#Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

[lokuhapuarachchi]

The Working-Class Candidate Gaining Global Attention as Sri Lanka Seeks a New Path

In recent weeks, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) alliance, has emerged as a formidable presidential candidate, drawing significant international media attention. His rise is particularly notable as Sri Lanka grapples with an unprecedented economic crisis, a situation that has left the country in dire need of new leadership capable of steering it toward recovery and stability.

Dissanayake has positioned himself as the candidate of the working class and the disenfranchised, groups that have been hit hardest by the country’s economic collapse. The crisis, which reached its peak in 2022, was characterized by severe shortages of essential goods, including fuel, cooking gas, medicines, and food. These shortages were compounded by unsustainable debt, poorly timed tax cuts, and the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The public’s frustration culminated in mass protests that eventually led to the ousting of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa​.

Why Sri Lanka Needs New Leadership

Sri Lanka’s current situation demands a leader who can address both the immediate economic hardships and the underlying issues of corruption and governance that have plagued the country for years. The existing political elite has been widely criticized for prioritizing personal gain over public welfare, leading to widespread disillusionment among the population. Dissanayake’s campaign is built on the promise of anti-corruption measures and economic reforms designed to benefit the broader population rather than just the elite.

Dissanayake’s leadership of the NPP, a coalition of 21 groups including political parties, trade unions, and civil society organizations, highlights his broad-based appeal. His commitment to systemic change resonates with those who believe that Sri Lanka’s traditional political structures have failed to serve the people effectively. This sentiment is particularly strong among the younger generation, who see in Dissanayake a leader capable of breaking away from the old, failed system.

International Perspective

The global community has taken note of Dissanayake’s rise, particularly his pragmatic approach to Sri Lanka’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). While he has acknowledged the necessity of continuing with the IMF program, given the country’s financial collapse, he has also stressed the need to renegotiate terms to alleviate the burden on ordinary Sri Lankans. This balanced approach suggests that Dissanayake is not only aware of the need for economic stability but is also committed to ensuring that recovery efforts are equitable and just​.

As Sri Lanka prepares for its next presidential election, the need for new leadership has never been more apparent. The country stands at a crossroads, and the choice of its next leader will determine whether it continues to struggle under the weight of its challenges or embarks on a path toward genuine recovery and renewal. Dissanayake’s candidacy, with its emphasis on anti-corruption, economic reform, and working-class representation, offers a vision of change that many Sri Lankans—and international observers—find compelling.

[xtruss]

Cricket still in the dark 20 years after Hansie Cronje’s declaration

ICC has stepped up the fight but the proliferation of franchise cricket has made the job of stopping corruption even harder

He took many secrets with him in his grave after his death

The fall-out after Hansie Cronje admitted match-fixing was huge, but he remained popular in South Africa. Photograph: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

It was, almost everyone agreed, a deft and handsome bit of cricket. Twenty years ago this week, on the fifth day of a dead Test spoiled by three days of rain, Hansie Cronje made an irresistible offer to England’s Nasser Hussain. South Africa, he said, would declare on 248 a half hour before lunch, both teams would forfeit an innings, and England would have the rest of the day to try and win the game. They did, by two wickets.

“I hope Hansie gets the credit he deserves,” Hussain said later. He did. It was “a refreshing, populist gesture” in one paper, “a triumph for all too rare positive thinking” in another, “brave, positive, and brilliant” in a third.

Some grumbled Cronje had devalued the sport or that he was only doing it to make himself look good. “It might raise a few eyebrows,” Cronje said after it was over.

He was right. At Lord’s, where the ICC had its headquarters, there were whispers that it was against the spirit of cricket. “Traditionalists muttered about interfering with the natural course of a Test match,” reported the Guardian.

How perfectly absurd, in hindsight, that the authorities were so obsessed with the threat of this speck on the game’s reputation and so oblivious to the enormous stain splashed across it.

The bookies knew better. “In Bombay,” the Guardian added, “the bookmakers cried ‘foul’ and ‘fix’ and suspended their betting.” The last people to know what was really going on that day, then, were the rest of us – the fans, press, players, and administrators.

Three months later the truth started to leak out, when Delhi police revealed they had recordings of Cronje conspiring to fix matches with an Indian bookmaker. Three months after that, Cronje confessed his guilt. He had sold that match for £5,000 and a leather jacket, and aspects of others, one-day games in India mainly, for much more.

Three months after that he was banned from the game for life. The two teammates he had corrupted, Herschelle Gibbs and Henry Williams, were banned for four months. It should have been a turning point in the history of the game, which ought never to have been so innocent again because it was already clear that Cronje wasn’t the only one at it. In May that year, the Qayyum report into fixing was published in Pakistan, with Saleem Malik and Ata-ur-Rehman banned for life and six more fined. In December, when the Indian Central Bureau of Investigation completed its own investigation, Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Sharma were banned for life and Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar were banned for five years.

After such knowledge, what forgiveness? Every one of those bans was overturned, which only added to everyone’s confusion about who was guilty of what.

As for Cronje, he died in a plane crash in 2002 and his reputation will remain, now, frozen forever in the balance. Amazingly, in 2004 he finished 11th in a poll run by the South African Broadcasting Corporation to find the 100 greatest South Africans. The public were, perhaps, at a moment in their history when they were more inclined to forgiveness than many of us might be. They accepted his religiosity (“In a moment of stupidity and weakness,” Cronje said. “I allowed Satan to dictate terms to me rather than the Lord”) as a sign of sincere repentance rather than rampant hypocrisy.

“To those who are disappointed with their fallen heroes,” wrote Qayyum, “it be suggested that humans are fallible. Cricketers are only cricketers.”

Cronje was something more than that, though. He was a charismatic man, a convincing leader and an emblem of the new South Africa. Someone who inspired such enormous loyalty in his friends and teammates that one of them, Daryll Cullinan, testified with one breath that Cronje had offered the team $250,000 to throw a match and, with his next breath, testified that he still thought of him “as a great captain and a great leader”. There are still Hansie Cronje fan groups on social media.

The ripples have only just stopped running outwards. The bookie involved in the Cronje case, Sanjeev Chawla, was finally extradited from England to India last February, after a three-year legal wrangle. He had been lying low, living in a mock Tudor mansion in north London.

Meanwhile, the sport soon returned to sleepy innocence. In June 2000, the ICC announced it was hiring the former Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Paul Condon to run a new anti-corruption unit. They were hopelessly under‑resourced and largely ineffective. So the more things changed, the more stayed the same.

Herschelle Gibbs received a four-month ban. Photograph: Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi/REUTERS

In 2010 – another ignominious anniversary will fall this summer – the News of the World exposed another spot-fixing ring, between Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif. The game went through the same cycle of shock, recrimination, and reform all over again.

It was only in the years after that the ICC began to properly resource it’s Anti-Corruption Unit. Today, the ACU is doing good work and their player education programme, in particular, is paying off. The trouble is that in the meantime, their job has become far harder as all those T20 leagues have sprouted around the world and fixers have switched from elite men’s cricket to other targets such as franchise cricket, youth cricket and women’s cricket, where there is less scrutiny and fewer financial rewards for the players.

In Cronje’s day, the problem was in plain sight. The suspicion now is that it is hidden away. We didn’t see it clearly then, we still don’t today.

— Andy Bull | Monday 13 January, 2020 | The Guardian USA

[superbimages]

Birkenhead Park by Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi http://ift.tt/2v6aK3r

[lokuhapuarachchi]

Sinhala and International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day, observed annually on 21 February, celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity while promoting the preservation and promotion of mother tongues worldwide. This day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and commemorated since 2000, serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made to protect native languages, notably the Bengali language movement in Bangladesh on 21 February 1952.

The significance of International Mother Language Day lies in its recognition of the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingualism. It honors those who fought for their mother tongues, highlighting the Bengali movement's impact on Sri Lanka's political landscape.

The introduction of the Sinhala Only Act (Official Language Act No. 33 of 1956) on 5 June 1956 replaced English with Sinhala as Sri Lanka's sole official language. Spearheaded by Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, this policy aimed to promote Sinhala and assert Sinhala cultural dominance. However, it marginalized the Tamil-speaking minority, contributing to ethnic tensions and the Sri Lankan Civil War.

While globalization challenges narrow socio-political attitudes like "Sinhala only," it does not diminish the imperative to preserve mother tongues. UNESCO's list of endangered languages underscores the importance of safeguarding linguistic diversity, including Sinhala.

Sinhala, spoken by approximately 16 million worldwide, holds deep cultural and historical significance. Its evolution, influenced by various factors, has yielded a rich literary tradition. The Sinhala script, comprising 58 basic letters, represents consonant-vowel combinations, with additional diacritics altering pronunciation.

Education in one's mother tongue, such as Sinhala, fosters effective learning and cultural preservation. Language also plays a pivotal role in communication, identity formation, and access to opportunities. Promoting multilingualism and linguistic tolerance enhances cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

Efforts to save Sinhala require collective action, including language education, bilingualism promotion, cultural festivals, media support, community engagement, and digital initiatives. Advocacy for language rights and documentation of linguistic heritage are essential steps toward preserving Sinhala for future generations.

By embracing these strategies, individuals and communities can ensure the vitality and relevance of the Sinhala language in Sri Lanka and beyond.

story by / Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

[lokuhapuarachchi]

“Heraliya”

The other day, an unknown woman was waiting to buy “Kose” or “Heraliya” (jackfruit) at the Saturday market located at the bakery junction on Mirihana Road in Ratmalana. Although the urban community calls it Kos, my grandmother, who lived in a small village in Dompe decades ago in a coconut-thatched house with woven palm frond walls, introduced this dish to me as “Heraliya.” The jackfruit trees that lined the edge of our one-and-a-half-acre garden were massive by then, planted diligently by my grandfather. These trees met the food needs of many in the village. Boiled jackfruit paired with Kochchi sambal (Coconut Greenchily Chutney)  has been my favorite dish since then.

With those memories, I visited that land decades later, only to find not a single jackfruit tree remaining. Yet, one day while boiling jackfruit, a memory surfaced of a folktale my grandmother told me as a child.

One day, the altar of Shakra Devendra (God) was heated. Looking at the human world with divine wisdom, he sought to find someone in need of his help. He saw a poor, old woman in a small house, suffering from hunger. Shakra, disguised as a beggar, went to her house asking for food. The woman welcomed him, gave him water to drink, but confessed she had nothing to offer to eat. The beggar then pointed to a fruit hanging from a tree on her roof and asked her to pick it. She did so, cut the fruit, filled a pot with water, and placed it on the stove as he instructed.

As the pot boiled, the air filled with a fragrant aroma. The contents turned yellow, and the woman, curious, tasted a small piece. Unable to resist, she ate more and more, trying to hide her greed. The beggar, watching her slyly, finally exclaimed, “Heraliya,” (Cheating Woman)  and disappeared. From that day on, people began eating Heraliya or jackfruit as food—or so my grandmother’s story went.

Whatever the folklore she shared, the truth is that jackfruit has been a staple food in Asian communities, including Sri Lanka, for thousands of years. Its versatility, unique taste, and nutritional value made it indispensable. It is believed to have been cultivated in tropical countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia for over 5,000 years. Historically, jackfruit has played a crucial role in the food and agriculture of these regions.

In India and Sri Lanka, jackfruit was often called "the poor man's food" due to its affordability and availability. Yet, it was equally revered for its ability to feed large families. In Kerala, South India, jackfruit has even been named the official state fruit due to its cultural significance and widespread consumption.

Jackfruit holds a sacred place in religious ceremonies across South Asia. The leaves and wood of the jackfruit tree are widely used in Hindu rituals. In Sri Lanka and South India, jackfruit wood is often carved into idols of deities. Its size and abundance are considered gifts from the gods, and in some communities, it is offered as part of temple offerings.

For centuries, jackfruit leaves, seeds, and roots have been used in Ayurveda and traditional Asian medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin disorders to digestive problems. Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, it is said to boost immunity, improve skin health, and help regulate blood sugar levels.

In the early 2000s, jackfruit began appearing in specialty stores in Western countries, initially canned or frozen. It gradually gained popularity in various forms, such as chips and snack bars. Its newfound fame has expanded beyond traditional culinary uses, cementing its place in health food and superfood categories.

One of the most important innovations that propelled jackfruit onto the global foodie scene is the freeze-drying process. Freeze-drying preserves the fruit’s natural flavor, texture, and nutrients while extending its shelf life. This modern preservation method enables jackfruit to be enjoyed year-round without refrigeration or artificial preservatives.

Remarkably, freeze-dried fruit retains about 98% of its nutrients, losing only 2%. The low-temperature process freezes the fruit’s moisture, which is then removed by evaporation, skipping the liquid phase. The result is a light, crisp texture that effortlessly captures the essence of fresh jackfruit.

This photograph of the woman at the Saturday market captures more than just a moment. It symbolizes the delicate intersection of tradition, nourishment, and labor. The central focus on the woman, balanced and thoughtful, suggests an introspective narrative, perhaps reflecting her role in the cyclical rhythms of everyday life. Her pink T-shirt, emblazoned with a serene image of the sun over waves, contrasts with the bustling activity around her, evoking themes of calm amidst chaos.

In the foreground, the jackfruit, locally revered as "Heraliya," becomes a symbolic focal point. Its versatility—prepared in countless forms, from pickles to curries—represents abundance and sustenance. The act of cutting and preparing jackfruit, as seen in the vendor’s hands in the southern corner of the market, is a quiet acknowledgment of the invisible labor that transforms raw potential into nourishment. Cutting jackfruit is an intimate process, combining skill and effort, embodying the resilience of those who bring this cherished fruit to their communities.

The interplay of light and shadow under the market canopy reflects a world of contrasts, emphasizing the market’s dual identity where modernity meets tradition. The woman’s purse and thoughtful posture capture a fleeting yet significant moment, reflecting her personal narrative within the collective hum of the market.

Viewed symbolically, this image invites reflection on the interconnectedness of roles: consumer and supplier, nature and humanity, individual and community. It honors the unseen stories within ordinary exchanges, celebrating their depth and quiet dignity.

Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

[lokuhapuarachchi]

විස්කි ගැන විස්මිත කතාවක්

අද මගේ දියණිය අනුදි ලංඩනයේ සාප්පු සවාරියේ යමින් සිටියදී ගත් ඡායාරූප කීපයක් මට එවීය. ඒ අතර තිබූ එක් ඡායාරූපයක තිබුනේ ඩැල්මෝර් විස්කි බෝතල් දෙකකි. මිල දර්ශනයද ඒ අසලම වූ අතර එක් බෝතලයක මිල බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය පවුම් 27,000 ක් ලෙස සඳහන්ව ඇති අතර දල වශයෙන් ශ්‍රී ලංකා මුදලින් රු.10,977,669.76 පමණ වේ. එම ඉලක්කම් කියවන විට ලාංකික අපේ ඇස් ලොකුවෙන බව හැබෑව. හැබැයි අපේ ඇස් හැබෑවට විශ්මයට පත්වන මිල ගනනක් සහිත ඩැල්මෝර් විස්කි බෝතලය එය නොවේ.

වසර 50ක් පැරණි ශෙරි කාස්ක් ක්‍රිස්ටල් ඩිකැන්ටරයේ බහාලූ හයිලන්ඩ් සින්ගල් මෝල්ට් විස්කි බොතලයේ මිල ඉහත සඳහන් බොතලයේ මිලට වඩා වැඩිය. විවෘත වෙළඳපලේ ඇති 52% මි.ලී 700 බෝතලයේ මිල බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය පවුම් 85,000.00 කි. එනම් ලංකාවේ රුපියල් වලින් 34,559,330.74 පමණ වේ.

Dalmore 50-Year-Old යනු එහි සුවිශේෂී සහ සුඛෝපභෝගී පිරිනැමීම් සඳහා ප්‍රසිද්ධියට පත් Dalmore ස්කාගාරය විසින් නිෂ්පාදනය කරන ලද ඉහළ ඉල්ලුමක් ඇති දුර්ලභ තනි මෝල්ට් ස්කොච් විස්කි වර්ගයක් වන අතර ඩල්මෝර් ස්කොට්ලන්තයේ එක් ආඩම්බරකාරී නිශ්පාදනයකි. විශේෂයෙන්ම, Dalmore ස්කාගාරය පිහිටා ඇත්තේ Inverness සිට සැතපුම් 20ක් පමණ උතුරින් Scottish Highlands හි කුඩා නගරයක් වන Alness හි ය. 1839 දී ආ��ම්භ කරන ලද ඩැල්මෝර්ට උසස් තත්ත්වයේ තනි මෝල්ට් ස්කොච් විස්කි නිෂ්පාදනය කිරීමේ දිගු ඉතිහාසයක් ඇත. පොහොසත් හා සංකීර්ණ විස්කි නිෂ්පාදනය සඳහා ප්‍රසිද්ධ ප්‍රදේශයක් වන හයිලන්ඩ්ස් හි එහි පිහිටීම ඩැල්මෝර්ගේ විස්කිවල සුවිශේෂී ස්වභාවයට දායක වේ. Dalmore 50-Year-Old ප්‍රථම වරට නිකුත් කරන ලද්දේ 1978 දී Mackenzie පවුල විසින් ස්කාගාරය අත්පත් කර ගැනීමේ 50 වන සංවත්සරය සැමරීම සඳහා ය. Dalmore එහි විස්කිවල රසයට සහ ස්වභාවයට සැලකිය යුතු ලෙස බලපාන දුර්ලභ ෂෙරි සහ වරාය පීප්ප ඇතුළු සුඛෝපභෝගී පෙට්ටි භාවිතය ස50-Year-Old්ධය. Dalmore 50-Year-Old මෑත වසරවලදී (2016 සහ 2017 දී) සීමිත සංස්කරණ වලින් නැවත නිකුත් කරන ලදී.

මෙම විස්කි වසර 50 ක් පැරණි ඇමරිකානු සුදු ඕක් හිටපු බෝර්බන් පීප්ප, Matusalem oloroso ෂෙරි කැස්ක් සහ අවසානයේ වරාය පයිප්පවල එකතුවකි. මෙම විවිධ කැස්ක් වර්ගවල සූක්ෂම වයසට යාමේ ක්‍රියාවලිය සංකීර්ණ හා පොහොසත් පැතිකඩක් ඇති කරයි. මෙම උසස් තත්ත්වයේ පීප්ප භාවිතය රසවල පොහොසත්කමට සහ ගැඹුරට දායක වේ, විශේෂයෙන් පලතුරු, ගෙඩි සහ කුළුබඩු සහිත නෝට්ටු ඉස්මතු කරයි. 50 හැවිරිදි ඩල්මෝර්ගේ සුවඳ පොහොසත් සහ බහු ස්ථර සඳහා ප්‍රසිද්ධය. වැනිලා, ටොෆි, මාර්සිපන් සහ අඳුරු චොකලට් වල ඉඟි සමඟ අඹ සහ කෙසෙල් වැනි නිවර්තන පලතුරු වල සටහන් ඔබට අපේක්ෂා කළ හැකිය.

තාලයේ, විස්කි සිනිඳු සහ සම්පූර්ණ ශරීරයකි. සාදික්කා, කුරුඳු සහ වැල්මී සමඟ මිශ්‍ර වූ ඉදුණු පිසිනු ලබන්නේ, කළු චෙරි සහ ඇප්රිකොට් ඇටවල රසයන්ය. ෂෙරි කැස්ක් බලපෑම ද සුවිශේෂී පැණි රසයක් ගෙන එයි. නිමාව දිගු, සුඛෝපභෝගී සහ අලංකාරය, අඳුරු චොකලට්, කුළුබඩු සහිත පලතුරු සහ ඕක් ස්පර්ශයකින් යුත් කල්පවත්නා සටහන් ඇතුළත් වේ.

50 හැවිරිදි Dalmore තැන්පත් කර ඇත්තේ රිදී වලින් සාදන ලද 12-ලක්ෂ්‍ය රාජකීය ලාංඡනයෙන් බොහෝ විට සරසා ඇති ස්පටික විකාශන යන්ත්‍රවල ය. බෝතලයේ සහ ඇසුරුම්වල සැලසුම ඉතා සුඛෝපභෝගී වන අතර විස්කි වල වාරික ස්වභාවයට ගැලපේ. එය බොහෝ විට ලී සංදර්ශක පෙට්ටියක හෝ කැබිනට්ටුවකින් පැමිණේ, එහි දෘශ්‍ය සහ එකතු කළ හැකි ආකර්ෂණය එකතු කරයි. Dalmore 50 හැවිරිදි අතිශයින් සීමිත වන අතර, එය ලබා ගත හැකි වඩා මිල අධික සහ කීර්තිමත් ස්කොච් විස්කි වලින් එකක් බවට පත් කරයි. සංස්කරණය සහ බෝතලයේ තත්ත්වය අනුව මිල ගණන් $35,000 සිට $50,000 USD (සහ සමහර විට තවත්) අතර විය හැක.එය සාමාන්‍යයෙන් ලබා ගත හැක්කේ දුර්ලභ සහ එකතු කළ හැකි විස්කි සඳහා විශේෂිත වූ තෝරාගත් ඉහළ මට්ට���ේ සිල්ලර වෙළෙන්දන් හෝ වෙන්දේසි ආයතන හරහාය.

එහි දුර්ලභත්වය සහ එය කුඩා, සීමිත කණ්ඩායම් වශයෙන් නිකුත් කරන කාරනය නිසා, Dalmore 50 වසර පැරණි එකතුකරන්නන්ගේ භාණ්ඩයක් ලෙස සැලකේ. එය විස්කි රසඥයින් විසින් පමණක් නොව කාලයත් සමඟ මිල ඉහළ යාමේ හැකියාව අගය කරන ආයෝජකයින් විසින් ද සොයනු ලැබේ. සෑම බෝතලයක්ම තනි තනිව අංකනය කර ඇති අතර එය එහි සුවිශේෂත්වයට එකතු වේ.

50 හැවිරිදි Dalmore නිර්මාණය කර ඇත්තේ විස්කි කර්මාන්තයේ වඩාත්ම ගෞරවනීය සහ පළපුරුදු මාස්ටර් බ්ලෙන්ඩරයෙකු වන රිචඩ් පැටර්සන්ගේ විශේෂඥභාවය යටතේ ය. ඩැල්මෝර්ගේ උසස් නිකුතු වල චරිතය හැඩගැස්වීමේදී මිශ්‍ර කිරීම සහ කැස්ක් තෝරාගැනීම සඳහා ඔහුගේ ප්‍රවේශය ප්‍රධාන වේ. මෙම විස්කි එහි සංකීර්ණත්වය සහ රසවල ගැඹුර සම්පූර්ණයෙන්ම අගය කිරීම සඳහා හොඳින් භුක්ති විඳිය හැකිය. සමහර රසඥයන් සුවඳ විවෘත කිරීමට සහ තාල වඩාත් මෘදු කිරීමට වතුර බින්දු කිහිපයක් එකතු කිරීමට කැමති විය හැකිය.

එහි මිලෙහි ඇති අධික බව අනුව, එය සාමාන්‍යයෙන් බරපතල මධ්‍යසාර එකතුකරන්නන් අතර විශේෂ අවස්ථා හෝ රස බැලීම් සඳහා විශේෂයෙන් වෙන් කර ඇත.

50 හැවිරිදි Dalmore ඇත්තෙන්ම ලෝකයේ මිල අධිකම විස්කි වලින් එකකි, නමුත් එය වඩාත්ම මිල අධික නොවේ. වෙන්දේසි වලදී හෝ සීමිත නිකුතු හරහා වැඩි මිලකට අලෙවි වූ තවත් විස්කි කිහිපයක් තිබේ. 50 හැවිරිදි ඩැල්මෝර් අභිබවා යන මෙතෙක් අලෙවි වූ මිල අධිකම විස්කි කිහිපයක් පිළිබඳ මා සොයා ගත් නාම වර්ග කෙටියෙන් මෙසේය.

The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection 1926 වසර 60 පැරණි විස්කි බොතලයක්. 2019 වසරේදී වෙන්දේසියකදී ඩොලර් මිලියන 1.9 කට අලෙවි විය. මෙය මෙතෙක් අලෙවි වූ මිල අධිකම විස්කි බෝතලය ලෙස සැලකේ. 1926 සිට මෙම මැකලන් බෝතල් 40 ක් පමණක් නිෂ්පාදනය කර ඇති අතර, එය එහි සුවිශේෂී දුර්ලභත්වය සහ ගුණාත්මකභාවය සඳහා ප්රසිද්ධය.

“මැකල්න් පීටර් බ්ලේක් 1926” 60 වසරක් පැරණිය. 2018 දී වෙන්දේසියක දී ඩොලර් මිලියන 1.04 ක් පමණ අලෙවි විය. මෙය Fine & Rare Collection ලෙස 1926 කාණ්ඩයේම කොටසක් වන නමුත් බ්‍රිතාන්‍ය පොප් කලාකරු ශ්‍රීමත් පීටර් බ්ලේක් විසින් නිර්මාණය කරන ලද විශේෂ ලේබලයක් විසින් එහි සුවිශේෂත්වය සහ වටිනාකම වැඩි කලේය.

“Macallan Michael Dillon 1926” වසර 60 පැරණිය. 2018 දී ඩොලර් මිලියන 1.53 කට අලෙවි විය. 1926 ශ්‍රේණියේ තවත් බෝතලයක්, අයර්ලන්ත චිත්‍ර ශිල්පී මයිකල් ඩිලන් විසින් අතින් පින්තාරු කරන ලද ලේබලයක් සහිත විය.

“වසර 62 ඩල්මෝර්” 2011 දී වෙන්දේසි වූවේ බෝතලයක් ඩොලර් 250,000 කට විය. “Dalmore වසර 62” Dalmore ගේ වඩාත්ම මිල අධික නිශ්පාදනය ලෙස වාර්තාව තබා ඇත. බෝතල් 12 ක් පමණක් නිෂ්පාදනය කරන ලද අතර, ඒ සෑම එකක්ම අද්විතීය ප්‍රසිද්ධියක් ලබා දී ඇත.

“ඉසබෙලාගේ ඉස්ලේ” ඇස්තමේන්තු ගත වූවේ ඩොලර් මිලියන 6.2 කටය. මෙ�� බෝතලය විස්කි පමණක් නොව ඇසුරුම් කිරීම ද වේ. ඩිකැන්ටරය ඉංග්‍රීසි ක්‍රිස්ටල් වලින් සාදා ඇති අතර දියමන්ති 8500 ක් සහ රුබී 300 කින් සරසා ඇති අතර එය ලොව මිල අධිකම විස්කි බෝතලය බවට පත් කරයි.

“මැකල්ලන් එම් ඩිකැන්ටරය” 2014 දී හොංකොං හි වෙන්දේසියේදී ඩොලර් 628,205 කට අලෙවි විය. Macallan M මනරම් Lalique crystal decanter එකක තැන්පත් කර ඇති අතර, එම විස්කි යනු දශක කිහිපයක් පැරණි, හොඳම පෙට්ටිවල සම්මිශ්‍රණයකි.

50 හැවිරිදි Dalmore වඩාත්ම කීර්තිමත් සහ මිල අධික විස්කි අතර වේ, එය වඩාත්ම මිල අධික නොවේ. Macallan ගේ දුර්ලභ නිකුතු, විශේෂයෙන්ම 1926 ශ්‍රේණියේ, මිල සහ සුවිශේෂත්වය අනුව ඉහළම ස්ථරයේ ආධිපත්‍යය දැරීමට නැඹුරු වේ. ඉසබෙලාගේ ඉස්ලේ වැනි අනෙකුත් විස්කි ද ඒවායේ ඇසුරුම්වල ඇති සුඛෝපභෝගී බව නිසා ලෝක මිල වාර්තා පිහිටුවයි.

- අනුරුද්ධ ලොකුහපුආරච්චි

[lokuhapuarachchi]

ජනාධිපති අනුර කුමාර දිසානායගේ දිව්රුම්දීමේ කතාවේ හරය දෙස බලමු

නව ජනාධිපති අනුර කුමාර දිසානායක මහතා සිය දිවුරුම් දීමේ උත්සවයේ දී කළ කතාව තුල ඔහු, ශ්‍රී ලංකාව මුහුණ දෙන අභියෝග සහ සහයෝගීතාවය, විවෘතභාවය සහ ඇතුළත් කර ගැනීම තුළින් ඒවාට විසඳුම් සෙවීමේ ඔහුගේ අභිප්‍රාය හඳුනා ගැනීම ප්‍රකට කරවයි. ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදය ස්ථාවර කිරීම, විශ්වාසය යළි ගොඩනැගීම, ව්‍යවසායකත්වය දිරිගැන්වීම සහ ගෝලීය සහයෝගීතාව පෝෂණය කිරීම කෙරෙහි ඔහුගේ අවධානය ඒ තුල ඇති අතර ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ පවතින දේශපාලන හා ආර්ථික අර්බුදය හමුවේ ඉතා වැදගත් වේ.

ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදය ස්ථාවර කිරීම සඳහා වන ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ හැඟවීම පැමිණෙන්නේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාව දේශපාලන කැලඹීම්, ආර්ථික අවපාලනය සහ පාලනය කෙරෙහි මහජන කලකිරීම විඳ දරාගෙන සිටින පසු බිම තුලය. උද්ධමනය, අත්‍යවශ්‍ය භාණ්ඩ හිඟය සහ රජයේ දූෂණයට සහ අකාර්යක්ෂමතාවට එරෙහි විරෝධතා මගින් උද්දීපනය කල ගැඹුරු ආර්ථික අර්බුදයක රට පවතින බව ඔහුගේ අවබෝධය ඒ තුල ප්‍රකට වේ.

ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදය ස්ථාවර කිරීම යනු ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදී ආයතන ආරක්ෂා කිරීම පමණක් නොව, ඒවා ජනතාවට සේවය කරන ආකාරයෙන් ක්‍රියාත්මක වන බව සහතික කිරීම බව ඔහු පිලිගනී. පෙර නායකත්වය යටතේ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ආර්ථික කඩාවැටීම ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදී අලුත් කිරීම අත්‍යවශ්‍ය කරමින් මහජන විශ්වාසය ඛාදනය කර ඇත. විශේෂඥයින්ගෙන් උපදෙස් ලබා ගැනීම කෙරෙහි ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ අවධාරණයෙන් පෙන්නුම් කරන්නේ, ගජමිතුරුවාදය සහ ජනතාවාදය විසින් සලකුණු කරන ලද අත���ත ප්‍රතිපත්තිවලට වඩා වෙනස්ව දැනුම සහ ප්‍රායෝගික විසඳුම් මත විශ්වාසය තැබීමට ඇති කැමැත්තයි. ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදය ස්ථාවර වීමට නම්, ඔහුගේ පරිපාලනය විනිවිද භාවයෙන් යුක්ත වීම, නිලධාරීන් වගකිව යුතු වීම සහ පාලනය කෙරෙහි ජනතාවගේ විශ්වාසය නැවත ඇති කිරීම අත්‍යවශ්‍ය වේ.

ජනාධිපතිවරයා, ශ්‍රී ලංකාව අපේක්ෂා කරන්නේ වර්ධනය වීමට සහ සාර්ථක වීමට හැකියාව ඇති අභිලාෂකාමී රටක් ලෙස ය. මෙම අභිලාෂය පැමිණෙන්නේ රට ආර්ථික කඩාවැටීමෙන් සහ දේශපාලන අස්ථාවරත්වයෙන් ගොඩ ඒමට මාර්ග සොයමින් සිටින තීරණාත්මක මොහොතක ය. සංවර්ධනය, නවීකරණය සහ සමාජ ප්‍රගතිය සඳහා දිගුකාලීන දැක්මක අවශ්‍යතාවය "අභිලාෂකාමී රටක්" පිළිබඳ සංකල්පය ඔහුගේ කතාව තුල අවධාරනය කරයි. අභිලාෂය වැදගත් වන අතර, එය ප්‍රත්‍යක්ෂ ප්‍රතිඵල බවට පරිවර්තනය කිරීම සඳහා ශක්තිමත් පාලනයක්, හොඳ ආර්ථික සැලසුම්කරණයක් සහ ඇතුළත් වීමක් අවශ්‍ය වේ. මෙම අභිලාෂය දූෂණය සහ අකාර්යක්ෂමතාව වැනි පද්ධතිමය ගැටළු වලට විසඳුම් ලබා දෙමින් කෘෂිකර්මය, තාක්ෂණය සහ අධ්‍යාපනය වැනි ප්‍රධාන අංශ පුනර්ජීවනය කිරීම කෙරෙහි අවධානය යොමු කළ යුතුය. විශේෂයෙන්ම ආදායම් අසමානතාවය සහ වාර්ගික ආතතීන් ප්‍රශ්න ලෙස පවතින රටක මෙම අභිලාෂයෙන් සියලුම පුරවැසියන් ප්‍රතිලාභ ලබන බව සහතික කිරීම අභියෝගයක් වනු ඇත.

තවද ඔහුගේ කතාවේ ප්‍රධාන පණිවිඩයක් වන්නේ දේශපාලඥයින් කෙරෙහි විශ්වාසය නැති වී ගිය ජනතාවගේ ගෞරවය හා විශ්වාසය යළි ඇති කර ගැනීමයි. මෙය පසුගිය වසරේ මහජන විරෝධතාවලට (අරගලය) තුඩු දුන් වසර ගණනාවක දූෂණයෙන් සහ දේශපාලන වැරදි කළමනාකරණයෙන් පසු රට තුළ පවතින පුලුල්ව පැතිරුනු අතෘප්තිය පිළිබිඹු කරයි. මෙම විශ්වාසය යළි ගොඩනැගීම ජනාධිපතිවරයාට ඵලදායී ලෙස පාලනය කිරීමේ හැකියාව සඳහා කේන්ද්‍රීය වනු ඇත. දුන් පොරොන්දු ඉටු කරන බවත් ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණ සැබෑ බවත් ජනතාව දැකිය යුතුයි. දූෂණ-විරෝධී පියවර, විනිවිදභාවය සහ බලය විමධ්‍යගත කිරීමේ උත්සාහයන් කලකිරුණු පුරවැසියන්ගේ විශ්වාසය නැවත ලබා ගැනීමට උපකාරී වේ. අතිරික්ත රාජ්‍ය වියදම් අඩු කිරීම සහ සමාජ වැඩසටහන් වඩාත් අවදානමට ලක්විය හැකි අයට ප්‍රතිලාභ සැලසීම සහතික කිරීම වැනි සංකේතාත්මක අභිනයන් මහජනයාගේ ප්‍රාර්ථනා සමඟ සමපාත වනු ඇත.

ජනාධිපතිවරයා ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ගෝලීය ප්‍රජාව සමඟ සම්බන්ධ වීමේ අවශ්‍යතාවය පිළිගනී. ආර්ථික අර්බුදය සහ විදේශ ආයෝජන, ණය ප්‍රතිව්‍යුහගත කිරීම සහ ජාත්‍යන්තර සහයෝගය සඳහා අවශ්‍යතාවය සැලකිල්ලට ගෙන, ලෝකය සමඟ ඉදිරියට යාම අත්‍යවශ්‍ය වේ.

ආර්ථික ප්‍රකෘතිය සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ජාත්‍යන්තර මූල්‍ය ආයතන (ජාමූඅ වැනි) සහ ද්විපාර්ශ්වික හවුල්කරුවන් (චීනය සහ ඉන්දියාව වැනි) මත විශ්වාසය තැබීම මෙය ප්‍රායෝගික ප්‍රවේශයක් බවට පත් කරයි. කෙසේ වෙතත්, අභියෝගය පවතින්නේ මෙම හවුල්කාරිත්වයන් ජාතික ස්වෛරීභාවයට හානි නොවන බවට හෝ ණය උගුල්වලට තුඩු නොදෙන බවට සහතික වීමෙනි. තිරසාර සංවර්ධනය, නවෝත්පාදන සහ ආර්ථික විවිධාංගීකරණය ප්‍රවර්ධනය කරන කොන්දේසි මත ශ්‍රී ලංකාව ගෝලීය ආර්ථිකය සමඟ සම්බන්ධ විය යුතුය.

තම කතාව තුල ඔහු, ව්‍යවසායකයින් කෙරෙහි අවධානය යොමු කිරීම ආර්ථිකය පුනර්ජීවනය කිරීම සඳහා පුද්ගලික අංශයේ වර්ධනය සහ නවෝත්පාදනය උත්තේජනය කිරීමේ වැදගත්කම ඉස්මතු කරයි. රැකියා උත්පාදනය, ආර්ථික විවිධාංගීකරණය පෝෂණය කිරීම සහ කර්මාන්ත සඳහා නවෝත්පාදනයන් ගෙන ඒමේදී ව්‍යවසායකයින් තීරණාත්මක කාර්යභාරයක් ඉටු කරන බව ප්‍රතික්ශේප කල නොහැක. ව්‍යවසායකයින්ට සහාය වීම සඳහා මූල්‍ය දිරිගැන්වීම් සහ ආධාරක ව්‍යුහයන් පමණක් නොව ස්ථාවර නියාමන පරිසරයක් ද අවශ්‍ය වේ. ශ්‍රී ලංකාව තුළ, අධික නිලධාරිවාදය, දූෂණය සහ නොගැලපෙන ප්‍රතිපත්ති මගින් ව්‍යවසායකත්වය යටපත් වී ඇත. නව ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ ආන්ඩුවට රතු පටි කපා, කුඩා හා මධ්‍ය පරිමාණ ව්‍යවසායන් (SMEs) දිරිමත් කිරීමට සහ ආයෝජන සහ වර්ධනය ප්‍රවර්ධනය කරන සක්‍රීය පරිසරයක් නිර්මාණය කිරීමට අවශ්‍ය වනු ඇත. තරුණ ව්‍යවසායකයින් සවිබල ගැන්වීම සහ නවෝත්පාදනයන් පෝෂණය කිරීම තිරසාර හා විවිධාංගීකරණය වූ ආර්ථිකයක් නිර්මාණය කිරීම සඳහා ප්‍රධාන වේ.

තමාට ඡන්දය නොදුන් අයගේ සහයෝගය දිනා ගන්නා බවට ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ පොරොන්දුව ඇතුළත් කිරීම සහ ජාතික සමගිය සඳහා ඇති ඔහුගේ ආශාව පිළිබිඹු කරන බව මගේ හැඟීමයි. දේශපාලන බෙදීම් බොහෝ විට වාර්ගික, ආගමික සහ පන්ති භේදයන් පිළිබිඹු කරන ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ, මෙය වැදගත් පියවරක් බව කිසිවෙකුට ප්‍රතික්ශේප කල නොහැක. ඔහු, ඒ සඳහා දේශපාලන ක්‍රියාවලියෙන් බැහැරව සිටින බව හැඟෙන සුළුතර කණ්ඩායම්, විරුද්ධ පක්ෂ සහ අනෙකුත් පාර්ශවකරුවන් සමඟ සම්බන්ධ වීමට අවශ්‍ය වේ. විශේෂයෙන්ම දෙමළ සහ මුස්ලිම් වැනි වාර්ගික සුළුතරයන්ගේ දුක්ගැනවිලි විසඳීමෙන් නව ජනාධිපතිවරයාට ජාතික සමගිය සහ සුවය ප්‍රවර්ධනය කළ හැකිය. කෙසේ වෙතත්, මේ සඳහා හුදු කතාව පමණක් නොව තීරණ ගැනීමේ ක්‍රියාවලීන් සහ ප්‍රතිපත්ති සම්පාදනය සඳහා ආන්තික ප්‍රජාවන් ඇතුළත් කිරීමට අව්‍යාජ උත්සාහයන් අවශ්‍ය වනු ඇත. ඒ අනුව ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ කථාව රටේ අභියෝග සහ විභවයන් යන දෙකම හඳුනා ගනිමින් ප්‍රායෝගිකත්වයේ සහ ඇතුළත් වීමේ ස්වරයක් සකසයි. ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදය ස්ථාවර කිරීම සඳහා ඔහුගේ කැපවීම ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ වත්මන් දේශපාලන භූ දර්ශනයේ අස්ථාවරත්වය සැලකිල්ලට ගෙන අත්‍යවශ්‍ය වේ, නමුත් එයට විවිධ පැතිවලින් ක්‍රියාමාර්ග අවශ්‍ය වනු ඇත: විශේෂයෙන්ම, ආර්ථික ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණ, දූෂණ විරෝධී ප්‍රයත්න, ඇතුළත් පාලනය සහ ව්‍යවසායකත්වය පෝෂණය කිරීම. ජාතික විශ්වාසය යළි ගොඩනඟමින් ලෝකය සමඟ ඉදිරියට යාම සියුම් තුලනය කිරීමේ ක්‍රියාවක් වනු ඇත, නමුත් පැහැදිලි දැක්මක් සහ ප්‍රතිසංස්කරණ සඳහා කැපවීමක් සහිතව, ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ නව නායකත්වයට ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට හැරවුම් ලක්ෂයක් සනිටුහන් කළ හැකිය.

ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදය ස්ථාවර කිරීම සඳහා වන අපගේ පුද්ගලික අපේක්ෂාවන් ජනාධිපතිවරයාගේ අභිලාෂයන් සමඟ සමීපව ගැල���ේ. පුරවැසියන් සවිබල ගැන්වීම, ප්‍රජාතන්ත්‍රවාදී ආයතන ආරක්ෂා කිරීම සහ සියලුම ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන් සඳහා අවස්ථා නිර්මාණය කරන ප්‍රතිපත්තිවලට සහාය දීමෙන්, මෙම තීරණාත්මක කාල පරිච්චේදය තුළ රට නැවත ගොඩනැගීමට අපගේ සහාය ඔහුගේ උත්සාහයට දායක විය හැකිය.

[lokuhapuarachchi]

A Dance Icon Who Shaped Sri Lanka’s Cultural Identity

Sri Lanka bids farewell today to one of its most revered cultural treasures, Wajira Chithrasena, a legendary dancer whose grace, dedication, and visionary approach to traditional dance left an indelible mark on the nation’s artistic landscape. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

Wajira Chithrasena was more than just a dancer; she was an institution in herself. Born into a lineage steeped in the rich heritage of Sri Lankan dance, she was the wife and muse of the renowned dancer and choreographer Chitrasena, and together, they formed the most powerful duo in preserving and reimagining the classical dance forms of Sri Lanka. The Chithrasena Dance Company, founded by her husband, became a beacon of artistic excellence under her profound influence.

She is often celebrated as the first female dancer in Sri Lanka to bring the traditionally male-dominated Kandyan dance to center stage, breaking barriers and expanding the horizons of the art form. Wajira’s artistry was defined by her ability to marry technique with soul. Every gesture, every rhythm she embodied resonated with a deep connection to the land, its myths, and its people.

Her choreography was a narrative of Sri Lanka's history, its struggles, its triumphs, and its spiritual essence. Whether performing solo or with her troupe, Wajira’s movements were filled with emotion, precision, and a profound sense of purpose. She taught generations of dancers the significance of discipline and the power of expressing stories through the body.

Even beyond the stage, her influence was felt in the revival of Sri Lankan arts, not only preserving traditional forms but also introducing them to global audiences. She and her family opened doors for Sri Lankan dance on international platforms, making her an ambassador of the island's cultural richness.

As we reflect on her life, it becomes clear that Wajira Chithrasena was more than a dancer. She was a symbol of resilience, dedication, and cultural pride. Her commitment to dance, to her students, and to the preservation of an ancient tradition that was in danger of being forgotten will forever be etched in Sri Lanka’s history.

Though she has left the stage, her spirit will continue to move through the many dancers and artists she has inspired. The rhythms of her dance will echo in our hearts, reminding us of the beauty and power of our cultural roots.

Rest in peace, Wajira Chithrasena. You may have danced your final performance, but your legacy will live on in every step, in every beat of the drum, and in every movement that tells the story of Sri Lanka.

by / Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

[lokuhapuarachchi]

Anura Kumara Dissanayake's Economic Vision Amidst Crisis: A Spotlight on His UK Visit

Sri Lankan politics is entering another election period, marked by considerable uncertainty about whether the upcoming election will adequately address the country’s socio-political challenges. Socio-political commentators have expressed doubts about whether civil society is prepared for long-term or short-term solutions beyond the immediate electoral remedies. Additionally, Sri Lanka's economic freedom score is 49.2, placing it 149th in the 2024 Index of Economic Freedom. This score represents a decline of 3 points from the previous year, positioning Sri Lanka 34th among 39 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The country's economic freedom score is below the global and regional averages.

Amidst this political and economic backdrop, the visit of National People's Force (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to Britain has garnered significant interest within the Sri Lankan immigrant community. Many are keenly focused on the economic policies proposed by the NPP. To understand these policies, it is essential to consider the impact of decades of ethno-religious chauvinism, which has systematically undermined Sri Lanka's once-thriving economy and robust public welfare system. Despite this, individuals who have profited from these divisions and mismanagement remain in power. Analyzing the NPP’s economic strategy, therefore, necessitates looking beyond superficial critiques and recognizing the party’s shift towards economic realism.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his team emphasize that their economic strategy is market-friendly, open to foreign investment, aligned with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agenda, and primarily people-centric. However, this does not imply unrestrained acceptance of neoliberal policies. The NPP plans to implement a phased macroeconomic strategy to foster development, balancing market openness with strategic control over economic decisions.

It is unrealistic to expect immediate economic miracles during the NPP's initial term. The party’s approach is grounded in revitalizing the real economy rather than relying solely on an IMF-stabilized financial sector. Over-financialization has historically led to economic downturns and recessions, which neoliberal scholars often mischaracterize as normal trade cycles. These recessions, however, are structural rather than cyclical.

The NPP's initial focus will be on removing artificial market rigidities created by previous governments. This clean-up campaign, aimed at disrupting entrenched economic interests, is likely to provoke strong resistance from those who benefit from the current system. The IMF’s recovery agenda, which emphasizes financial sector strengthening without addressing these rigidities, lacks the specificity needed for genuine reform. Therefore, the NPP's first task will be to dismantle these barriers before restructuring the economy. A development strategy that prioritizes the domestic sector, driven by both market forces and government incentives, should not be misconstrued as regressive or isolationist.

Additionally, the NPP recognizes the need for organizational reforms to combat corruption, tax evasion, and undue influence. Firms engaged in tax minimization schemes must be held accountable. The NPP is the only party that has openly campaigned against these practices and pledged to bring offenders to justice, which is a compelling reason for giving the party a chance to govern. -

Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

[lokuhapuarachchi]

Tudor Rose Tea Shop

The Tudor Rose Tea Shop is one of the most memorable tea shops I have encountered since leaving Sri Lanka. Its 19th-century architecture and picturesque surroundings make it particularly charming. Features such as half-timbering, steeply pitched roofs, ornate chimneys, leaded glass windows, arched doorways, quoins on the outer walls, carved wooden brackets, and decorative carvings all contribute to its unique and attractive appearance.

Formerly the village post office, this cozy tea shop, full of traditional charm, is located on Greendale Road, opposite Port Sunlight railway station on the Wirral Peninsula. Visitors can sit and enjoy afternoon tea, sandwiches, cakes, and more.

Observing the Tudor Rose Tea Shop, I am reminded of the deep roots of British tea culture. Reflecting on the social life of Sri Lankan village communities, which often revolved around local tea shops, this Port Sunlight village tea shop tells a long and rich story of cultural and social life in Britain.

Port Sunlight Village was built by William Lever (later Lord Leverhulme) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a model village for workers at Lever's soap factory (now part of Unilever). The village was designed with a focus on providing amenities and improving the quality of life for its residents.

During this time, tea shops were an integral part of the social fabric of villages like Port Sunlight. They provided a space for relaxation, socializing, and enjoying tea, which was a key part of British culture. In these tea shops, residents could gather to relax, meet friends, and enjoy a cup of tea after a day's work.

The tea shop at Port Sunlight Village serves as a central gathering place for residents, offering not only tea but also light refreshments and a cozy atmosphere. These tea shops were essential community spaces, fostering camaraderie among the villagers.

Furthermore, the Port Sunlight Village Tea Shop reflects the values of its founder, William Lever, who was known for his progressive approach to social welfare. Lever emphasized providing amenities and creating a sense of community within the village, and the tea shop embodies this philosophy. Over time, British tea shop culture has evolved, responding to consumer preferences, cultural shifts, and business strategies. However, in the village of Port Sunlight, the tea shop continues to serve as a reminder of the village's heritage and a gathering place for residents and visitors alike.

Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

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From Colombia with Love: The Story of Coffee

A couple of guests came to our house last night. The newlyweds arrived from Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, to spend their honeymoon in Britain. They brought us a unique gift from their hometown, obtained from their workplace. Their gift to our esteemed host was a 500-gram bag of Pergamino coffee. The respectful manner in which they presented it to us conveyed a profound connection between them and the coffee. The aroma of coffee gradually permeated the house as they unpacked the bag from their travel luggage, creating a perfect backdrop for our conversation.

Infused with the unique Colombian coffee, memories of a coffee plantation in the garden of my childhood home in Sri Lanka flooded back. The rich and inviting scent made our home feel cosy and content. This post began with a cup of hot coffee brewed from the grounds of that very bag. As the ground coffee dissolved in hot water, I savoured the slightly bitter chocolate caramel flavour and the deep sweetness lingering on my palate. The aroma of the coffee cup and the clean taste on my tongue gave me a profound appreciation for the quality of this Colombian coffee.

Reflecting on my conversation with the two Colombian visitors, several points caught my attention:

Pergamino coffee:

Both of them brought Pergamino coffee, sourced from the Pergamino region of Colombia, renowned for producing the highest quality Arabica coffee beans. Colombia is celebrated for its coffee production, with the Pergamino region playing a significant role in its reputation for exceptional coffee plantations.

Located in the Antioquia region, the city of Pergamino benefits from a favourable climate, high altitude, and fertile soil conditions, which create optimal growing conditions for coffee plants. Elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 metres above sea level contribute to the development of dense, flavorful coffee beans with distinctive characteristics.

Colombian coffees, including Pergamino, are known for their balanced flavours, typically featuring a smooth, medium body with subtle notes of chocolate, nuts, and citrus. Coffee from this region is often distinguished by its bright acidity and clean finish, making it highly sought after among coffee enthusiasts.

Pergamino coffee undergoes various processing methods, including washed, natural, or honey extraction, each imparting unique flavour characteristics to the beans. The processing method significantly influences the final flavour profile of the coffee.

Coffee from Pergamino and other regions in Colombia enjoys high demand in the specialty coffee market due to its consistent quality and distinctive taste. It is often marketed as a single-origin coffee, allowing consumers to appreciate the unique flavours specific to the region.

In conclusion, Pergamino Coffee represents a part of Colombia's rich coffee heritage, offering consumers a delightful coffee experience characterised by exceptional taste and quality.

Coffee culture:

Coffee culture encompasses the social atmosphere, customs, and traditions surrounding coffee consumption worldwide. It encompasses everything from the preparation and customs associated with consuming coffee to the spaces where people gather to enjoy it together.

Coffee has a long history as a central aspect of social interaction in many cultures. Different cultures have their preferred methods of preparing and brewing coffee, such as espresso, pour-over, French press, Turkish coffee, and others, each offering a distinct flavour profile and experience. Many cultures also have specific rituals or traditions associated with drinking coffee, whether it's a morning ritual to start the day or an afternoon gathering with friends.

In Britain, where I reside, coffee culture often revolves around communal spaces like coffee shops, cafes, and specialty coffee shops, providing comfortable environments for socialising or simply enjoying a cup of coffee.

In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation for artisanal and specialty coffees worldwide, focusing on high-quality beans, precise brewing techniques, and unique flavour profiles. Coffee holds cultural significance in many societies, with coffee ceremonies playing important roles in hospitality and social customs in some regions.

Moreover, coffee culture is closely linked to creativity and intellectual pursuits, with many writers, artists, and thinkers frequenting coffeehouses as places of inspiration and discussion.

Overall, coffee culture reflects the diverse ways in which coffee is enjoyed, appreciated, and integrated into daily life worldwide.

Finally, the price of the Colombian coffee that my guests brought home is US$18.19. The Colombian coffee market is projected to contribute an additional $813.1 million to Colombia's Gross National Product (GNP) this year, which stood at $343 billion last year and has been steadily growing. Meanwhile, the monthly salary of my guest, who works in the coffee manufacturing industry, is 1,300,606.00 Pesos (equivalent to $333.29 US Dollars).

Note and Photograph / Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

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The Rhythm of Sri Lankan Music Heard in Liverpool City Centre

Liverpool, a vibrant city on England's northwest coast, has a rich and influential musical history that has left an indelible mark on the world. Renowned for its maritime heritage and dynamic cultural scene, Liverpool's music landscape boasts a diverse range of genres and groundbreaking talent.

On Saturday, May 18th, Liverpool's Britannia Adelphi Hotel hosted the city's most successful concert of the year, "The Invitation." Organized to raise funds for the Liverpool Buddhist Temple, the event provided an engaging evening for Liverpool's Sri Lankan community. The concert featured stunning performances by Falan Andrea, Annesley Malewana, and Gayan Gunawardana, with music by Britain's most popular Sri Lankan band, Exceed.

Despite some attempts to disrupt the show, the strong bond between the organizing committee, the three artists, and the band ensured that the event went ahead as planned. Their efforts brought the concert to life, creating unforgettable memories and marking it as a successful event in Liverpool's vibrant cultural calendar.

Liverpool's musical revival is not limited to its past with The Beatles and the Merseybeat movement. The life of the city is intertwined with a bustling live music scene. Venues such as the Echo Arena, O2 Academy, and Philharmonic Hall host a wide range of concerts, from contemporary pop and rock to classical and orchestral. Grassroots venues such as Zanzibar Club and The Jacaranda provide platforms for emerging artists, ensuring the continued evolution of Liverpool's musical identity.

The Beatles, formed in 1960, are perhaps the most notable contribution to music from Liverpool. The legendary quartet—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—rose to global fame with their innovative sound and timeless hits. Places like The Cavern Club, where the Beatles honed their craft, remain pilgrimage sites for fans around the world. The band's success not only put Liverpool on the map but also inspired countless musicians and bands around the world.

The early 1960s saw the rise of the Merseybeat movement, named after the River Mersey. The genre, characterized by its upbeat sound and catchy melodies, was pioneered by Liverpool bands such as Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers, and The Merseybeats. Merseybeat helped define the British Invasion in the United States, a period in which British music dominated the American charts.

Liverpool's commitment to celebrating music is also evident in its various festivals, including the Liverpool International Music Festival (LIMF) and Africa Oye.

"Aardhana" added a uniquely Sri Lankan note to Liverpool's rich musical background, showcasing the city's embrace of global musical influences and its thriving multicultural community. Taking these personal photographs was unofficial, but I aimed to capture the essence of a night where music strengthened cultural bonds as a gesture of support to the dear organizers.

Photographs and Notes - Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

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Eros' Lost Arrow: A Spring Evening in Sefton Park

On a beautiful spring evening, I strolled past the water fountain in Sefton Park, Liverpool. Suddenly, I felt as though someone were watching me from behind. Halting, I turned to look back. Atop the fountain, Eros gazed down at me. In the sky above, the moon seemed anxious, attempting to shield herself. Eros held his customary weapon, the bow, in his hand, aimed directly at me. Yet, there was no arrow to be found. Where had it disappeared to?

As I pondered, memories from decades past flooded my mind. It was during my teenage years. One day, while traveling to school by train, I encountered Eros. On that fateful day, he took aim with his bow and let loose an arrow that pierced my heart. The pain was unbearable, my heart ceasing to beat after bleeding profusely. The arrow he had shot me with came to rest at the river's deep bottom.

"Eros," I murmured, addressing the deity, "Here I stand in this garden today, after a long journey with my trusted companion by my side. My path nears its end. Soon, darkness will engulf the light. You shall never retrieve your lost arrow."

On a serene spring evening, I wandered through the tranquil pathways of Sefton Park in Liverpool, camera in hand, ready to capture the essence of nature's beauty. As the golden hour bathed the landscape in a soft glow, I felt a gentle whisper of inspiration urging me forward.

Suddenly, a feeling of being observed overcame me, prompting a pause in my steps. With a curious glance over my shoulder, I beheld Eros perched atop the fountain, his watchful gaze seemingly fixed upon me. Above, the moon cast a shy veil over herself, as if in anticipation of some unknown event.

In that moment, I raised my camera, framing the scene before me with careful attention to detail. Eros, with his bow poised and the empty space where an arrow should be, became the focal point of my composition. The tranquil waters of the fountain mirrored the enigmatic allure of the evening, inviting reflection upon the passage of time and the echoes of distant memories.

As I snapped the shutter, I couldn't help but recall my own encounter with Eros in the fleeting days of my youth. The sting of his arrow, buried deep within my heart, had left an indelible mark upon my soul, guiding me through the labyrinth of life's experiences.

With each click of the camera, I sought to capture not just the beauty of the present moment, but also the essence of the past that lingered within it. The photograph would serve as a testament to the eternal dance between light and shadow, love and loss, that weaves its way through the tapestry of human existence.

And so, as the last rays of sunlight kissed the horizon and darkness began to envelop the park, I knew that I had captured more than just an image – I had immortalized a fleeting glimpse of eternity, forever preserved in the lens of my camera.

-Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

[lokuhapuarachchi]

The Story of Coffee

A couple of guests came to our house last night. The newlyweds arrived from Medellin, Colombia's second largest city, to spend their honeymoon in Britain. They brought us a unique gift from their hometown, obtained from their workplace. Their gift to our esteemed host was a 500-gram bag of Pergamino coffee. The respectful manner in which they presented it to us conveyed a profound connection between them and the coffee. The aroma of coffee gradually permeated the house as they unpacked the bag from their travel luggage, creating a perfect backdrop for our conversation.

Infused with the unique Colombian coffee, memories of a coffee plantation in the garden of my childhood home in Sri Lanka flooded back. The rich and inviting scent made our home feel cosy and content. This post began with a cup of hot coffee brewed from the grounds of that very bag. As the ground coffee dissolved in hot water, I savoured the slightly bitter chocolate caramel flavour and the deep sweetness lingering on my palate. The aroma of the coffee cup and the clean taste on my tongue gave me a profound appreciation for the quality of this Colombian coffee.

Reflecting on my conversation with the two Colombian visitors, several points caught my attention:

Pergamino coffee:

Both of them brought Pergamino coffee, sourced from the Pergamino region of Colombia, renowned for producing the highest quality Arabica coffee beans. Colombia is celebrated for its coffee production, with the Pergamino region playing a significant role in its reputation for exceptional coffee plantations.

Located in the Antioquia region, the city of Pergamino benefits from a favourable climate, high altitude, and fertile soil conditions, which create optimal growing conditions for coffee plants. Elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 metres above sea level contribute to the development of dense, flavorful coffee beans with distinctive characteristics.

Colombian coffees, including Pergamino, are known for their balanced flavours, typically featuring a smooth, medium body with subtle notes of chocolate, nuts, and citrus. Coffee from this region is often distinguished by its bright acidity and clean finish, making it highly sought after among coffee enthusiasts.

Pergamino coffee undergoes various processing methods, including washed, natural, or honey extraction, each imparting unique flavour characteristics to the beans. The processing method significantly influences the final flavour profile of the coffee.

Coffee from Pergamino and other regions in Colombia enjoys high demand in the specialty coffee market due to its consistent quality and distinctive taste. It is often marketed as a single-origin coffee, allowing consumers to appreciate the unique flavours specific to the region.

In conclusion, Pergamino Coffee represents a part of Colombia's rich coffee heritage, offering consumers a delightful coffee experience characterised by exceptional taste and quality.

Coffee culture:

Coffee culture encompasses the social atmosphere, customs, and traditions surrounding coffee consumption worldwide. It encompasses everything from the preparation and customs associated with consuming coffee to the spaces where people gather to enjoy it together.

Coffee has a long history as a central aspect of social interaction in many cultures. Different cultures have their preferred methods of preparing and brewing coffee, such as espresso, pour-over, French press, Turkish coffee, and others, each offering a distinct flavour profile and experience. Many cultures also have specific rituals or traditions associated with drinking coffee, whether it's a morning ritual to start the day or an afternoon gathering with friends.

In Britain, where I reside, coffee culture often revolves around communal spaces like coffee shops, cafes, and specialty coffee shops, providing comfortable environments for socialising or simply enjoying a cup of coffee.

In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation for artisanal and specialty coffees worldwide, focusing on high-quality beans, precise brewing techniques, and unique flavour profiles. Coffee holds cultural significance in many societies, with coffee ceremonies playing important roles in hospitality and social customs in some regions.

Moreover, coffee culture is closely linked to creativity and intellectual pursuits, with many writers, artists, and thinkers frequenting coffeehouses as places of inspiration and discussion.

Overall, coffee culture reflects the diverse ways in which coffee is enjoyed, appreciated, and integrated into daily life worldwide.

Finally, the price of the Colombian coffee that my guests brought home is US$18.19. The Colombian coffee market is projected to contribute an additional $813.1 million to Colombia's Gross National Product (GNP) this year, which stood at $343 billion last year and has been steadily growing. Meanwhile, the monthly salary of my guest, who works in the coffee manufacturing industry, is 1,300,606.00 Pesos (equivalent to $333.29 US Dollars).

Photography / Story by Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

[lokuhapuarachchi]

Clarifying Perspectives: Photography vs. Digital Artistry

I see many people posting this image on their pages and commenting on the wonder and photographic wonder. Meanwhile, some of Sri Lanka's famous photography teachers had posted this without any details.

Meanwhile, some photography teachers had also noted about panning in the photo. They make this note because posting images with no background like this can create the wrong impression among amateur photographers.

Because it seems funny to talk about panning in this image.

This image is taken from Sergio Zoro's Instagram page called Cinema Streets, a Mexican digital artist. He is a digital image creator for advertisements. Therefore, this image should not be viewed from a photographic perspective.

[Reposting a note I made elsewhere about this image: In photography, "panning" refers to a technique in which the camera moves parallel to a moving subject, keeping the subject relatively sharp while blurring the background. This technique is commonly used in sports and wildlife photography to convey a sense of motion and dynamism in a still image.

To achieve a successful panning shot, we capture the subject's movement by using a slow shutter speed and tracking it with the camera. There, matching the speed of the camera movement with the speed of the subject is critical, resulting in a sharp subject against a blurred background, creating a sense of speed and movement.

Using this technique requires practice and patience, as it involves precise coordination between the movement of the camera and the movement of the subject. It is often used to capture images of fast-moving subjects such as cars, cyclists, runners, or moving animals.

In photography, "movement" or "motion" refers to the representation or representation of movement in an image. Motion can be captured in different ways depending on the techniques the photographer uses and the desired effect.

Freeze Motion: This technique involves using a fast shutter speed to capture a moving subject sharply without any blur. It's commonly used in sports photography or any time you want to freeze a moment in time, such as capturing a jumping athlete or a splash of water.

Motion Blur: Motion blur occurs when a moving object or camera is captured in a long exposure, causing the subject to appear blurred along the direction of its movement. This technique can give the photograph a sense of speed, energy or fluidity. It is often used in panning shots, where the subject remains relatively sharp while the background blurs, indicating the subject's movement.

Long Exposure: Long exposure photography involves using a slow shutter speed to capture stationary elements in sharp focus while blurring any moving elements in the frame. This technique is often used to capture the light trails of moving vehicles at night, star streaks in astrophotography, or smooth, flowing water in landscapes.

Implying Motion: Sometimes, photographers can suggest motion without directly capturing it. This can be achieved through composition such as leading lines or diagonal elements that imply movement, or through the use of selective focus and depth of field to draw attention to a specific part of a moving scene.

We are talking about motion in the image, and panning is the trick to incorporate motion into the image. Accordingly, the panning technique is not relevant in this image, as it appears that this image was created with a digital computer. What is needed for that is not panning, but the computer tools needed to create motion such as Motion Blur Filter, Blur Tool, Radial Blur Filter, Layer Masks, Transform Tools, Clone Stamp Tool, Layer Blending Modes and Custom Brushes.]

Story by / Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi

[lokuhapuarachchi]

Tranquil Reflections

The River Soar flows through Aylestone Meadows Nature Reserve, capturing reflections of the residents and the surrounding pasture. This photo was taken from beneath the brick bridge of Braunstone Lane. The Soar holds significant importance in the English Midlands, traversing Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. Originating near Hinckley in Leicestershire, it stretches approximately 65 miles before merging with the River Trent in Nottingham.

Historically, the river played a vital role in transportation and trade, especially during the industrial revolution when it served as a crucial route for moving goods such as coal and textiles. Today, it is a hub for leisure activities like boating, fishing, and scenic walks along its banks. Passing through towns and cities like Leicester, Loughborough, and Nottingham, the river contributes to the charm of these locales.

Phtography / Stroy by Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi