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Drill Baby Drill! Uncle Sam’s strategy of elbowing his way to the front of energy markets – By Hemantha Yapa Abeywardena Source : oilfutures On October 6, 1973, coalition of Arab countries, comprising Egypt, Syria and Jordan launched a surprise attack on Israel that ultimately developed into a full-blown war between the Jewish state and Arabs. The war, known as Yom Kippur War or Ramadan war, inadvertently motivated the United States explore ways and means to reach a status of energy independence; the embargo, in this context, was a blessing in disguise, indeed. Exactly like what it is doing today, the US extended its ‘ironclad’ support to Israel to defend itself from the collective onslaught on the Middle Eastern battle front in 1973. It, however, came at a price – a huge price, to be more accurate. The Arab members of the OPEC, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, known as OAPEC, ...

Apr 15, 2024 Posted by In Articles, Hemantha Yapa Abeywardena Tagged , , , , , , ,
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Characteristics of German federalism – By Dr. Gamini Kariyawasam A scene from Bonn, Germany Federalism is the organisational principle of the Federal Republic of Germany which has grown and developed over the years and decades. It is based on the former independent dukedoms and free towns which until 1860 composed the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation”.  “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation”. Two hundred years ago, Emperor Franz II abdicated the imperial throne of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. This act brought about the dissolution of a political structure that had played a decisive role in the history and development of Europe from the year 962 up to 1806. The history of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation is the heritage not only of Germany and Austria but of the whole of Central Europe. Territories that had once been joined together in ...

Oct 11, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Dr. Gamini Kariyawasam Tagged , , , , , , ,
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Douglas and Estelle de Niese: World-Class Singing Duo in the Mid-20th Century-by Michael Roberts   Source:Thuppahis Douglas and Estelle de Niese Douglas and Estelle, singing duo affectionately referred to as the Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy of Sri Lanka, met while entertaining the troops during the Second World War.  Born into artistic families, Estelle is the daughter of the late Esme Joseph nee Van Twest, Sri Lanka’s leading soprano of the 1920s to the 1950s; Douglas was the son of the late George de Niese one of Sri Lanka’s prominent portrait and landscape artists. As duettists Estelle’s rich vibrant, effortlessly produced crystalline voice blended beautifully with Douglas’ Baritone voice of immense power and nobility. This vocal duo provided joy, entertainment and happiness to thousands of people. Specialising in the Western Art Music repertoire they sang German Lieder, solo and duo arias from the Orotorios of Handel and Bach and the Operas of Mozart, Puccini and Verdi. The ...

Jan 23, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Michael Roberts Tagged , ,
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Douglas and Estelle de Niese: World-Class Singing Duo in the Mid-20th Century-by Michael Roberts Item at https://denieseduo.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR1LfVAlI1IlacdEhxwyMgAPGr77rtYBPplA-kvMYdV2rh4itBN9NnHIhSg Douglas and Estelle de Niese Douglas and Estelle, singing duo affectionately referred to as the Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy of Sri Lanka, met while entertaining the troops during the Second World War.  Born into artistic families, Estelle is the daughter of the late Esme Joseph nee Van Twest, Sri Lanka’s leading soprano of the 1920s to the 1950s; Douglas was the son of the late George de Niese one of Sri Lanka’s prominent portrait and landscape artists. As duettists Estelle’s rich vibrant, effortlessly produced crystalline voice blended beautifully with Douglas’ Baritone voice of immense power and nobility. This vocal duo provided joy, entertainment and happiness to thousands of people. Specialising in the Western Art Music repertoire they sang German Lieder, solo and duo arias from the Orotorios of Handel and Bach and the Operas of Mozart, Puccini and Verdi. The ...

Jan 16, 2023 Posted by In Articles, Michael Roberts Tagged , ,
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THE PILOT – By Capt Elmo Jayawardena The UNHRC is in full swing. The ‘merchants of Geneva’ are getting ready to shoot their arrows of justice against the offenders of this planet. Of course, it is done democratically, by honorable people in Saville Row suits who sit around polished mahogany tables and determine by a count of votes who is guilty and who is not. That is the show-piece; but the truth could be so very different. Powerful people call the tune, and the theme is “You lend me your mule and I will remember you when it is your turn to take the stand. Then I’ll lend you my donkey.” We must try and remember the beginning of all this when the powers that were initiated the Treaty of Berlin in 1885 to carve out the African continent. The newer version of protecting human rights was born after the ...

Oct 27, 2022 Posted by In Articles, Capt Elmo Jayawardena Tagged , , ,
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VOLUNTEERS FROM CEYLON WHO SERVED IN THE BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH FORCES DURING WORLD WAR 1 [1914-1918] AND WORLD WAR 2 [1939-1945] ABSTRACT This abstract is a compilation of records in honour of all Ceylonese who served in the military during the two world wars, based on newspaper articles, historical records and material shared by relatives, military history enthusiasts, and web based information. Sri Lanka or Ceylon, as we were known then, played a comparatively important role in the First World War although we were a crown colony of the British Empire. In 1917 the Times of Ceylon estimated that 1,250 volunteers had enlisted for overseas service. At least 351 Ceylon volunteers signed up while in England and another 438 enlisted on their own account. In addition, the ‘Times Fund’ facilitated the expenses for 156 Ceylon volunteers to enlist overseas.  From the various  available nominal rolls and rolls of honour it appears there were ...

Jun 13, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , ,
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‘This is wizard!’ 100-year-old woman who flew spitfires during the Second World War celebrates her centenary by getting behind the controls again – by SARAH OLIVER Source:dailymail.co.uk Mary Ellis was in a select gang of female pilots who flew during World War II She has now celebrated her 100th birthday by flying a plane over West Sussex Mrs Ellis flew next to one of the Spitfires she was in more than 70 years ago   Tearing through the skies above the South Coast, two Spitfires evoke powerful memories of Britain’s wartime resilience. But this stirring image holds a further poignancy – for in the cockpit of the lead aircraft sits Mary Ellis, celebrating her 100th birthday by recreating her time as one of the ‘Ata-girls’, the select gang of female pilots who flew Britain’s fighters during the war. And over her shoulder is one of the actual Spitfires she flew ...

Mar 15, 2022 Posted by In Articles Tagged ,
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