The Men behind the Transformation of Sri Lanka’s Cricket Team

Rohit Pawar in Cricket Age, 23 February 2019 … https://www.cricketage.in/2019/02/23/18356the-architects-of-sri-lankas-triumph-in-south-africa/***

In South Africa, Sri Lanka has created history by becoming the first even Asian team to conquer the frontier! Not even termed underdogs, Sri Lanka’s relatively inexperienced side pulled off a miracle and outplayed mighty South Africa on their own soil.

As entire cricket fraternity is showering praise on the historical achievement, Cricket Age focused on those individuals, who transformed the team with their vision, commitment and courageous decisions.

Harin Fernando Ashantha De Mel

Returning ISIS Fighters viewed as Threat to European Society

ONE =Kim Willsher, “Returning jihadists ‘threaten new wave of terror in Europe” 20 December 2018,  

Europe is facing a new wave of terrorism as radicalised individuals return and jihadists are released from jail, the general secretary of Interpol has warned. Jürgen Stock, Interpol’s chief, who is also a criminologist and law enforcement officer from Germany, said: “We could soon be facing a second wave of other Islamic State linked or radicalised individuals that you might call Isis 2.0.”

“A lot of these are suspected terrorists or those who are linked to terrorist groups as supporters who are facing maybe two to five years in jail. Because they were not convicted of a concrete terrorist attack but only support for terrorist activities, their sentences are perhaps not so heavy.  In many parts of the world, in Europe but also Asia, this generation of early supporters will be released in the next couple of years, and they may again be part of a terrorist group or those supporting terrorist activities.”

Celebrating Anne Abayasekara’s Mighty Pen and Lifetime

Uvin Dassanayake in Daily News, 14 February 2019, where the title is “The pen PROVED MIGHTY INDEED!”

On Saturday February 9, Cinnamon Gardens Baptist Church was host to a celebration of the work of the late Anne Abayasekara, Sri Lanka’s first woman to become a staff journalist and a much beloved writer over her career of nearly 70 years. The evening proceeded with each of her seven children speaking about their mother, recounting fond memories of the sounds of her typewriter in the family home and sharing poetry she had written for her grandchildren; all to an audience of family, friends and people who had been, in some way, affected by Abayasekara’s work.

Anne with her husband Earle

Videos of Naseby and House of Lords UNHRC Debate, 5 February 2019

Videos of Naseby’s UNHRC Debate 05/02/19

Lord Naseby

https://youtu.be/kOPdq8wt6VQ

Lord Framlingham

https://youtu.be/QbOO91cP8Dc

A Letter from Alice — Outback Australia Stories

Rob George

Frank Rees George, was a government geologist around the turn of last century and took part in a number of explorations in the west and north of the state. In the summer of 1906 Frank was in an exploring party in the Peterman Ranges area when they were attacked by aborigines and the leader of the group was speared through the eye. Frank George took over leadership of the team and managed to get them all safely back to Alice Springs but after a day or so Frank collapsed and died – he was in his early 30s. – it is assumed from peritonitis. He was buried in the cemetery at Alice Springs and a road is named after him. It’s a sad story but there is a particularly poignant element to it. After his death the team’s camel driver, George Edginton, wrote a long letter to Frank’s mother in which he detailed the events leading up to Frank’s illness and then describes Frank’s final hours. It’s a beautifully written letter, sensitive, heartfelt and moving – an extraordinary achievement especially given that the writer was a camel driver.

Photo taken on expedition by Frank Rees George.  I assume the person in the photo is George Edginton who wrote the letter to Frank’s mother on his death.

The British Way: An Appraisal of Donald Trump

Nate White responding to the Question:“Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?”

“A few things spring to mind. Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

A Cricketing Prasasti for Kusal from Andrew

Andrew Fernando, in ESPNcrcinfo, 18 February 2019, where the title is “Kusal Perera bats with body, heart and soul in innings of a lifetime”

That vein.

The vein on Dale Steyn‘s forehead has come alive. He is mid-pitch, biceps taut, knees bent, fists clenched, face red, practically on fire, screaming.

Mitchell Johnson had three furious seasons. James Anderson nicks entire top orders off. But let’s not kid around. If there is a sight that has struck fear into the heart of the planet’s batsmen in the last 15 years; if there is a vision that shakes them to their soul, it is this.

Steyn. His vein. Mid-pitch. Screaming.