AN INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2023 – A BLESSING IN DISGUISE – by Charles Schokman House Church Pastor Explains Why Christians Are Choosing to Wear Masks in China China has finally scrapped mandatory mask mandates and many are breathing a sigh of relief, but there is one group of people who are choosing to keep their masks on – members of the underground house church. “There are cameras everywhere,” Pastor Caleb (not his real name) said yesterday during a meeting in China. “The mask helps hide my identity when meeting with [BTJ].” China has spent the last three years with the most draconian and compulsory mask mandates in the entire world. Not only were masks required, but also for anyone boarding a plane in China, they had to dress up as if they were going into an operation theatre. As annoying and (now we know) completely unnecessary as those ...
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JAYANTHA DHANAPALA (1938 – 2023)-by Tissa Jayatilaka Source:Island The splendid career and the many glittering prizes won by Jayantha Dhanapala is common knowledge and does not require reiteration here. Rather I wish to focus on the man himself in this tribute to an exceptional person whom I had the privilege of getting to know personally at the tail end of the 1980s – I had of course heard of Jayantha and his many accomplishments long before our first meeting. Having read a newspaper review of North-South Perspectives, an international affairs journal that I edited, which focused on the promotion of greater understanding between the ‘developed’ and the ‘developing’ world, Jayantha telephoned me to ask if we could meet. I readily agreed and thus began a friendship that lasted until his death a few days ago. Although I had not known at the time of that first meeting of ours, I soon ...
BOOK LAUNCH IN MELBOURNE Source:Island FRUITS OF VIRTUE. An early history of St Joseph’s College, Colombo. Joint Authors: Dr Srilal Fernando and Avishka Mario Senewiratne, Colombo 2022.Printed and published by Aitken Spence Printing and Packaging(Pvt Ltd). Dec 2022. Limited Edition of 400 copies. A cold wintry afternoon did not deter the many members of The Ceylon Society of Australia, old boys of St Josephs College, Colombo, and other aficionados of educational history of Sri Lanka from attending a very interesting presentation by the joint authors. While Dr Srilal Fernando was there in person to provide the audience with some interesting aspects of the early history of the school, Avishka unable to be present, made ample amends by participating through a zoom projection of his comments from Colombo. Dr Srilal Fernando dealt with some detail the motivation and the creative links of the original “Principal Benefactors of the College” some 34 ...
Sri Lanka square ODI series with 132 run win over Afghanistan Source:Dailymirror Sri Lanka bounced back to square the three-match one-day international series against Afghanistan on Sunday, with a comprehensive 132-run win at Hambantota. Having amassed a target of 324, the Sri Lankan bowlers skittled out the tourists for 191 inside 43 overs for their biggest win in ODIs over Afghanistan. Quick bowler Dushmantha Chameera, returning to the side after a seven-month layoff after ankle surgery, bowled a couple of hostile spells to finish with two for 18. ...
Jun 5, 2023
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Tagged Dhananjaya De Silva, Dushmantha Chameera, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga
Sinhalese War Poems and the Portuguese-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Rohini Paranavitana … a reprint of an article from Jorge Flores (ed.) Re-exploring the links. History and Constructed History=ies between Portugal and Sri Lanka, Wiesbaden, Harassowitz Verlag , 2007, pp. 49-62. Sri Lankan classical literature enriched with Buddhist thought did not promote any war or violence up to about the 16th century. Even though war is involved in these writings, the classical writers took the North Indian legendary war as a model. The European model of war was experienced in Sri Lanka only after the arrival of the Portuguese on the island. It was quite a new experience to the Sinhala king and his army to retaliate against Europeans as invaders. The Portuguese engaged in ruthless war with a nation which had a great poetic tradition that made use of this new experience to generate a new area of literary expression ...
Jun 5, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Kustantinu Hatana, Rohini Paranavitana, Sitavaka Hatana
eLanka Newsletter – 4th June 2023 – 1st Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter S.Thomas’ College Old Boys Association NSW / ACT – A Night With Misty – Sydney Thomian Ball – 26 May 2023 – Photos thanks to RoyGrafix St Paul’s Milagiriya PPA – NSW Presents – Member’s family and friends New year Celebrations – Photos The History and Significance of Poson Poya – by Mrs. Shanti Senadeera Stephen De Neise is no more – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE YEVIN SAMARARATNE Sri Lanka born young Golf prodigy from Brisbane – well placed at the Sri Lanka Golf Open Championships 2023 – By Sunil Thenabadu A important full moon poya day of Buddhists – ‘ Poson ‘ – By Malsha – eLanka A humble goodbye to loyal traders Joe and Jacinta Fernandez from Joe’s Fish – Dandenong ...
Jun 5, 2023
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Articles, eLanka Newsletters
Tagged Athini Amarasiri, Dr Nimal Sedera, eLanka Newsletter, Harsha Amarasinghe, Nuwan Amarasuriya, Parakrama Gunasekara
My Nation – My Pride – by Anurasiri Kottegoda (sent by Shenali D Waduge to eLanka) We have a proud history. We had great kings They made magnificent structures. These amazing achievements are in awe even today. Tourists flock to see these cultural heritage because they do not have such in their own nations. They come to visit Ruwanweli Maha Seya, 60,000,000 tons of bricks used to make Jetawanaramaya, Lova Maha Paya, Sigiriya, Parakrama Samudraya, Giritale, Kantale, Minneriya where massive lakes & man-made irrigation works. The technology used by our ancient kings cannot be matched even with modern technology. Our ancestors have built ancient marvels that we must be proud of. Unfortunately, these ancient marvels crafted by our great kings are not included into school text books for our children to feel proud of their ancestors. Is this being intentionally done? Who removed our history from school syllabus? Why is a diluted ...
Jun 5, 2023
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Tagged Giritale, Jetawanaramaya, Kantale, Lova Maha Paya, Minneriya, Parakrama Samudraya, Ruwanweli Maha Seya, SIGIRIYA, Sri Lanka, sri lankan bauty, tourists
Charles Dickens in Ceylon: Talk by Dr Raja Bandaranayake MBBS, PhD, MSED, FRACS at the Ceylon Society of Australia (CSA) Meeting held in Sydney on 28 May 2023: a short summary. The second meeting of the Ceylon Society of Australia (CSA) for 2023 was held on the 28th of May at the Pennant Hills Community Centre. It was well attended, considering it was a cold Sunday evening! The speaker was Dr Raja Bandaranayake. Raja graduated in Medicine from the University of Ceylon, obtained his PhD from the University of London Guy’s Hospital Medical School and a master’s in education from the University of Southern California. He is a highly respected surgeon and medical educator who has advised the United Nations, WHO and World Bank. Raja also is an avid collector of books on Ceylon covering the British colonial period. The attendees were treated to a fascinating talk on whether or ...
ROHANA (RUHUNU) ERA – By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando During the Rohana era, one has to consider that after the invasion of Arians and from the epochs of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the Ruhuna reign existed according to the rules and regulations of the country. It was a self-sufficient reign managing its economic growth for a long time. It was mentioned in the chronicles that Ruhunu people, in probability, in fear of enemy threats, were returning to Ruhuna after establishing rural establishments with army support. Lots of jobs associated with the forces were available in Ruhuna. Therefore, for a long time, it was clear that it was possible to discuss the possibility of the standard economy of Ruhuna. Ruhuna has existed from time immemorial based on the above incidents. The wife of King Panduwas, Princess Baddyakathyana, and among her brothers, Prince Ram, named Uruweala village and Anuradha, Vigitha other used towns. ...
Leaked memos reveal international students rorting dual-study loophole – By Clay Lucas Source : theage Leaked federal government memos reveal large numbers of international students are exploiting a loophole in Australia’s visa system to abandon university courses for cheaper private colleges and then go on to work instead of study. The documents also show the federal Education Department has taken little action on the issue despite admitting it was a serious problem at least 18 months ago. International students in Australia can sign up for “concurrent study”, a rule designed to allow preparation for employment through short courses such as responsible service of alcohol or barista and hospitality training. But with little oversight from authorities once they enter Australia, growing numbers of students are obtaining a student visa offshore via a university enrolment and then enrolling in a cheaper vocational education course once they arrive. In the past year, 11,000 overseas ...
