Friday, July 4, 2014

Early America.

Email from Gunsie.

Click on the web-link below:-

o America before Pearl Harbor: Early Kodachrome images
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Radio Ceylon.

 email from

Senaka Weeraratna 




NOSTALGIAWhen Ceylon ruled the airwaves
V.S. SAMBANDAN 

Once the pride of the region, Radio Ceylon is today a fading memory. Can the Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation regain its lost glory?


Magnetic voice: A file picture of Jimmy Bharucha broadcasting.

IT is Christmas time and Jim Reeves is on air, taking Sri Lanka back to its days of romance and charm. "You are listening to Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and we've got more Christmas music going out for you. Hope you are tuned in to us," trills the friendly announcer. Another glorious old number "When A Child Is Born" floats across the skies. Requests pour in from all over the country and the programme continues to enthral those tuned in.
When Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (as Radio Ceylon is now called) celebrated its 80th birthday on December 16, it was, sadly, a pale shadow of its past. Once the pride of the region's airwaves, it is today relegated to fading memories and confined to chapters of an era of broadcasting élan.
High quality
For Indian radio enthusiasts of decades gone by, it was Radio Ceylon that set the standards. Those were days before commercial broadcasts commenced in India and taking a break from the monotonous, though informative, broadcasts of All India Radio (AIR) meant twirling those vintage radios to trap Radio Ceylon's programmes. Once tuned in, the listener was treated not just to music of the highest quality. The magnetic voices of broadcasters, Jimmy Barucha (English), Ameen Sayani (Hindi) and Mayilvaganam (Tamil), to mention just three, ensnared the listeners, taking Radio Ceylon to the top slot in the region's radio network.
The history of broadcasting, published in Wikipedia, notes that gramophone music was broadcast from a tiny room in Colombo's Central Telegraph Office with the aid of a transmitted built by Telegraph Department engineers from the radio equipment from a captured German submarine.
The beginnings
This metamorphosed into South Asia's first radio broadcasting station, which was inaugurated on December 16, 1925. The real catalyst was to come later, with the shifting of Radio SEAC (South East Asia Command) to Ceylon in 1949. Radio SEAC, was established during World War II for the British servicemen. Radio Ceylon, as it was called from 1949 became a public broadcasting corporation in 1967. Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation became Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation in 1972 when the island-nation changed its name.
"Sri Lanka was fortunate that Radio SEAC was established to entertain and inform the troops," recalls Eric Fernando, former Director General, SLBC. "Geographically Sri Lanka was the ideal location because the (transmission) reach could be all over the region, and at the end of the War, we inherited it."
Radio Ceylon, through its music programmes, carved a niche for itself among the region's broadcasters. Its base of Indian listeners was huge between the 1950s and the 1970s. "We were popular in India because we had a steady supply of English music," Fernando, who started his career as a broadcaster at SLBC in the mid 1970s said.
For Indians of the radio generation, Radio Ceylon was the first introduction to paradise-island and to the world of music. "I first heard The Beatles over Radio Ceylon. We grew up listening to songs over Radio Ceylon. It was part of my growing up," remembers Nirupama Rao, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
In addition to its well-structured English music programmes, Sayani's "Binaca Geetmala", revolutionised radio presentation. Having elevated broadcasting to a fine art in the region, Sayani remains etched in the minds of many. Mayilvaganam's silken voice, with his singsong Jaffna Tamil diction, captivated the ears of Indian listeners. Between them Barucha, Sayani and Mayilvaganam opened up the listeners' sensitivities to the finer elements that transcended mundane facts.
However, there has been a dip in the number of Indian listeners over the years. With Vividh Bharathi — AIR's commercial services section — Radio Ceylon's hold was diluted. The cassette revolution, which made music more affordable, the advent of TV, private radio stations and FM broadcasts were other developments. Slowly, but certainly, Radio Ceylon was pushed to the pages of history.
Along the corridors of the SLBC's headquarters, this history remains frozen. Elegant old studios retain their stately charm, complete with original BBC microphones. Groups of musicians and radio-drama artistes continue to use the studios to churn out programmes. However, somewhere, something is missing.
Simply put, SLBC lagged behind the times.
SLBC should leverage its past and harness itself to the current developments in radio broadcasting. SLBC's most unique attribute is its archives — home to more than 1,00,000 original records, comprising Sinhalese, Tamil, English and Hindi music. Sunil Shantha Perera, the new Chairman of SLBC plans to digitise the collection and share them with the National Archives. In addition, the originals with the National Archives are to be shared with SLBC. This digitally reformatted music, Fernando points out, could form the basis for a unique programme that will capture the past and lure audiences back.
Future plans
Plans are also on to offer more programmes on the Internet. Presently the Sinhala and Tamil National services and City FM are available on the Internet (www.slbc.lk) . An improved English content is also on the cards. The SLBC has collaborated with the BBC to share its programmes for six hours every day. Now a new English channel is being planned. "A national radio must have a national English channel," emphasises Perera.
The abolition of licenses for radio sets in the late 1990s had also punctured its revenues. However, deals with the internationally reputed radio stations such as NHK of Japan and DW of Germany have helped bolster its finances.
SLBC officials are emphatic that "radio is still popular", and point to the increasing "car-radio segment". However, for SLBC to regain its lost slot as the premier broadcaster, the most critical element is fresh thinking, coupled with leveraging its inherent strengths of the past. For, its success will depend on increasing the number of listeners who willingly tune in to that catchy line: "you are listening to Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation".

Courtesy: The Hindu 
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Thursday, July 3, 2014

The Sandy Shores of Passekudah

Forwarded. None of the Hotels, motels,. Cabanas were around when I visited over two years ago. The sandy beaches with shallow waters is/are huge.
jksw







Nestled along the Eastern Coast of the Isle, about 35km from Batticaloa, Passekudah is well known as a haven for vacationers seeking an interlude among an expanse characterised by cool and calm waters, breathtaking beauty and the warmth of the sun.
Shallow waters, that allow one to wade in comfortably for at least half a kilometre depending on the time of the year, and gentle currents assure visitors of a delightful holiday that would be hard set to find anywhere else.
Cool and calm waters, breathtaking beauty, the warmth of the sun and Shallow waters, that allow one to wade in comfortably assure visitors of a delightful holiday
Silence, broken only by the occasional call of a bird and the crashing waves, accompanied us as we ambled along the sandy stretch that extended about three kilometres from one end to the other.
Not a soul was in sight, undoubtedly snuggled in their comfortable beds within the several hotels and resorts scattered along the beach.
Beyond the already occupied spaces of the expanse, several new developments could be seen, some nearing completion, others still on the initial stages with steel columns resembling dark spikes in the distance.
Imprints of countless steps going back and forth covered the entire length of the beach attesting to the multitude who occupy the shores as the day unfolds.
Now and then, a lone stroller would pass us with a fleeting smile, seemingly lost in his/her own musings.
All of a sudden a loud vroom interrupted our ramblings.
Quickly turning we saw a jet ski swish pass by, creating a veil of water as it swirled and shimmied its way over the waves, the rider probably warming up for the day.
Known for providing a diverse range of activities in water sports, the coral reef at Passekudah, which provides natural protection to the beach, allow visitors to indulge in snorkelling and diving as well.
As the day unravelled, a steady stream of visitors occupied the sandy shores of Passekudah, where travellers residing in nearby hotels made several visits to indulge in the cool waters and then to laze around in the sun.
Young and old alike seemed to revel in the opportunity of being able to spend a day at the beach unencumbered by the mundane activities of life.
The sounds of nature, as such, gave way to the joyous sounds of laughter and chatter of the gathered where adults laughed heartily at the antics of the little ones.
Due to the vast extent of the beach, those who sought a more subdued time was able to enjoy to their hearts content as well.
The beach stretches in front of the commercial properties held a certain amount of solitude only smudged by the occasional roamer that drifted by too lost in their solitary indulgence of the charming terrain to cause much of a ruckus.
At times such roamers were accompanied by one or more individuals just exploring the stretch appreciating the rare respite and allure of Passekudah.
The azure skies revealed a clear expanse set aflame with the brilliance of the orange sun that basked all with its golden glow
As the afternoon slipped away making way for dusk, we sat down at the beach eagerly drinking in the charming moments before they disappeared.
The soft brown sand of the beach that glistened in the daylight now held a more sombre tone turning almost gold as it reflected the orange glow of the sun.
The aquamarine waters of the ocean that sparkled brilliantly during the day turning variant shades of blue, now took on the shade of the setting sun-the rippling waters reflecting the variant tones of gold and red.
The azure skies revealed a clear expanse set aflame with the brilliance of the sun that basked all with its golden glow.
As dusk engulfed the periphery we bid adieu to Passekudah and joined the rest of the crowd heading back as the twinkling lights of the hotels started to illuminate the beach gradually, casting its own special spell.

The beach stretch of Passekudah offers some of the best hotels with:
  1. Maalu Maalu Resorts & Spa (the first hotel in Passekudah),
  1. Amethyst Resort,
  1. Anilana Resort,
  1. Uga Bay 
  1. Centara Passikudah Resort & Spa,
  1. Amaya Resort, to name a few.
SEVEN more hotels are to join the expanse as the Government of Sri Lanka looks to transform Passekudah as a tourist zone offering nothing but the best of Sri Lankan hospitality and charm.
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It’s not success that creates happiness, but happiness that creates success!

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Viagra and Priapism.

It was around 10am on a week day. I got a call from a General Practitioner working in Colombo saying that he had a most unusual 'case'. He had a patient in his mid fifties who was having a painful erection of the penis which had not gone down for the last four hours. I told him  that it was most probably a case of "priapism". It got its name from the Roman God Priapus who was always depicted as having a full erection. This god was the center of all the Bachchanalian orgies. The  cause of Priapism was a clotting of the venous plexuses inside the penis.
I went to see this patient who told me an interesting story. The patient was a prosperous business  man with gold rings on his fingers, a gold chain round his neck and a gold wrist-watch. A picture of avarice. A friend of his had told him about the drug Viagra and procured him six tablets on the 'black market'. He was told to take one tablet before the anticipated sexual encounter. He took one tablet at 4pm. Because there was a delay in reaching home he took another tablet at 7pm, at his home. Then the wife wanted to go shopping and there was a further delay of two hours. He took another tablet after the shopping. The penis was now well and truly rigid. He had sex with his wife and in spite of all his effforts the penis would not shrink. The wife got desperate and 'slapped the penis' to no avail. That was the time they came to consult the doctor.
The treatment for Priapism in the late 1990s was to puncture the penis with a large bore needle and flush out the clots with saline. Unfortunately quite a few of these cases end up with impotence as a long term side effect.
Philip G V
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Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Prof. Valentine Basnayake.



There is so much to say of this humble ‘national treasure’
Writing an appreciation of Valentine Basnayake, popularly known as Bas, is no easy matter; not because there is little that can be said about him, but because there is so much that calls to be said of this multifaceted, true human being, that makes it difficult for me, alone, to do him justice.
After qualifying MBBS, Bas, following his academic bent, joined the Dept. of Physiology of the Faculty of Medicine in Colombo and after a while, went to Oxford for his postgraduate studies.
It was his life-long and deep love of music – he was self-taught- that brought the two of us together. Ever willing to help those who were interested in music – wherever that interest lay- he helped and accompanied me in my early days as a budding singer. It was this close association plus our interaction over many years in the Faculty of Medicine of the second medical school, that made us firm friends.
Many were the singers and instrumentalists he helped, often at very short notice. He was the regular accompanist for that Meistersinger, the late Lylie Godridge, among other singers of repute. He was much sought after and for a long time had the reputation of being Sri Lanka’s foremost accompanist. This latter reputation did not blunt the humility of this truly great musician. He was also the chosen accompanist, for the internationally acclaimed tenor Luigi Infantino and that Sri Lankan of international repute, the cellist Rohan de Saram, when they performed in Sri Lanka.
After some years in Colombo, he moved to Peradeniya and adorned the Chair in Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Peradeniya Medical School. I shall leave it to others who were closely associated with him in the Physiology Dept. to write about his contribution to his chosen discipline. Two aspects of this contribution were known to me; his introduction of students to Project Work and his encouragement of a good research methodology, guided all the time by a strict adherence to ethical principles.
In Peradeniya, he spent a great deal of time and energy in the development and encouragement of those who were interested in music and actually aroused that interest among those who up to that time had paid little attention to it. He, ably backed by his close friend the late Prof. Seneka Bibile, was responsible for the initiation and growth of the Peradeniya P4 music group. This gathering of people interested in music, people of all ages, performers and audience alike, met regularly to produce music and provide entertainment which was greatly appreciated by so many. Some children who were in those audiences, now grown up men and women, still fondly recall those musical evenings. The hard work of organisation was in Bas’s hands with, in the early days, Seneka and Leela Bibile providing the venue and eats and drinks. It was Bas’s highly methodical hard work, his enthusiasm and dedication that kept this group alive for many years. So popular were these get-togethers that a group of singers, among whom were Lylie Godridge, Nimal Senanayake, Lorraine Abeysekera, Irangani Goonesinghe and Mary Anne David, came up regularly from Colombo for the evening, just to participate in these most enjoyable evenings, getting back to Colombo late that same night.
Valentine Basnayake played a vital role in the Schools Biology Project headed by Seneka Bibile. Bas ensured that students were introduced to Biology not as a mere text-book discipline but as a hands-on learning experience, largely through project work. I believe that he was the first scholar to introduce MCQ’s to Sri Lanka; an experience that he made use of in the Faculty of Medicine; being responsible for training other staff in the formulation of sound, meaningful MCQ’s. Furthermore, he introduced the Student Projects experience popularised in the School Biology Project to the Faculty and ensured its continuance for many years.
Bas was a soft spoken, gentle man who never spoke harshly to anyone. When displeased or angry that some people disagreed with him he merely fell silent. When he spoke, he weighed every word he used with infinite care and precision, so that there was no ambiguity in what he said. He held strong views particularly on educational matters and expressed them firmly, precisely but always calmly. He made a huge contribution to Medical Education, particularly in the field of evaluation, long before the Medical Education Unit was set up.
As Dean of Faculty and Professor of Physiology, Bas made an invaluable contribution to the Peradeniya Medical School. There were those who, while acknowledging and admiring his commitment and scholarship, claimed that at times he could be inflexible. I know personally that this criticism was at times justifiable. During his period of deanship, I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting him regularly and discussing matters with him over many a cup of Nescafe brewed by him. There were times I disagreed with him over matters that were to come up at the next Faculty meeting. No amount of argument or persuasion could shift him from the stand he was going to take. After expressing his view, in that quiet, precise and firm manner of his, he would listen to me patiently without interruption and comment. On these occasions, I told him that I was on the grounds of our friendship, warning him of my disagreement, but would challenge him in open ‘Court’ if he held his ground. He just smiled and said, “Mark, have another cup of coffee!”
Bas was a true academic, displaying those qualities that went way beyond the holding of degrees. He was greatly admired by many a leading scientist in the country. He was an active member of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science for many years. The late Professor Breckenridge in conversation with me once said, ‘I say men, Bas is a national treasure!
I leave to the last a unique aspect of this man. Namely, his love and concern for all living things. Once, while walking along the corridor with him, he suddenly stopped, bent down, gently picked up a worm that lay across his path and as gently placed it in the adjacent garden.
His dog, resident in the Dept of Physiology, followed him faithfully to his lectures, and sat patiently, perhaps, listening to the lecture with as much interest as the students.
I believe- I may be wrong here- that during his time, animal experimentation was gradually replaced by a different type of physiology that did not involve the muscle twitch trace of a pithed frog. I know for certain that he considered such experimentation unacceptable and a cruelty to a helpless animal.
“Dear Bas, your long-time close friend and associate, says ‘Goodbye’ with a heart burdened with pain, sorrow and a sense of deep loss, while giving thanks to you and the Higher Powers that be, for granting me the invaluable gift of knowing you so well and for the pleasure I experienced in this knowing and for the knowledge I was privileged to glean from you.”
Yes. Sri Lanka has indeed lost a ‘national treasure!’

-Mark Amerasinghe
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Bread-fruit to feed the world.

Is this the new wonder food? Breadfruit is high in protein and has the potential to feed the world, experts say

Breadfruit (pictured) was once widely eaten in Jamaica and one vitamin and mineral rich fruit provides the carbohydrate portion of a meal for a family of five.

PS
Sri Lanka has plenty to offer.

Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2675002/Is-new-wonder-food-Breadfruit-high-protein-experts-say-potential-feed-world.html
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