Saturday, April 16, 2016

Everything is Beautiful--Ray Stevens

 with lyrics

Ray Stevens - Everything is Beautiful (1970)
https://youtu.be/mlwfGh-SVXw




How Michelle met Barack Obama

Sri Lanka vistas

Sri Lanka Steam 2016 - NOT THE VICEROY ! (in 4K)


WE WENT TO SRI LANKA

Screening for heart disease by measuring Blood Pressure in both arms.

The story of the 'Zero' in mathematics.

3 wheeler ambulances in Delhi, India.

Royal hike in Bhutan

Behind the wire – In Australia

A vision of Hambanthota in 2018

The vision that was 2015/will be Hambantota, Sri Lanka, in 2018. JKS Weerasekera


Treating gall stones

Friday, April 15, 2016

John Denver - Annie's Song (with lyrics)

Unawatuna Beach, Galle, Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, Washing Clothes in the River

‘Monsanto shouldn’t be allowed to exploit farmers’

 : India vows to break up GM-cotton monopoly

Monsanto is being pushed by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept the dictated government price, as India expects to develop its own genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties …

http://flip.it/qLcLy

Fracking’s Total Environmental Impact Is Staggering, Report Finds. Another view.

The body of evidence is growing that fracking is not only bad for the global climate, it is also dangerous for local communities. And affected communities are growing in number. The report, released …

http://flip.it/OjHHW


A report on the hypebole behind the politicized issue of ‘fracking’


I wrote this report a couple of years ago, when local misguided fracktivists tried to get our local board of supervisors to issue a county-wide ban against fracking. I thought it might do some good …


http://flip.it/Ws.B4

Effects of LSD

LSD makes the brain more 'complete', scientists say as they claim to have unlocked secrets of hallucinogenic drugs

Inbox
x

By breaking down parts of the brain that are usually separate, drugs like LSD return us to a childlike state — and that effect on well-being could last long after the drugs' effects have worn off

http://flip.it/Vj9jC


How LSD Makes Your Brain One With The Universe





Some users of LSD say one of the most profound parts of the experience is a deep oneness with the universe. The hallucinogenic drug might be causing this by blurring boundaries in the brain, too. The sensation that the boundaries between yourself and the world around you are erasing correlates to...

http://flip.it/NqT2U

Kumar Sangakkara, the dazzling, kind perfectionist

In many minds, Sanga leads the world all time , though Bradman sticks out  high.
   In Sanga’s  last few innings, he repeatedly gave displays of cat and mouse with the bowlers,
even producing strokes he had never attempted before.
The following is told with affection by his coach, Paul Farbrace

jksw

Kumar Sangakkara, the dazzling, kind perfectionist Sri Lanka cricket will miss like mad - Paul Farbrace salutes the retiring hero in Wisden 


 By Paul Farbrace
“What do you think? How’s it looking?” It was another practice session at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and Kumar Sangakkara was as inquisitive and conscientious as ever. And very precise. He wanted his back foot to move from middle and leg to middle and off. Not forward or back – just a fraction across, which allowed his shoulders and hips to align when facing right-arm seamers. 
I was in the first of two coaching stints with Sri Lanka, as an assistant to Trevor Bayliss (a few years later I would return as head coach), and was doing my best to keep on top of the session. But I could see Sanga was hitting the ball nicely. “Brilliant,” I told him. “No problems whatsoever.” 
Kumar Sangakkara heads to the nets for another demanding session CREDIT: AFS
He was unimpressed with my forensic analysis. “The first 10 balls I faced, I moved my back foot in four or five different ways,” he said. “If I ever ask you again, tell me the truth or don’t tell me anything.” It was a big lesson for me as a coach. And it told me plenty about Kumar Sangakkara
One of Sanga’s first deeds after I arrived was to make 192 at Hobart after Australia had set us 507. We made 410, and Sanga was given out by Rudi Koertzen, caught at slip off shoulder and helmet: a stinker. That night we were in the hotel bar when the umpires walked in. There was a pause, then Sanga stepped forward: “Rudi! What can I get you to drink?” 
If that was typical of him, so was the way in which he used that innings to get even better. Over a year later – by which stage he already had more than 6,000 Test runs – we were in the indoor school at Colombo’s SSC. Sanga couldn’t quite get his movements right, so he asked our analyst to access footage of the Hobart innings. He wanted to check the movement of his left foot in relation to Brett Lee’s delivery stride. Once he’d absorbed the information he needed, he was ready to bat again. 
A measure of Sangakkara's class was his quickness to forgive Rudi Koertzen for sawing him off eight short of a double century at Hobart in 2007 CREDIT: AFP
Nothing distracted him from his practice. There were times when, frankly, this made him a pain in the backside. Net sessions could last anything from 20 minutes to an hour. When he was wearing his game head, there was a selfishness about him. But no one minded, because that selfishness was usually for the greater good. 
Every coach who worked with him knew you ended up needing reconstructive shoulder surgery. And your throwdowns had to be accurate. I was giving him a few at Sydney, and in the previous game he’d missed a couple of square-drives, so I thought I’d throw one or two a little wider. He left the first alone, and just looked at me. When I did the same again a few balls later, he stared back, then walked straight past me and into the dressing room. We never mentioned it again, but I got the message. 
Trevor Bayliss and Sangakkara enjoy practice CREDIT: AFP
Despite being an outsider, I was always made to feel welcome. The number of dinners he and Mahela paid for got a bit embarrassing, but that’s the Sri Lankan way. I remember how well they looked after some of the Yorkshire lads when they were on a training camp in Sri Lanka. His wife, Yehali, cooked dinner one night and a few of us were invited over. He and Andrew Gale, whom he’d never met before, spent two hours talking about being left-handers – how to hit over the top, how to deal with the rough and the swinging ball and different angles of attack. Sanga won’t thank me for saying this, but he’s a proper cricket badger. 
He put his considerable brain to good use, though it was better if you weren’t on the receiving end. If he was ever in danger of losing an argument (which I believe is yet to happen), he would adopt one of two tactics: speak more loudly, or use words you’d never heard of. He would dazzle you into submission. No wonder he once trained to be a lawyer. 
Sangakkara smashed England for an unbeaten 117 at the 2015 World Cup, his last campaign as an international cricketer CREDIT: REUTERS
His best sledge was aimed at Nasser Hussain in Sri Lanka in 2003-04, when England were playing in Kandy. Nasser had called Murali – the hometown hero – various names, so the locals weren’t best pleased. And it’s fair to say Nasser was a bit grumpy with his own team-mates too. When he came in to bat, Sanga piped up with: “What’s it like to be hated by both teams?” It wasn’t abusive, but he knew how to get under your skin.
When I left Sri Lanka to join England in 2014, I wasn’t very comfortable about the fact that my first series was against my old team. A few people had accused me of leaving for the money, which was never the case, but Sanga broke the ice ahead of the opening international of the tour, a Twenty20 match at The Oval. As I was walking up the steps to the pavilion, he was at the top. There were quite a few journalists waiting around, and he shouted down: “Traitor! Traitor’s here. Don’t talk to him, boys.”
That was Sanga to a T: he was mischievous, quick-witted and charming, and everyone loved him for it. Sri Lankan cricket will miss him like mad.
Paul Farbrace, England’s assistant coach, was assistant coach of Sri Lanka between 2007 and 2009 and head coach in 2013-14

The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack 2016, edited by Lawrence Booth, is published by Bloomsbury (£50). To order your copy for £39.99 with free p&p call 0844 871 1514 or visit books.telegraph.co.uk

Dudley Senanayake former Prime Minister of Ceylon.

email from JKS Weerasekera

This is a nice  account of Dudley.
Worth the read. The 1953 hartal  led to his resigning. But  there were many hidden factors too, like the rubber/rice pact, American Ms Willis cutting off so called ‘ a i d’.
Looking back, the policy of giving most of the rice near free to all was not good economics. But under nutrition was common then.
jksw

If Dudley Senanayake Had Said “Yes” To Marriage Proposal, Sirima Ratwatte May Not Have Wedded SWRD Bandaranaike


By Charnika Imbulana
Today (13 April 2016) marks the 43rd death anniversary of Dudley Shelton Senanayake, the second Prime Minister of our country, then Ceylon.
On this date every year as a tribute to this gentleman politician, his life is reminisced. I have in these columns for many years on such occasion given details of many aspects of his life and times – some researched, some I have experienced myself, and others quoting first-hand accounts of what was related to me – all worthy of putting pen to paper all the same.
The current and future generations must surely know. Yes, there lived political leaders who are worthy of being spoken of in volumes. Yes there lived such politicians when politics was conducted in the way it should be. It was then more the norm than the exception, although today it is the contrary.
When Dudley Senanayake departed unexpectedly from this world, he was not the Premier, nor a leader of the Opposition but yet an unprecedented crowd, estimated at well over one million, thronged to Colombo for his funeral in 1973. An aerial snapshot taken by Daily Newspapers of Independence Square at the time of Dudley’s cremation shows a sea of heads as far as the eye can see – this itself was testimony to how he was regarded by the nation.
Born on 19 June 1911 to Molly Dunuwila and Don Stephen Senanayake, Dudley was the eldest of their children, two sons and a daughter. Dudley was identified as the mischievous one. Both Dudley and his brother, Robert received their secondary education at the prestigious S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia where their illustrious father D.S. Senanayake (the first Premier of Ceylon) also studied from 1892 to 1902. Dudley excelled in his studies and sports.
The famous father and the sons played cricket for S. Thomas’ College, with distinction. Dudley became the Head Prefect, captained the college team at cricket at the famous Royal-Thomian encounter and gained colours in Hockey, Boxing and Athletics. Established as an all-rounder, Senanayake gained entrance to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and University of Cambridge, to read for Natural Science Tripos and later was admitted to Middle Temple as a Barrister.
After returning to Ceylon from the University of Cambridge, having entered politics in 1936, Dudley Shelton Senanayake sought nomination and received same to run for State Council elections, while his father was a minister in the Council.
After his father took office as the first Prime Minister, his son D.S. junior, known fondly as “Dudley” became the Minister of Agriculture, a portfolio he held up unto the time he was unexpectedly appointed Prime Minister six years later succeeding his father, after his father’s fatal fall from a horse.
He was thrust the Prime Ministership on him at the most difficult time of his life. Upon his father’s sudden death. And then he faced much political crisis and turbulence. But he remained a colourful parliamentarian and much-loved leader. Although his leadership was constantly riddled with difficulties, however he had a full run as PM from 1965 to 1970.
A friend of all communities, and a devout Buddhist who respected all religions. He was modest and unassuming. As PM one would see him drive his own ‘Triumph Herald’. He was stopped at Castle Street for speeding. He was on his way for golf, another passion of his. Dudley praised the Police Constable in carrying out his official duty to the letter and apologised, promising never to repeat the mistake. This was his noble character. He possessed a charismatic personality.
The golden era of Parliament
In this year’s tribute to him on his death anniversary, I wish to focus firstly on his oratory and wit, both of which he excelled in Parliament and out, that earned applause.
We are living now in an era where Parliamentary privilege is misused with impunity and the Standing Orders disregarded and where discipline is at its lowest and un-parliamentary language in the Parliament House is the order of the day. Reflecting on the golden days of Parliament and of the then learned Members of Parliament is thus so refreshing but a grim reminder to what depths, the august parliamentary chambers has fallen to, today. It has to be even called for a written code of conduct!
The years that Dudley served in the State Council, and later after Independence, in Parliament, was the Golden Era of parliamentary English oratory in Sri Lanka. They maintained the highest discipline in the august assembly. It was an education to listen to these great leaders. There were several Ministers and MPs with a flair for oratory and they all belonged to the highest tradition and were regarded as classic in style. They all spoke without notes.
Pre-eminent among them were S.W.R.D Bandaranaike and G.G. Ponnambalam whose eloquence of English diction and power of delivery were unmatched. SWRD was in addition to possessing amazing wit, adept at repartee and the sudden thrust. Colvin R. de Silva was an orator who belonged to a different tradition. He was the most volcanic speaker in the House, fluent, rhetorical, dramatic and verbose, but equally, analytical.
He studied his brief very carefully and would argue it as he would a case in the Supreme Court. On the other hand Pieter Keuneman was a typical Cambridge Union speaker, in the best tradition of the British Parliament, fluent and precise, but suave and with no histrionics to match Colvin. W. Dahanayake was loquacious and boring but could talk on and on. The old school politicians would speak of how he held the record for the longest speech ever delivered in the old State Council!
Amongst this galaxy Dudley too held his place both in fluency of language and the power of delivery. But he was most known for his exceptional talent in devastating wit. He displayed his mischievous nature not only at home but also in Parliament.
Once, Dudley who was then the PM, was on his feet, Stanley Tillekeratne (who was not more than 4ft 6in tall) then a member of the Opposition, kept taunting him about “splits” in the UNP coalition. Dudley paused a moment and addressing the Speaker said, “Mr. Speaker, I am not surprised that at his height the Hon. Member for Kotte can see nothing but splits”. While the House roared with laughter, Mrs. Bandaranaike who was seated next to Tillekeratne visibly blushed with amusement.
On another occasion, Maitripala Senanayake, MP for Medawacchiya, who was known widely to be having a clandestine relationship with a Tamil lady, Ranji Handy (whom he married later), kept taunting Dudley over the concessions that his Government was allegedly granting to the Tamils. Whereupon Dudley shot back at Maitripala, “Mr. Speaker, I must congratulate the Hon. Member for Medawacchiya on his finding a way to observe ‘Sinhala Only’ by day, and the ‘Reasonable Use of Tamil’ by night.”
The House rocked with laughter.
In Dudley’s time, wit in the House was of a high class, SWRD and Dudley were known to be the best exponents. Firebrand MP Vivienne Goonewardene was speaking on the borrowings by his Government, Dudley retorted, “I will never borrow you!”
Elected to Parliament as Prime Minister
Although Dudley was given the Premiership on a platter as it were, he desired a fresh mandate from the people to head the country and he called for elections just two months later and was re-elected receiving even a larger majority than his father did.
Among other things, increased welfare benefits, the rice subsidy, in particular contributed to the resounding victory. The Government however became unpopular a year later, in 1953, when the price of rice was raised and subsidies were cut. Within a year, after the Korean boom ended, the Government found that the burden of the subsidy on the Budget was excessive and decided to curtail the subsidy expenditures sharply. The price of rice was increased.
Other subsidies including free meals for school children were cut. The political protest to this move was explosive. A general strike, known as “Hartal”, was launched by very strong trade unions affiliated to the left-wing parties.
The lives lost in the 1953 Hartal caused him shock and grief. Though the UNP remained in power, Senanayake honourably resigned as Prime Minister, left Temple Trees for ‘Woodlands’ and left politics. After Dudley resigned, Sir John took over as Prime Minister.
He returned to politics in 1957 when the UNP lost elections. In March 1960, the UNP managed to form a government after elections and Senanayake became Prime Minister again, but the coalition fragmented and Dudley resigned as Prime Minister after only four months in office after new elections were held in which the UNP won less seats. He became the Leader of the Opposition and forced early elections in 1965 by persuading 14 supporters of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to defect.
An honourable politician
When a UNP-led coalition won power in 1965, he agreed to step down and hand over the Prime Ministership to C.P. de Silva as a mark of gratitude towards his service towards defeating the leftist coalition government in 1964. Such magnanimity! He was sworn in as the Prime Minister for a record fourth time on 25 March 1965, at which time he had the longest reign till 1970. However he lost the general elections in ’70 and virtually retired from politics thereafter.
My uncle, late P.C. Imbulana who served him as Deputy Agriculture Minister, sported a spontaneous smile on his face whenever he spoke of his dear friend Dudley. Now whenever I remember the stories my uncle related about his best friend to me, I can’t help but smile.
The two friends shared the same humour and innocent mischief. Their loud laughter would thunder the usual quietness of our ancestral house whenever he arrived, my grandma would recall. I could well imagine it when I now recall some of the stories, and my own vague remembrance of his infectious laugh.
When Dudley returned to Ceylon after his studies, his parents were keen that they should get their son ‘settled’ in marriage. Dudley was certainly the most eligible bachelor, hailing from one of the leading aristocratic families in the island.
Marriage brokers were assigned on a country wide search and the Senanayakes took their son to see several brides. One such visit was to an aristocratic walawwa off Balangoda. A sumptuous banquet was laid for the groom’s party and Dudley dug in with relish. There had been watalappan for dessert made from the choicest jaggery that Balangoda kitul palms produced. Dudley was seen helping himself to several servings of watalappan.
The pretty bride was dressed in a Kandyan osariya and bedecked in traditional jewellery. She was ideally suited and D.S. and Molly Senanayake were silently praying that their elder son would at least say yes to this proposal.
On the way back to Colombo, the parents posed the question: “So what do you think?”
“Hari shoak! Hari shoak” (excellent! excellent), exclaimed Dudley.
The parents much relieved said, “Oh we must not waste time in bringing Sirima home!”
By the mention of the name, Dudley asked, “Sirima?”
The parents responded: “Sirima is the name of the bride. Barnes Ratwatte Disawe’s daughter whom you just described as ‘hari shoak!’”
“Oh. I was commenting on the watalappan as being ‘hari shoak,’ not of the girl!”
The old Senanayake couple didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
One wonders if Dudley had said ‘yes’ to the girl Sirima instead of to the watalappan, how the course of history of this country would have changed.

As a responsible member of the fourth estate, I would always ask my uncle, are these stories all true?
My uncle would roar with laughter, until his cheeks turned pink, enjoying the relating of these stories but in all seriousness state Dudley was never known to be dishonest.
I did see Buddhhika Kurukularatne in his ‘Men and Memories’ also verifying the story with former Secretary General of Parliament, Sam Wijesinghe, which gives me more confidence now to state it in black and white.
He also had relished relating how, during his very first meal at Cambridge, a piece of meat on his plate did a pole vault to another diner’s plate some distance away, he had explained in all seriousness it happened due to a blunt knife kept for him to use. My uncle remembered to relate this when he watched with us the comedy ‘The Party,’ where a piece of chicken flies off the leading actor Peter Seller’s dish into the air and gets stuck on a hair- do of a woman.
Dudley loved photography, wildlife, and cricket and golf. He was a man of impeccable integrity. Food was a subject of discussion right throughout his life, as he was often jokingly told and known to have quite an appetite. Although Dudley acknowledged even that with good humour, his good friend, my uncle would drily say that he just enjoyed his food. But it was his stomach that gave trouble to his last breath. When he died he was only 62 years, gone so early, a life that was so worthy.
I quote two passages from speeches made in Parliament by two eminent Parliamentarians who knew him well upon his passing away. The former had political differences with him and they constantly locked horns and was livid when a “ginger group” within the party was formed by Dudley (of which my uncle was one) but yet JR held Dudley with deep affection and respect, his emotions took the better of him, at Dudley’s passing.
J.R. Jayewardene: “Here was a colleague who touched the deep sea of reverence in a wider world in our country than possibly any other person in its long history. If a man could draw that affection and goodwill, he has a claim to be known as one of its greatest sons.”
Gamini Dissanayake: “Mr. Dudley Senanayake should be remembered as he really was in life – a simple man with his share of human frailties, minus the airs and props that accompany high position, and a man who by his simple ways constantly reminded us of the truth of the saying, ‘A truly extraordinary man is in the final analysis a truly ordinary man.’ The iron heel of totalitarianism never appealed to him. The arrogance of power was not a part of his constitution. He was a true democrat who only believed in the democratic approach towards the solution of ills. Trade unionists, political opponents, power lobbies and agitators of diverse hues and colours will bear testimony to his spirit of democratic toleration and moderation.”
“Good night sweet prince,” said JR in his fitting final farewell.

The writer likes to remember him in this tribute with her own line: Greatness was thrust on Dudley Shelton Senanayake. And he lived to be great.



Thursday, April 14, 2016

Kokiss and Aasmy.


New year table at my home in Avissawella. Kiri Buth, Katta Sambol, Konde  Kavung, Mung Kavung, Kokois and Aasmy.


Wishing all of you a happy 'Aluth Avuruddha'/ 'Puthu Varurdha Vaalththukkal'
Philip

Conversation overheard at a similar table between a young couple:-

Boy - 'Ko Kiss?'

Girl - 'Ask me'

Flute concert by Kudamaloor Janardanan, Alaipayuthey

"Dancing to Sam the Man's band, Jetwing Blue, Negombo, Sri Lanka"

Scenes of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Rail road "Udarata Manike" on Rupavahini Nanuoya to Pattipola

Rail Hike 8 by Rail junction

Will and Kate Retrace Princess Diana's India Trip


Prince William and Duchess Kate are using their weeklong tour to retrace Princess Diana's steps, nearly a quarter century later.

http://flip.it/b_nRc



Frequency of bathing

Come to Bhutan

7 facts that show the American dream is dead

   
A living wage, retirement security and a life free of debt are now only accessible to the country's wealthiest A recent poll showed that more than half of all people in this country don’t believe that the American dream is real. Fifty-nine percent of those polled in June agreed that “the American...

http://flip.it/_QhlO

One night stands more likely to produce pregnancy

Sinhala and Thamil new year.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

'William & Kate' enjoying themselves in India

Some oldies

Raffi - Good Night Irene Lyrics

https://youtu.be/0-XV63hDs4g

 

Elizabeth Mitchell - You Are My Sunshine lyrics

https://youtu.be/1moWxHdTkT0

 

Oh My Darling, Clementine | Family Sing Along - Muffin Songs


https://youtu.be/zNHFU5ZjfLU

Sri Lanka Luck Grove Spice garden

Toddy sales point, kallukkadai "கள்ளுக்கடை", Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

From Bangkok to Paris in a Tuk-Tuk


We'll end the week on this amazing travel adventure. In this short film we go on a six month long journey from Bangkok to Paris in a tuk-tuk. That's a small, three wheeled vehicle that is common in …


http://flip.it/AEMVw

Freshers' welcome at the Medical Faculty, Kynsey road, Colombo, Sri Lanka.


Piyusha Atapattu
 shared Milan Sanda Sri's post.

Freshers Welcome Music Video.
(a 'continuous shoot' style video)
Music video created for freshers welcome 2016, Faculty of Medicine -Batch 2013-

YOUTUBE.COM

PS
Welcome change from 1960 when a friend, had half his MUSTACHE shaved and had to go home to Wellawaththe, by bus.
Philip G V

Dietary control of inflammation

Removing dams

Live your life

Purpose in life.

Unhappy people's habits.

Zika

email from Dr. Bernard De Silva. Here are today's top stories.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Leading the News

Advertisement

Zika “scarier” than initially thought, CDC official says

USA Today (4/11, Korte) reports, “Public health officials said Monday they’ve learned a lot more about Zika since the White House asked Congress for $1.9 billion to combat the mosquito-borne virus and are increasingly concerned about its potential impact on the” US. Dr. Anne Schuchat, the principal deputy director of the CDC, said, “Everything we look at with this virus seems to be a bit scarier than we initially thought.” Dr. Schuchat “said the virus has been linked to a broader array of birth defects throughout a longer period of pregnancy, including premature birth and blindness in addition to the smaller brain size caused by microcephaly.”
        The New York Times (4/11, Davis, Subscription Publication) reports that “the mosquito that carries the Zika virus is present in 30 states, more than twice what officials originally thought, Dr. Schuchat said, though no locally acquired cases have been reported yet,” which “indicates that mosquitoes in the states do not yet have the virus.”
        The AP (4/11, Neergaard) reports that although President Obama “has sought about $1.9 billion in emergency money to help fight the Zika epidemic internationally and to prepare in case the virus spreads in the U.S....the request has stalled in the Republican-controlled Congress.” Just “last week, the administration said it would use $589 million in funds left over from the Ebola outbreak for some of that work.” However, “that ‘is not enough for us to get the job done,’ said Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, whose agency hopes to have a possible vaccine ready for first-stage safety testing in early fall.”
        For more information, visit the AMA’s Zika Virus Resource Center.