“REMEMBERING SIRIMA” – By Des Kelly Coming to me from a close friend in London, Jude Goonawardane, is the tragic story of Sirima, a lesser known Sri Lankan Artiste, actually a classmate of his brother, who did not get the chance of being better-known, simply because of the innate jealousy of her partner who brutally ended her life, before she even had the chance to tread the boards of Showbiz to the fullest. It is a sad story folks, but coming from a man who “keeps tracks” of each & every Musician, Band, Group, in fact, what he does not know about every Lankan Entertainer, past & present, is not worth knowing, I have decided that all eLanka readers around the World should get their chance to know Sirima just that little bit better. ...
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DESMOND KELLY
“THE RIVERS OF OLD CEYLON” – By Des Kelly We speak and write so much about this lovely Island that so many of us still call home, it seems reasonable enough to add to the list of attractions, “The Rivers Of Old Ceylon”, mentioned above. I always refer to my Motherland as Ceylon, simply because I think that this is the prettiest name, from many others she was called, over the years. The tourist attractions that Sri Lanka has,(when people are able to move around again), are far too numerous to mention, but this article that came to me via Victor Melder, who needs absolutely no introduction to us Ceylonese or Sri Lankan, brought back so many vivid memories, I just had to share it with our eLanka members. ...
Oct 23, 2020
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Tagged Belilena Cave, Gangaramaya Temple, KUMAR SANGAKKARA, Mahela Jayawardena
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“Our World is such a small place” – By Des Kelly “DILEEPA PODI PUTHU” Lyrics & Music:- Clarence Wijewardena “Cover Version”- Lohan Samaratunga How many times have we heard this phrase ?. This is a very special Sri Lankan song, composed by the late, great Clarence Wijewardena to portray the loving relationship between Father & Son, and now, many years later, what I think is a beautiful “cover” version of this song,done by Lohan Samaratunga, for his Dad, Kirthi, is a video that I felt would be appreciated by all our eLanka members & readers around the World. What was even more surprising to me, is that Kirthi Samaratunga is the Son of a certain Lieut.Comdr. Samaratunga of the Royal Ceylon Navy during the 1950 era, that I served under, so now, here am I, nearly 60 years later listening to his grandson singing on you-tube. ...
Oct 21, 2020
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Tagged Kirthi Samaratunga, Lohan Samaratunga
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CICERO’S COMMENT – By Des Kelly Source:Factsanddetails Once again, they say “you live & learn”. Marcus Cicero (43BC) of the Roman Empire, wrote these amazing words of wisdom. I would like to pass this Sarstharakaraya’s message onto each & every member of eLanka in (2020 AD) in the hope that THEY will live & learn from it. BTW, this little beauty of a “post”was sent to FB by Dal de Rozairo, a Burger from Ceylon then, Sri Lanka now, to The Burgher Connection with a touch of Madness (and sometimes, more than a touch of it) I’m afraid. Anyway, cut the chatter Des.,and let’s get down to it. ...
Oct 16, 2020
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Tagged Dal de Rozairo, Marcus Cicero
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Juggler like no other – By Des Kelly She certainly is. An amazing performer, if ever there was one. Also brings back memories of another “Circus-Girl” I knew, back in the 50’s. Donavan Andree booked them to tour Ceylon, and I was lucky enough to join this group in a show titled Continental Non-stop Revue, & toured Ceylon with them. The Juggler/Contortionist in this show was an English beauty-rose whose name was Lily. This is another story for eLanka, another time, but I do wish we could have featured this Juggler like no other on our Revue. ...
“THE OLD C.G.R.” – By Des Kelly I remember the old poem Anguru kaka, watura bibi, kolomba dhuwana yakada yaka, very well. It seems like yesterday, really, and brings back many memories of the old Steam Trains, the Moratuwa Railway Station, a mere stone’s throw away from where I lived, as a toddler, where these magnificent Steam Trains used to have their bellies filled with water from the huge steel tanks (pictured), via equally huge rubber hoses, then, especially as it was just getting dark, we would hear the distinct whistle, as the train driver indicated that he was leaving the Station. Brother Ian was about a year old, and I was just four in 1940, when we were treated to a “firework-show” at eventide each evening, when, out of it’s main smoke turret at the front of the engine, a shower of sparks would burst forth, giving us a ...
Oct 11, 2020
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Tagged Mahil Wijesinghe, the Moratuwa Railway Station
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Life in the Australian Army – By Des Kelly Hi folks, this hilarious little account of Life in the Army was sent to me by one of my friends, who also thrives on good comedic material. Arthur Speldewinde, needs no introduction at all, especially to us Burgher buggers from Ceylon then, Sri Lanka, now. I had to share this true story with thousands of eLanka members and readers, all over the World. This is, as I often say, on FB. etcerera, “Especially for you”. Please read it and have a bit of a chuckle. Desmond Kelly. (Editor-in-Chief) eLanka. ...
Oct 7, 2020
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Tagged Doug and Phil, Romagna
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“COMEDY IS” – By Des Kelly Just a short while to go, before all Victorians in Australia will be able to move around freely, once more. We have been trying our very best to keep ourselves occupied for the past few weeks, in lockdown, because of C.V.19, and it has been extremely difficult, but now Charles Schokman has been kind enough to present the Irish Comic genius Dave Allan who, in turn, is trying to teach us how to tell the time. This also tells us a few things. Dave should have been here with us in Melbourne, teaching some NITWITS that THEY will be responsible for a longer TIME in restrictions if they keep going to the beach, breaking the contact rules, and being stupid. ...
Oct 7, 2020
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Tagged Charles Schokman, Des Kelly
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“PETERITES AROUND THE WORLD” – Appointment of Desmond Kelly, an old Peterite, as Administrator on the Forum This was a recent Article sent in to the “Captain” of S.L.S. eLanka on 1st Oct., 2020. Interesting, to say the least. Hi Neil, (Jayasekera), I believe that Desmond Kelly is the Editor of eLanka, Main Website for all Lankan Australians, and now the Special Website for all Lankan Britishers as well. We are happy & proud to announce that we have decided to appoint Desmond, also an old Peterite, as Administrator on our Forum “Peterites Around The World”, with immediate effect. The reasons for this appointment are varied. Firstly, we believe that due respect has to be shown to all Peterites & others who are now in the twilight years of life. Secondly, as an advisor to younger generations of Peterites who are ...
Oct 3, 2020
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Tagged PETERITES AROUND THE WORLD, Sunanda Jayasekera
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“THE BOSUN’S PIPE” – By Des Kelly Not necessarily something smoked, the Bosun’s pipe was a special little metal whistle “piped” by the Quartermaster on board any Navy Vessel in order to get the attention of the Ship’s Crew, before any announcement was made, (sounding like a thin long shriek of a demented mouse), or simply to announce the arrival of an Officer on the Quarterdeck of a Ship. The Officer in question, would then stand at attention, salute no-one in particular, and “come aboard”, so to speak. What has all this got to do with this most interesting article on a gifted Novelist named Somasiri Devendra ?, well, everything really, because it is all about his latest Novel. “A Man Called Ceylon”, has just been published and undoubtedly will be on the shopping list of any avid reader. As everyone probably knows, this writer was ...
