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Sri Lankans Celebrate Vesak with Splendor, Devotion, and Generosity-by Kalani-eLanka Vesak, the most significant Buddhist festival, is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm by Sri Lankans every year. This year, the celebrations fall on the 23rd and 24th of May, marking a time when the island nation comes alive with vibrant decorations, religious observances, and community activities. Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima, commemorates three major events in the life of Gautama Buddha: his birth, enlightenment, and passing away (Parinirvana). For Buddhists in Sri Lanka and around the world, it is a time of deep spiritual reflection, meritorious deeds, and communal harmony. In the weeks leading up to Vesak, Sri Lankans prepare meticulously to ensure that their homes, temples, and streets are beautifully decorated. The preparation involves crafting various traditional decorations that light up the night with their colorful and intricate designs. Vesak Lanterns (Vesak Koodu) Vesak lanterns, or “Vesak ...

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GB Srithar joins VFS Global as Head of Tourism Services Srithar spent over 26 years in the Singapore Tourism Board; his last assignment was as Regional Director for India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions appoints GB Srithar as the Head of Tourism Services. Srithar joins VFS Global from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), where he spent over 26 years in a career that spanned multiple functions, including Human Resources, Organizational Development, and International Marketing. He notably served as the Area Director for South India & Sri Lanka and was instrumental in leading the International Marketing and Brand Campaigns teams at STB’s headquarters. His last role as the Regional Director saw him responsible for the STB’s regional marketing, tourism development, and trade partnership work across India, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. Srithar will support ...

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The face behind a no-holds-barred book Source:Sundaytimes Of Sri Lankan origin, Beverley Pinder who was here to launch her autobiography talks to Kumudini Hettiarachchi Beverley Pinder in Colombo. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara Imagine British business magnate Sir Richard Branson straddling an elephant and riding the streets of busy Melbourne in Australia! This is what happened in the 1970s long before his fame-gain through the Virgin Group, dubbed an “irresistible” brand which is in many diverse sectors now, from travel to telecommunications, health to banking and music to leisure. The woman, however, behind that famous elephant-ride was none other than Beverley Pinder of Sri Lankan origin who had emigrated to Australia with her family as a girl of 13. This week Beverley who calls herself “not beautiful but may be exotic in a manner” is here in Sri Lanka to launch her frank and no-holds-barred book, ‘Pride without Prejudice – ...

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Noodles from Jackfruit Source:Shirley Morritt A young entrepreneur has started making noodles with jackfruit seeds. We invite you all to think of these kind of innovative food recipes to develop local industries. Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox! ...

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Ceylon Captain Mahadeva Sathasivam (Wesleyite) and his Australian Counterpart Donald Bradman walk cross the Oval Sports Ground in Colombo in 1948. Source:Wesley College OBU Ceylon Captain Mahadeva Sathasivam (Wesleyite) and his Australian Counterpart Donald Bradman walk cross the Oval Sports Ground in Colombo in 1948. Mahadeva Sathasivam (18 October 1915, Ceylon – 9 July 1977 in Colombo, Sri Lanka), or Satha as he was known, was the Sri Lankan cricketer whom Garry Sobers called “the greatest batsman ever on earth,” and Frank Worrell called him “the best batsman he had ever seen”.[1] Sathasivam played cricket in the 1940s through the 1960s. Sathasivam was the first, and probably the only, man to captain three national teams. He was captain of the Ceylon team in 1948, and then captain of the Singapore team, and finally captain of the Malaysian team. He was accused and acquitted of murdering his wife, which gained much ...

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140 years of cadetting at Royal-By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Source:Island (Retired from Sri Lanka Navy) Former Chief of Defence Staff A long time ago, on 01 April 1881, Royal College (then known as the Colombo Academy) in Mutwal, Principal Mr John B Cull started a School Cadet Platoon. The idea was to train students on drill so that they would be more disciplined. Mr Cull believed such students would become responsible and disciplined men when they grew up. He received unstinted support from the then British Lieutenant Governor and Commanding Officer of Ceylon Light Infantry (CLI) (Volunteers), which started in the same year and consisted of British Officers and largely Burghers as soldiers. Lieutenant Colonel John Scot Armitage was the first commander of CLI (V). Cadetting was introduced to other schools also, which included S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Trinity and Kingswood, Kandy. When World War 1 started in ...

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DIMBULA ATHLETIC AND CRICKET CLUB – (RADELLA CLUB ) Source:DIMBULA ATHLETIC AND CRICKET CLUB Sir Richard Hadlee took 8 for in Radella bowling out Sri Lanka Board Presidents IX for 98 in 1984. The Dimbula Athletic and Cricket Club (also known as the Radella Club) is a sporting club formed by British tea planters and founded in 1856. It is the oldest sporting club in Sri Lanka outside of Colombo, with activities including rugby, cricket, squash, billiards, snooker, tennis and badminton. Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox! ...

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Charles S. Braine: A Rajah of a Planter in British Ceylon-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis One of the Braine Progeny presenting an Item in the History of Ceylon Tea website, entitled “Charles Stanley Braine (1874-1944) – The Rajah of Mawatte”…. https://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/feature- Charles Stanley was born in Ceylon on 25 December 1874. He was the eldest son of Charles Frederick Braine and Adeline Mary Becher, who had married in London earlier that year. Charles Stanley Braine: rajah-of-mawatte.html Like his father, uncles, and grandfather, Charles Stanley took to planting, starting at East Holyrood Estate, Talawakelle, in 1898. After six years at this tea plantation, he moved to Mawatte Estate, a coconut plantation in the hot and humid north western province, in 1904. The reason for his move from the lush and salubrious hill country to the hot and humid NWP is not known. In fact, his father Charles Frederick had made a similar move from Dickoya ...

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eLanka Newsletter – 19th May 2024 – 6th Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter TAKING A TREK DOWN MEMORY LANE AT ST LAWRENCE’S WELLAWATTE Why Melbourne is called, “Little Ceylon” – By Harold Gunatillake The Shot Tower: a monument to British ingenuity! – By Hemantha Yapa Abeywardena Dinara Punchihewa Shines on Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30 Asia’ List: A Sri Lankan Star Leading Innovation Cricket Australia establishes Pakistan Fan Zones for all six matches Winning Sri Lanka team with supporters at Central Asian Volleyball tournament At National Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan – photo with H.E. The High Commissioner Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne Inaugural Over 70 Cricket World Cup to be played in England from 28th July 2024 to 11th August 2024 Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo 210 16 05 2024 The Brad and Kiara Show Podcast – 2024-5-18 High Tide – ...

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