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Players who represented the country versus State Teams, etc., and on tours abroad (Although not Internationals they were the best players  selected for Ceylon/Sri Lanka at that time) –  By Dennis de Rosayro 1..R. H. WILLIAM (born 19…) (Goal Keeper) (Police S.C. and Government Services) 1953  Tour of Madras and Bangalore A stalwart of the Police Hockey Team.  He was the understudy of the great Freddie White. V. HENSMAN (born 19….) (Left Half) (Tamil Union C& AC) 1953  Tour of Madras and Bangalore A stalwart of the Tamil Union C & AC during their glory years.  Was a fleet footed Left Half I. SUPPIAH (born 19….) (Right Back) (Tamil Union C& AC and Matale H.A) 1953  Tour of Madras and Bangalore A great pioneer, played for Matale H.A. at the National Championships from 1956 to 1961, captaining the teams in the 1st and 2nd Nationals in 1956 and 1957. CHANDIRAPAL ...

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BURGHER RECREATION CLUB’S GREATEST SON DESHABANDU MAJOR GENERAL BERTRAM RUSSELL HEYN (Born October 1, 1912) – A COLOSSUS AMONG LEGENDS – By Dennis de Rosayro ROYAL COLLEGE, COLOMBO Educated at Royal College, Colombo, and passed the Cambridge Junior Examination   in 1927. Represented Royal College at Cricket in the 1929 and 1930 Annual Royal-Thomian big matches, and also in Rugby Football and Athletics. He coached the Cricket Team from 1945 to 1947. GOVERNMENT TRAINING COLLEGE, MAHARAGAMA Successfully completed his studies and training for Teachers. PETER’S COLLEGE, COLOMBO He coached the Cricket team in 1946 who beat St. Joseph’s College in the big match for the 1st time, and again in 1947. He also served as a Teacher for a period of time.  BURGHER RECREATION CLUB I first met this legend when I joined the Burgher Recreation Club as a Benedictine schoolboy, 2 days before my 17th birthday on 8th March 1954. ...

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My memories of the BURGHER RECREATION CLUB – The Number 1 Hockey Club from 1932 to Date – By Dennis de Rosayro Perhaps inspired by the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, the 1st Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. The very same year on 26th December 1896 in tiny Ceylon, the Bambalapitiya Hockey & Football Club was founded by the Burgher community from Bambalapitiya, Colombo South, at a meeting held at the residence of Mr. F.J. Foenander, who was elected as Patron.  Mr. A.W. Raffel and Mr. O.H. Poppenbeck were elected as President and Hony Secretary, respectively.  On 31st May 1915, the Club changed its name to Burgher Recreation Club and its colours changed from “Black-red-Gold” to “Black-Red-Champagne”.   Thus, the B.R.C. completed 125 years on 26 December 2021. My visit to my beloved club on that evening, with my wife and extended family gave me immense joy and ...

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CALLOUS DISREGARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS – by Joe Van Langenberg With the arrest and subsequent jailing of Russia’s charismatic Opposition leader 41-year-old Vladimir Kara Murza, another nail has been deeply and inextricably driven into the coffin of sacrosanct democratic values. Kara Murza’s incarceration is tantamount to a callous, vindictive disregard for human rights According to his wife Evgenia (pictured alongside her husband), Vladimir Kara Murza had been initially arrested for 15 days and jailed, but the charges, which some political observers perceive to have been of a trumped-up nature, were swiftly upgraded to treason; in light of denouncing the war in Ukraine and allegedly denigrating the army. Kara Murza has never shied away from the fact, that he has always been one of President Putin’s most trenchant critics. And that needless to say, hasn’t sat well with Putin, whose authoritarian style of governance and unorthodox methodology, have incurred the wrath ...

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Memories at BRC – the number one hockey club in Sri Lanka-by Dennis de Rosayro The Burgher Recreation Club Source:Dailynews On December 26, 1896, the Bambalapitiya Hockey & Football Club was founded by the Burgher community from Bambalapitiya, Colombo South, at a meeting held at the residence of F. J. Foenander, who was elected as Patron. A. W. Raffel and O. H. Poppenbeck was elected as President and Secretary respectively. On May 31, 1915, the Club changed its name to Burgher Recreation Club (BRC) and its colours changed from ‘Black-Red-Gold to ‘Black-Red-Champagne’. Having joined the Club on March 8, 1954, as a student member, I thought it opportune to recall its hockey history and achievements to the best of my memory and ability, paying tribute to the greats who brought honour to the club and country. Touching on Internationals before 1950; Fulham Wright, Edward and Carl Kelaart represented Ceylon vs ...

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Sydney stops to remember at Anzac Day dawn service – By Tim Barlass Source : smh The serious stuff of the dawn Service is done with (it’s actually still dark when the service wraps up at 5.30am). The police motorcycle riders and marshals are having their caffeine fix. There’s a bit of time to get ready for the pipe bands to warm up before the marching begins. All medals and regimental banners lead to Elizabeth Street. There’s something of a carnival atmosphere here. First on the scene is the Australia Post mobile corps, attired in hi-vis “tennis ball yellow” astride their EDVs (electric delivery vehicles). They are armed with hundreds of Aussie flags to give to the expected crowds. The flags are Australian-made from 100 per cent plant material and are biodegradable. Bernadette and Jacqueline have got the prime pitch for their Legacy rosemary stand just next to the marching start ...

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Sri Lankan confirmed as world badminton referee Source:Sundayobserver The Badminton World Federation (BWF) recently confirmed experienced badminton match referee Padula Sri Rohana de Silva as a BWF referee. De Silva was one of only four candidates who passed the theory exam in Malaysia last year and as a referee for the Osaka International Challenge 2023 he passed his practical assessment in Japan this year. In the history of Sri Lanka badminton, he is only the second to be confirmed as a BWF referee. He also creates history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to attain the highest level of umpiring and has been a BWF-Certificated umpire since 2012. ...

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The Future of IT Industry: Trends and Predictions for the Next Decade – By Bhanuka – eLanka Introduction: The Information Technology (IT) industry has been evolving at an unprecedented pace over the last few decades. From the introduction of the first computer to the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and blockchain, the IT industry has transformed the way we live, work, and communicate. In this article, we will discuss the latest trends and predictions for the next decade in the IT industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial intelligence has been one of the most disruptive technologies in the IT industry. It has the potential to revolutionize the way we work, live, and communicate. According to a report by Gartner, AI will create $3.9 trillion in business value by 2022. AI-powered chatbots, virtual assistants, and predictive analytics are just a few examples of how AI is transforming the IT industry. In the ...

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The Significance of Stupas in Sri Lankan Buddhism: A Historical and Cultural Perspective – By Nadeeka – eLanka Stupas are an important part of Sri Lanka’s cultural and religious heritage, and are considered to be some of the most impressive architectural achievements in the country. These ancient structures, also known as dagobas, are Buddhist monuments that are built to enshrine the relics of the Buddha or other important figures in the religion. One of the most famous stupas in Sri Lanka is the Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, located in the ancient city of Anuradhapura. This stupa was built in the 2nd century BCE by King Dutugemunu, and is believed to enshrine the relics of the Buddha. The stupa stands at a height of 338 feet, and is surrounded by a circular terrace that is adorned with 344 elephants made of stone. The Ruwanwelisaya Stupa is considered to be one of the most ...

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most popular traditional drums in Sri Lanka – By Malsha – eLanka Sri Lanka has a rich cultural heritage when it comes to traditional music and dance, and the use of drums plays a vital role in many of these art forms. Here are some of the most popular traditional drums in Sri Lanka: Geta Beraya: The Geta Beraya is a traditional drum that is often used in Kandyan dance performances. It is made of wood and has a cylindrical shape. The drum is played with two sticks, and its distinctive sound is said to mimic the sound of thunder. Yak Beraya: The Yak Beraya is another drum that is commonly used in Kandyan dance performances. It is also made of wood and has a cylindrical shape, but it is larger than the Geta Beraya. It is played with a single stick and produces a deep, resonant sound. Udakki: The ...

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