Toastmaster award.

email from

Dawood	27 Sep (2 days ago)

Dananjaya Hettiarachchi, Winner of Toastmasters International speech Contest.

"I see something in you": 

\http://www.businessinsider.com/toastmasters-public-speaking-champion-dananjaya-hettiarachchi-2014-9

Best regards

NFL fever hits Regent Street ahead of Dolphins-Raiders clash.

Thousands of NFL fans have descended on Regent Street to celebrate the return of American Football to London ahead of the Miami Dolphins-Oakland Raiders game at Wembley on Sunday.

Read the full story:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nfl/article-2771870/NFL-fever-hits-Regent-Street-thousands-American-Football-fans-flock-central-London-ahead-Miami-Dolphins-vs-Oakland-Raiders-clash.html

28 September 2014

German Shepherd throws a tantrum like a toddler to avoid going home.

A dog in the US has become world famous for her insolence after her owner posted a video of her throwing a theatrical tantrum to YouTube. 

Read the full story:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2771672/Watch-German-Shepherd-throws-tantrum-like-toddler-avoid-going-home.html

28 September 2014

Could Sajid Javid be Britain's first Asian Prime Minister?

Sajid Javid, the first man of Asian heritage to hold a position in the Cabinet, was born to parents who had moved to Britain with just £1 to their name. Now some are tipping him as a future leader.

Read the full story:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2771477/Could-Sajid-Javid-Britain-s-Asian-Prime-Minister-His-parents-arrived-just-1-s-minister-That-s-man-believes-immigrants-natural-Tories.html

28 September 2014

Lucien and Sri Kanthi Wijetunga come to UK.

email from 'Kalu Nana'

Had a meal with Lucien and wife Srikanthi at Malabar Junction restaurant in Bloomsbury London.

Dinil Wicks and wife Prabha, Sarojini and me joined the party.
Happy memories indeed.
27.9.14

Benefits of Eating Raw Onions.

email from Kamalini Kanapathippillai. Well, it is surprising to know that these vegetables that we use to add flavour and aroma to the dish have many health benefits. If eaten raw, onion and garlic can be really good for the body. Raw onions have sulphur compounds and essential vitamins that can be best consumed raw. If cooked, the essential nutrients and vitamins get lost. So, if you love onion salad, here are few good reasons to have it regularly. Health benefits of eating raw onions: Cures constipation:  The fibre in raw onions help flush out toxins and hard food particles that get stuck in the intestines. If you are suffering from constipation, have raw onions. An Ayurveda medicine for sore throat:  If you are suffering from cold, cough and a sore throat, have fresh onion juice. Add jaggery or honey to the onion juice. Remedy for bleeding problems:  Have a bleeding nose or suffer from piles? Have raw onions. It is one simple and effective home remedy to cure piles naturally. To cure a bleeding nose, cut a raw onion and smell it for some time. The white onions can help cure bleeding problems. Controls diabetes:  This is one of the health benefits of eating raw onions. If consumed raw, onions increase the production of insulin. So, if you are diabetic, you have a good reason to munch crisp raw onion salad regularly. Protects the heart:  Regular consumption of raw onion protects the heart from coronary diseases. It controls high blood pressure and also opens blocked arteries. This is one of the known health benefits of eating raw onions. Controls cholesterol levels:  The small herbaceous plant vegetable has a very good health benefit for obese people and heart patients. Raw onions control cholesterol by reducing the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. It has methylallyl sulphide as well as the sulphur-containing amino-acids that lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol (HDL) levels. Prevents growth of cancer cells:  Onion is rich in sulphur compounds. Sulphur protects the body from stomach, colon, breast, lung and prostate cancer and prevents the growth of cancer cells. It also helps cure urinary tract disorders. Treats anaemia:  We often see tears flowing from the eyes while chopping onions. The sulphur-containing oils and organic sulphides lead to tears once it enters the nostrils. These oils help treat anaemia. Note that the oils and the effect of organic sulphides reduce when the onions are cooked. So, to treat anaemia, have raw onions. These are few health benefits of eating raw onions. You can have raw onions in sandwiches, mix with your vegetable salad or use as toppings for hamburgers and chaats. To prevent the strong and pungent mouth odour of raw onions, brush your teeth and have some mouth fresheners like cardamom or clove.

'GOIGAMA LANSIYAS'

email from Gunsie

Received from a classmate of mine!

  

Following is an interesting piece by former Sri Lankan (Sinhala) DIG of Police now domiciled in Canada:

Recently I enjoyed reading a lively discussion in a newspaper about the ‘Govigama Burghers’.

The first time I heard the term ‘Govigama Lansia’ being used in lighter vein was by my cousin the late Neville Algama. He referred to his friend and classmate at Royal College V.T. Dickman as ‘Govigama Lansia’.

Siva Rajaratnam that affable Attorney- at- law who hailed from Trincomalee became a dear friend of mine after he cross-examined me for several days before the Sansoni Commission. He too had been a classmate of Dickman’s.

In 1980 when I was the DIG–Metropolitan, Siva invited me to his Royal College batch mates’ annual get-together at his Wellawatta Rohini Road residence as the guest of honour, although I was not from that Reid Avenue school.

Among others present on this occasion were Neville Algama and Nissanka Wijeratne who was then a cabinet minister.

When V.T. Dickman arrived it was Nissanka Wijeratne who announced aloud, “Here comes the Govigama Lansia!”

Dickman was surprised to see his superior officer seated next to the minister.

My instant reaction was to loudly observe, “Sir, Vernon is only one of the many Govigama Lansias in the Police.”

Such terms were freely used by friends in the company of Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers and Muslims. That was indeed the wonderful spirit of the time.

Perhaps, many today do not know that a common party song of the time sung by all had words such as “Sinhalaya modaya, kevun kanna yodaya, Demalaya, panankottaya, Thambiya, hambaya, Lansia, kerapotha etc.”

Songs of this nature brought the youth of different communities together.

There was no animosity whatsoever.

The term ‘Govigama Lansia’ was certainly complimentary. It was applicable in full measure to the many burgher gentlemen that formed the backbone of the Ceylon Police that I joined as an ASP in 1958.

At that time there were only about sixty Senior Gazetted Officers. Of these senior officers there were many burghers. Almost all of them became my good friends.

The Officer’s Mess on Brownrigg Road with Jamis the butler in attendance, was the pleasant meeting place particularly during the week-ends.

Wilhellem Leembrugen was one of the three DIGs, Cecil Wambeek, Richard Arndt, Harry Vanden Driesen and Jack Vansanden were Superintendents.

The Burgher ASPs were Fred Brohier, R.A. Stork, Ian Vanden Driesen, Ainsley Batholemeuz, Royden Vanderwall, Allen Flamer-Caldera and Paddy Sims.

There were many Govigama Lansias among the inspectorate too.

Those that readily come to mind are: V.T. Dickman, Taylor, Rosairo, Pietersz, the Balthazar brothers, Eddie Gray, Barney Henricus, Dick Hopman, Derrick and Hague Christofelsz, Thomas, Sweetie Weber, Ron Jansz, Dudley Von Haght, Barthelot, Vernon Elias, Mike Schokman, Brindley Stava and Gerry Paul.

The Burgher community was so respected and widespread that many had been recruited as constables. They had the distinct advantage of the ability to work in English.

The sergeants and constables of the time were very important public officials that functioned at grass roots level in the villages. As an ASP fifty years ago, there were many Police stations where sergeants were the OICs that came under my purview. Sergeants Pietersz and Whatmore were excellent court officers.

Even lawyers and magistrates respected their knowledge of the law. Of course, Derrick Christofelsz, the Chief Inspector of the Colombo Magistrates’ Court was highly regarded by judges and lawyers. When he walked into the court house he drew the attention a Queen’s Counsel would have drawn.

It is with nostalgia that I recall the names of burgher constables who served under me in different police districts in the late fifties and the sixties. The names that come to mind are Ryde, Leitch, Hesse Leiton, Hendrick, Hingert, Koelmeyer, Raymond, lsaacs and Wally Bastian the reputed exponent of true Portuguese Kaffringha music. He was one of the few talented officers who kept the Colombo Police ‘Traffic Circus’ alive in the sixties.

The ‘Lansias’ of the police were truly ‘Govigama Lansias’. They undoubtedly enjoyed a place of honour in the history of the Sri Lanka Police.

Ex - DIG Henry Dullewe
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