Appreciation on Pat Manikkavasagan I was shocked to read the obituary of my senior colleague, Pat Manikkavasagan who worked with me at the Bank of Ceylon. To ease my anguish, I informed another close friend, Terrence Hettiarachchi in Sri Lanka who had not known the sad news until then Pat Manikkavasagan was a senior colleague who worked with me in 1976 at the Bank of Ceylon, Hulftsdorp branch as a staff assistant. His commitment to work was excellent and inspired others. His philosophical qualities were appreciated by all. He possessed a sturdy personality and his wisdom was innovative. Pat’s English vocabulary was extensive and he knew the meaning of almost all the English words. He was an asset to the institution. Pat taught us unique leadership qualities and had the ability to get the best out of subordinates and the manner to work as a cohesive consistent unit. Pat led ...

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Veteran journalist Srimal Abeyewardene passes away Srimal launched The Sri Lanka Reporter in 1994 at Canada Sri Lanka New Year celebrations.   Distinguished Sri Lankan journalist, Srimal Abeyewardene, passed away at the age of 79 on Wednesday in Toronto, Canada. He leaves behind a legacy that spans five decades in the media industry and has significantly impacted the Sri Lankan community in Canada and beyond. Over the course of his long career, Mr. Abeyewardene established himself as an eminent figure in journalism, and a champion for multi-ethnic communities. His landmark achievement was the founding of The Sri Lanka Reporter, an award-winning English newspaper that catered to the Sri Lankan community in Canada. His vision and commitment to bridge gaps among multi-ethnic Sri Lankan communities led to the success of this publication, making it one of the most lauded successes in Canadian ethnic media. Mr. Abeyewardene embarked on his journalism journey in 1963 ...

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When Tina Turner rocked Dubai: Fan and journalist recalls meeting the singer in 1983-by Razmig Bedirian Sri Lankan journalist Lawrence Machado said his interview with Tina Turner was among his most memorable. Photo: Lawrence Machado Source:Thenationalnews In the early 1980s, Tina Turner made a comeback that has been described as one of the greatest in music history, and the UAE played a part in that resurgence. The singer, who died on Wednesday at the age of 83, had already achieved mainstream success the decade before with her husband, Ike Turner. The couple, as Ike & Tina Turner, had sold millions of records, won a Grammy in 1972, and had performed in landmark venues including the Royal Albert Hall. ...

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