Sri Lankan Expats In Australia: Types And Troubles by Kelum Wijewardena Over the years, droves of Sri Lankans have migrated to Australia, making the land Down Under home to one of the largest Sri Lankan communities outside of you know where. However, if you speak to most Sri Lankan expats here, they will unanimously state that there is no better place on the planet than Mother Lanka. The food, the people, the culture – and even the political anarchy – makes for good theatre. As Jeremy Clarkson said, there’s no better drama than reality. Conversely, most Sri Lankans living on in Lanka land have professed that they are dying to get out of the country. One could even say that there was a time when the most commonly used English letters among Lankan students in Australia was “PR.” Now it seems as if these two letters have made their way, perhaps ...

News For Seniors January 2016 click here to read News for Seniors Isue 95Jan 2016 ...

Sri Lankan Airlines ranked second in Asia and Asia-Pacific for Lowest Carbon Footprint Colombo, January 22 2016: SriLankan Airlines gained worldwide recognition for its pioneering efforts in environmental conservation when the prestigious Business Traveller magazine ranked it second among airlines in the Asia and Asia-Pacific region for having the lowest carbon footprint. The enormous region includes the Middle East, South Asia, the Far East and Asia-Pacific (Australasia), home to most of the world’s finest airlines. Ajith Dias, SriLankan Airlines’ Chairman, said: “SriLankan Airlines takes great pride in being among the best corporate citizens in our country, in both the state and private sectors, especially when it comes to sustainable practices with regard to our community, our customers, and our employees.” ...

40 of 50 world’s Blue chip Companies to invest in SL ! Sir Richard Brenson world renowned entrepreneur too to visit SL ! (Lanka-e-News -25.Jan.2016, 8.10PM) This was the first time Sri Lanka (SL) was invited to participate in this year’s World Economic Forum . At this Forum , about 50 Blue chip Companies of the world , that is 50 of the richest companies held clear and lengthy discussions in regard to SL ‘s new economic policies . The discussions proved so fruitful that about 40 of these companies have evinced their desire to invest in SL. Just as , this was the first time SL was invited to this conference, this outcome of the discussions was also the first time SL had been able to successfully convince the blue chip Companies to seek investment in SL – this is something unprecedented in SL’s history , said Malik Samarawickrema ...

Justice delayed – a common practice today Jan. 25. 2016 Archbishop Emeritus, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis’ Homily at the Red Mass organised by the Catholic Lawyers’ Associationan. A one time Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, himself a qualified lawyer said. “The independence of the Judiciary is the citadel of democracy.” This is true indeed. At a time especially when we were under the British, our Judicial network was held in very high esteem and admired even by the British. When we talk of the judiciary it is not their Lordships, the Judges of the Court that I speak of. I refer to the whole judicial structure – from the bench downwards and especially the lawyers. Unfortunately, there are some in the profession who are totally blind to the need and welfare of their clients. There was a time when we believed in the principle that ‘justice delayed ...

Nalika Padmasena has won the Premier’s Harmony Award for her outstanding work helping women suffering from family and domestic violence. Photo: Edwina Pickles For Sinhalese migrant Nalika Padmasena her work helping women from culturally diverse backgrounds to speak about domestic and family violence, helped to ease her own homesickness. ...

John Walter Bulner, born 4 February 1883, Ceylon, died 27 May 1967, Melbourne, Australia, married in Christ Church Bangkok, Siam, on 19 December 1912, Daisy Maud Jacobs, daughter of Henry Jacobs and Emima Christobel Conderlag (They returned to Ceylon, leaving Bangkok, Siam, aboard the SS Heim, on 13 September 1919. YOUR  MOTHER  BORN  IN  SIAM,  YOU’RE  KIDDING!! Can anyone throw more light on the Burghers who went to Siam in the early nineteenth century. The majority of them returned to Ceylon, whilst a handful stayed back. About 1906-08, the King of Siam (remember ‘Anna & The king of Siam – well he’s the one), advertised in the Colonies for staff to work on the Royal Siamese Railways and manage the many Saw Mills around the country. Siam, was a British Protectorate and never a colony. A number of adventurous Ceylonese (most of them Burghers, from the information I have), ventured ...

The World’s Tallest Statues Statues are built as celebrations of gods, historical events and important personalities. The tallest reach the sky and make you take notice of what they are commemorating. They are also works of art, and some have taken years to build. Here are some of the grandest ones ever built. Statue of Liberty, USA The Statue of Liberty is the shortest statue on this list, at just 151 feet tall. However she gains height due to her 154 foot pedestal. The statue depicts the Roman goddess of freedom Libertas, and was a gift to the United States from France in 1886. Ten Directions Pu Xian Buddha, China This dramatic gold colored 157 foot statue of the Buddha Samantabhadra can be found on Sichuan province’s Mount Emei. Sodoshima Dai-Kannon, Japan This impressive landmark in Kagawa Prefecture, houses several prayer halls, an elevator, and an observation deck. This 164-foot ...

Former Sri Lanka bowler Chaminda Vaas is to help Ireland prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in India as a consultant bowling coach, Cricket Ireland announced on Thursday. The 41-year-old will link up with Ireland next month and remain with the squad until the end of the tournament, which runs from March 8 to April 3. “I’m very excited to be joining the backroom staff of the Ireland team,” Vaas said in a Cricket Ireland press release. “There’s a lot of talent and experience in the squad which I’m confident I can add to.” Left-armer Vaas took a total of 755 wickets in his 111 Tests and 322 one-day internationals and boasts the best figures by any bowler in limited-overs internationals — 8-19 against Zimbabwe in December 2001. Since retiring he has worked as a bowling consultant for New Zealand and Sri Lanka, as well as coaching in the ...

Bridges for Vacation Would YOU dare to walk along these? The most TERRIFYING bridges on earth revealed If you are afraid of heights you may wish to steer clear of Aiguille Du Midi in the Alps with its 9,200 ft drop If you wish to experience the breathtaking panoramas of the mountainous Ai-Petri region on the southeastern coast of Crimea, you must first brave the wooden bridges that tower over vast ravines Stomach-jolting: You have to have nerves of steel to risk death or serious injury when you take on one of the world’s most dangerous trails – Mount Hua in China. It features stomach-churning drops, vertical ascents, steep staircases and narrow walkways, with only a small chain to cling onto. One way of getting across the Hunza River in the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan is by the rickety Hussaini bridge, which consists of various pieces of wood strapped horizontally ...