YMCA Moratuwa conducts Annual Carols Service – By Bernard Fernando Moratuwa YMCA conducted its Annual Carols Service -2024 recently at is Main hall. The main focus was on singing of carols by the Children’s club with active participation from the Children of Idalwatte area. They also performed a skit depicting the Birth of Baby Jesus. Carols were also sung by groups from the two Moratuwa ‘Y’s Men clubs, the YWCA Moratuwa and YMCA Moratuwa. Rev.Chrishantha Medis from the Methodist Church delivered the Christmas message. An added feature was singing of Carols by a group of youth who also erected a beautiful Christmas tree at the YMCA premises. The arrival of Santa Claus too with gifts, added much joy and happiness to the audience. The event was patronized by the President and the Directors of the YMCA and the general public. The pictures show a group of Children and members of ...
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Manifesto of Presidential candidates in a Bankrupt Country demands Political and Electoral system changes – By Bernard Fernando It is patently clear that over the last 75 years, the valuable votes of the voter majority who became gullible and helpless due to abject poverty, were virtually plundered by power hungry political party leaders holding out hackneyed Election manifestoes replete with false and fairy tale promises while their corrupt, mediocre political stooges, as candidates offered bribes in the form of ‘goodies’ and what -nots with ill-gotten money. Some others who were politically docile (Inter alia due to complexity and inherent defects of the Electoral system) either abstained from voting or got their votes rejected. (Valid Votes at 2020 Election were 71.32% of registered voters).This continuing debased political culture and Electoral system has allowed corrupt and mediocre Politicians to rule the roost in the Parliament for the last 75 years blocking the ...
Presidential Election and Bankruptcy demand System changes to Political Admin. Structure (PAS) – By Bernard Fernando It is patently clear that over the last 75 years, the valuable votes of the voter majority who became gullible and helpless due to abject poverty, were virtually plundered by power hungry political party leaders holding out hackneyed Election manifestoes replete with false and fairy tale promises and their corrupt, mediocre political stooges, offering bribes in the form of ‘goodies’ and what -nots with ill-gotten money. Some others who were politically docile (Inter alia due to complexity and inherent defects of the Electoral system) either abstained from voting or got their votes rejected. (Valid Votes at 2020 Election were 71.32% of registered voters).This continuing debased political climate allowed corrupt and mediocre Politicians to rule the roost in the Parliament for long periods in history blocking the doors to capable ‘Country- first Political Professionals’ and ...
The pathway to a voter friendly, Meritocratic Proportional Representation (MPR) Electoral System and a People Based Governance(PBG)with a rationalised Political Administration Structure PART -1 1.0 Towards a voter friendly MPR system 1.1 Our simple voters as main stake holders of any Election, keep mid- night vigil on any National Election day firstly wanting to know the Winning Party and the Number of seats they have won; Secondly, they look for the names and the credentials of those who will represent them in the Supreme Parliament in the case of a General Election. Hitherto, they were not keen to know how the number of seats were calculated but accepted the results without any fuss. 1.2 The pre-1978 Westminster First- Past the-Post (FPP) System was of course easier to understand as the Candidate who collects the highest No. of Votes in an Electorate(The one who First Passes the winning Post) became the ...
Political Parties should genuinely address sovereign voter proposals at the APC – By Bernard Fernando The ‘All Party Conference’ (APC) aimed at resolving our National issue has come to a grinding halt due to the stubbornness and ‘one -upmanship’ embedded in the DNA of our traditional Political parties. However, the country loving sovereign voters are confident that the reconciliation proceedings can be catalysed by addressing the following Electoral Reforms/System changes with a ‘win-win’ outlook. 1)Allocate seats to People’s Representatives using simple Proportionate arithmetic thereby ensuring ‘Equality of Vote’ as per UN Human Rights Declaration of 1948 and fostering ‘Sri lankan ness’ in the process. 2) Ensure Quality of Peoples’ Representatives by applying a mandatory methodology based on Meritocracy using minimum eligibility criteria and a structured interview marking system applicable to all parties across the board. 3) Abolish existing Preference Voting (‘Manape’) and Mixed Member Voting (MMV) systems together with ‘Cross-over’ ...
eLanka Newsletter – 30th July 2023 – 9th Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter PORTRAIT OF NIMAL WIKRAMANAYAKE KC UNVEILED IN VICTORIAN BAR ASSOCIATION CHAMBERS A half century of Sri Lankan prominence… fast fading? – By Aubrey Joachim Xmas in July for Old Girls of Ladies College and friends by OG Shanali Gomes and friends on 23rd July at Berowra Community Centre Memories of a most respected personality of the last century, General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa Remembering him on his 83rd birth anniversary, 27th July 2023 – by Sunil Keppetipola Health & Views – July 2nd issue 2023 – By Dr harold Gunatillake SUNDAY CHOICE – Kris Kristofferson Why Me Lord Story Told – By Charles Schokman Revelation To The Genesis – By Lakshman Navaratne List of Nishan-e-Imtiaz recipients HIRDARAMANI GROUP SUPPORTS SRI LANKA NETBALL NATIONAL & JUNIOR ...
Address sovereign voters’ proposals at the APC – by Bernard Fernando The out come of current ‘All Party Conference’ (APC) aimed at resolving our National issue without the JJB has to be awaited with mixed feelings. In the meanwhile, the country loving sovereign voters genuinely feel that the reconciliation proceedings can be catalysed by addressing the following Electoral Reforms/System changes with a ‘win-win’ outlook. 1)Allocate seats for all People’s representatives using pure Proportionate Representation method thereby ensuring ‘Equality of Vote’ as per UN Resolution of 1948 and fostering ‘Sri lankan ness’ in the process; 2) Ensure Quality of Peoples’ Representatives based on Meritocracy under a mandatory methodology; 3) Abolish existing Preference Voting(‘Manape’) and Mixed Member Voting (MMV) systems and if necessary, allow all parties to enter their nominees in merit order using any one of 03 District/Electorate lists captioned PR, FPP and Central-Pool as stipulated by NEC. 4)Apply Proportionate Representation ...
eLanka Newsletter – 19th April 2023 – 6th Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter A Kelly Klassic – Pledging My Love – Elvis Presley – by Des Kelly Sinhala Avuruddu celebration at Wasanthie and Mitchell’s place in Endeavour Hills – by Trevine Reodrigo (Melbourne) Invitation to participate at the Remembrance Service for 2019 Easter Sunday victims of Sri Lanka Sinhala/Hindu New Year celebrations over the weekend – Congratulations! Hole In One makes first Peterite Sydney Golf Open extra special – By Lawrence Machado Family of tourists who drowned at Cairns swimming hole call for more safety warnings Where is the Starving people-series 11? – By Dr. Harold Gunatillake Fidel & Danny ‘String Together’ Melodious Accounts of Day One at the Galle Test Match-by Michael Roberts Watch Cricket Highlights – 1st Test, Sri Lanka vs Ireland 2023 Santin Gunawardena- ...
eLanka Newsletter – 07th August 2022 – 2nd Edition Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter “PONDERISMS” – by Des Kelly A young girl from Sri Lankan second generation in Australia ends up being famous actress on Sri Lankan TV SRI LANKA NEWS – JULY 2022 Sulochana Weerasinghe a thespian award winning actress having conquered the stage ,mini and silver screens in a relatively short period with recognition from foreign nations too – by Sunil Thenabadu Ceylon Tea named as Official Tea Supplier for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Two Books, Two Backstories – By GEORGE BRAINE FIRST JET AIRCRAFT TO LAND IN SRI LANKA Compiled – By Gp Capt Kumar Kirinde, SLAF (Retd) Transformation of Galle Face green by Dr Harold Gunatillake Kaleidoscope with Savithri Rodrigo 117 05 08 2022 “Kota Vehera” – commemoration of a royal birth – By ...
Resolving human-elephant conflict: It’s High Time to Treat the Root Cause – By Bernard Fernando Photo Source:tripadvisor.com,kidadl.com Arising from requests by the President and the COPA, urging a quick and durable solution with policy changes to protect humans and elephants, the writer initially suggested to treat the crystal-clear root cause for human-elephant conflict by determining the optimum manageable number of wild elephants in our small Sri Lanka through research and exporting the excess, thereby opening an avenue to earn the much-needed foreign exchange too. I have since been informed that export of elephants has been restricted by the State as well as the rest of the world. If it is so, are we to perpetuate the hackneyed, harmful and impermanent strategies like elephant chasing crackers, electrical fences, trenches and bee boxes, etc. which have become obsolete and wasteful investments in the face of these wild elephants that have become wily and aggressive ...
