Ella Rock Forest Reserve Blaze Destroys 600 Acres: A Growing Environmental Concern-by Kalani-eLanka Ella, Sri Lanka – A devastating fire has engulfed the Ella Rock Forest Reserve, reducing over 600 acres of lush forest to ashes. The inferno, which began on February 13, 2025, continues to spread, raising serious environmental and safety concerns. Fire Spreads Amid Challenging Conditions Despite continuous efforts by the Sri Lanka Army, the Forest Conservation Department, and the Bandarawela Municipal Council’s fire brigade, the fire has continued to advance, particularly towards the Rawana Falls area. The steep terrain, strong winds, and dry weather have made it extremely difficult to bring the blaze under control. Authorities have also warned that intense heat could cause boulders and rocks to become dislodged, creating a significant risk for travelers on the main roads near the affected area. Environmental Devastation The Ella Rock Forest Reserve is a biodiversity hotspot home to ...
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75th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Army Commemorated with the Donation of Eye Corneas to Pakistan Military – By Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne The Sri Lankan High Commission in Pakistan facilitated a significant donation of human eye corneas to Pakistan Military, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army. This noble initiative, jointly organized by the Defence Wing of Sri Lankan High Commission in Islamabad and the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, was held in a simple yet meaningful ceremony at the Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology (AFIO), Rawalpindi on 20 November 2024. The corneas were formally handed over by His Excellency Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne (Retd), Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, alongside Brigadier Kaminda Silva Defence Advisor and representatives of the Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society, to Lt Gen Arshad Nasim HI(M) Surgeon General and Brigadier (Dr.) Waquar Muzaffer, Commandant of AFIO. This event further solidifies the remarkable ...
SRI LANKA NEWS (OCTOBER 2024) Compiled by Victor Melder The value of Sri Lanka’s export of goods and services crossed the Rs. 10 billion mark in the first eight months of this year reflecting a near 6% growth year-on-year (YoY). The Sri Lanka Export Development Board (SLEDB) revealed yesterday that total merchandise exports in the first eight months were up 5.37% YoY to over $ 8.44 billion, while estimated total service sector earnings increased by 7.58% YoY to $ 2.24 billion. Thereby, the overall export earnings for the January to August period reached a high of $ 10.68 billion, marking a 5.82% YoY growth. In August merchandise export earnings reached a high of $ 1.16 billion in August, bringing the total value of goods shipped in the first eight months of 2024 to over $ 10 billion. Merchandise export earnings in August saw a 4.18% YoY increase reaching $ 1.16 billion, ...
Russell Bertram Heyn – a colossus among sporting legends-by Dennis de Rosayro Russell Heyn (standing extreme left) was the Manager of the Sri Lanka Cricket Team that toured England in 1979 Source:Dailynews I first met Russell Heyn when I joined the Burgher Recreation Club (BRC) as a Benedictine schoolboy, two days before my 17th birthday on March 8, 1954. He had just finished his routine batting session at the centre wicket. Sturdy and handsome he was 41 plus but looked like a 30-year-old. My connection with the great man was very close at the club and during his lifetime. He took a great interest in my long hockey career and went on to recommend and proposed my name as General Secretary in 1962, which office I held up to 1975, and served during his Presidency from 1965 to 1975. On stepping down he proposed my name as the Vice-President in ...
Fighting & Dying FOR Britain during the Two World Wars – By Michael Roberts Source : thuppahis A New Book on The Ceylonese Volunteers in World War I and World War II The reasons for printing the book on the Ceylonese Volunteers in WW 1 & 2 were as follows: to record for posterity the sacrifice, dedicated commitment and volunteerism of over 1500 Ceylonese Volunteers in WW 1 and over 6000 Ceylonese Volunteers in WW 2. Many fell in battle, some were injured and many others sacrificed their youth to serve in the British Forces. Their service and sacrifice needs to be recorded with gratitude which is the sole purpose of the book. It was compiled by a team of retired Tri-Forces officers from available information in the public domain. The book also incorporated over 300 pages of our military history and the formation of the three Armed Forces. The Ceylon Defence Force was the ...
PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK – THE EXTRA MILE TO THE COMMANDER OF THE SRI LANKA ARMY-by Dr Gamini Goonetilleke Source:Drgamini I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting the Commander of the Sri Lanka Lt. General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu at the Army Headquarters on 21st June 2022. At this meeting I presented my book titled, THE EXTRA MILE : A surgeon’s experiences to the Army Commander. A memento from the Sri Lanka Army was presented to me by the Commander in appreciation of my services to the military during the 30 – year armed conflict in Sri Lanka Link to the Story of ‘Renowned Surgeon Presents Maiden Copy of His Book to Army Chief’ For the benefit of overseas readers we have arranged online purchase available from the below link: https://www.books.lk/product/the-extramile/ ...
Retired DIG’s Anguish – by Dr. Tilak S. Fernando The writer and his partner were invited on 1 January 2022 by the Ceylon oldest living Olympian boxer-retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Sumith Liyanage, with some guests. Our conversation at the lunch table discussed details of Sumith’s career in Sri Lanka’s Police Force. During the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Sumith Liyanage fought in the same ring where young Cassius Clay as an amateur fought (earlier )in the light heavyweight category. It was at the Palazzo Dello Sports arena against Poland’s Jerzy Adamski. Sumith Liyanage was an old Anandian and Nalandian. He showed his liveliness in cricket when he played for Ananda and Nalanda. He was an opening fiery right-hand bowler, but his forte was boxing. Olympics During New Year’s lunch when the topic of Boxing came up, the writer asked Sumith Liyanage whether he ever confronted Cassius Clay in ...
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 herd ...
Sri Lanka – Island-wide quarantine curfew from tonight to Aug. 30 2021 Source: http://www.adaderana.lk Army Commander General Shavendra Silva says that a decision has been taken to impose quarantine curfew across the island with effect from 10.00 p.m. today (20) until 4.00 a.m. on August 30 (Monday). He stated that essential services, export, apparel and agricultural sectors will be allowed to function as normal during that period while pharmacies will also be permitted to operate as per usual. He stated that this decision was taken during the meeting with the Special Committee on COVID-19 Control held at the Presidential Secretariat today. The Army Commander further said that the Sri Lanka Army and health sector will continue to carry out the vaccination of persons over the age of 60 during the quarantine curfew period. ...
Mahesh Wannigama volleyball player par excellence-by Dilwin Mendis Source:Dailynews Sri Lankan Youth Player, and All Island School Best Player 2019 Mahesh Wannigama has brought honour and glory to his Alma Mater Vijayaba Vidyalaya, Hungama and his motherland . Mahesh was admitted to his Village School in Batana North and he did not do any sport up to Grade Eight. Then his parents W. G. Piyadasa and J. W. Charlotte noticing his talents and interests in volleyball encouraged him to commence volleyball and handed over their son to the head coach Tharaka Ratnaweera and his Assistant Coach was Keerthi Pushpakumara. ...
