Round Island Lighthouse – beacon to daring seafarers – By Arundathie Abeysinghe Located on top of a small rocky island in Round Island *Trincomalee in the outer harbor of *Trincomalee bay, Round Island Lighthouse also known as Trincomalee Lighthouse or Kevuliya Lighthouse is a round cylindrical masonry tower, 21meters high with a lantern and gallery. Entire lighthouse is painted in white color. The Lighthouse is accessible only by boat. Yet, the island and lighthouse are closed to the public. But visitors can see the lighthouse at a distance from *Marble Beach. The lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. In 2016, Round Island Lighthouse was renovated and the tower was repainted. The light in Round Island Lighthouse is fixed and can be seen for 16 kilometers (10 miles). The lighthouse on the Island was constructed in 1863 and has a focal plane 21 meters (61 feet) ...
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Islanders are Footballers By Admiral (Retd) Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne, Former Chief of Defence Staff Source:-defence Another goal! Jawa, our 1979/80 Royal Rugby team hooker huffing and puffing and Prabath trying to save the goal. Goal keeper (myself) out of position! When I became the 20th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy on 12th July 2015, other than my family members the most happiest group was “Royal College class of 80”, that is my class/Grade mates in 1980 Advance Level class. We decided to embark on tour to Jaffna to celebrate. I had one plan in my mind for betterment of the children in Islands, mainly for boys. On my courtesy call to His Lordship Jaffna Catholic Bishop, Rt Rev Dr Bernard Gnanapragasam few weeks after becoming Navy Commander, his Lordship emphasized on curbing drugs problem in Jaffna and explained to me how youth were dragged in to this menace. ...
HIGHEST TRADITIONS THAT INSPIRE ROYALISTS- by By Rear Admiral Dr. Shemal Fernando PhD Source:Sundayobserver In a glorious journey of 185 momentous years, Royal College has come a long way, producing some of the finest men to the country. The President and Commander-in-Chief, Gotabaya Rajapaksa recently elevated Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne to the helm of the Sri Lanka Navy as its 24th Commander. Thus, he becomes the newest Old Royalist, the name by which the alumni of Royal College are usually denoted, to be appointed a Service Commander. This portrayal is a reminiscence of some of the rich history and tradition that guide and inspire Royalists present and past to keep on breaking boundaries and moving forward, to hand down the College not less but greater, better and more beautiful than it was handed down. The core resolve of Royal College is being able to provide an upbringing to all walks of ...
Australia donates PPE worth Rs. 23 mn to Sri Lanka Navy Source:Colombopage Aug 15, Colombo: The Department of Defense of Australian Government handed over a stock of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth Rs. 23.4 million to Sri Lanka Navy, the Navy Media Unite said. Defense Adviser of the Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka, Group Captain Sean Unwin symbolically handed over a stock of PPE to Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne during a simple ceremony held at the official residence of the Australian High Commissioner in Colombo Friday (14). ...
SRI LANKA NEWS (JULY 2020) – Compiled by Victor Melder The Civil Security Department (CSD) has launched a project to mitigate the human-elephant conflict; it has distributed over 100,000 citrus saplings among the staff members living in Handapanagala to be planted along elephant corridors. The project was initiated under the directives of the CSD Director General Rear Admiral (Retd) Ananda Peiris. “The CSD is now nurturing citrus nurseries as a long term solution for the long existing issue and the planting process would commence on a large scale with the onset of the rainy season,” said Rear Admiral Peiris. Rear Admiral Peiris, launching the pilot project said, citrus trees prevented elephants from entering villages as they consciously avoid citrus bushes full of sharp thorns. Lt. Col. Kumara Jagoda, CSD Commanding Officer of Moneragala who is steering the project in Handapanagala, one of the most vulnerable human habitations ...
eLanka Newsletter – 19 July – 6th edition – Sri Lankans in Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter The Peterite Chorale: A Brief History “GOD’S CREATIONS, ALL” – By Des Kelly (Editor-In-Chief) eLanka Mr. TIDDY WIJERATNE – dedicated teacher and an inspiring cricket coach at St. Anthony’s College 6 Royalists have become Commander of Sri Lanka Navy ANURA TENNEKOON’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY – Passionately Cricket Noel News – By Noel Whittaker To Canada with Love from Sri Lanka – A Beautiful song presentation from Sri Lankans in Mississauga!. Anuradhapura Kingdom & heritage-Harold GunatillakeSCC & SCF – COVID-19 Community Support Program Open Mike with Emcee Duke Ramachandran “Brief introduction of the arrival of the Malays in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)”.By Noor Rahim Memories….photo of “Old Josephians in Melbourne 2015” Kerrigan La-Brooy #1 on Aussie Charts for the 2nd Consecutive Week SCC – Sri Lankan Food – Take ...
“SOBER ISLAND” – BY Des Kelly Yet another fascinating story on this fortified British Bastion, the biggest “natural harbour in the World,” named Trincomalee, also consisting several smaller Islands or rock formations,around it, the largest of which was “Great Sober Island”, a strange name, indeed, on first glance, but on further perusal of this extremely interesting article, we find out that it was named after a certain young British Naval Lieutenant named S.Sober. This certainly does not mean that this young guy was tee-total, as a matter of fact, this writer served for nigh on 8 years, in the Royal Ceylon Navy, and could not vouch for the fact that a single Navy man, that he knew, drank only Orange & Lemon Barley water. Anyway, let me take the chance to say “thank you” to D.Joseph for this most interesting “piece” on the Great Sober Island of Sri ...
Over 175 illegal migrants intercepted by Navy in 2019 Source:Ministry of Defence With a sharp increase in Sri Lankan illegal migrants to Australia and New Zealand in 2019, Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) says it has strengthened its surveillance operations with the support of the Sri Lanka Air force (SLAF) and the Australia’s Operations Sovereign Borders (AOSB). The SLN said average of over 64 Sri Lankans had tried to flee the country illegally in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively. “But 175 illegal migrants had left our shores only in last year. They are mainly from Chilaw, Batticoloa, Dondra and Trincomalee,” SLN Spokesman LCdr. Isuru Sooriyabandara revealed during a press briefing held at the Media Centre, today (02). According to LCdr Sooriyabandara, some of those who were trying to flee the country were taken into the custody while they were preparing to flee the country and the majorities were apprehended ...
“A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY” – By Des Kelly Quite an interesting little “piece” especially focusing on the year. Sixty nine is a number favoured by all old Matelots like me, always has been, always will be. However, there is a slight error because, before it became the Sri Lanka Navy, in 1950, the C.R.N.V.R. (Ceylon Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve), the Navy I joined, was proudly called the “Royal Ceylon Navy”. We came directly under the Q.R.& A.I (Queen’s Regulations & Admirality Instructions), as set out by Britain, who “ruled” Ceylon, until they granted the Country independence in 1948. Shortly after, the Royal Ceylon Navy was “gifted” it’s first Ship, Her Majesty’s Ceylon Ship, Vijaya, by Britain. I joined H.M,Cy.S Gemunu, our main Shore Base, at the time, in 1953. My Official Number E635 meant that I was the 635th man in the R.Cy.Navy. The name ...
