With India on the rise Sri Lanka can only rue the lost opportunities! By Aubrey Joachim Another Indian – Ajay Banga, former CEO of Mastercard has been nominated by President Joe Biden to head the World Bank. This gentleman joins a cabal of Indians who lead the world’s most prestigious organisations from Microsoft to Google, IBM to Cognizant. In fact, 27 of the world’s most successful companies are headed by Indians. This is only the top tier. Thousands more are waiting in the wings. Some of these foreign educated young professional types are also running India Inc. Most of India’s States are run and managed by foreign educated, experienced middle aged technocrats. The cabinets of some of the States reads like a who’s who of Harvard, Stanford or Wharton. It is not therefore a surprise that today India has emerged at the top of the changing world order. It is ...
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Aubrey Joachim
Sri Lanka’s entertainment scene comes of age …… By: Aubrey Joachim Despite the economic doom and gloom, power cuts, political uncertainties and external creditors playing hard ball the resilience of Sri Lankans is on full display. Not only do the hotels seem thriving with partying and dining clientele but even world class water parks are being opened in the outskirts of the capital. Such fanfare would not be on display in other countries languishing the similar credit rating index as Sri Lanka. What is most heartening to see is how the country’s arts and entertainment sector is literally taking centre stage with seemingly not a care in the world. In recent years the boom in reality shows has resulted in an entirely new generation of Lankan talent emerging from every corner of the island. In addition, the digital platforms have seen such talent flaunting their capabilities across the world and ...
Jan 28, 2023
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Tagged Derena, Derena Dream Star, Fallan Andrea Jansen, Nuwandhika Senaratne
The Sri Lankan crisis – Listen to this excellent analysis by a distinguished Lankan (Introduction by Aubrey Joachim) Dear All, Things have been quiet for some time on this forum. Hopefully the audience is not waning in their interest in what is happening back home. Some would falsely hope that things are getting better. Over the last few months I have shared my views on the situation. Thank you to all those whom I personally meet at various Sri Lankan events who have commended my insights and encouraged me to keep them appraised of the ongoing situation. Today I’d like to share with you a very insightful presentation by an eminent Old Anandian – Thilan Wijesinghe (investment Banker, Economist, test cricketer etc. etc.). This is a MUST listen. Although it is a bit long it is compelling and gripping listening. He speaks in excellent English – to an Anandian audience ...
Nov 9, 2022
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Tagged Anandian, Aubrey Joachim, Sri Lankan crisis, Sri Lankan Events, Thilan Wijesinghe
When discretion is discretionary – the choices in Sri Lanka. – By Aubrey Joachim Pub patronage in the UK is on the decline. Fans at ice hockey and softball games in Canada are declining. Marks and Spencer the leading British high street brand is planning store closures going forward. Instead British drinkers are opting to stay at home and watch their sport on streaming services, so too are the Canadians. People are opting to stretch their wardrobes further rather than indulge in the latest fashion trends. As global inflation marches unabated people are cutting down on discretionary spend. Of course some habits die hard. Last night the Lyceum theatre in London was packed for its umpteenth performance of Lion King. At the end of the curtain-call the lead actor appealed to the audience to contribute generously to support starving children across the globe. Discretion certainly spans a broad spectrum. Discretion ...
Sydney Peterites do it in style and with finesse! – By Aubrey Joachim Photos thanks to RoyGrafix We at eLanka have added the full set of photos to eLanka Facebook page – Please click here to view the full album of photos! The Old Peterites in New South Wales joined colleagues around the globe who have been, and will be, celebrating the centenary of their alma mater throughout this year when they put on The SPC Centenary Winter Ball at the Pioneer Room of the Castle Grand on Saturday 27th August. And, what an event it was! The party will long be remembered as the best dance that Sydney has seen. The planners had gone through meticulous detail to ensure that the guest experience was unique from beginning to end. Guests stepped out of the elevator to have their pictures taken in front of the centenary façade and then walked ...
Sep 24, 2022
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Tagged eLanka, Neomal de Alwis, Old Peterites, Sydney Peterites, The SPC Centenary Winter Ball
The Queen is dead. Long Live the King! – By Aubrey Joachim Many of us were born in a country whose Head of State then was Queen Elizabeth II. Ceylon was still a fully-fledged member of the Commonwealth with a Governor General her resident representative in Colombo. In fact the Queen visited Ceylon the year I was born and many would have seen pictures of her Majesty visiting the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. We now live in a country whose Head of State is still the British Monarch. The British Monarchy has existed for over a 1200 years. During this period 61 monarchs have worn the crown. As head of the Commonwealth the Queen was connected to 54 independent nations 14 of whom still have the British Monarch as their Head of State. All of these countries were at some stage a part of the British Empire – the heydays ...
Sep 9, 2022
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Tagged Buckingham Palace, Ceylon, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, King Charles, QUEEN, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Britain, Queen visited Ceylon, The British Monarchy
An euphoric end, beginning of a long road to recovery – By Aubrey Joachim Saddam Hussein crept out of a hole in the ground like a scared rabbit when he was finally captured. Muammar Gaddafi was found hiding in the sewers of Tripoli like a sewer rat. Hitler finally took his own life in a Berlin bunker alongside his partner Eva Braun and his dog. This is the fate that befell once powerful men – despots and dictators – who ruled with iron fists but sadly destroyed their countries and left their subjects in misery for long years. On July 9th the entire global Sri Lankan diaspora were glued to social media and Youtube following the fast moving drama that was unfolding in their motherland. More than a million citizens were showing the world how a peaceful revolution could topple even a mighty ruler and a dynasty. While it took ...
Jul 12, 2022
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Tagged Muammar Gaddafi, Saddam Hussein, Sri Lankan
Any ‘System Change’ must occur at the grassroots level – By Aubrey Joachim The resounding cry coming out of the Aragalaya is the need for a ‘system change’. This resonating cry which emanated from social media groups as well as the youth at the Gogotagama protest sites has also permeated the chamber of parliament. Various lawmakers are throwing the phrase helter skelter on the floor of the house in an effort to gain political advantage. But what really is the ‘system change’ that is expected? It is almost certain that each of various groups clamouring for such a change have in their minds a different understanding of the outcome and most likely a narrow version which suits their own narrative and perspective. The most likely perception of the aragalaya proponents is a change in the system of politics and governance that has seemingly led to the worst political ...
May 26, 2022
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Tagged Aubrey Joachim, Ceylon, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, political system, System Change
First cut is the deepest! – By Aubrey Joachim The magician has spoken. However, he did not pull any rabbits out of a hat. Instead he slashed the body of the damsel (in distress). Is it an illusion or will he be able to put her back and will she rise out of the façade? The newly appointed Prime Minister has spoken to the nation. The message was crisp, clear and succinct. The situation is grave. The patient is on life support. Sri Lankans will face hardships that they have never faced in their lives over the next few months. The stages of recovery will take time. If the patient comes out of life support it will progress through intensive care, critical care and a long period of hospitalisation before some modicum of recovery happens. A mere few months of hardships is the height of optimism. It seems more ...
May 17, 2022
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Tagged Air Ceylon, Aragalaya, critical period for Sri Lanka, foreign money, IMF, medicines, Olympic Airways, petrol, South African Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines, Sri Lankan government, UK rail system
Junk awash in tsunami hit Sri Lanka. What the future holds for the nation and its people. – By Aubrey Joachim On Boxing Day 2004 Sri Lanka was hit by the massive Indian Ocean tsunami. Over 31 thousand persons were confirmed dead, over 4 thousand were missing and some 21 thousand were injured. There was massive damage to property and the images of death, destruction and junk still haunt Sri Lankans’ memories. A little over 17 years on the ‘teardrop isle’ has been hit by an even bigger tsunami in the form of a wave of debt and destruction. This time the resulting junk is the status of Sri Lanka and its central and commercial banks littered across the global financial markets landscape. Even its airline is not spared. Just like the 2004 tsunami which started thousands of kilometres away before crashing into the island as a destructive wall ...
May 5, 2022
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Tagged Boxing Day 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami, Sri Lanka
