Smithsonian Museum - Washington DC......USA

From: Nihal Gooneratne 

http://www.mnh.si.edu/vtp/1-desktop/

An Incredible 360 view of the Smithsonian Museum

a virtual tour of the Smithsonian Museum room by room......360 degree viewing by using your cursor.   Follow the blue arrows on the floor to move into new rooms. Shows inside and outside of the museum and there little cameras here and there which show detailed info on certain things. If you click on the floors (upper right corner) you get a floor plan of that floor and you can click on a blue circle and go directly to that room.     Use the roller on your mouse to move in and out. Look for the "arrows" on the floor and click on them. They take you to other places.

Happy New Year 2014.

Things happen. Sri Lanka.

Happy new year!

jksw

Subject: aluth avurudha - woodley park april 12th - elephant walk - otara - st thomas college scoreboard - jehan aloysius - new sri lankan ambassador to u.s. - nanda malini show

Good News From Jayam (Accentuating the positive!) April 15, 2014                                Please Scroll Down This newsletter is read and forwarded to more than 20,000 Sri Lankans worldwide. If you want to be on the list email jayam2424@yahoo.com _________________________________________________  Happy Sri Lankan New Year   Suba Aluth Avurudak Weva   Puthandu Vazthukal We wish all Sri Lankans  a Happy Sri Lankan New Year/ Aluth Avurudu/Puthandu  The best Celebrations are at Woodley Park in Van Nuys, Ca.  on Saturday April 12, 2014 Celebrate Your Heritage! ---------------------------- ALUTH AURUDDHA - By Charmaine  Once more a ripe gold moon affirms the season of Aluth Aurudu The Erabadhu tree is in full bloom with its crimson flowers And cashew nuts are abundant in heavy bunches. The coco bird sings its melodious song from time to time Reminding that the new year is near. New rice from the paddy fields are harvested Soon the jolly tunes of the Rabana will echo through the village hills Its a time for sweetmeats,  Kavun, Kokis, and Athira. The temple bells will scatter their echoing chimes Over the resonant fields Where devotees will offer dewy blooms Spreading them over the altars. Aluth Auruddha is a time for traditions and customs A time for sharing and giving It is a time for new beginnings. ---------------------------- Sri Lanka T20 Cricket Champions Free to Celebrate - Safe to Celebrate   Two Champions Congratulate Each Other Sri Lankan cricket champions Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena celebrate after Sri Lanka's championship win against India. ------------------------ Prasad Kariyawasam Tipped to be Appointed Sri Lanka's  Ambassador to the U. S. The Parliamentary Committee on High Posts being discussed this month will include  senior career service diplomat Prasad Kariyawasam as ambassador designate to the United States. Mr. Kariyawasam has just completed his term as high commissioner to India, a position he held since December 2009. Having joined the Sri Lanka Foreign Service in 1981, he has also held diplomatic assignments in Geneva, Riyadh, Washington, and New York.  Mr. Kariyawasam is married and has a son and a daughter. ----------------------------------- The Lotus Tower - Asia's  Largest Communication Tower The 'Lotus Tower' being built at D.R.Wijewardene Mawatha at a cost of US$ 104.3 million is one of the largest communication towers in the South Asian region. The communication and observation tower is funded by the EXIM Bank of China.  ----------------------------- Colombo Port City Project A Bigger and more Beautiful Colombo Plans for the re-development of the Colombo Port have once again begun.  To add more teeth to the plan 'Sri Lanka - a world maritime hub', a harbour city plan is to be re-implemented. Plans have been drawn up to get the space by reclaiming land from the sea (233 Hectacres). Chairman Port Authority (SLPA) Dr. Priyath Wickrama said that Port City project would be the single biggest private sector development in the history of Sri Lanka. The biggest advantage of this project is that the government does not have to spend a single cent to create this island. ------------------------------------ One Holiday  Two Beach Destinations ---------------------------------------- Sri Lankan Bridge Champion The beautiful Shanti Rasiah, daughter of the late Leo and Podi Singham receiving her Bridge Player of the year ( grandmaster title )The first woman to receive this award.  ---------------------------------- Colombo Dockyard to Deliver  Largest Passenger Ship Colombo Dockyard will deliver one of the largest vessels in its history of shipbuilding, a 400 passenger cum 200 tonne cargo vessel for the Administration of Union Territory of Lakshadveep, India.This vessel will be deployed to cater to the increased traffic en-route from the Cochin to Lakshadveep islands as well as in the inter-island routes. The addition of these vessels will ease the movement of passengers especially during peak season, its Colombo Dockyard Managing Director and CEO Mangala Yapa said. -------------------------------- Korean Air Celebrates One Year in Colombo Korean Air celebrated one year accomplishment of online operations to Colombo and Maldives. A ceremony was held at JAIC Hilton to mark this occasion. Here Benjamin Han, Korean Air, Country Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives, Sarath C. Weerasooria, Chairman, Finco Group ( GSA of Korean Air), Jongmoon Choi , Ambassador for the Republic of Korea, Priyantha Mendis Managing Director of Alpha Tours Ltd. GSA for Korean Air in Sri Lanka and Maldives. ----------------------------- Sri Lankans Love Gautam Gulati Gautam Gulati, famous movie star from Delhi, India was a big hit as the bad guy "Devadatta" in the Sri Lankan movie Sri Siddhartha Gauthama.  He has built up a fan base in Sri Lanka due to his good looks and acting skills. Star Plus' show "Diya Aur Baati Hum" a television series,is about Sandhya, who dreams about becoming an IPS officer. After her parents' death, her brother forces her to marry sweetshop owner Sooraj. Gautam plays protagonist Sooraj's younger brother.  Check him out on Facebook. GAUTAM GULATI As Devadatta -----------------------------------  SRI LANKAN INDUCTED INTO GRAMMY ACADEMY - RECEIVES SPECIAL AWARD FOR CHARITY   Sri Lankan born singer-song writer ALSTON KOCH celebrated three International achievements recently when he was inducted into the Grammy Academy in the USA, received an award from The President of the Commonwealth Games (Prince Tunku Imran on right of picture) & The President of the Asian Cricket Council Saeed Ashraf Ul Haq for his commitment to charities & then specially invited to open the International Carnivale in the SEYCHELLES backed by the the World's biggest tourism organisations.  Alston Kochacclaimed by the Australian & Asian media recently as 'THE FUNK MASTER' when his album 'DON'T FUNK WITH ME reached No 2 on the Top 100 Charts,winner of 3 ARIA accredited Awards for his song writing in the professional music industry will be among world famous artists appearing at the World famous CARNIVALE' in SEYCHELLES on 25th April.Alston will perform his composition 'We can beat this Climate Change' as the theme song for the opening with the backing of the  World's leading tourism organisations during the Climate Change conference. ------------------------------------------------------- Nanda Malini & Victor Rathnayaka Concert Saturday April 19th, 2014  At the Fabulous Wilshire Ebell Theatre For Tickets Call 323-939-1128 Let's show our support to Thusitha de Silva who brings these Classic Shows to Los Angeles Nanda Malini & Victor Rathnayaka Live in Concert - Los Angeles - click on link -------------------------------------- Otara Named Earth Hour Sri Lanka Ambassador Otara Gunewardene, founder and CEO of Odel, has been announced as the newest Brand Ambassador for Earth Hour Sri Lanka. As an ambassador, Gunewardene calls upon all individuals, businesses and local communities to participate in Earth Hour's monumental lights off event on Saturday, March 29 at 8:30PM. Speaking of her support Otara Gunewardene, Founder and CEO, Odel stated: "I am honoured to join international personalities such as Sachin Tendulkar and Jessica Alba by becoming an ambassador for Earth Hour Sri Lanka. Earth Hour is a global call to action; giving a voice to concerns on climate change and the need for everyone to do something positive about it.  ------------------------------ Esto Perpetua   St. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia  Opens New State of the Art Scoreboard ------------------------------------------ Japan's Bansei Gets More Bullish on Lanka; invests Rs. 400 m in Hikka Resort Japan's financial markets specialist Bansei Securities Ltd. has turned more bullish on post-war rebounding Sri Lanka's tourism sector by investing over Rs. 400 million in a resort in Hikkaduwa.  Bansei's engagement and commitment in Sri Lanka for the past two years was confined to channelling Japanese investments into Government securities with a portfolio of over Rs. 25 billion whilst last year it acquired a 15% stake in Pan Asia Bank Plc for Rs. 930 million. Both these major initiatives were on the back of post-war resurgence and opportunity in Sri Lanka as envisioned by Bansei, which is a Tokyo Stock Exchange-member firm specialising in securities trading, asset management and insurance. Last year Sri Lanka was ranked as number one destination by the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA). The Board of Directors of the company comprises Bansei Securities President and CEO T. Murakami, M. Nakayama (Managing Director/CEO), Channa De Silva, Viraj Malawana, Hasitha Premaratne. ------------------------------------------ Tourism to Sri Lanka Up By 24.8%  in First Three Months 2014    Tourist arrivals during the first three months of this year increased 24.8% to 421,501 from 337,719 a year earlier. Arrivals in March reached 133,048 up 17.5% from 113,208 recorded in 2013, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority showed.  India led with 54,154 arrivals up 16.1% from 46,648, followed by United Kingdom 39,035 arrivals up 1.3% from 38,544 and Germany with 32,964 arrivals up 17.3% from 28,105 a year earlier.  Overall tourist arrivals for the three months from North America increased 10.7% to 18,440 from 16,651 with arrivals in March up 4.7% to 6,042 from 5,772, while arrivals from Latin America and the Caribbean increased 44.0% to 1,109 from 770 with arrivals in March up 30.1% to 350 from 269.  Arrivals from Western Europe, still the largest market for Sri Lanka, increased 12.6% to 143,760 from 127,655 with arrivals in March up 4.5% to 44,824 from 42,891, while arrivals from Eastern Europe increased 56.5% to 66,421 from 42,442 with arrivals in March up 49.1% to 18,657 from 12,513.  Arrivals from Africa increased 55.8% to 2,493 from 1,600 with arrivals in March up 61.4% to 873 from 541, while arrivals from the Middle East increased 14.7% to 18,390 from 16,027 with arrivals in March up 18.8% to 6,629 from 5,580.  Arrivals form East Asia, the third largest market, increased 53.0% to 72,639 from 47,461 with arrivals in March up 43.5% to 21,751 from 15,162, while arrivals from South Asia, the second largest market, increased 17.5% to 84,278 from 71,710 with arrivals in March up 15.9% to 29,907 from 25,799. Arrivals from Australasia increased 4.2% to 13,971 from 13,403  ---------------------------------------------- Jehan Aloysius on Center Stage   Well-known theatre personality Jehan Aloysius who is an actor, playwright and director needs no introduction, especially for those involved in theatre and drama. He became involved in the public stage at the age of 13 years. A past pupil of St. Joseph's College, he started working with theatre people at a young age. "It propelled me forward very quickly, because I started working with directors such as Jerome de Silva, Jith Peiris, Feroze Kamardeen and so on.  I became a director for a production on public stage at 18 years. After that, I established my troupe Centre Stage Productions in 2001, of which I am the Artistic Director," he says. He was a student at the University of Colombo where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and he is one of the few people who works full-time in theatre. ---------------------------------------- Sri Lankan New Year Woodley Park, Van Nuys, Ca SLAASC New Year @ Woodley part 5 Final.m4v ----------------------------- In the Beautiful Jungles of Sri Lanka A Leopard Relaxes   Photo by Rajiv Welikala ---------------------------------------------------  Elephant House Installs Vending Machine    Elephant House launched Sri Lanka's first soft drink vending machine at the Crescat Boulevard food court last week. Stocked with the country's most loved beverage brands including Elephant House Cream Soda, EGB, Lemonade, Necto, Elephant House Bitter Lemon, Orange Crush, Elephant House Soda, KIK Cola and their light variants, Elephant House will deploy similar machines in food courts at K-Zone Ja Ela and K-Zone Moratuwa this month. Here President - Keells Consumer Foods Group Jit Gunaratne (left) and Head of Beverages - Elephant House and Vice President - John Keells Holdings Daminda Gamlath at the launch.  ------------------------------------------------------ Elephant Walk - Made in Ceylon - 1954  Elephant Walk was a classic movie made in Ceylon in 1954.  Although it starred Elizabeth Taylor, she never set foot in Ceylon.  Vivien Leigh was to be the actress, who unfortunately had a nervous breakdown while filming in Ceylon. All Elizabeth Taylor's shots and acting were done in England.  Abraham Sofaer played the role of Appuhamy.   Info courtesy of http://filmlocationservices.lk/ Elephant Walk - Trailer ------------------------- Recipes from Roma's Kitchen   Scotch Eggs with Sausage and Herbs. Ingredients. 5 medium free range Eggs 1/2 lb Sausage meat (you may use any sausage meat of your choice) 2 Tbs of Parsley,Sage and Thyme 1 Tbs of Spring onions/Green  onions 1/2 tspn Nutmeg 2Tbs Plain Flour with Salt and Pepper to taste 1/4 lb.Breadcrumbs Oil for frying Method. 1.Hard boil 4 eggs by covering in cold water,bringing to a boil   and simmering for five minutes. Pop them in cold water to cool   quickly.This avoids a dark ring around the yolk. 2.Beat the 5th.egg in a shallow dish and leave aside. Put the    flour with seasonings in another plate and the breadcrumbs in   another. 3.Add the herbs,spring onions and nutmeg and mix into the sausage   with your figers till everything is incorporated well. Divide the   mixture into four portions. Flatten each portion and wrap around    each egg firmly and evenly,with no empty patches. Dip in the beaten   egg and then the breadcrumbs. 4.Heat a good  5 cms.oil in a saucepan that can take all four eggs    together or two at a time.The oil should be hot when you place the  eggs in. Fry till golden brown all around and the meat is cooked.   This will take around 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and drain on paper   towels to drain. 5.Cut in half and place around your festive Yellow Rice platter. It   adds a lovely touch to your family Lunch on Easter Sunday. Happy Easter.I hope you have fun with this recipe. Any questions email me romadezoysa@Yahoo.com  ------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------

Forward this email

LED Stumps

From: "J. K. S. Weerasekera"
 

Subject: LED Stumps

If you have been watching the World T20 on television, you
would have noticed the stumps lighting up each time the ball
crashes against it or the wicketkeeper whips the bails off.
That's because of LED technology, a new innovation in
cricket.

Bronte EcKermann, the inventor of LED stumps, has said he
would not mind giving Mahendra Singh Dhoni one as a souvenir
if India, which has made it to the semi-finals, wins the
ongoing ICC tournament.

'Well, this is a very costly system. The entire set-up
during a match costs US$ 40,000 (Rs 25 lakhs approx); so I
don't allow the players to uproot it during any
celebrations. But I know Dhoni loves keeping a souvenir
stump. If India can win the final, I might get into some
arrangement with Dhoni,' EcKermann said.
While the new innovation is providing television viewers and
spectators an enhanced experience and getting them more
involved, here are ten things you must know about the LED
stumps:- *1.* The innovation was conceived by Bronte
EcKermann, an Australian mechanical industrial designer and
created by South Australian manufacturer Zing International.
It is called the Zing Wicket System. *2.* It was first tried
out in a club game in Adelaide. Once Cricket Australia was
convinced about using it instead of the wooden stumps for
night matches, it was decided that it would be used in the
2012 edition of the Big Bash League in Australia.

*3.* The technology was introduced after three years of
intense research. The International Cricket Council used it
for the first time during the semi-finals and final of the
recent Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the UAE. Besides the
ICC under-19 World Cup, the stumps have been used in T20
competitions in New Zealand, Australia and the West Indies.
India could see the use of LED stumps and bails in the
upcoming seventh edition of the Indian Premier League.

*4.* With conventional bails, it is difficult for the umpire
to tell when the bail is 'completely dislodged'. A bail is
only 'completely dislodged' from a wicket when BOTH spigots
have separated from their stump grooves.

*5.* Low voltage batteries are incorporated in each of the
bails and stumps. A microprocessor in each bail detects when
both spigots are dislodged from the stump grooves.
*6.* The wickets come fitted with LED. The bails also have
an in-built sensor than can determine if a wicket is broken,
in just 1/1000th of a second.

*7. *They are made of composite plastic and the LEDs glimmer
at the slightest impact with the ball.
*8.* The stumps and bails illuminate when dislodged. When
the wicket is broken, the bails flash bright red LED light.

*9.* Even if a wicketkeeper makes a stumping, the lights
flash. It helps the umpires to come up with correct
decisions especially during close stumping and run-outs.
10. Each bail costs as much as an iPhone!

Resume - To hoom it mae cunsern

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "J. K. S. Weerasekera" 

Lotty Resimay: To hoom it Mae cunsern, I waunt to apply for the job what I saw in the paper. I can Type realee quik wit one finggar and do sum a counting.. I think I am good on the phone and I no I am a pepole person, Pepole really seam to respond To me well. Certain women and all the menn. I no my spelling is not to good but if ND that I Offen can get a job thru my persinalety. My salerery is open so we can discus wat you want to pay me and wat you think that I am werth, I can start emeditely. Thank you in advanse fore yore anser. Hopifuly Yore best aplicant so farr. Sinseerly, Lotty PS : Because my resimay is a bit short - below is a pickture of me. Employer's response: Dear Lotty , It's OK honey, we've got spell checker. See you Monday.

Ugandan Sales Lady ... Buy one get one free.

3 minutes of sales talk. jksw Subject: Ugandan Sales Lady ... Buy one get one free    Saleswomanship !!!!  Ugandan Sales Lady ... Buy one get one free

Very Very FUNNY !   Guarantee you will have a Good laugh

Sales lady in Uganda

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10153854046550392

Watch till end  and you will thoroughly enjoy.

If you have lived in East Africa such as Kenya , Ethiopia , Somalia , etc you will relate to such episodes and do enjoy this presentation !!. 

THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU

email from Lesley Sirimanne

Read all the way to the end. You just might learn something that will save your home from being burglarized.

 The Burglar says-

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it..

5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house.. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.) 

10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find itathttp://www.faketv/.com/)  

 8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address. Parents: caution your kids about this. You see this every day. 

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in. 

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs http://www.crimedoctor.com/ and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.
 

Protection for you and your home:
If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. 

WASP SPRAY

A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection... Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE:

On the heels of a break-in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self-defense experts have a tip that could save your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.
Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."
Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life. 

CAR KEYS: 
Put your car keys beside your bed at night.
Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr.'s office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S.
I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.