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Capt Elmo Jayawardena

RATMALANA – in Emperor’s New Clothes – by Capt Elmo Jayawardena A few days ago, I read in the papers that Sri Lanka has opened another International Airport (RML) at Ratmalana on the 27th of March. There was a photograph too, the arrival of the first plane, a Maldivian Airline Dash-8, twin turboprop 50-seater that flew from Velana Airport in Hululle to Ratmalana. The aeroplane was welcomed with arches of water canon salutes created by the fire engines of the Airport Fire Brigade. There were Kandyan dancers in attendance too plus a VVIP contingent to celebrate the opulent opening of the new International Airport. Of course, the day’s fanfare cost millions, that is what the newspapers said.    Ratmalana (RML) Airport has a remarkable history. It began its life as a cleared grass patch of 600 sq. feet which had galvanized roofing sheds on the side which was the terminal. ...

Apr 4, 2022 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , , ,
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 Mokata Matters by Capt Elmo Jayawardena We have enough and more  good articles in the newspapers. Of course, some could be a bit warped and wrongly presented for ‘politically correct’ reasons. Some others are sterling in the quality of journalism. All these collectively wise us to what happened and what happens and what may happen in our Paradise.  We are well aware that certain political godfathers do dominate some parts of what is reported in Sri Lanka (same with many other so-called first world ‘holier-than-thou’ countries.) Journalistic souls do get pawned off and on at times and we do get to read ‘magic from the mud’. Culprits from the worst dungeons of corruption prop out as the ‘white-painted’ sepulchres with only the harp and the halo missing. But there is a lot of honesty too, ‘brave hearts’ who pen the truth without mincing words. Everything depends on what newspaper we ...

Feb 19, 2022 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , , ,
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Gas Maaru Pethi Choru by Capt. Elmo Jayawardena When I was a kid, (which was a very long time ago), I grew up in the serenity of an old style Moratuwa. The western border of the town was the beautiful beach and the eastern, the picture-perfect Bolgoda that emptied to the sea from the southern extreme that demarcated Panadura. To the North was the Ratmalana International Airport where one could hear the whine of big propeller engines as they revved up to take off to faraway places, mind you, intercontinental, their tails painted in brilliant colours depicting the then giants of aviation, KLM, BOAC and TWA.             As for Moratuwa the biggest event the town enjoyed was the “big match” in March, “Battle of the Golds”. Then there was a gentlemen’s election crusade between the Fernando opponents, Merril and Ruskin, vying for a place as to who should represent us ...

Dec 18, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , ,
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Somebody stole my Christmas by Capt. Elmo Jayawardena Christmas is special, rather very special.  Everybody looks forward to Christmas. Silent nights and silver bells, mistletoe and pine smells, all wrapped up in wishes and kisses and the hugs and gifts that are so very special at Christmas time.  Looking forward to Christmas is a world wide phenomenon; the mighty and the humble, the rich and the poor, the holy, the unholy and the super unholy, they all await the yuletide. The “haves” revel and the “have-nots” scramble. Yet a celebration is made, no matter how small the purse is or how light the coins jingle in one’s pocket.       I always look forward to Christmas. It’s such a beautiful time. There is always something wonderful about that season. To a point it is imaginary. To be enjoyed more in prospect than in reality. Yet, it is something to look forward ...

Dec 18, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged ,
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Sri Lankans – for better or for worse By Capt Elmo Jayawardena     I wrote some articles to the newspapers mainly about Sri Lankan matters and the political climate after Nandikadal. It was just to share my humble thoughts on where we should be heading in search of peace. Many acknowledged my line of thinking, and some asked me why I do not write something about aviation? Not a bad idea, considering I have been around aeroplanes for more than fifty years. But I did wonder who would want to know how I landed through a snow- laden sky in Alaska or how I flew over the Golden Gate Bridge on my way from San Francisco to Hong Kong? At best, it could all be a bit on the boring side. Yes, I do have some unbelievable fairy tales to relate of times I flew VVIPs for Air Lanka, ...

Dec 9, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , ,
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Rata Yana Grandmothers By Capt Elmo Jayawardena     Remember the bygone years! Daughters got married and became pregnant a few rounds more than the current rate. The average production line extended to a foursome. Some even went further, “A” team types and came close to two-digit figures of adding new inhabitants to walk the planet. Today the story is different. “One is enough, and he will get all we have,” is quite a common comment and a few over-step the planned reproduction limitations purely by accident and reach the second round. Either way the count is kept low relative to the statistics of the previous generations. Thank God. Let’s make a few comparisons, I do recall the yesteryear, same show, as common as grass blades. The drum major of a mother-in-law invaded and took over the whole show, lock stock and cradle. Of course, she did not come alone ...

Nov 9, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , , ,
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NADAGAMKARAYO – by Capt Elmo Jayawardena Some days ago a fellow Captain dropped in to see us at home. He was accompanied by his wife. Amidst the light conversation and pleasant chatter they mentioned NADAGAMKARAYO. Swore it was a great teledrama and that we should give a go at it. I have never watched teledramas simply because I don’t have the time to sit in front of a TV. The same goes for my wife, ultra-busy with our own dramas in life. Somehow the next day we got a break from a tight timetable and went to YouTube and watched Episode 1 of Nadagamkarayo. Then we watched Episode 2 and then 3 and 4 and 5. Now after two weeks we are at Episode 184 and well set on Nadagamkarayo to light-up our evenings. I called a dear friend. I know his taste. By profession he is the Head Honcho ...

Oct 26, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , , ,
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“The JAFFNA” and the Bird Aeroplanes by Capt Elmo Jayawardena Some years ago, I was writing a book for the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka. They were commemorating 100 years of aviation in our skies. I was collecting information from every possible source, from people who remembered and from people who had heard aviation stories of yester-year that had connections to Ceylon. That’s when I came to know of ‘The Jaffna,’ which sure has its own fascinating story. The year was 1915. A group of Jaffna Tamil people who had migrated to Malaya, takes the lead role to relate an unusual tale about a British Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C.) fighter plane that carried a Sri Lankan name. Native people of countries conquered by the British Empire were called to serve the war effort against Germany. Many joined and saw action both on land and sea. Efforts were also made ...

Oct 5, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , , , ,
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A Literary appreciation of the “Commando Regiment” – by Capt Elmo Jayawardena A Literary appreciation of the “Commando Regiment” When the presentation of the book is excellent, a prospective reader would be encouraged to see what is inside. That is where the Colonel won his first round. I will jump over the Author’s writing and talk about the Foreword to the book. It is written by Major General Lalin Fernando. What he wrote reminded me of a similar sentiment I read years ago by Jean-Paul Sartre for the eternally popular ‘Wretched of the Earth’ by Frantz Fanon. General Fernando’s Foreword gives the essence of the story reduced in size but done with military precision.  I wasn’t varnishing anything when I linked Sartre and Fanon to the commando book. Now I come to the photos. The ‘man of the match’ is there, The Colonel, and he is flanked by another Colonel and ...

Oct 2, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , ,
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IT’S ALL DONE UPSTAIRS by Capt.Elmo Jayawardena I drove aeroplanes for a living. I drove 747s for Singapore Airlines, probably the best airline in the world at that time. It was a great life. Better than most that I can think of. Fly a beautiful big jet from continent to continent, live in the best of hotels all expenses paid, see the world on Company account. The icing was always the home lifestyle. As good as it can be and better than most. Gave my wife and children a very decent comfortable life. They ask me how I made it to the top of my profession? They often ask me how I became a pilot? They ask me what university I attended and what degrees I read? There is humour when I think of the answers. Kind of makes me laugh. I went to school for twelve years. This cost ...

Sep 20, 2021 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged ,
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