Truths Everyone Forgets Too Soon You know how you can hear something a hundred times in a hundred different ways before it finally gets through to you? The ten truths listed below fall firmly into that category – life lessons that many of us likely learned years ago, and have been reminded of ever since, but for whatever reason, haven’t fully grasped. This, my friends, is my attempt at helping all of us, myself included, “get it” and “remember it” once and for all… 1. The average human life is relatively short. We know deep down that life is short, and that death will happen to all of us eventually, and yet we are infinitely surprised when it happens to someone we know. It’s like walking up a flight of stairs with a distracted mind, and misjudging the final step. You expected there to be one more stair than there ...

Health and Views 2016 January 3rd Issue Click here to read more Health & Views January 3rd issue ...

A cut above the rest: Stunning drone photographs capture the new Seven Wonders of the World like you’ve never seen them before By Becky Pemberton For Mailonline: 17:02 GMT, 21 December 2015 A group of enthusiastic drone photographers have shot a series of stunning images high above the new Seven Wonders of the World. AirPano, a Russian-based photography group, spent years travelling to attractions including the Great Wall of China, Petra, the Roman Colosseum and Machu Picchu. The breathtaking panoramic shots highlight the grandness and splendour of the timeless locations, which were selected via a process that received more than 100 million votes. +Swirling clowds surround the iconic Christ The Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, just one of the new Seven Wonders of the World AirPano, a Russian-based photography group, spent years travelling to the likes of Chichen Itza in Mexico to capture the new list ...

THE WAY WE WERE… S. Skandakumar The year was 1965. At the conclusion of our traditional big match versus St Thomas’, the Royal team was summoned by the Principal and told that reciprocal matches had been initiated with schools in Jaffna and as a first step, the school’s cricket team was to proceed over the weekend, for an encounter with St. John’s College. So a team of 14 players, comprising of a Muslim captain, ten Sinhalese, two Tamils and one Burgher bundled into the Yal Devi the following Thursday, and arrived at the Jaffna railway station to a truly warm reception. Over the next two days we played some fascinating cricket before an unprecedented and enthusiastic crowd. A challenging declaration by our captain, on the second day, in the true spirit of the game, left the Johnians around 140 runs to make from 20 overs. Their talented players rose to ...

Political Fortunes of a Few Before the Welfare of the Nation There are lessons to learn from D.B. Wijetunga The first twelve months of the Sirisena Presidency by Malinda Seneviratne Sirisena Cooray, who could be called the Basil Rajapaksa or Gotabaya Rajapaksa of the Ranasinghe Premadasa era, once related an interested story. He was speaking at a time when Mahinda Rajapaksa was President and seemingly invincible. He was speaking about the decisions that had to be made immediately after President Premadasa was assassinated. The following is the gist. ...

Annual social game Young Adults vs Young at Heart Organised by The Instant Cricketers For TheYAYAH Challenge Shield (Written by – Jon K) Many years ago, 28 to be precise, a young man in Homebush in his early thirties in conjunction with a few other like minded souls, decided to organise a ‘friendly’ cricket match between a number of Sri Lankans, who loved the sport but could not commit to the rigours of playing every week-end. . Out of this endeavour was born the ‘Instant Cricketers’. He, who is also one of the “face less” men behind the NSW & ACT Royal OBA hierarchy, then decided to dedicate the rest of his lifetime in pursuit of organising cricket matches between all and sundry. Office work became an unnecessary hindrance to his main calling and vocation. Luckily for him over the years all his bosses have tolerated his lack of work ...

Caption – Australia Gateway Immigration Law Specialist Don Susantha Katugampola – Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Australia – Telmo Languiller MP Migration Opportunities In Australia Have Benefited Over 100,000 Sri Lankans – Australia Gateway Australia is the second home to over 100,000 Sri Lankans who had benefitted tremendously on almost every measure of excellence, from health to wealth, from success in business to educational attainment, says Sri Lanka’s leading Australian Immigration Law Specialist – Don Susantha Katugampola of Australia Gateway. “Out of these 100,000 Sri Lankans majority live in Melbourne, which clinched top spot for the fifth year in a row on the prestigious World’s Most Livable Cities List 2015. Join your family and friends and feel at home right here in Australia,” said Katugampola at Australia Gateway Open Day 2016 held on January 9, 2016. Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Australia – Telmo Languiller MP who was ...

Electoral Reforms We propose that the existing system be altogether removed and a new procedure adopted., This is in keeping with the thinking that the manape system has caused severe disruption in society Although it is acknowledged that the proportional system is the best that reflects the mandate of the people it is admitted that such a systemsometimesprevents  voters electing a representative to represent their electorate.  So a blend of past the post and proportional system is suggested It is also found that the appointment of nationals list members have been badly abused. It was meant to pave the way for the appointment of persons of eminence who would not face the hustle of contesting  to adorn parliament  We are totally opposed to any increase in the number of MP’s to be appointed Sri Lanka is a small country and 225 member parliament is quite adequate and  satisfactory  As a ...

by Josephian Health writer Sweet potatoes are a particular type of potatoes from the same order as regular ones with the difference that they are part of different species and a different family. You can find sweet potatoes in a variety of colors. The most frequently found are the ones with white-cream and yellow-orange color. There are also sweet potatoes with purple flesh and they are extremely abundant in antioxidants. The most important thing about them is that they have excellent nutritional values. 15 Nutritious Facts 1. Sweet potatoes contain carotenoids which help in producing Vitamin A. This vitamin regenerates the respiratory system. So, people with respiratory problems, especially smokers should consume sweet potatoes more often. 2. Sweet potatoes are an excellent choice for diabetics since they contain natural sugars that decrease and stabilize the insulin resistance in diabetics. They are also good for the regulation of the sugar levels. ...