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Philip Ruddock – An Honorary Sri Lankan? By William de Silva Co-ordinator of Sri Lankan Over 55 Community Homes Sri Lankan Senior’s Day 2019: Over 250 Sri Lankans have come to celebrate at the Thornleigh Education and Leisure Centre, and the venue is packed. Out of the corner of my eye I can see a grey haired, fair skinned man joyfully tucking into a rather spicy Sri Lankan curry. I look a little closer and realise it’s Philip Ruddock, our guest of honour. Naturally, there’s a steady stream of seniors waiting to meet him. I wait for an appropriate time to introduce myself to Philip Ruddock. Seeing so many fans of Mr Ruddock, I leaned in and said, “Once upon a time you wouldn’t have been very popular with our people.” He looked a little surprised. “Oh, why?” he responded matter-of-factly. Ruddock was one of the generals of the John ...