“Vale’, Gypsy King” – By Des Kelly I met him for the first time, when in 1973 I visited Ceylon for the first and last time, after migrating to Australia. Sunil Perera was 21 years old, and his Dad Anton who was responsible for the organization of the Original Gypsies, including Sunil and younger brother Nalin, met me and invited me to his home in Ratmalana to audition this young Gypsies band whose main jobs at the time, were to play music. Anton Perera was indeed a remarkable father-figure. He provided Sunil, Nalin and the rest of the boys in the band, not only a spacious area in his luxurious home simply to practice their music, but also paid them each a salary to play music and become hopefully a band of renown. They had been at it, for a few months, and he now wanted me to tell ...
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DESMOND KELLY
“MUSICAL MAGIC” – By Des Kelly Another special dedication to each and every Lankan/Aussie everywhere. A big thank you to Arthur Speldewinde who forwarded this “post” knowing that, of course, I would be interested in giving this amazing video all the publicity it deserves, because of it’s musical content. Because of these unwanted, yet necessary lockdowns in large parts of Australia, people here are now really suffering various stages of depression and if, even for a few minutes, we, at e’Lanka can produce SOMETHING to cheer our friends up, I feel certain that videos like this do help. ...
Sep 4, 2021
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Tagged Arthur Speldewinde, MUSICAL MAGIC
“STORMS NEVER LAST” – By Des Kelly One of my favourite Country songs, written and composed by the beautiful Jessi Colter, and dedicated to her husband, the late great Waylon Jennings who passed on, after suffering the complications of diabetes on the 13th of February, 2002, aged 65. Waylon Jennings was one of the famous “Outlaws Quartette”, the Highwaymen, who also featured Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Like so many “Stars” of Stage and Screen of this bygone era, Waylon had three failed marriages before he met Jessie Colter. Jessie was not only beautiful, she was multi-talented as well, played piano, sang and composed great songs. When she wrote Storms Never Last, the lyrics she continued with, were, do they Waylon ?, but this had to be changed, and the word “baby” substituted, because they realized that others would want to record this ...
Sep 4, 2021
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Tagged Des Kelly, JESSI COLTER, Outlaws Quartette, STORMS NEVER LAST
“CALYPSO BAILA GREATS” – By Des Kelly He wasn’t large in stature, but he would stand there in the centre of his musical group known as the “La Ceylonians”, over-large straw hat on his head, simple open-necked shirt, with the inevitable sarong, generally worn by most Sri Lankans and barefoot, clutching either an acoustic guitar or a banjo-mandolin and singing songs, many of which he wrote himself. Noel Ranasinghe was his name, and he came into prominence in the early 60s. I did read a couple of stories about the La Ceylonians and was quite amazed to read that Noel and his group entertained audiences in many parts of the World. He actually promoted this Calypso type Baila more than several other bands did, in Ceylon at the time. ...
“A POOR POLITICIAN” – An Introduction by Des Kelly Even my title for this very interesting piece sent in by Christopher Lawton, O.A.M., to me, sounds and looks downright unbelievable. This story is one about the financial fragility of a Sri Lankan Politician of the past, very hard to believe, isn’t it ??. To my mind, a poor politician is so-called because, like em or loathe em, one has to feel sorry for them, if only for the job they choose to do, a job that I would NEVER wish to have for all the tea in China, India, Sri Lanka, in fact, the tea of all these three Countries combined. Politicians, or “Pollies” as they are affectionately known, in Australia, are not born, they are made, (elected by poor less-educated people who choose them to run the Country). 99% of them absolutely spoil it for the Character ...
Sep 3, 2021
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Tagged Mount Lavinia, Mr Navaratnarajah, Parliament, Richmond College, W.D.S. Abeygunawardena, Wijeyananda Dahanayake
“A COMEDY IN WORDS” – By Des Kelly As I have always said, English is an International language. Naturally, “words” are a large part it, words that are very serious, however, words that can also be translated, giving us some totally unrelated comedic impressions that could possibly cause a chuckle or two, just for a change. Although we do not know the name of the actual Author of “A comedy in words”, being sent to me via Ralph Baker and Keith Bennett (thank you, Ralph and Keith), I found this post very interesting, because, as our many readers will notice, ONE LETTER either added or subtracted from an official English word could go on to be a huge difference, and a funny one, at that. ...
Sep 2, 2021
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“NIKITA” – By Des Kelly Englishman, Sir Elton John has never been a favourite entertainer of mine. His antics, facial fantasies, false eye-glasses, silly hats, etcetera were a “spectacle” not really needed, as the man had an innate understanding of what music was all about, played a good piano, and even wrote some good songs, one of which was then dedicated to the Peoples’ Princess Diana, after her tragic untimely death. Incidentally, this particular song was copied by him, from his former vocal dedication to beautiful Marilyn Monroe. ...
“VACCINE VARIANTS” – By Des Kelly Call it as you may (Pfizer/Pfizert),while Pfizer “Viagra” is for the “raiser”, for Corona Virus ?, you could do worse than ask for a vaccination bearing the same proud name and reputation. Call it what you will, my preference has always been for this particular Vaccine from the very onset of this Virus, plus all variants of it that may be heading our way from wherever. I rest my case. e’Lanka’s thanks go out to both Keith Bennett and Sunny Perera (altho, even though, his article becomes a little bit “rainy”, sometimes), his name remains Sunny. To all our readers everywhere, please read this, with my compliments. Desmond Kelly (Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka. An interesting report about the Pfizert Vaccine enough to cause concerns (sent by Sunny Perera ) This is straight from the CEO of Pfizer., Albert Bourla, after generating US$33.5 Billion, this year. ...
Sep 2, 2021
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Tagged BioNTech, CORONA virus, Moderna, Pfizer, Pfizert, raiser, RNA, Viagra
“THE LAST LAUGH” OF NATURE ! – By Des Kelly The fact that a picture speaks a thousand words has never been so apparent as in this wonderful “post” sent in by my ex-Naval buddy, Chris. Lawton. Here we see Nature showing us that it too, can laugh. Enough said. Thank you Chris., for sending this in. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka. BOUNTIFUL NATURE HAS HER LAUGH TOO !! ...
Wonderful English – by Des Kelly It has long been known as the TOP International Language around the World, and it is. However, it is also a rather difficult Language to master, in as much as it’s punctuation, pronunciation and presentation is concerned (there’s THREE difficulties for a start), nevertheless, in all it’s seriousness, it certainly has it’s funny moments, as our friend Keith Bennett has pointed out, in this “post” sent out to me, which in turn, I am happy to send out to all our wonderful e’Lanka members and readers. Please read this and coax out a chuckle or three, and thank you, Keith Bennett from both Neil and old me. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) eLanka. Wonderful English from Around the World In a Bangkok Temple : IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN, EVEN A FOREIGNER, IF DRESSED AS A MAN. Cocktail lounge, Norway: LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT ...
Aug 28, 2021
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Tagged Des Kelly, Germany, International Language, Wonderful English
