email from Nana

Dear Philip

Another Reunion- when, where and why ?

1960 medical Batch had several Reunions over the years. The last 2 Events held at Habarana were very successful and had very similar format- Most likely due to

a. the same Organising committee who put in so much of effort, energy and time

b. the choice of a superb location with excellent service and facilities.

c. The keenness and the enthusiasm of the participants spread across the various continents & Sri Lanka.

Thanks to the facility of an interactive and lively internet forum maintained by Philip Veerasingham at no extra cost to others, members have the opportunity to watch all the updates,express and share their feelings and personal opinions. No statistical details are available as to how many of the batch mates read the blog but my impression is that many members do seem to check the blog contents (silent observers) but only a few will make any comments. (mostly bouquets and hardly any brickbats so far).

The fact that app. 90 of our batch mates attended each of the last 2 Reunions ( totalling app. 160 with the spouses) is ample testimony to the enormous efforts taken by the Organising committee combined with the keenness and the enthusiasm of those batch mates who were able to attend- to meet & greet and show their camaraderie and fellowship.

Do we have the energy, ability and the enthusiasm to carry on with similar Events in the future? Is it viable and practical and appealing to the majority?

Just by chance and with no specific motives, several of us met at Makuls residence in Chichester very recently, where we had a wonderful time enjoying the superb company and the hospitality of the host family. During the chatter, reminiscences of the good old medical college & hostel days and the varied gossip, the Batch Get Together was also discussed.

I would like to share our collective thoughts on the ‘Batch Get together’ on behalf of the Group ( I must confess that this was not deliberately planned, randomised, not a double blind cross over sample by any means and may not be statistically significant):

1.It would be really nice if another ReUnion is planned preferably in 3 years time in Sri Lanka.

2. The excellent expertise of the Organising Committee should continue

3. Even though Habarana is a superb location and a wonderful venue, we feel the need for a change of location/venue preferably to a location within 30 miles from Colombo.

4. The basic format should be simple and not elaborate so that the Organising committee will not have to spend so much of time and energy.

5. If any financial difficulties, we should be able to offer a reasonable financial contribution purely on a voluntary basis to tide over the initial difficulties.

(Following were present: Keerthi Makulolluwa, M.G.S .Karunanayaka, Pearl & Sidney Hettiarachchi, Milroy De Silva,Lakshman Karalliadde, Nihal Gunaratna, C.S.Nanayakkara ( and their spouses)

Best wishes & food for thought.

Nana

email from Buddy - car keys

What to take to bed with you - not a joke
Pretty neat idea. Never thought of it before.
Put your car keys beside your bed at night
Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbours, 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 neighbourhood 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 neighbours 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.
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.

email from Sidney & Pearl

Karals,
Yes, we agree with you. Sidney & I are aware of the outstanding contribution made to Sri Lankan Cricket by Daya & Ranjini not just in the 90's but well before. Our recollections go back to the early 80's when the " Panita- Gunawardena " household was a buzz with activity for SL cricket. We joined in those early years in the many events organised for fund raising, celebrating & get togethers!
Daya carefully nurtured & supported the team & ofcousre this was enabled by Ranjini. Yes their generosity, dedication & determination to see our cricket team attain great heights & thereby our motherland gain international recognition is highly commendable.
They continue to support SL cricket 3 decades on. Well Done "Padita-Gunawardena " team.
Long may it continue!!
Sidney & Pearl

Human ancestry - Video

I want to share the video "Chapter 8 Human Ancestory Made Easy" with you on Dailymotion.


Check out this second video also! It's really cool!

Please click on the following link to watch the video:
http://dai.ly/ddDdSJ

PGV

Human evolution - latest perspectives

Please click on the following link to watch the video:
http://dai.ly/cPMqCU

Wikipedia - Migration routes to Sri Lanka

DNA studies and 'race'

Re Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_studies_on_Sinhalese

My Dear Daya,
The article you forwarded was interesting. The Human Genotype Project started by The National Geographic will give us some truly scientific insights into the Islands inhabitants. A member of a 'pure' Sinhalese family with aristocratic feudal lineage, resident in Avissawella, had his genes analysed and matched. He had a close match in South America and thus came to know of his strong Portuguese lineage. It is high time that we think of humanity as one and all of us as descendants of the original 'African Eve'. In our long migrations over planet earth, all of us have lost some genes and mutated others. I would like you to go to this site and get your buccal mucosa analysed for maternal and paternal genetic identification. A kit is under US Dollars Hundred for each.

https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/journey.html

If all of us who can afford it do this there will be a large database to work on. Please cut and paste the address on your web browser to see the details. Go through the other sections on Human Migrations etc. and you will see how peurile it is to talk of Sinhalese or Tamil or for that matter blacks, yellows and whites. The so called 'Aryan migration' to India from the Central Asian Steppes does not stand up to DNA analysis. So where does the 'Aryan migration' of Paranavitharana and Mendis lead us. It was a mirage which divided us and brought so much misery to this land.
Philip


Dear Derrwick,
Yes -We like it or not, we are really one - history makes it so. So obvious. The politicians want us to believe otherwise, to divide us. That one group is superior to the other.
You might find the link from Philip interesting.
Gunsie.

Hello Jeyendran, Philip et Al
I'd like to know of any batchmate who has a bigger genetic mix ( or mix up ) than me. I have Scottish, Irish, Dutch, Portugese, Hungarian and Chinese in me. The Chinaman had a Japanese name and therefore could have been a Japanese living in Hong Kong. I am pleased to say my children have at least two more countries in them and my grandchildren at least a further two.
Buddy