email from JKS Weerasekera
Streaking cricket.
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Streaking cricket.
Please click on link below:-
This blog is about the entrants in the year 1960, to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ceylon, Colombo. The email address for communications is, 1960batch@gmail.com. Please BOOKMARK this page for easier access later.Photo is the entrance porch of the old General Hospital, Colombo, still in existence. Please use the search box below to look for your requirement.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Sri Lanka tipped as Asia’s new island of growth
email from JKS Weerasekera
A renowned investment
banking and equity markets specialist has described Sri Lanka as the new island
of growth for Asia and tips the post-war rebounding nation to be the next
Singapore and even do better than the region’s city state.
In an analytical article titled ‘Sell Singapore, Buy Sri Lanka’ on seekingalpha.com, specialist Fraser Dennis makes a compelling case for Sri Lanka and its future prospects.
“Singapore is showing signs that its extraordinary growth of recent years may be reaching an end as it reaches its 50th birthday. Sri Lanka is putting in place a strong foundation upon which rapid economic growth can be achieved. Two island nations with strategic locations and significant Chinese investment but high economic growth is more likely in Sri Lanka over coming years than in Singapore,” says Dennis in the article, which can be found at http://seekingalpha.com/article/2305515-sell-singapore-buy-sri-lanka.
Noting ‘why on earth should any sensible investor consider such a trade recommendation?’ and that it also may be akin to comparing apples and oranges, the specialist gives various insights and explanations backed with recent performance of Lankan economy, plans and policies underway for the future.
In his article, he states: “Let’s go back to 1956 when the father of Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew first visited Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. A mere nine years before Singapore independence, LKY stated that Singapore should aspire to being like Colombo. It had two universities, foreign exchange reserves, a strategically-critical location and enviable infrastructure owing to its position as a key Allied HQ during the war compared to Singapore which had been occupied by the Japanese. Step forward to today and it is Singapore that has the foreign exchange reserves, amazing infrastructure and world-renowned education and it is Sri Lanka that is recovering from a period of war….”
“However, as any sensible investor knows, in deploying capital, it is not the past that is important, but the future. As Singapore reaches the ripe old age of 50 next year, it seems likely to be Sri Lanka’s turn to produce the economic growth over the next 50 years that Singapore has produced since independence in 1965,” he added.
Dennis, who has been living and working in Asia for over 24 years, analyses Singapore’s past growth as well as future prospects and where necessary points to Sri Lanka’s future potential, emphasising that Singapore’s current and future weaknesses lead to Sri Lanka’s advantage and opportunities.
Some of the key advantages of Sri Lanka which is similar to Singapore included strategic location, new infrastructure, enormous tourism potential, a world class product in Ceylon tea, wealth of natural resources and its new economic and political allies.
In an analytical article titled ‘Sell Singapore, Buy Sri Lanka’ on seekingalpha.com, specialist Fraser Dennis makes a compelling case for Sri Lanka and its future prospects.
“Singapore is showing signs that its extraordinary growth of recent years may be reaching an end as it reaches its 50th birthday. Sri Lanka is putting in place a strong foundation upon which rapid economic growth can be achieved. Two island nations with strategic locations and significant Chinese investment but high economic growth is more likely in Sri Lanka over coming years than in Singapore,” says Dennis in the article, which can be found at http://seekingalpha.com/article/2305515-sell-singapore-buy-sri-lanka.
Noting ‘why on earth should any sensible investor consider such a trade recommendation?’ and that it also may be akin to comparing apples and oranges, the specialist gives various insights and explanations backed with recent performance of Lankan economy, plans and policies underway for the future.
In his article, he states: “Let’s go back to 1956 when the father of Singapore, Lee Kwan Yew first visited Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. A mere nine years before Singapore independence, LKY stated that Singapore should aspire to being like Colombo. It had two universities, foreign exchange reserves, a strategically-critical location and enviable infrastructure owing to its position as a key Allied HQ during the war compared to Singapore which had been occupied by the Japanese. Step forward to today and it is Singapore that has the foreign exchange reserves, amazing infrastructure and world-renowned education and it is Sri Lanka that is recovering from a period of war….”
“However, as any sensible investor knows, in deploying capital, it is not the past that is important, but the future. As Singapore reaches the ripe old age of 50 next year, it seems likely to be Sri Lanka’s turn to produce the economic growth over the next 50 years that Singapore has produced since independence in 1965,” he added.
Dennis, who has been living and working in Asia for over 24 years, analyses Singapore’s past growth as well as future prospects and where necessary points to Sri Lanka’s future potential, emphasising that Singapore’s current and future weaknesses lead to Sri Lanka’s advantage and opportunities.
Some of the key advantages of Sri Lanka which is similar to Singapore included strategic location, new infrastructure, enormous tourism potential, a world class product in Ceylon tea, wealth of natural resources and its new economic and political allies.
Friday, July 11, 2014
'Made in Britain' shirt... from India.
: Angry shoppers accuse
Peacocks of deceiving them with T-shirt bearing Union Flag
The maternity T-shirt on sale
at Peacocks seems to send a clear message, but the £10 top - from a company
that promotes itself as an ethical retailer - was made in India.
Read the full story:
11 July 2014
Cinnamon could fight Parkinson's'
Spice found to be source of
chemical that can help protect the brain
Scientists at Rush University
Medical Centre in Chicago have found that the spice is the source of a chemical
that is used in the treatment for neural disorders.
Read the full story:
11 July 2014
Do you remember?
Email from Edwin Kirubs.
Bring back any memories?
My son asked me the other day, 'What was your favourite 'fast food' when you were growing up?
'We didn't have fast food when I was growing up,' I told him.
'All the food was slow.'
'C'mon, seriously.. Where did you eat?'
'It was a place called “home� ,’ I explained.
'Mom cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate, I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.'
Pizzas were not delivered to our home... But milk was.
No KFC, No Mc Donald’s only the good old bakery.How many do you remember?
Headlight dip-switches on the floor of the car.
Ignition switches on the dashboard..
Trouser leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.
Using hand signals for cars without turn indicators.
Count all the ones that you remember, not the ones you were told about..
1. Bulto toffees
2. Alerics Ice chocks
3. Home milk delivery in glass bottles
4. Wrack denims
5. Newsreels before the movie and the National Anthem
6. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the evening.(This was after 1979)
7. Catapults
8. 33 rpm records/ 45 rpm’s
9. Enid Blyton/Hardy boys books
10. Record players instead of High Fi’s
11. Metal ice trays with levers
12. Kerosene Fridges
13. Cork popguns
14. Hardly a Jap car on the road. First Jap car was Datsun Bluebird.15. Cops in long Khaki shorts (ha ha ha that was a sight with their skinny legs) and hats. At big matches kids loved to tease them as "Kossas'16. Same goes for Grade 10 students in mini shorts with their skinny legs (ha ha ha, -another sight was when they were made to stand on their chairs by teachers for not doing their homework to be teased by primary school kids, after school )17.Imported apples sold were wrapped in purple tissues.18. Full meal of wadai at Saraswathie Lodge for a large family for less than two bucks.19. What was served at kid's birthday parties were, sandwiches, ribbon cake, marshmallows, kebabs in a half pineapple and iced coffee.20. Elephant House Ice Palams in triangular cardboard cases for 15 cents21. Those who were privileged to go overseas brought home as gifts. Wilkinson blades and Parker refills.22. Imported popsicals sold at Perera and sons, were delicious.23. Soft drinks were delivered to homes.24. Many had accounts with Cargills and Elephant House25. Clothes were laundered by Dhobies, and they were heavily starched so much so that when school kids were administered corporal punishment, the cane strokes on their starched shorts sounded like balloon bursting.26. Repeating groves on 78 rpm records, were so funny to hear.27. The best gift a kid would expect for their birthdays are Mecanno sets28. When a kid gets through his/her OL's, the normal gift the kids get from parents is a Raleigh bicycle from Hunters costing Rs 100/.29. Black and white striped candies for 2 cents.30. A hundred Ramutans sold at Alexandra Place costs Rs 2 and 50 cents.31. School kids were allowed only fountain pens to class. 'Fights' among kids were spraying of 'Washable Royal Blue' ink on others' uniforms.32. Cial fountain pens used by school kids was Rs 2/50.They carried their books in suitcases, which were used as chairs after school.33. Naughty children used to cut school and go for 10.30 shows.I must be 'positively ancient' but those memories are some of the best parts of life.Pass on Especially to all your really OLDfriends.....I just did!
(PS. I used a large font so you could read it easily)
Thursday, July 10, 2014
St. John's College, Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Speech given at the 'Prize-giving' ceremony, June 21, 2014- Cricket Analogy.
Bernard Sinniah Managing Director CitiBank London
The Honourable Chairman, Principal Sir, Distinguished Guests, Staff and
Students of St John’s, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Thank you very much for inviting my wife, Anita and me here
today, as your
guests of honour. It is indeed an honour and I am deeply humbled to stand in
front of you all.
guests of honour. It is indeed an honour and I am deeply humbled to stand in
front of you all.
St John’s College has a very long history, having been
founded some 191
years ago. The education of life that this great institution provides is
never evident when you are a student. It becomes evident only when you go
out into the real world, where one is challenged. St John’s quietly enables
us to face them all, to overcome and go forward. We sing - ‘Johnians always
play the game’. This doesn’t just refer to sports but it refers to the wider
game of life.
years ago. The education of life that this great institution provides is
never evident when you are a student. It becomes evident only when you go
out into the real world, where one is challenged. St John’s quietly enables
us to face them all, to overcome and go forward. We sing - ‘Johnians always
play the game’. This doesn’t just refer to sports but it refers to the wider
game of life.
Having spent almost all my school days at St John’s, I am
eternally grateful
for what I learnt here. The learning was endless and at times painful. The
first few years of hostel life was tough. Forming friendships was
challenging as we came from so many different backgrounds. Sometimes, it was
difficult, to getting used to teachers who were such strict disciplinarians.
But underneath all this, there was something special about St John’s that I
can be very proud of. Today, the first thing I proudly say to anyone is -“I
studied at St John’s, College, Jaffna, Sri Lanka – the best school in the
world!”
for what I learnt here. The learning was endless and at times painful. The
first few years of hostel life was tough. Forming friendships was
challenging as we came from so many different backgrounds. Sometimes, it was
difficult, to getting used to teachers who were such strict disciplinarians.
But underneath all this, there was something special about St John’s that I
can be very proud of. Today, the first thing I proudly say to anyone is -“I
studied at St John’s, College, Jaffna, Sri Lanka – the best school in the
world!”
The innocent friendships that we formed some thirty-five
years ago have
grown from strength to strength. The fear we had for our teachers has turned
into utmost respect and total loyalty. Most of all, our affection for St
John’s continues to grow in every possible way.
grown from strength to strength. The fear we had for our teachers has turned
into utmost respect and total loyalty. Most of all, our affection for St
John’s continues to grow in every possible way.
I am not sure how many years have gone by since the first college prize
giving was held, but surely I must be the only Chief guest, who had never
won a prize. Among this audience, I can see some very familiar faces. I see
some of my former teachers who would never have dreamt, that I would be
standing here one day, as the Chief Guest. I would like to say that it feels
like a dream for me, too.
I want to begin by congratulating each and every one of you
who has won a
prize. This is a reflection of your hard work and dedication throughout the
past year. Whether you won a prize for academic achievement, for
achievements in sport or in any other field, it is truly great to have your
efforts richly rewarded and recognised. I am sure you made yourselves, your
parents and family members and all your teachers very proud. Well done and I
wish you all continued success.
prize. This is a reflection of your hard work and dedication throughout the
past year. Whether you won a prize for academic achievement, for
achievements in sport or in any other field, it is truly great to have your
efforts richly rewarded and recognised. I am sure you made yourselves, your
parents and family members and all your teachers very proud. Well done and I
wish you all continued success.
When I was a student, we, the non-prize-winners, were always asked to sit at
the back of the hall. As the winners were getting their well-deserved
prizes, the one thing that constantly crossed my mind was – ‘Could I ever be
successful?’
Today I want to speak to all of you- those who won prizes and
those who like
me, are wondering whether they could ever be successful. I would like to
tell you this - it is all up to you. It is you and you alone who can define
your success. I want to really challenge you by asking a simple question “Do
you know how good you are - to be successful?”
me, are wondering whether they could ever be successful. I would like to
tell you this - it is all up to you. It is you and you alone who can define
your success. I want to really challenge you by asking a simple question “Do
you know how good you are - to be successful?”
I want to tell you a story - a true story where I was
present. It happened
on the 24th of April 2007 at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. It was a very
hot and humid day when Sri Lanka took on New Zealand in the World cup
Semi-finals. It is the stand out innings of Mahela Jayawardena, which I
would like to share with you.
on the 24th of April 2007 at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. It was a very
hot and humid day when Sri Lanka took on New Zealand in the World cup
Semi-finals. It is the stand out innings of Mahela Jayawardena, which I
would like to share with you.
The scorecard will tell us that Mahela scored one hundred and
fifteen runs
in one hundred and nine balls. But, the scorecard will not tell you the hard
work that went into getting there- how his innings was formed, how he was
patient, how he let go of so many opportunities to score and how he built
partnerships. The scorecard will also not tell you how he used his strengths
and used that perfectly to overcome the challenges he faced, to build and
deliver a great innings.
in one hundred and nine balls. But, the scorecard will not tell you the hard
work that went into getting there- how his innings was formed, how he was
patient, how he let go of so many opportunities to score and how he built
partnerships. The scorecard will also not tell you how he used his strengths
and used that perfectly to overcome the challenges he faced, to build and
deliver a great innings.
Most importantly, Mahela Jayawardena, the Sri Lankan Captain
believed in
himself. He knew he was good enough to deliver a quality innings. That was
the key component of his success and of his beautiful innings that day.
himself. He knew he was good enough to deliver a quality innings. That was
the key component of his success and of his beautiful innings that day.
Well, we all can learn a lot from that. We define our success
by what is on
the board or by the prizes we win. What success was for Tharanga that day
was different to what it was for Mahela. Tharanga was judged by the
explosive start that he gave to the innings while Mahela was judged for the
calm and steady way he settled for a long innings, accelerating at the end.
Both of them were successful. It is therefore important to understand that
all of us can and will achieve success through different routes.
the board or by the prizes we win. What success was for Tharanga that day
was different to what it was for Mahela. Tharanga was judged by the
explosive start that he gave to the innings while Mahela was judged for the
calm and steady way he settled for a long innings, accelerating at the end.
Both of them were successful. It is therefore important to understand that
all of us can and will achieve success through different routes.
It is my fundamental belief that every one of us has the
capacity and
capability to achieve success. It does not mean that we become over
confident and arrogant about our talents. It is about believing that we can!
capability to achieve success. It does not mean that we become over
confident and arrogant about our talents. It is about believing that we can!
When Mahela came to the crease, Tharanga was in full flow. The run rate was
still around five, but Sri Lanka’s batting was vulnerable, which even the
opposing captain Stephen Fleming acknowledged at the toss.
Mahela knew that he too, could join Tharanga and start
scoring fast. He
could have done that but he didn’t. He buckled down and scored very slowly,
giving Tharanga the opportunity to score freely. He played carefully so that
he could easily pick-up his run rate later. That was his strength and he was
aware of that.
could have done that but he didn’t. He buckled down and scored very slowly,
giving Tharanga the opportunity to score freely. He played carefully so that
he could easily pick-up his run rate later. That was his strength and he was
aware of that.
On the other hand, when I got through my Ordinary Level examination with
much difficulty, I believed that I should try to become a doctor. As you
know, this was a prestigious profession – it was then and, I am sure it is
now! I enrolled my self to the Bio stream; despite the fact that I had
failed Biology. My first class was Zoology where I was given a frog to
dissect and then to draw it. When I finished drawing, my Zoology teacher
told me that my frog looked like a goat. Next day, I spoke to the Principal
and quickly transferred myself out of the Bio stream into Mathematics
stream. I knew my limitations but tried to ignore them.
Successful people know and acknowledge their limitations. Your limitations
will throw you challenges and obstacles. There is no point fighting them. It
is better to overcome them; otherwise they will hold you back from achieving
success.
At the end of Fortieth over, Sri Lanka had slowly built their innings to one
hundred and eighty runs for the loss of four wickets. Mahela was not out at
forty runs from seventy-four balls. The commentators were giving him a hard
time. They were accusing him of taking too much time saying that Sri Lanka
had had a decent platform and have now they’ve messed it up.
This is what happens in real life too, People will judge us by what they
expect from us without realising that all of us have different paths to
achieve success. The world will not know our limitations, the world will not
know our strengths and the world will not know the challenges we face. But
the world will be quick to judge us by what they expect from us.
That is where your own determination and drive will have to come in. That is
how Mahela built his innings - He got to his fifty in the forty-first over
and in seventy-six balls. What happened from there on was a privilege to
watch – a brutal attack on the New Zealand bowling. He raced to one hundred
in one hundred and four balls. The last fifty came up in twenty-eight balls
and took Sri Lanka to two hundred and eighty nine for the loss of five
wickets. This was way over what was predicted. It was done solely by his
sheer belief and careful execution.
As we go on to live our lives outside the school environment, we will have
wickets falling around us. We will have commentators predicting what we
could achieve and commend or condemn the way we bat. The challenge for us is
not to allow these external factors to affect us. Do we allow these external
pressures to stress us or do we build our innings carefully and according to
what we want to achieve and play a Mahela innings? To achieve success and
bring the best out of you, you will need to withstand these external
pressures and build your own innings.
One has to look back at Mahela’s innings and admire the way he built it. He
took a long time to lay a good foundation. His, was a slow and steady
innings. Likewise, success doesn’t come overnight. One has to work for it
patiently and build it up slowly. We should run a marathon, not a sprint.
You will need to take your own time, according to your own plan and ability
and then go and achieve your own success!
When I was seated at that grounds watching that match and was getting
frustrated by his innings, I never realised how well he was planning it.
Cricinfo, the cricket website, described it as, ‘An innings that has been
worth it’s weight in gold’. Every time the run rate was dropping, he would
slowly squeeze in a four and every time a wicket fell, he took on a slightly
attacking role and then went back to playing a steady innings. He was
reacting to the situation rather than worrying about it.
This is an incredible attribute that we all need. Every time we face a
crisis or a challenge, we really need to take a step back, analyse the
situation and react. – React positively. As they say ’the reaction to a
challenge is more important than the challenge itself’. There is no point in
worrying about a wicket that falls, but it is important to figure out what
needs to be done next. There is no point in worrying about not winning a
prize but you should think forward as to how to do better and thereby giving
yourself a chance to win a prize.
There are so many stories like Mahela’s innings from which we can learn
about life. Whether you are a prize winner today or not, there are bigger
and better things to look forward to in the future.
You will and You can achieve success :
• By Understanding your strengths and limitations. • By Reacting
positively to your challenges. • By Accepting that your path could be
different to that ofothers.• By Being patient and building your life
over a period of time.And most importantly: By Believing in yourself!
Before I finish, once again I’d like to thank you all for inviting Anita and
me. As I said at the outset, we are deeply touched and humbled to be here.
In closing, I would like to say to all of you again – Believe in yourself!
You have so much inside you that will make you very successful! Next time,
don’t ask yourself the question that I asked myself. Assure yourself by
saying ‘Yes, I can be successful’
And as the great Boxer Mohammed Ali once said, ‘If my mind can conceive it;
and my heart can believe it; then I can achieve it’
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
All cars should have 'Catholic converters'.
The exam howlers that earn an F in annual competition to find the best gaffes
The statement, written by a University of Ulster student, is just one of a string of howlers identified by academics during this summer's marking session.
Read the full story:
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