Is Sri Lanka sinking and Ranil Wickremasinghe’s conservative economic thinking a thing of the past? “I don’t have to pretend to be who I’m not. My Labor party doesn’t have to pretend who it is not. Isn’t that one of the great challenges of leadership? It is hard to lead a nation when you have to pretend to be something that you’re not.” – Australian Labour Party Leader Bill Shorten By Raj Gonsalkorale Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe should perhaps take a leaf from what the Australian Labour Party Leader Bill Shorten said at a recent National Press Club speech. Mr Wickremasinghe though has to be given credit for not pretending to be who he is not. He has always been a conservative when it comes to his economic thinking. He has been and still is embedded in what Australian experts are now saying according to what Lenore Taylor has written ...

A Continuing Tradition-MGS v SGS Cricket since 1876 This book celebrates the feats of players from Melbourne Grammar School and Sydney Grammar School in this historic and oldest continuing inter-colonial (interstate) cricket match in Australia which started in 1876. The author, James Cattlin, a ‘Grammar boy’ who captained SGS in 1960 and 1961, is truly inspired by his passion for cricket and his participation in the rivalry between the two schools which has garnered life-long friendships. The descriptions of matches are interspersed with a profile of several important early representative players, such as the enigmatic RC Allen, AP Jones, Tibby Cotter, WM Bruce, Ted a’Beckett and the Barbour family. It is interesting to compare the terms and language of yesteryear with those used today. Following the progress of each match gives the reader a feel of the rivalry and effort put in by the players in an annual match which ...

Pensions, Allowances etc Indexation changes, effective 20 March 2016 The 20 March 2016 indexation changes have been announced and a special thank you to Debbie McTaggart, Editor, YourLifeChoices for sharing the information so promptly. Increased, are Pensions, Allowances, Parenting Payments, Youth Allowance, Rent Assistance, Low Income Health Care Card cut offs etc. See attached for details. “Ready reckoner” charts will be organised shortly kind courtesy of James Joseph & will be forwarded when available. Short summary of the main areas are as follows: PENSIONS: Single Rate was $867 pf…. Now $873.90 pf….. Increase of $6.90 Couple EACH was $653.50 pf. ….Now $658.70….Increase of $5.20 ea Cut off points: Pension Income test Single was $1896 pf (49,296 pa) …. Now $1909.80 pf (49,654.80 pa) Couple comb was $2902 pf (75,452 pa). Now $2922.80 pf (75,992.80 pa) Cut off points: Pension Assets Test Single Homeowner, was $783,500; Now $788,250. Couple Homeowners, was ...

Health and views March 2016 2nd Issue Click here to read more Health & Views March 2nd issue ...

Sri Lankan-born singer Elsz is putting out a powerful message about domestic violence in her song, Poison Sri Lankan-born singer Elsz is putting out a powerful message about domestic violence in her song, Poison, which is being released in conjunction with the 2016 International Women’s Day. The Glebe singer said the song is about love, violence, self sacrifice, shame and abuse with proceeds donated to Women in Need, a national service provider in her native Sri Lanka. Elsz, who calls her music a mix of dark pop and experimental R&B, launches the song in Sydney on March 17. Poison was recorded by French film maker Joseph Paris and is being released as a documentary style clip and features a confronting dialogue between her and her abusive partner. “Our greatest self defence is telling our stories. As an artist and a survivor of abuse, I hope this song will inspire other ...

An Association for Media Artists Association Of Media Artists (AOMA) a platform for all media artists to network and showcase their talents and abilities was officially launched at a small celebration in Sydney recently. Mr W A Jayasinghe, MrHiranKulatilaka and MrsSharmilaJayasinghe Niriella who are officer bearers of AOMA spoke on the occasion highlighting the uniqueness of the association in providing avenues for the creative to showcase their work and their abilities and also in recognizing and enhancing the creativity of the younger generation. Marking the launch of AOMA, a token of a set of books of HunuWatayeKathawa was presented by the president of the association Mr W A Jayasinghe to the guest of honor Dr Shelton Premaratne who is also the co producer of the drama in Sri Lanka.Among the future endeavors the association is hoping to undertake are the production of HunuWatayeKathawadrama in Australia with a whole new cast ...

The Big Match By Anura Gunasekera In the beginning there was the Royal-Thomian .Then followed the others , pre-fixed as “Big” and identified by different colours, religious figures , fruits and thus invested with significance; “The Battle”,of this , that and the other!!! But The Royal – Thomian, supreme in its uniqueness, stands aloof from the herd and will always be “The Big Match”. ...

Dilemma Of Cholesterol And Saturated Fat by Dr Harold Gunatillake Health writer Eggs, butter, full-fat dairy products, nuts, coconut oil and meat have now been classified as ‘safe’ This article has become Breaking News today and viral. Many readers may be cautious to accept this new concept as Gospel truth or as hype. They will want further clarification, explanations and confidence and time would enlighten them. We said it over a decade ago repeatedly in our health articles published in the mass media and newsletters that some of the so called fat containing foods is healthy and heart-friendly and not to worry about the cholesterol numbers We said especially eggs and coconut oil, considered unhealthy foods demonised by vested Western interests, were healthy and heart friendly for you. Why did we put up this bold front when all health pundits in the developed world condemned them right along, including the ...