eLanka Newsletter – 21st February 2024 – 6th Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter Mirage returned to Australia and reminded their fans that they are not a spent force. Actually far from it – by Trevine Rodrigo (eLanka – Melbourne) From Mumbai to Melbourne: Omkar Vechalekar Pursuing cricket dreams in Australia Upul Mahen De Silva A Failing Heart – Dr harold Gunatillake Music maestro-genius Mahesh emulating legendary Dad Patrick Denipitiya – By Sunil Thenabadu Watch T20 Cricket Match Highlights between Sri Lanka and Afganistan Sri Lanka: St Antoney feast in Kachchativu-by Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne OBITUARY – PROF YASMINE GOONERATNE The Nutritional Bounty of Jackfruit: A Healthful Delight in Jackfruit Curry – By Nadeeka – eLanka Nawam Full Moon Poya Day in Sri Lanka-by Kalani-eLanka Majestic Beauty Unveiled: Exploring the Enchanting Ravana Falls in Sri Lanka – By ...

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Sri Lanka High Commissioner meets General Sahir Shamshad Source : islamabadpost Whilst welcoming the High Commissioner to Pakistan, the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee stressed and lauded the Sri Lanka for unwavering support extended to Pakistan in hour of need DNA ISLAMABAD: Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan called on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne calls on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC) at Joint Staffs Headquarters in Rawalpindi . On the arrival at JSHQ, High Commissioner was warmly welcomed and received by the General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee along with his principal staff officers. Later, they had a cordial and lengthy discussion on brotherly and friendly diplomatic relations between two nations over decades. Whilst ...

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Photo of New Sri Lanka High Commissioner ( Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne ) at Pakistan Navy War College at Lahore Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne ( Retired), the new Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Islamic Republic of Pakistan visited Pakistan Navy War College at Lahore. He was a student of this college in 1995/6 ( when college was located in Karachi) and earned BSc(Hons) (War Studies) degree from Karachi University. He is a regular visiting lecturer to Pakistan Navy War College on “Asymmetric Naval Warfare”. Recognizing his immense contributions to Pakistan- Sri Lanka Defense Relations, in February 2019, when he was Chief of Defense Staff ( CDS), Pakistan Government awarded him with Nishan-e-Imitiuaz Medal. He is the only Sri Lankan  awarded with this prestigious medal, which is equal to Medal of Honour in US or Order of British Empire ( OBE) in UK.  ...

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Remembering War Heroes on 30th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy Special Boats Squadron Commander (VNF) Cedric Martenstyn- Co- Founder of SBS – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Former Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of The Navy Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd Commander (VNF) Cedric Martenstyn Cedric Martenstyn was a very rich and affluent man. He owned a house in Colombo 7 , valuable properties throughout the country, vehicles/ speed boats and ran the lucrative business of importing Johnson and Evanrude Out board Motors (OBM) and sold to local fishermen and fish businessmen. He was the local agent these OBMs and very popular product among humble fishermen of our country for their reliability and after sales service. He was fondly known as “Sudu Mahattaya “(white Gentleman) by humble fishermen and he will travel in his double cab to length and breadth of country to meet them and solve their problems ...

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eLanka Newsletter – 22nd October 2023 – 7th Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter All Blacks storm into final and look set to win fourth William Webb Ellis World Cup – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor) Vale Felix Perumal: A Leader of Cricketing Men-by Michael Roberts Angelo Matthews and Dushmantha Chameera rushed in as injury replacements as Sri Lanka reassess lack of experience – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports editor) පතිවත වෙනුවෙන් දිවි පිදූ – රූමත් රූප්මතී දේවිය – By ආචාර්ය ගාමිණී කාරියවසම්. Photos from the Sri Lanka Australian Malay Association – 25th Anniversary Cultural Show and Dinner Dance held on 14 October 2023 at the Don Moore Community Centre, Carlingford, NSW GEORGE SENANAYKE AN UNSELFISH MULTI TALENTED MUSICIAN,MUSIC COMPOSER DIRECTOR, SOUND ENGINEER AT APEX OF FAME FOR DECADES –By Sunil Thenabadu The ...

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Remembering Heroes on 30th Anniversary of Special Boats Squadron – What I Learnt from The War Hero’s Son – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne  Former Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of The Navy Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’ — Mother Teresa “I learned true essence of GRATITUDE from this War Hero’s son” My mobile phone rang a few years back when I was Chief of Defence Staff (Senior most officer of Sri Lanka Military). It’s a number I have not saved. I answered the call. A faint voice of a young child on the other end. “Sir I am Wikum Anuhas, Son of Chief Petty Officer K G Shantha.” Yes Son! I replied. Late Chief Petty Officer KG Shantha was from elite Special Boats Squadron (SBS), the Naval Commando Unit who paid ...

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Remembering Heroes on 30th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy Special Boats Squadron – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne (Retired from Sri Lanka Navy) Former Chief of Defence Staff & Commander of The Navy Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd. Samantha with his son after receiving two gallantry medals from HE the President on 4th Feb 1996 (8 months before his death) Thirty years ago, in Fort Hammenhiel, Karainagar, two officers and 42 sailors, volunteered to undergo a special training to start a new unit in our navy known as the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) or the Naval Commando Unit. SBS was formed to fight against LTTE Sea Tigers in lagoons and waterways. I was fortunate enough to command this unit and train my men to be the “Bravest of the Brave” in the Navy. I was a young Lieutenant Commander at that time and my Second-in-Command was an officer more than ...

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Save our Elephants – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Source : island The killing and dismembering of the tusker in Block 3 of Yala National Park recently brought tears to the eyes of elephant lovers. This poor animal stayed within the boundaries, marked by us to say “you are safe here”, and was still killed with a single shot to the head by inhuman poachers operating within the National Park. Further his small tusks were removed using a chainsaw. The tail was also removed because its hair is in high demand. Why is this happening? Why can we not catch these culprits? We should do our best to stop these inhuman activities. Sri Lanka Army’s elite units can help the Wildlife Department in this effort. As a local saying goes, you never get fed with watching ‘Bali and Ali’. ‘Bali’ is a traditional dance form and ‘Ali’ are elephants. An elephant ...

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Don’t cry for me Sri Lanka – Why sea turtles and dolphins drying in our waters last month? – by Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Source : srilankaguardian I am an ex-SBS person, member of elite Sri Lanka Navy Special Boats Squadron, the Naval Commando unit. When our country fought against LTTE, our small groups were deployed in enemy beaches for reconnaissance. These highly trained four-man group of SBS personnel infiltrate in to enemy held area discreetly under cover of darkness. They stay there either for reconnaissance or to establish an “Catche” of ammunition and other supplies required for future operations in the area. When such risky clandestine operation was conducted those days, when I was CO SBS, committing my best men for these operations, I also go into a cell, staying day and night sleeping in operations room next to our secure communication set, eating the same rations my boys eat ...

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Navy Signals – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Source:island.lk Messages transmitted among ships or from ships to shore are known as signals in naval jargon. Some of these signals are secret messages. Others are routine signals, such as ship’s victualling requirements and personnel transfers. Signal men, or present-day ‘communicators’, are a group of proud people who work closely with Commanding Officers and other officers. As the old Navy mostly communicated in English, and in Morse Code, in English, their English knowledge was always impeccable. Furthermore, communicators dressed very smartly. The famous writer, the late Kalakeerthi Karl Muller, in his novel, ‘Spit and Polish, vividly describes the job of communicators in the Navy. Long before radio technology and telecommunications were invented, sailing ships communicated with one another with the help of flags. Those ships required to get close to harbours to communicate with shore. There are numerical and alphabetical flags of ...

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