SRI LANKA NEWS

Geoff Marsh sacked as Sri Lanka national coach and South African, Graham Ford's appointment as Sri Lanka coach confirmed
Ford, 51, is the fourth coach since Australian Trevor Bayliss stepped aside after the World Cup final in April 2011. Bayliss's assistant Stuart Law took over for the England series and quit to coach Bangladesh. Sri Lankan pace bowler Rumesh Ratnayake took over for the home series against Australia and was replaced by Marsh. There was no immediate comment from Marsh, who had a two-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket. Ford who took over South Africa after Bob Woolmer in 1999, moved to Kent as its Director of Cricket in 2004. In 2006 he took over as coach of the South African domestic team from Durban, the Dolphins and last week announced that his resignation while mentioning his desire to coach at international level. Ford on Tuesday had met the SLC officials. Ford’s appointment will replace former Australian Test opener Geoff Marsh who was sacked as Sri Lanka’s national coach in just a day prior. Marsh's sacking came after Tillakaratne Dilshan quit his captaincy on Monday and former skipper Mahela Jayawardene was brought in to lead the team for the upcoming triangular one-day series with India.

Sri Lanka Navy gets top marks for humane treatment of Indian fisherman who stray into Lankan waters
The fishermen, who arrived in an Indian Coast Guard vessel at Mandapam, told the media that they were treated with dignity and given good food and proper accommodation during their stay at Sri Lankan naval base in Talaimannar. The naval personnel took them into custody on Saturday afternoon after two of their boats developed engine trouble in Lankan waters. Chinnian, Malaichamy, Tamilselvan and Selvam from one boat and Rajamanickam, Packia Joseph, Mariappan, Vijayakumar and the owner of the second boat, Ramu, were taken to the naval base where they were held for two days. On Monday night, the Sri Lankan navy released them at the International Maritime Boundary Line and the Indian Coast Guard took custody from there on. Mariappan and Packia Joseph told the media that they were stranded in Lankan waters near Katchatheevu when the navy personnel found them. They casually asked the fishermen what the problem was. Upon learning that the vessels had broken down, they towed the boats to the naval base at Talaimannar. "We were treated in a dignified manner and they provided us good food and decent accommodation throughout our stay there," they said.

Saturday, January 28th, 2012
Dili Dili Sanda Dili Dili - 06:30 PM

Raffle-The DOT Charitable Foundaton 4.30PM

Thursday, February 02nd, 2012
Lotus Leaf TakeAway Opening!! - All Day

Friday, February 03rd, 2012
PPA of SBC Silver Jubilee Celebration Ball - 07:00 PM

Saturday, February 04th, 2012
Independence Day Celebrations - 06:00 PM

Sunday, February 05th, 2012
Sri Lankan Catholic Assn. Monthly Mass - 04:00 PM

Tuesday, February 07th, 2012
Praise and Worship - 07:30 PM

Wednesday, February 08th, 2012
Quiet Time Retreat - 02:00 PM

Thursday, February 09th, 2012
Praise and Worship - 07:30 PM

Saturday, February 11th, 2012
Golden Night 70s - 06:00 PM

Celebrate a Romantic valentine's day with 'Desmond & The Impression - 07:00 PM

Meditation with Bhante Sujato - 04:00 PM

Weekend of Renewal in the Spirit - 09:30 AM

Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Mathaka Sulanga – Sinhala Movie - 03:00 PM

Saturday, February 18th, 2012
Lankarama Summer Food Fair 11AM

Sunday, February 19th, 2012
Ceylon Society - First General Meeting for 2012 - 06:30 PM

Sunday, February 26th, 2012
Book Launch by Palitha Manchanayake - 03:00 PM

Saturday, March 03rd, 2012
Prasadika Rupamali Wickramarachchi's - Second CD Release - 07:00 PM

Saturday, March 10th, 2012
Live Entertainment, Dinner and Dance - 06:30 PM

SCF Writers Guild Workshop - 03:00 PM

Sunday, March 11th, 2012
Australian Federation of Sri Lankan Associations in NSW Inc Inaugural Meeting 02:00 PM

Saturday, March 17th, 2012
Lak Saviya Foundation Charity Dinner, 2012 - 05:30 PM
Shepherdian Curry Night 07:00 PM

Saturday, April 14th, 2012
Meditation with Bhante Sujato

Saturday, April 21st, 2012
A Night With the Islanders 07:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Saturday, April 28th, 2012
BAKMAHA RANGANA 2012 - 06:30 PM

Saturday, May 12th, 2012
Meditation with Bhante Sujato

Saturday, June 02nd, 2012
Doctors Ball 2012 07:00 PM

Saturday, June 09th, 2012
BSS Winter Dinner Dance 06:30 PM
Meditation with Bhante Sujato

Saturday, July 07th, 2012
Sri Lanka Association NSW Winter Ball 2012 7.00PM

Saturday, July 21st, 2012
Engineers Night 2012 06:30 PM

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AUSTRALIAN AND WORLD NEWS

University of Sydney academics reveal that sex is a laughing matter to a capacity audience who filled the Famous Speigeltent
In a night by turns raunchy, amusing, informative and just plain weird a capacity audience filled the Famous Speigeltent last week to have their funny bones tickled. Dr Craig Barker, from Sydney University Museums, set the pace by explaining why archaeologists offer fertile ground when it comes to matters of love and lust - they are experts at dating, and the older you are the more interested they become. Barker went on to tell the capacity audience that in the 19th century your first date with an archaeologist might have been at a mummy unwrapping party - where the contents of Egyptian mummies were gradually revealed to an amazed audience - an archaeological take on the striptease. Associate Professor Dieter Hochuli, from the School of Biological Sciences, followed up with some confronting tips on what the insect world has to teach humans when it comes to sexual encounters. Traumatic insemination, performed by green plant bugs, is as bad as it sounds. We might have more luck imitating the orchid which uses old-fashioned deception to attract the closest 'flying genital', in this case a wasp.

Australia Day Message - Prominent neurosurgeon Charlie Teo has used his Australia Day address to state that racism was still all too common in Australia
So on a very simplistic level, what is it about Australia that makes it the greatest place on earth to live? Those of you who have lived overseas for any length of time will recall that it is very easy to reflect on your homeland with rose-coloured glasses. When in the US, I would recall Australia’s magnificent beaches and national parks and sunny summer days with flawless blue skies. I would reminisce on the irreverent humour of Doug Mulray, the natural beauty of Australian girls, the fresh and bountiful seafood, my friends from childhood and university days with whom I could be at total ease and the relaxed quintessential Australian way of life. I conveniently forgot about the Sydney traffic, the tall-poppy-syndrome, the flies in summer, the geographical isolation and the hidden and sometimes overt racism. My parents arrived in Australia in the early 1950s, my father to pursue a medical career and my mother a nursing one. They were given a warm welcome by many Aussies who adopted them into their families, giving them financial and emotional support.

BUSINESS, FINANCE and TECHNOLOGY

Sri Lanka Expo 2012 organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board on in Colombo from 28th to 30th March 2012
Consul General of Sri Lanka, D W Jinadasa has invited the businessmen and traders of Hyderabad to participate in Sri Lanka Expo 2012 being held by Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce in Colombo from 28th to 30th March. Speaking at the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, here on Wednesday, he said that Pakistan was the first country, with her Sri Lanka established its diplomatic relations after its independence in 1948. He said that his country's economic growth was an average of more than 5 per cent whereas it crossed 8 per cent growth rate last year despite it had been confronting war for over 20 years.He further said that there are 15 industrial areas in Sri Lanka and the entire country has been declared as free economy zone.

Qantas introduces IPads into it Boeing 767 aircrafts, offering passengers their new Q-Stream inflight entertainment system
According to Alison Webster, who is the Qantas Executive Manager for Customer Experience, the iPads will be “locked down.” The tablets will bypass the typical Apple home screen and will boot right into the Q-Streaming app, which will prevent sticky fingers since the iPad can’t be used away from the aircraft. A Q-Streaming app that’s loaded onto the iPad is able to act as a front-end for on-demand content which is sent from a wireless network on the aircraft, which is technology that was created by Lufthansa Systems for their BoardConnect platform, which was also adopted by Virgin Australia and is set to debut in 2012. While iPads as in-flight entertainment makes for a compelling story, the subtext in the wording is what’s really interesting. Is Apple allowing Qantas to run special firmware that locks the iPad and boots into a specific app, a feat that’s not normally available?

SPORTS

Mahela Jayawardene reappointed Sri Lankan Captain after Dilshan resigns, sending in his resignation from South Africa
“Dilshan has resigned as captain in all three formats of the game,” SLC said in a statement. “Members of the executive committee take this opportunity to thank Dilshan for his commitment and dedication during his tenure as the national captain,” the Board said. Mahela Jayawardene was today reappointed captain of the Sri Lankan squad for all three formats of the game hours after Tillakaratne Dilshan resigned from the post following the team’s dismal showing in South Africa. The 34-year-old’s immediate assignment would be to lead the team in the triangular series involving hosts Australia and India starting early February, sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage announced today. Angelo Mathews was named vice-captain of the 15-member squad which also included Dilshan. All-rounder Farveez Maharoof and pacer Chanaka Welegedara were recalled after having last played an ODI for Sri Lanka in June 2010.

Sri Lanka enjoys a two wicket win over South Africa with Kumar scoring a 102 - but South Africa wins the series 3-2
Sangakkara anchored Sri Lanka’s run chase, reaching his fifty off 54 balls before posting his 12th one-day international. After striking 10 fours, he fell to the first ball following the completion of his hundred when he hoisted a delivery from off-spinner JP Duminy to Pietersen at long-off. Play was delayed for an hour before Sangakkara and fellow left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne added 100 runs for the fourth wicket on a good batting pitch. Sangakkara departed with the score on 275 for four with the tourists needing just 38 runs off 34 balls and 22-year-old Thirimanne brought up his maiden ODI fifty on his way to 69 at better than a run a ball to set up the tense finish. The result would have been particularly hard on Smith and De Villiers who had batted superbly during their team’s innings.

RELIGION, COMMENTARY, ENTERTAINMENT, ART & HISTORY,

The Mounted Police Division is a living part of Sri Lanka's colonial heritage and its services are still the same as 80 years ago
The Mounted Division was started in 1921 at a time when the country was part of the British Empire and horses were the main mode of transport. The original building still stands today with its distinctive Dutch and British architecture and part of it is used as a stable. The colonial heritage is apparent in almost every aspect of this division - from the archways of the building to the ceremonial duties carried out by the members. The largest group of horses remain in Colombo for training purposes and are often seen trotting about in the early hours of the morning and late afternoon when the hot sun has lost its strength. The horses are trained in traffic control and patrols but their main duty is taking part in ceremonial escorts. Sri Lanka's president is given a Mounted Division escort at all State functions including the Independence Day ceremony, which falls on February 4 and the horses are already busy in the training ground. They are also an essential part of all state visits with many foreign dignitaries being given a Guard of Honor including Queen Elizabeth when she visited the island in 1954.

New Zealand Food columnist writes of her experience and the wonderful diversity and intensity of Sri Lanka, the Peal of the Indian Ocean
The historic Mount Lavinia Hotel was the perfect starting point because the handsome chef Publis has cooked here for more than 50 years, attaining superstar status in Sri Lanka with a weekly cooking show, a regular radio broadcast and being singled out by Rick Stein to cook for his television programme. We had him all to ourselves in the hotel kitchen as he introduced us to Sri Lankan cuisine. We watched as he whipped up hot and devilled deep-fried fish, fragrant baby potato curry, wok-fried spicy vegetables, a dry curry that was picture-pretty with green snake beans and baby pink shallots, and a load of accompanying sambals and roti breads to eat with the focal point - the rice. A truly spicy early dinner that awakened every taste bud in my mouth and left me licking my fingers and plate. Sri Lanka's cuisine draws many influences together to create food that's gloriously varied. The teardrop shaped island sits off the south eastern coast of India, with a string of islets stretching to the west that make it seem possible to almost walk to the sub-continent.

HEALTH, OPINION, COMMUNITY, and TRAVEL

Do we need Iron in our Body? Dr. Harold Gunatillake-health writer focuses on the need for this important and essential mineral
In genetic iron load absorption of iron from the intestines is accelerated and deposited in various tissues and organs, and the most common presentation is hepatic cirrhosis (hardening), in combination with hypopituitarism, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, arthritis, or hyperpigmentation. Because of the severe sequelae of this disease if left untreated, and recognizing that treatment is relatively simple, early diagnosis before symptoms or signs appear is important. Iron in foods is categorized into haem iron and non-haem iron. Haem iron is found in meat, whereas non-haem iron can be derived from a wide range of plant and animal foods. The human body can absorb and utilize haem iron better than non-haem iron: one up for people who eat meat. Therefore, haem iron has a higher bioavailability than non-haem iron.

Author Shehan Karunatilaka writes on Colombo a capital that straddles the beautiful and the banal
Colombo houses many worlds. From the malls of Bambalapitiya to the palaces of Cinnamon Gardens; from the dives of Slave Island to the balconies of Havelock Town. Pathways decorated with lush trees and colorful kovils run by rickety billboards and smelly canals. Roads crowded with buses, trishaws, and trucks make way for motorcades of Pajeros and Lamborghinis. Gaudy casinos rub shoulders with churches. It’s a city that doesn’t know where it’s going but is determined to get there. Today Colombo seeks to reinvent itself. Where once there were checkpoints, high structures are rising. Walls will be knocked down, highways extended, and slums replaced with greenery. While the sun shines without pause and the monsoon comes and goes as it pleases, everyone pretends to forget about the slaughters of the past. The burnings of 1983, the explosions of ’87, the abductions of ’89. The electoral bloodbaths, the prolonged power failures, and the parade of assassinations that punctuated the 1990s.