Embrace Nature’s Splendour: The Toowoomba Flower Festival Source : Dæhæna – September 2023 The Toowoomba Flower Festival stands as a vibrant celebration of nature’s beauty, captivating hearts and minds with its breathtaking display of floral artistry and enchanting landscapes. Located in the picturesque region of Toowoomba, Australia, this festival has become an annual event that draws both locals and tourists alike. History Since its inception in 1949, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has flourished and is now an iconic Queensland event. The brainchild of Essex Tait and the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Carnival was created as a way for the city to use its “Garden City” reputation to promote increased economic activity following the hardships of WWII. Key Exhibits and Events Picnic Point (1 to 30 September) Perched atop the crest of the Great Dividing Range is Picnic Point. The panoramic 180 degree views will take your breath away, stretching out ...
Author Archives : eLanka admin
Book Review: Nomakena Sevaneli (නොමැකෙන සෙවණැලි ) by Hemamala Herath – By Wimal Kannangara Source : Dæhæna – September 2023 This is an unusual book review/ extract in that it is written in English about a Sinhala book. “Nomakena Sevaneli” is based on a true story woven around the diary of a person named Julia, the author Hemamala Herath had met during her 13 year long stay in Wodonga, Victoria. Both Julia and Hemamala had been members of an Inter-faith Group that was involved in social work and charities in Wodonga. During meetings it was discovered that Julia had faced serious difficulties in life, and that she had written about them in a diary and notes. Julia, the elder daughter of a bricklayer father and a mother who was a nurse living in a yet to be completed home had psychological issues seeing and communicating with unreal beings. While she was ...
OBITUARY NOTICE – DON-LEONARD (NEE SLEGERS), NELIYA It is with deep sadness I inform you of the death of Neliya on 25.8.2023. Neliya was the superintendent and Sunday School Teacher of the Dematagoda Christian Guild. We hold happy memories of our association towards each other. She was devoted to her ministry, much loved and respected and will be truly missed. God in His mercy has taken her into His loving care. May her soul rest in peace. To the family we pray that God will be your refuge & strength, an ever- pleasant help at this time of your grief. ...
Pathirana and Theeksheena lay the platform for a sensational Sri Lanka triumph over Bangladesh – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (Elanka Sports Editor) If early indications count for anything, Sri Lanka showed pride and poise of it’s symbolic Lion as they cruised past Bangladesh with a clinical five- wicket victory at Pallekelle. Hamstrung with a number of injuries, and perhaps resting some players for the upcoming World Cup, Sri Lanka showed some promise with available stocks, particularly Matheesha Pathirana who teamed up with Maheesh Theeksheena to rip through a respected Bangladesh batting line-up and bowl them out for 164 in 42.4 overs making the task for the batters a relatively easy task . Sri Lanka strolled to the target in 39 overs losing five wickets thanks to fighting knocks from Sadeera Samarawickrema 54 off 77 balls, and Charith Asalanka 62 off 92 balls after a top order stutter. Sri Lanka’s ...
Sep 1, 2023
Posted
Articles, Trevine Rodrigo
Tagged Asia Cup, Asian nations, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theeksheena, Matheesha Pathirana, Pallekelle, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Sri Lanka
Festival of the Tooth – By Dr harold Gunatillake This historical procession is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. Hello Viewers, Esala perahera, or pageant, started on the 21st of August this year, as the Kumbal perahera was for 7 days and was followed by the Randoli perahera, terminated on the 30th of August. The next day was the day perahera. Kandy town was crowded with families who had come to watch this pageant. Never seen such crowds in the past. This is a true reflection of the economic stability and prosperity in the country and for people to get about freely as was many years ago, sure sign of prosperity and stability in the country. I was lucky to sit at the HNBank building in Kandy to watch the Perahera this year. One hour before ...
Sep 1, 2023
Posted
Articles, Dr harold Gunatillake
Tagged Esala Perahera, Sri Dalada Perahara, The Annual Esala Perahera, Tooth Relic of Buddha housed
SRI LANKA NEWS (AUGUST 2023) Compiled by Victor Melder. Inflation has decreased to 6.3 percent in July compared to 12 percent in June, said State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe. Semasinghe in a tweet added that Food Inflation decreased to -1.4 percent in July from 4.1 percent in June. “Non Food Inflation came down to 10.5 percent in July from 16.2 percent in June. We are regaining stability,” he added. The Department of Census and Statistics yesterday added that Sri Lanka’s Headline Inflation, as measured by the change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI), has further decreased to 6.3 percent in July, compared to the previous month. The CCPI-based Inflation was calculated as 12.0 percent for the month of June 2023. “The inflation of Food Group dropped to -1.4 percent in July from 4.1 percent in June 2023, the Department added. (Daily News, 1.8.2023) The Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry ...
Sep 1, 2023
Posted
Articles, Victor Melder
Tagged Ceylon, Dutch State Secretary, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Shipping and Aviation Ministry, UNICEF, Victor Melder
Swarna Jayamaha (77) Passed Away on August 24th, 2023 in Long Beach, Ca. Swarna Jayamaha Passed away in Long Beach on August 24th, 2023. Daughter of Paul and Millicent Silva. Wife of Nirmal Jayamaha, Loving mother of Dushantha, Janaka, Minolie Gordon and Dr. Dharshinie Jayamaha. Sister of Rex, Mahinda, Ananda, Jecintha, Virhan and Cannie. Grandmother of Jaya Gordon and Anjali Reid. Mother in law of Rodger Gordon. Swarna attended Ave Maria Convent school and St. Bridget’s Convent, Colombo. In 1966, at the age of 20, she married her loving husband, Don Nirmal Clarence Jayamaha. They were married for 50 years before he passed away in 2017. Funeral Arrangements Thursday, September 7, 2023 Rosary: 4pm Viewing: 4:30 – 8pm All Souls Cemetery- St. Michael’s Room 4400 Cherry Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807 Friday, September 8, 2023 Funeral Mass: 10am St. Linus Church 13915 Shoemaker Ave Norwalk, CA 90650 Burial ...
VICTOR MELDER SRI LANKA LIBRARY 7, Benambra Street, Broadmeadows, Vic 3047, Australia. Telephone + 61 3 9309 4040 E-mail < melder.rjvm1935@bigpond.com > Web Site < www.vmsl-library.com > THOSE WISHING TO DONATE BOOKS & OTHER PUBLICATIONS TO THIS LIBRARY, THEY ARE MOST WELCOME. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ABOVE ADDRESS, BY EMAIL OR TELEPHONE. Thank You. ACQUISITIONS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2023 BOOKS. 1. Faith of Our Fathers, The Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka by S.D.Franciscus, 1983 2. Memories Do Not Die, by a Lawyer, E.M.M.Wijerama, 2011 3. Sambol + by Sunethra Rajakarunanayake, 2005 4. A Return to Rhyme and Other Lines by Carl Muller, 2009. 5. On Horseshoe Street, More Tales from the Provinces, 2006 (No’s 1 – 5, Donated by Cherise Pereira, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, brought to Aust by Stefan D’ Silva, Sunshine, Vic ...
Aug 31, 2023
Posted
Articles, Victor Melder
Tagged LIBRARY ACQUISITIONS - AUGUST 2023, Shehan Karunatilaka, Sunethra Rajakarunanayake
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 ...
Aug 31, 2023
Posted
Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged François Valentijn’s Description of Ceylon, University of Peradeniya
OBITUARIES (E & O.E.) (AUGUST 2023) PATHIRANA, Belle Prema, wife of Goda Karunasena, mother of Vijay Karunassena, mother-in-law of Himalee Karunaseena, grandmother of Dr’s Danika Karunasena, Kumudu Rajapakse, Tharinda Adikari and Kalpa Adikari, in Melbourne on, July 29, 2023, aged 93 years. (Contributed) RAVINDRAN, Beatrice Irangani, (23.08.1931 – 27.07.2023) in Adelaide. (Adelaide Advertiser, 1.8.2023) SURESAN, Shanthi (née RAMAKRISHNAN), in Sydney. (Tamil Thakaval Obituaries) BARTHOLOMEUSZ Wayne Derek, husband of Mary, on July 30, 2023. (West Australian, 5.8.2023) GEDDES, Mary Margaret (21.12.1920 – 02.08.2023), wife of Reginald James (dec), mother of Christopher James. (Sydney Morning Herald, 5.8.2023) NILES, Dr Daniel Premaseelan, (05.04.1937 – 03.08.2023), husband of the late Sherina Niles, father of Damayanthi, Radhika and Dharman, father-in-law of Richard Hopkins and Sohini Roy, grandfather of Anders and Meera, great grandfather of four, in the UK. (Contributed) THAMBAPILLAI, Loganathan (Logan), husband of Thayani, father of Logika and Tharmilan, father-in-law of Ananthan, grandfather ...
