Features

Heard at the club

Published

4 years ago

2021/12/20

Sena was a popular member of the club who expounded Marxism, Leninism and the thoughts of Mao Zedoing, with a liking for Trotskyism.

His two goats stories were educational and very popular.

They are as follows:

Supposing you have two cows

In Socialism:

You give one to your neighbour.

In Communism:

The government takes them both and gives you the milk.

In Fascism:

The government takes them both and sells you the milk.

In Nazism:

The government takes both and shoots you.

In Capitalism:

You sell one and buy a cow.

In Trade Unionism:

They take them from you, shoot one, milk the other and throw the milk away.

Then he appealed to his friends, not to have anything to do with cows for they only bring you unnecessary trouble.

During the 1971 insurrection, went missing. After about a year or so, he surfaced at the club after being in a JVP rehabilitation camp. His friends then asked him, “With all your Marxist ideals, what made you get involved in the JVP insurrection?”

“The five lectures! The five lectures!” he said.

“It was like swallowing narcotic pills!”

When a member asked what those lectures were, he enumerated them thus.

No: 1 – The economic crisis facing the country.

No: 2 – The so-called independence which the British foisted on us.

No: 3 – Indian expansionism in Sri Lanka.

No: 4 – The present so-called “Left Movement”.

No: 5 – The class difference on economic and social grounds.

* * *

Another club member was a proprietary planter from the Wanduramba village, about 12 miles away from Galle. He found that he could not pass urine. In great pain and discomfort, with his tummy building in a most unseemly manner, and sloshing with every step he took, he came to a friend’s house at Galle, on his way to the hospital.

Asking his friend to lie down, his friend hurried to the well-known Ayurvedic physician Muhandiram William A. Wijeratne’s dispensary. When he returned with the physician, the Muhandiram examined the patient and gave him three pills to be taken immediately. Then he instructed the planter’s friend to keep two beds close together with a small gap between them. He then asked the patient to sleep on the narrow space face down. Below the space on the floor was kept an empty bucket.

After about 15 minutes, drop by drop, urine began to trickle into the bucket. A few minutes passed, and suddenly there was a gush of urine into the bucket, and within an hour or so, the patient was completely cured. Getting out of his bed, the much-relieved planter fell on his knees at the feet of Muhandriam Wijeratne and worshiped him.

On another occasion, another member came all the way from Morawak Korale to consult Muhandriam Wijeratne about a long-standing ailment – stones in the bladder. He had been to many doctors and veda-mahattayas, but had got no relief. The good Muhandiram cured him completely in a matter of weeks with his very efficacious “kasayas” (decoctions).

Muhandiram Wijeratne was also a member of the Galle Municipal Council representing the Minuwangoda Ward. His speeches were power-packed and was a real crowd-puller.

For the first time in any Municipal Council anywhere in the Island, Muhandiram Wijeratne spoke in Sinhala. This was over 80 years ago. (The first Sinhala speech in the Colombo Municipal Council was delivered 11 years later).

In a corner of the spacious garden of his sprawling mansion stood his dispensary. Close to it, on the road, was a bushalt where the students of both Mahinda and Sangamitta colleges gathered.

Sometimes on an afternoon, Muhandiram would stroll over to the bushalt and chat jovially with the girls and boys. He would constantly assure them that if they were very thirsty, water was available to them at this dispensary.

He had also instructed the dispensary staff to provide money for any student who needed bus fare.

He was also the father of Major General Lucky Wijeratne, the hero, who sacrificed his life in the field of war.

Yes! Muhandiram Wijeratne was indeed a great and good man.

* * *

Another day an elderly member of the club recalled his student days at Mahinda, during the time of an illustrious principal P. R. Gunasekera, who was a product of Royal College and then to Clare College, Cambridge where he obtained his M. A. He was also called to the bar from Middle Temple London.

On his return, he had joined the University College as a lecturer, prior to his appointment as the principal of Mahinda.

Though a novice in scholastic education he was devoted to the task. And, during his stewardship, the college progressed both in studies and sports.

As a keen and popular principal, coupled with his winning manners and charming personality, won him a seat in the Galle Municipal Council.

During his time Mahatma and Mrs. M. K. Gandhi and the Shri Nehru family visited Mahinda.

Not long afterwards, politics claimed its victim and his career came to an end when he was asked to resign as principal. He then sued the management and won his case and was awarded Rs. 25,000.00 damages (Quite a big sum 85 years ago), which he did not accept but turned over to charity.

After leaving Mahinda, he practised as an advocate at Galle and was at one time its crown counsel.

Thereafter he joined the judiciary and served as the District Judge of Kegalle, before he crowned his career as the High Commissioner of Australia.

This elderly member also told us this amusing story: During the time of the principal, referred to above, Baban Aiya, a member of the minor staff, was the college bell-ringer, a chore he performed in a most, musical, rhythmic and stylish manner – obviously the result of years of practice.

One day Baban Aiya fell ill, and his son Baptist deputized for him. But alas! Baptist wasn’t a patch on his old man. The first bell of the day summoning the boys to their classes, early that morning, rung in the most awful manner. There wasn’t the soothing melodious style of his father anywhere in it. Instead it was an ear-splitting, unmusical cacophony.

Peter, a student in the Junior Form at the time (1931) was an irrepressible mischievous imp, and as his classmates trooped into the class, he seized a piece of chalk and in large letters, wrote on the blackboard:

“Baptist,

The son of Baban,

Rang the bell

Dadang Badang!”

When the class teacher walked in and saw what was written on the blackboard, he was furious. (He was totally devoid of a sense of humour).

“Who wrote this?” “he demanded irately, and Peter unsuccessfully tried to suppress a snigger.

“Get up on the form, you!” shouted the master, pointing a shaking finger at Peter.

Hardly had Peter complied than the principal. P. R. Gunaskera came striding down the corridor, outside the classrooms, and seeing Peter standing on the form so early in the day, walked in and asked the class master what Peter had done.

“Sir,” explained the master,” When I asked the class who had written this on the blackboard, this boy impertinently tried to suppress a laugh. Sir, I am sure he’s the culprit””.

“Peter”, said the principal”, not unkindly. “Did you write these lines?”

“Yes, Sir” said Peter unhesitatingly”

“Then when your teacher asked who had done it, why didn’t you confess?””

“Sir” said Peter boldly,” I was waiting to confess to someone who could appreciate good poetry!”

As the rest of the class went into shock at Peter’s effrontery, Mr. Gunasekera smiled and said:

“Yes, Peter, your spontaneous poetic outburst is both amusing and clever, though the class blackboard is hardly the place for it.

I shall see that it finds a place in the next issue of the college magazine instead”.

And sure enough, it did!

* * *

This club member hailed from the Habaraduwa Electorate. He said that there is an Udagama named “Santhosagama” there. He then told us how it got its name.

Prime Minister Premadasa on a visit to the electorate had been received by its MP G. V. S. de Silva with the words “Bohoma Santhosai” (very happy). And, when the Premier invited G. V. S. to get into the

PM’s car to go round the electorate, he had again said “Bohoma Santhosai”. And when he got down from the Premier’s car he had repeated for the third time. “Bohoma Santhosai”.

So the Premier had suggested that this new “gama” be called “Santhosagama!”

* * *

These days when Ayurveda appears to be side-lined but the following stories show the efficacy of its treatment.

(i) The pregnant wife of a wealthy landowner was screaming in pain and it was the opinion of the Western medical doctors who were present there, that the child inside her womb was dead and that an urgent operation was necessary to save the life of the mother.

(ii) Now this was a time, when the rich people thought it below their dignity to go to a government hospital for confinement and since there were no nursing homes children were born in the palatial homes of these people, with a doctor or midwife in attendance.

Also, at this time, an operation was considered a virtual death sentence, and the panic–stricken landowner quickly sent his car to fetch Pothuwila Veda Hamuduruwo.

The physician monk arrived, and after a cursory examination of the patient, said that the baby was not dead. Then he took the landowner out of the room, and said. “The baby is alive – and its delivery must be expedited if the mother and the baby are to be saved”.

He then instructed the landowner to get one of his men to stealthily creep upto the window of the patient’s room with a gun and, without any warning, fire it.

On hearing the deafening report of the gun, the woman gave a loud shriek and promptly gave birth to a bony and very much alive baby son!

(ii) On another occasion too the doctors had told the husband that it would be a case of stillbirth.

Pothuwila Hamuduruwo was consulted and after a thorough examination, he marked a spot on the pregnant woman’s stomach and asked his “golaya” (pupil) to pierce the place with a pin.

The moment this was done, the child was immediately delivered and to everyone’s astonishment, on one hand of the baby was a spot of blood – apparently caused by the pin prick.

(iii) In another case, too, the unborn child was presumed to be dead, and Pothuwila Hamuduruwo, who had been hastily summoned, disagreed with the doctors. He took a pill from his medicine bag, dissolved it in a small pail of cold water and asked the woman to keep her hand immersed in the water. Within a few minutes another baby saw the light of day – thanks to the miracle maker Pothuwila Veda Hamuduruwo!

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Features

US’ drastic aid cut to UN poses moral challenge to world

Published

19 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

An UN humanitarian mission in the Gaza. [File: Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency]

‘Adapt, shrink or die’ – thus runs the warning issued by the Trump administration to UN humanitarian agencies with brute insensitivity in the wake of its recent decision to drastically reduce to $2bn its humanitarian aid to the UN system. This is a substantial climb down from the $17bn the US usually provided to the UN for its humanitarian operations.

Considering that the US has hitherto been the UN’s biggest aid provider, it need hardly be said that the US decision would pose a daunting challenge to the UN’s humanitarian operations around the world. This would indeed mean that, among other things, people living in poverty and stifling material hardships, in particularly the Southern hemisphere, could dramatically increase. Coming on top of the US decision to bring to an end USAID operations, the poor of the world could be said to have been left to their devices as a consequence of these morally insensitive policy rethinks of the Trump administration.

Earlier, the UN had warned that it would be compelled to reduce its aid programs in the face of ‘the deepest funding cuts ever.’ In fact the UN is on record as requesting the world for $23bn for its 2026 aid operations.

If this UN appeal happens to go unheeded, the possibilities are that the UN would not be in a position to uphold the status it has hitherto held as the world’s foremost humanitarian aid provider. It would not be incorrect to state that a substantial part of the rationale for the UN’s existence could come in for questioning if its humanitarian identity is thus eroded.

Inherent in these developments is a challenge for those sections of the international community that wish to stand up and be counted as humanists and the ‘Conscience of the World.’ A responsibility is cast on them to not only keep the UN system going but to also ensure its increased efficiency as a humanitarian aid provider to particularly the poorest of the poor.

It is unfortunate that the US is increasingly opting for a position of international isolation. Such a policy position was adopted by it in the decades leading to World War Two and the consequences for the world as a result for this policy posture were most disquieting. For instance, it opened the door to the flourishing of dictatorial regimes in the West, such as that led by Adolph Hitler in Germany, which nearly paved the way for the subjugation of a good part of Europe by the Nazis.

If the US had not intervened militarily in the war on the side of the Allies, the West would have faced the distressing prospect of coming under the sway of the Nazis and as a result earned indefinite political and military repression. By entering World War Two the US helped to ward off these bleak outcomes and indeed helped the major democracies of Western Europe to hold their own and thrive against fascism and dictatorial rule.

Republican administrations in the US in particular have not proved the greatest defenders of democratic rule the world over, but by helping to keep the international power balance in favour of democracy and fundamental human rights they could keep under a tight leash fascism and linked anti-democratic forces even in contemporary times. Russia’s invasion and continued occupation of parts of Ukraine reminds us starkly that the democracy versus fascism battle is far from over.

Right now, the US needs to remain on the side of the rest of the West very firmly, lest fascism enjoys another unfettered lease of life through the absence of countervailing and substantial military and political power.

However, by reducing its financial support for the UN and backing away from sustaining its humanitarian programs the world over the US could be laying the ground work for an aggravation of poverty in the South in particular and its accompaniments, such as, political repression, runaway social discontent and anarchy.

What should not go unnoticed by the US is the fact that peace and social stability in the South and the flourishing of the same conditions in the global North are symbiotically linked, although not so apparent at first blush. For instance, if illegal migration from the South to the US is a major problem for the US today, it is because poor countries are not receiving development assistance from the UN system to the required degree. Such deprivation on the part of the South leads to aggravating social discontent in the latter and consequences such as illegal migratory movements from South to North.

Accordingly, it will be in the North’s best interests to ensure that the South is not deprived of sustained development assistance since the latter is an essential condition for social contentment and stable governance, which factors in turn would guard against the emergence of phenomena such as illegal migration.

Meanwhile, democratic sections of the rest of the world in particular need to consider it a matter of conscience to ensure the sustenance and flourishing of the UN system. To be sure, the UN system is considerably flawed but at present it could be called the most equitable and fair among international development organizations and the most far-flung one. Without it world poverty would have proved unmanageable along with the ills that come along with it.

Dehumanizing poverty is an indictment on humanity. It stands to reason that the world community should rally round the UN and ensure its survival lest the abomination which is poverty flourishes. In this undertaking the world needs to stand united. Ambiguities on this score could be self-defeating for the world community.

For example, all groupings of countries that could demonstrate economic muscle need to figure prominently in this initiative. One such grouping is BRICS. Inasmuch as the US and the West should shrug aside Realpolitik considerations in this enterprise, the same goes for organizations such as BRICS.

The arrival at the above international consensus would be greatly facilitated by stepped up dialogue among states on the continued importance of the UN system. Fresh efforts to speed-up UN reform would prove major catalysts in bringing about these positive changes as well. Also requiring to be shunned is the blind pursuit of narrow national interests.

Features

Egg white scene …

Published

19 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Hi! Great to be back after my Christmas break.

Thought of starting this week with egg white.

Yes, eggs are brimming with nutrients beneficial for your overall health and wellness, but did you know that eggs, especially the whites, are excellent for your complexion?

OK, if you have no idea about how to use egg whites for your face, read on.

Egg White, Lemon, Honey:

Separate the yolk from the egg white and add about a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and about one and a half teaspoons of organic honey. Whisk all the ingredients together until they are mixed well.

Apply this mixture to your face and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes before cleansing your face with a gentle face wash.

Don’t forget to apply your favourite moisturiser, after using this face mask, to help seal in all the goodness.

Egg White, Avocado:

In a clean mixing bowl, start by mashing the avocado, until it turns into a soft, lump-free paste, and then add the whites of one egg, a teaspoon of yoghurt and mix everything together until it looks like a creamy paste.

Apply this mixture all over your face and neck area, and leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off with cold water and a gentle face wash.

Egg White, Cucumber, Yoghurt:

In a bowl, add one egg white, one teaspoon each of yoghurt, fresh cucumber juice and organic honey. Mix all the ingredients together until it forms a thick paste.

Apply this paste all over your face and neck area and leave it on for at least 20 minutes and then gently rinse off this face mask with lukewarm water and immediately follow it up with a gentle and nourishing moisturiser.

Egg White, Aloe Vera, Castor Oil:

To the egg white, add about a teaspoon each of aloe vera gel and castor oil and then mix all the ingredients together and apply it all over your face and neck area in a thin, even layer.

Leave it on for about 20 minutes and wash it off with a gentle face wash and some cold water. Follow it up with your favourite moisturiser.

Features

Confusion cropping up with Ne-Yo in the spotlight

Published

19 hours ago

2026/01/1

Thilina Walpola

Ne-Yo: His management should clarify the last-minute cancellation

Superlatives galore were used, especially on social media, to highlight R&B singer Ne-Yo’s trip to Sri Lanka: Global superstar Ne-Yo to perform live in Colombo this December; Ne-Yo concert puts Sri Lanka back on the global entertainment map; A global music sensation is coming to Sri Lanka … and there were lots more!

At an official press conference, held at a five-star venue, in Colombo, it was indicated that the gathering marked a defining moment for Sri Lanka’s entertainment industry as international R&B powerhouse and three-time Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo prepares to take the stage in Colombo this December.

What’s more, the occasion was graced by the presence of Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka, and Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism, alongside distinguished dignitaries, sponsors, and members of the media.

Shah Rukh Khan: Disappointed his fans in Sri Lanka

According to reports, the concert had received the official endorsement of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, recognising it as a flagship initiative in developing the country’s concert economy by attracting fans, and media, from all over South Asia.

Nick Carter: His concert, too, was cancelled due to “Unforeseen circumstances

However, I had that strange feeling that this concert would not become a reality, keeping in mind what happened to Nick Carter’s Colombo concert – cancelled at the very last moment.

Carter issued a video message announcing he had to return to the USA due to “unforeseen circumstances” and a “family emergency”.

Though “unforeseen circumstances” was the official reason provided by Carter and the local organisers, there was speculation that low ticket sales may also have been a factor in the cancellation.

Well, “Unforeseen Circumstances” has cropped up again!

In a brief statement, via social media, the organisers of the Ne-Yo concert said the decision was taken due to “unforeseen circumstances and factors beyond their control.”

Ne-Yo, too, subsequently made an announcement, citing “Unforeseen circumstances.”

The public has a right to know what these “unforeseen circumstances” are, and who is to be blamed – the organisers or Ne-Yo!

Ne-Yo’s management certainly need to come out with the truth.

However, those who are aware of some of the happenings in the setup here put it down to poor ticket sales, mentioning that the tickets for the concert, and a meet-and-greet event, were exorbitantly high, considering that Ne-Yo is not a current mega star.

We also had a cancellation coming our way from Shah Rukh Khan, who was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka for the City of Dreams resort launch, and then this was received: “Unfortunately due to unforeseen personal reasons beyond his control, Mr. Khan is no longer able to attend.”

Referring to this kind of mess up, a leading showbiz personality said that it will only make people reluctant to buy their tickets, online.

“Tickets will go mostly at the gate and it will be very bad for the industry,” he added.