815 when the entire country was subjugated to the British Government. ...
Feb 5, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged C.W.W. Kannagara, Ceylon, D.S. Senanayake, F.R. Senanayake, first Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Lanka’s Independence, Sri Lankan leaders
Karunatilaka’s Booker Prize Explorations of the Sri Lankan World-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Sam King in The Weekend Australian, 29 January 2023, where the title reads thus “Exploring the Boundaries” …. with highlighting emphasis imposed by the Editor, Thuppahi Don’t let Shehan Karunatilaka sell himself short. “Until a month ago, I was just a dude who wrote a cricket book in 2010,” he says. That cricket book was Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, declared one of the best cricket books of all time by cricketing authority Wisden. But it’s his latest effort, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida (Allen & Unwin) that has, in his words, changed everything. ...
Feb 4, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged M. John Harrison, Shehan Karunatilaka
Some Presentations on Independence Day in the Past in Thuppahi-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Anusha Palpita in 2016: “Independence Day in Black and White Video,” 20 July 2020, https://thuppahis.com/2020/07/30/independence-day-1949-in-black-and-white-video/ Thuppahi 2022: ….. https://thuppahis.com/2022/11/21/eureka-the-film-clip-of-the-1949-independence-day-festivities-secured/ KLF Wijedasa: “A Symbolic Moment of Ethnic Oneness,” 4 February 2021, https://thuppahis.com/2021/02/04/a-symbolic-moment-of-ethnic-oneness-at-independence-day-4-february-1948/ Senanayake Foundation 2022: “Remembering DS Senanayake on Sri Lanka’s Independence,” 6 February 2022, https://thuppahis.com/2022/02/06/rememebring-ds-senanayake-on-sri-lankas-independenc-day/ Jehan Perera: “Our Seventieth Year: Reflections …..,” 9 February 2018, https://thuppahis.com/2018/02/09/our-seventieth-year-reflections-on-sri-lankas-independence/ Thuppahi: “Symbolic Snaps on Independence Day,” 6 February 2019, https://thuppahis.com/2019/02/06/symbolic-snaps-on-independence-day/ Duncan White, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sharm Mustafa and Oscar Wijesinghe are seen here after they carried a baton to the podium at Galle Face Green where DS Senanayake stood …. in the course of the ceremonies on 4 February 1948. Note the contrasting scenario in recent times. and take note of an interesting side-story related by Somasiri Devendra: .…. https://thuppahis.com/2022/11/28/sri-lankan-navys-salute-on-february-4th-thereby-a-tale/ ...
Feb 3, 2023
Posted by eLanka admin In
Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged DS Senanayake, Independence Day, Somasiri Devendra
