Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

Just attended a Musical Show by T.M. Jayarathne titled Sonduru Atheethaya in Doha. Excellent 4 hours of Music. It was very nice to listen to his songs and the stories, tales behind those songs.

By Claire Bates
Last updated at 4:31 PM on 03rd November 2009

This rare ghostly picture shows a full lunar rainbow arcing over the countryside in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Rainbows appear when sunlight is reflected from raindrops, but in this case the Sun had set hours before. Instead a particularly bright Moon created the impressive bow.

Photographer Chris Walker captured the picture as he was driving through a storm around 7pm last Sunday.

He said: `I noticed something odd in the sky as I was driving home.

LiveScience Staff
LiveScience.com livescience Staff

livescience.com Mon Nov 2, 5:43 pm ET

A 35-mile rift in the desert of Ethiopia will likely become a new ocean eventually, researchers now confirm.

The crack, 20 feet wide in spots, opened in 2005 and some geologists believed then that it would spawn a new ocean. But that view was controversial, and the rift had not been well studied.

A new study involving an international team of scientists and reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters finds the processes creating the rift are nearly identical to what goes on at the bottom of oceans, further indication a sea is in the region`s future.

Before your sniffles morph into a nasty sinus, chest or ear infection, here`s how to fight back.
By Sari Harrar

Mugs of tea, a bottle of ibuprofen and a truckload of tissues won`t get you through every case of the sniffles. Too often, the common cold turns into something more serious, zeroing in on your personal weak point to become a sinus infection, a sore throat, a nonstop cough, an attack of bronchitis or an ear infection. And if you`re prone to a particular complication thanks, perhaps, to an anatomical quirk (such as sinus obstructions), an underlying medical problem (early asthma, for example), or a history of a particular illness (childhood ear infections) your odds of getting sicker, faster, can skyrocket.

One hundred and eighty seven years ago a collection of priceless jewellery and ornaments was sold by auction at 38, King Street, Covent Garden in London. The date was June 13th, 1820 and the jewels were described as `presented by his Majesty to his captors`.

In fact they were not presented by his Majesty (Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe) but seized by his captors the British. The jewellery and ornaments formed part of the regalia of the last King of Kandy. The full regalia comprised the crown, the throne and foot stool and the sword use by kings of the Kandyan Kingdom for 122 years.

By Richard Alleyne,
Science Correspondent

Playing a musical instrument makes you smarter, it has been claimed.

New research suggests that regularly playing an instrument changes the shape and power of the brain and may be used in therapy to improve cognitive skills.

It can even increase IQ by seven points in both children and adults, according to researchers

Experts said there is growing evidence that musicians have structurally and functionally different brains compared with non-musicians - in particular, the areas of the brain used in processing and playing music.

HANDS TO HEAVEN - Breathe
From the album All That Jazz 1988 A&M

As I watch you move across the moonlit room
There`s so much tenderness in your loving
Tomorrow I must leave, the dawn knows no reprieve
God give me strength when I am leaving

So raise your hands to heaven and pray
That we`ll be back together someday

Tonight I need your sweet caress
Hold me in the darkness
Tonight you calm my restlessness
You relieve my sadness

As we move to embrace, tears run down your face

Sri Lanka in India 2009-10
Sa`adi Thawfeeq
October 29, 2009

Picture
Sanath Jayasuriya`s recent batting form has the Sri Lankan selectors concerned AFP

Sanath Jayasuriya`s cricketing future has been put in the balance with Sri Lanka`s selectors saying today that his days as an opener are effectively over and that following the upcoming tour of India he will be picked on performance alone. Jayasuriya, 40, has been picked in the one-day squad as an allrounder who can bat down the order and bowl left-arm spin.

now this guy knows what he is talking about

Q: Doctor, I`ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?

A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don`t waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speed up heart not make live longer that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster. Want live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

By Sarashi Samarasinghe in Mannar

As the bloody war in the North and East came to a conclusion on May 19 this year, the next major issue that the government faced was to find proper shelter for the people who were saved from the humanitarian operation which was conducted by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in the war affected areas.

Hence the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services along with the other responsible authorities decided to provide temporary shelter for these innocent civilians in the North and East.

WEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF BEAUTY - Alison Moyet

Album: `Raindancing` (1987)

Oh, it`s a long time since I saw you
Well, you know how time can fly
It seems like yesterday we were lovers
Now we pass each other by
But if we`re left alone tonight
Don`t ask me to hold you tight

I go weak, I go weak
I go weak, I go weak
Weak in the presence of beauty

All my friends keep asking why
I`m quiet while you`re around
They don`t know I think I`m so lucky
To stop myself from falling down

by Saman Indrajith

The government yesterday (20), expressed its `deep disillusionment with several developments` it had encountered while lobbying to secure the continuity of GSP plus facility as some officials of the European Commission had attempted to use the facility as a `weapon` against Sri Lanka`s sovereignty.

Minister Prof. Peiris replying a special statement made by Chief Opposition Whip on September 24 on the GSP+ issue, said: `We must confess our deep disillusionment with several developments we have encountered in respect of the decision making process. We find particularly disconcerting attitudes directly linked to subjective views, expressed in formal discussions with surprising lack of restraint, by officials of the Commission with regard to a wide range of issues within Sri Lanka`s sovereign competence including the acceptability of military action in the country.`

MANIC MONDAY - The Bangles

Album: `Different Light` (1986)

Six o`clock already, I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissing Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can`t be late `cause then I guess I just won`t get paid
These are the days when you wish your bed was already made

It`s just another manic Monday (oh woh)
I wish it was Sunday (oh woh)
`Cause that`s my fun day (oh woh oh oh)

October 17, 2009 04:08 pm

The Maldivian cabinet met at the bottom of the sea, marking the first ever such meeting to be held underwater, which framed an SOS to global leaders to save their atoll nation from being submerged by the rising seas.

The SOS in the shape of a declaration was approved at the 25-minute cabinet meeting presided over by President Mohammad Nasheed.

The declaration will be presented at the Copenhagenmeet on climate change in December, with Nasheed saying that Maldives was not the only country facing such a calamity.

Enjoy the weekend