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Further embrace the values of Buddhism founded upon non-violence, compassion and boundless loving-kindness towards all living beings – President

Published

4 weeks ago

2026/05/30

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his Vesak day message called upon all Sri Lankans to further embrace in their lives the values of Buddhism founded upon non-violence, compassion and boundless loving-kindness towards all living beings.

The full text of the Presidents message:

The Vesak festival, which commemorates the three pivotal milestones in the life of Lord Buddha: his birth, his attainment of enlightenment, and his passing (Nirvana), is the most sacred celebration for Buddhists across the world. The people of Sri Lanka, heirs to a proud culture enriched by Buddhist heritage, join Buddhists worldwide in devoutly observing this noble occasion.

Buddhism is the greatest philosophical teaching to have conveyed to the entire world a timeless and practical message of peace. The entirety of the Dhamma preached by the Gautama Buddha is founded upon the Four Sublime Virtues of loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity.

Furthermore, peace, coexistence and reconciliation constitute the supreme teachings expounded not only by the Buddha but also by all enlightened teachers. Buddhism teaches that, in order to establish peace in the external world, inner spiritual peace within the individual must first be secured. We must recognise that this inward and peaceful approach, as advocated by Buddhism in guiding society towards collective noble objectives, is more relevant today than ever before. I believe that this was also the message brought to Sri Lanka recently by the Vietnamese monk Venerable Pannakara Thero, who undertook a pilgrimage on foot across the country.

Moreover, the celebration of Vesak is not merely a religious observance, but also a magnificent cultural festival that has, for thousands of years, reflected Sri Lankan identity, solidarity and artistic creativity. It is indisputable that the programmes organised alongside Vesak celebrations, giving prominence to acts of religious observance such as almsgiving, the observance of sil, meditation and Dhamma sermons, as well as the devotional offerings and festivities including dansals, Buddhist devotional songs, beautifully crafted lanterns and splendid pandals, greatly contribute towards fostering mutual understanding, reconciliation and coexistence among communities.

Inviting all people to further embrace in their lives the values of Buddhism founded upon non-violence, compassion and boundless loving-kindness towards all living beings, I extend my heartfelt wishes for a blessed Vesak festival in which all hearts may find peace, comfort and serenity through the soothing grace of the Dhamma.

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Should not drop someone just to give Sooryavanshi an opportunity: Sitanshu Kotak

Published

9 hours ago

2026/06/26

Priyan

The India batting coach said that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would get his chance, but was tight-lipped about a possible debut in the opener against Ireland [Cricbuzz]

While the air around the build-up to India’s two-match T20I series against Ireland remains centered around a potential debut for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year old prodigy may have to wait a little longer to get his cap, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak suggesting that it would be unfair to change the combination to fit him into the XI.

India’s top-order is stacked with plenty of firepower. While Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan are currently ranked first and second respectively in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, Sanju Samson walked away as the Player of the Tournament in the team’s victorious T20 World Cup campaign.

Addressing the media on the eve of the opener in Belfast, Kotak remained tight-lipped about a possible debut for Sooryavanshi, stating that head coach Gautam Gambhir and newly appointed skipper Shreyas Iyer would zero in on the XI later in the day.

“I am sure that he will get his dues and his opportunities,” Kotak said. “So I don’t think that just to give him an opportunity, we should drop someone who has already been scoring runs. That also won’t be right.

“Obviously, it depends on the team management… what we plan to do in this match. That is a different thing. But I think it is a very thin line between trying to give somebody an opportunity and you being unfair to some other player.”

Kotak lavished praise on Sooryavanshi, who broke into the T20I setup on the back of a season-topping 776-run campaign for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, striking 72 sixes and winning the MVP Award. He called the left-handed opener an “outstanding talent”, while stressing on the need for him to enjoy his experience in the senior setup.

“The boys who come through the BCCI system playing U19, India A or Emerging tournaments, they more or less understand the culture of the Indian team,” Kotak said. “So it’s not as though a lot is different for him. But what we told him was for him to enjoy. If he wants to ask or share something, he should.

“Gautam was also telling him the same thing – ‘you just feel like you are playing for your own team and just say whatever you feel.'”

Despite Sooryavanshi’s limited domestic experience at his tender age, Kotak wasn’t of the opinion that he needed to be looked after differently.

“I feel that the level of maturity, decision-making, and intent of those who perform at this level will always be good. More than that, as long as he feels that he is part of the team and he can freely behave the way he behaves in other teams, that is good enough.” Kotak said.

Ireland’s newly appointed T20 skipper Lorcan Tucker too heaped praise on Sooryavanshi managing to break into the senior India setup at the age of 15.

“I think it’s pretty incredible for them to have a 15-year-old on their team,” Tucker said. “I didn’t think ever that was going to be possible in this professional era of the game, especially with the amount of work that goes into professional cricket and the standard of the players. So yeah, credit to him.”

Dubbing him a “special player”, Tucker was hopeful of his team keeping Sooryavanshi’s bat quiet.

“We’re obviously hoping we’ll see him this week. It’ll be a big moment for him. But I think, like I said in a previous release, it’ll be great to kind of spoil that party…and make an impact in that game,” Tucker said.

Tucker went on to acknowledge the buzz around Sooryavanshi’s impending international debut and the massive Indian community in Ireland who were looking forward to witnessing him in action.

“It’s really exciting. So I think energy like that coming into a series is fabulous not only for us, [but also] for people coming to watch, for people watching at home, for those kids playing around the corner,” Tucker said while going on to add that Sooryavanshi was a role model for young kids around the world.

“I know Vaibhav is only a young boy, but he’s still an incredible player. And I think he is a pretty special role model for cricketers all around the world now and kids coming through.”

[Cricbuzz]

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Hetmyer, Stoinis and Jasdeep combine to hand Freedom 88-run defeat

Published

9 hours ago

2026/06/26

Priyan

Jasdeep Singh picked up three wickets in his second over on his way to a five-wicket haul [Cricinfo]

Seattle Orcas had won just one of their first three games in MLC 2026, but it all came together beautifully for them against Washington Freedom on Thursday. The 88-run win was enough for them to jump straight to No. 2 on the points table, behind the unbeaten Los Angeles Knight Riders.

Orcas got the sort of start they wanted, reaching 59 for no loss after the powerplay even as they slowed down to get to 79 for 2 at the halfway stage. But then they really turned in on thanks to Shimron Hetmyer and Marcus Stoinis. Matthew Breetzke had given the innings some momentum in partnership with Hetmyer, but when Breetzke got out in the 15th over, Orcas were solid without being spectacular at 138 for 3. Around 200 was expected, but not the 227 they got.

And that was down to Stoinis, their captain. Hetmyer was already on 44 off 20 balls and got to his half-century off 24 deliveries soon after, but Stoinis almost caught up with Hetmyer in a blaze of sixes. He hit five of them in one over, the 17th, bowled by medium pacer Ian Holland. From 4 off six balls, Stoinis was on 34 off 12, and though there was another big one in the next over, bowled by Marco Jansen, Stoinis fell for 42 off 16 deliveries the next ball.

Hetmyer, meanwhile, left it till the last over, which started with Orcas on 208 for 5. Jack Edwards was the bowler, and Hetmyer went 6, 6, 6 off the first three balls. That was enough to take Orcas to a huge total, and for Hetmyer to finish on 79 not out off 33 balls.

With that many runs to chase down, Freedom needed a solid start. Instead, they were 42 for 5 after the powerplay, having lost most of the big guns: Steven Smith, Mitchell Owen, Andries Gous, Glenn Maxwell and Edwards. Jasdeep Singh had four of the five wickets, including three in his second over – the fifth of the innings – where he got Gous first ball, Maxwell off the next, and Edwards off the fifth. Smith was already in the bag from his first over, and Jasdeep came back in the 14th to complete his five-for with Jansen’s wicket.

At one point, it looked like the record for the biggest victory margin (by runs) in MLC – currently 123 from when San Francisco Unicorns beat Freedom last season – would be broken. That it wasn’t was thanks to runs from Freedom’s Nos. 8, 9 and 10. Amila Aponso top-scored for Freedom with 31 not out from 13 balls from No. 10, and the men before him, Holland and Jansen, contributed 46 from 39 deliveries between them.

The latest defeat, their second in three games, left Freedom at the bottom of the table.

Scores:
Seattle Orcas 227 for 6 in 20 overs (Tim Seifert 37, Shayan Jahangir22, matthew Breetzket 32, Shimron Hetmyer 79*, Marcus Stoinis 42, Ali Sheikh 11; Marco Jansen 3-33, jack Edwards 1-56, Ian Holland 2-49) beat Washington Freedom 139 in 16.2 overs (Andries Gous 18.Obus Pienaar 10, Marco Jansen 20, Ian Holland 26, Amila Aponso 31*; Marcus Stoinis 1-20, Jasdeep Singh 5-24, ottneil Baartman 1-11, Cameron Gannon 2-16, Harmeet Singh 1-40) by 88 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Over 40 persons injured in head on crash at Talalla

Published

13 hours ago

2026/06/26

Priyan

Over 40 persons have been injured (some critically) as two buses one travelling from Galle to Ampara and the other from Tangalle to Matara crashed head on at Talalla Matara this morning.

The injured have been admitted to the Matara General Hospital and Bathhegama District Hospital.