The TSUNAMI Hit on Sri Lanka, 26 December 2004 on Video & Camera-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis The Video is courtesy of Felix Sirimanne and apart from its awesome pictorial display indicates that 35,322 lives were lost. All of us will be aware of friends or acquaintances whose sojourn on earth was rudely obliterated on that day…. For my part I deploy this recollection of a sad moment to doff my cap to Sujeeva Kamalasuriya, a young man who represented Sri Lanka in its Under 19 tour of Australia in the 1980s and then migrated to Adelaide where he was part of out Lankan cricketing circle. He was holdiaying at Unawatuna near Galle …. as it happens one of my favourite spots for snorkelling from years past to the present — when the tsunami hit and swallowed his life. ...
Michael Roberts
Two New Cricket Captains for Sri Lanka-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Item in The Island, 31 December 2023 ….. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi Dasun Shanaka’s reign as Sri Lanka’s white-ball captain has come to an end as Sri Lanka’s new selection committee appointed Kusal Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga to lead the ODI and T20I sides, respectively. With Dimuth Karunaratne currently leading the Test side, this is the first time Sri Lanka have three different captains in the three formats. Shanaka first captained Sri Lanka in 2019, on the team’s first tour to Pakistan since the 2009 Lahore attack, but it was not until 2021 that he became their regular captain. Under him, Sri Lanka won 23 out of 41 ODIs and 22 out of 48 T20Is. The highlight of his tenure was the 2022 T20 Asia Cup victory in the UAE where Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the final. Also notable were ODI series wins against South ...
Jan 1, 2024
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Akila Dananjaya, Angelo Mathews, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Binura Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Charith Asalanka (vc), Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Dilshan Madushanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Pathum Nissanaka, Pramod Madushan, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Wanindu Hasaranga (c)
People Inbetween: Ethnic & Class Prejudices in British Ceylon-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Michael Roberts …. presenting a talk which he delivered at the National Trust in Colombo in June 2018 following a brief to the effect that he should present motifs from the book People Inbetween. The Burghers and the Middle Class in the Transformations within Sri Lanka, 1790-1960s, (Ratmalana, Sarvodaya Book Publishing Services, 1989) and more specifically its first chapter viz. “Pejorative Phrases: The Anti-colonial Response and Sinhala Perceptions of the Self through Images of the Burghers.” Many think People Inbetween is a history of the Burghers. Not so. It is multi-faceted. It describes (a) the rise of the middle class in British times, an influential force within which the Burghers were a critical element and a vanguard in the questioning of British rule; (b) the initial strands in the development of Ceylonese nationalism and (c) the development of Colombo into a metropolitan hub that became the island’s hegemonic ...
Dec 31, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Alakēsvara yuddhaya, Michael Roberts, Sandadas Coperahewa
Overlordship & Land Adjudication in the NCP of Lanka in the Recent Past-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Professor Amarasiri De Silva in Book Review in Daily Mirror, 27 December 2023, of Lokubanda Tillakaratne: Rata Sabhawa of Nuwarakalaviya – Judicature in a Princely Province: An Ethnographical and Historical Reading, 2023, 322 pages, ISBN 9798218157654, …. with highlights imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi In antiquity, Sri Lankan Kings wielded authority not only as sovereigns, but also as architects of legal frameworks and systems of justice. Their edicts [were] often articulated verbally or inscribed on enduring rock surfaces, [and] gave rise to fields of law and administration that permeated the kingdom. However, the distant corners of the country, secluded from the immediate influence of royal decrees, presented a different reality. In these remote locales, such as the recesses of Nuwarakalaviya and its adjoining districts, the radiance of a royal fiat could wane, losing significance inversely proportional to the distance from the central authority. ...
Dec 29, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Lokubanda Tillakaratne, Michael Roberts
Sri Lankan Cricket Team’s Test Matches vs Netherlands and vs Denmark in 1975-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Sri Lanka did not secure ICC cricket status till mid-1981. An important step in the progress towards this entitlement was the tour of England in mid-1975 with KMT Perera as Manager and Anura Tennekoon as skipper. The details of this tourcan be found in Michael Roberts & Alfred James: Crosscurrents. Sri Lanka and Australia at Cricket, Sydney, Walla Walla Press & Mobitel, 1998, pp. 88-94. Seated l-to-r David Heyn, Anura Tennekoon, KMT Perera. Mihael Tissera, Ranjit Fernando Standing l-to-r Duleep Mendis, Lalith Kaluperuma, Sunil Wettimuny, Tony Opatha, HSM Pieris, DS de Silva, Dennis Chanmugam, Anura Ranasinghe, Bandula Warnapura What is little known, however, is the fact that the same squad played two Test Matches …. Yes, Test Matches …. against the Netherlands and against Denmark as a tack-on after the exacting ODI games in England. This aspect of the tour ...
Dec 27, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Anura Ranasinghe, Bandula Warnapura, Dennis Chanmugam, Ds De silva, Duleep Mendis, HSM Pieris, Lalith Kaluperuma, Sunil Wettimuny, Tony Opatha
Thomian Cricketers in Cricketing Hurrah at the SSC in Colombo, 17 December 2023-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Mevan Pieris … whose article has received highlighting emphasis from The Editor, Thuppahi The historic lunch of Thomian legends held at the SSC in Colombo on the 17th December 2023 was hosted by the Rudra brothers of whom Ravi Rudra residing in New Zealand is a livewire who has reminisced a lot on athletics and cricket recently. His research is praiseworthy. Of those who attended the lunch the Tissera brothers were the oldest. Vernon Tissera opened batting for STC in 1949, and at 90 years was a delight to have with us. I was invited to speak, and mentioned that I entered STC in 1954, after two enchanting years at Ladies College, not to mention a few naughty stories I related. ...
Dec 27, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged David Ponniah, Duleep Mendis, Michael Roberts, Sarath Seneviratne, Thomian cricketers, Vernon Tissera
A Suppository FOR An Innocent’s Arse in England-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis A Suffering Ignoramus About half a century back I was driving with my wife to Bath when I found myself struggling to breathe. We drove immediately to the Bath hospital where I joined the Emergency queue. The same problem persisted: fit and well but couldn’t breathe! I quickly saw that the others in the queue were far worse off than I was. One had a deep gash in his neck; another a badly wounded arm, etc, etc. My non-breathing was trivial to everyone except myself! After a long wait, a young nurse called my name out and asked me to follow her. She led me into a room, closed the door and immediately asked me to remove my trousers and lie on the bed. Let me tell you what I did NOT say to her. “Excuse me, I’m not sure what you ...
X’mas Gatherings: Thomian Cricket Legends and Dilmah Plantation Execs-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Dilmah Night of Plantation Veterans” .. …. in The Island, 24 December 2023… with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi Jayantha, Anura & Vernon Anura Gunasekera The elegant Dutch Burgher Union premises was the venue for the annual Planters’ Christmas Dinner, hosted by Dilmah, following a tradition set in place in 2017 by its patriarch, the late Merrill J Fernando. A man with a life-long passion for Pure Ceylon Tea, which contributed much to the success of Dilmah, the hosting of this gathering was his way of honouring the contribution to the industry made by the men, often convenientl Malik, the late Merrill’s eldest, graciously welcomed the guests. Whilst thanking all planters, past and present, for their contribution to the industry, he also spoke of the enduring association between Ceylon Tea, its plantations, and the hospitality industry, emphasizing that the ...
Dec 26, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Anura Gunasekera, Bathiya Jayaratne, Jayantissa Ratwatte, Thomian Cricket Legends
Cricket Crazy Cricket in the Caribbean-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Michael Roberts: Histrionic Hitting by Harry Brooks in the 20h over by Eric Russell secures a Magical Win for England against the Windies in the Third 20-over ODI at St. Georges, 16 December 2023 Note the ‘steps END OF OVER 1910 runs ENG: 202/3CRR: 10.63 • RRR: 21.00 • Need 21 runs from THE LAST OVER .END OF OVER 19 10 runs ENG: 202/3CRR: 10.63 • RRR: 21.00 • Need 21 runs from 6 balls 19.1 Russell to Brook, SIX runs HARRY BROOK! Sharp, full, outside off and punished right over extra cover! That might be the shot of the day, and what a time to play it! 17 needed off 5 19.2 Russell to Brook, SIX runs …… Another one! Russell tries to follow Brook to the leg side but ends up serving up a rank full toss that is just helped over fine leg! 19.2 12 needed off 4 …………. Russell to Brook, 2 runs ……Short, straight, Brook pulls out to midwicket and calls two early. Salt obliges ...
Dec 20, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged Michael Roberts, Nicholas Pooran
The Old and the New: In Memoriam, David Hookes-by Michael Roberts Source:Cricketique Michael Roberts, from the Baggy Green, by Bernard Whimpress, 2016, Comment: On 25 March 2001 a public memorial service paid homage to Sir Donald Bradman after a full lifetime innings capping his monumental record as batsman and captain on the cricket field. On 27 January 2004 a public memorial service honoured David Hookes’ memory after his cameo innings in life was prematurely terminated before a half-century was reached. Bradman’s memoriam marked the passing of the old century, the twentieth century. Hookes and his memoriam signalled the new, the twenty-first century. Hookes’ bat and his Redbacks Cap marked his last hurrah in home ground The generational contrast was also inscribed in the style of each memorial moment. The public service to Bradman was a traditional Christian service held in St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral abutting the Adelaide Oval and almost part of it ...
Dec 20, 2023
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Articles, Michael Roberts
Tagged David William Hookes, Michael Roberts, Sir Donald Bradman
