Tag Archives: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Cedes Another Port, This Time An Airport, To Foreign Powers — India + Russia!

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by Anura Guruge
on April 26, 2024

Click to ENLARGE. News snippets from ‘Google News‘.

This can’t be good. China already has a 99-year lease on deep-sea HARBOR nearby. Then, {as I reported} folks talk about ‘Russian Enclaves‘ in Sri Lanka. Now this. So, now China, India & Russia — a rather curious trinity — legally have footholds in Sri Lanka, controlling ports to boot.

Some of this {maybe much of it} probably has to do with the rampant corruption in the upper echelons of the government. Sri Lanka has been plagued by corruption & mismanagement for at least the last 50 years — & they have only been independent (from the British) for 76-years. I don’t think it was always the case. I think the first batch of leaders we had, straight after Independence {i.e., the ones I were personally familiar with}, weren’t totally corrupt. From what I could see {& I had quite a good & privileged vantage} they genuinely cared. They wanted to make something of the much sought Independence.

I could be wrong, but I think the corruption crept in during the late 1960s.

I, obviously, have no skin in this game. I gave up my Sri Lankan citizenship in 1983. I haven’t been back since 1992. So, this is all kind of academic. Historic.

I think China should TAKEOVER Sri Lanka. They own much of the Sri Lankan debt. Sri Lankans aren’t doing a very good job taking care of their country.

ELEPHANTS Vs. Man In Sri Lanka — CNN Documentary, Sunday, April 21, 2024.

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by Anura Guruge
on April 20, 204

Click to ENLARGE. Link to ‘CNN’.

I am am recording it, but I am not sure whether I will be able to watch it in its entirety. It might be TOO distressing. I know the situation is dire — & not getting better. This is an issue very close to my heart.

Way back, when I was in my late teens, I had this plan that when I was 30, I was going to liquidate everything I had in the West, go back home to Ceylon, and (using our family contacts & clout) get a ‘job’ looking after the elephants. That was in the 1970s. I knew then that the elephants needed help. Well, none of that happened. I, as with all things in my life, FAILED — & failed miserably.

Sri Lankans have an unusual confused & conflicted relationship with our elephants. We have FOUR (4) types of elephants in Sri Lanka (nee Ceylon). Temple, Working, Tourist & WILD. In theory we are supposed to (literally) worship the Temple elephants. Many think they do, BUT we are rather unkind to them. Working elephants don’t do too bad. Tourist elephants get some abuse. The real problem is the WILD elephants. They get short shrift. That is what this CNN documentary will be about.

Just wanted to make sure you knew of this. OK?

That ‘Good Friday’ Is NOT A Federal Holiday In The U.S. Still Confounds Me — After Nearly 40-Years.

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by Anura Guruge
on March 29, 2024

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Click to ENLARGE. Click for ‘Google‘.

I just can’t get used to this. The MOST IMPORTANT day in Christianity and it is NOT a holiday.

I get caught out each year BECAUSE the STOCK MARKET is closed. My life revolves around the stock market because I TRADE every day. SMILE. Terrible thing … addiction. I am addicted to trading. It could be worse. I could addicted to something that costs money.

I saw mail being delivered. I was taken aback — though we now have USPS parcel delivery on Sundays thanks to Amazon.

But, I had to check. Good Friday is NOT a federal holiday. How can that be.

Growing up, in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) & in the U.K., both Good Friday & Easter Monday were holidays. 4-day holiday.

Baltimore Key Bridge Collision: The Container Ship, ‘DALI’, Was Heading To ‘Colombo’, Sri Lanka.

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by Anura Guruge
on March 26, 2024

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Click to ENLARGE. Underlying picture from the U.K. ‘Daily Mail’.

It just struck ME because ‘Colombo‘ is my hometown — where I was born 70-years ago. [I left in 1969.]

That is a LOT of cargo going to Sri Lanka. WOW. I thought they were short of foreign currency and had strict import controls. I wonder what is in ALL those containers. A lot of containers. Doubt whether any of those will make it to Ceylon any time soon. Wonder what the impact will be.

I had never given it much thought prior to this. What does Sri Lanka IMPORT from the U.S.? What is it that they can’t get (for cheaper) from Asia? Interesting. I need to look this up.

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I Had No Idea That ‘Sri Lanka’ Now Has Russian Enclaves — One Called ‘Little Moscow’.

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by Anura Guruge
on February 29, 2024

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From ‘Google News‘.

I thought that it was just the Chinese and Indians that were carving up Sri Lanka. But, I have no visibility as to what happens in what was the country of my birth — 71 years ago. I left in 1967 & last visited in 1992. So, I only glean occasional tidbits from what I see on the news. That was the case today. I happened to see the ‘BBC‘ post about this ‘White Party’, in Sri Lanka, in my ‘Google News’ feed. (2nd story in the image above.)

I was amazed. In my days there were no Russians, other than a few at the embassy and some NGOs, living in Ceylon. In those most Russians weren’t allowed to leave the country.

I don’t think this is good. But, no skin off my nose. I have no skin in Sri Lanka. Just feel bad.

Sri Lanka Independence Day 2024: For The 2nd Year, The Government Panders To India — This Time By Inviting A Submarine!

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by Anura Guruge
on February 3, 2024

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Click to access the original from the Indian ‘The Hindu‘.

Last year. A stamp to honor ‘Jawaharlal Nehru‘.
See my post.

Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Google News’.

Sri Lanka got its political independence from Britain on February 4, 1948.

That was a BIG DEAL.

But now, due to decades of corrupt and inept governments both FINANCIAL & MILITARY independence has been squandered.

Sri Lanka is mighty beholden to China & India — both jockeying to get the edge over the other.

Inviting an Indian submarine for Independence Day celebrations is like a JOKE. It doesn’t convey strength, resolve and independence.

Last year the stamp. This year a submarine.

Yes, I have heard that large chunks of the locals are NOT happy.

It is a shame. I grew up, in Ceylon, as the 1st generation born after Independence. Those were happy days with much optimism and promise. Shame.

I have NO skin in the game — other than being born there. I gave up my Sri Lankan citizenship in 1983. That was 41 years ago.

But, I still mark ‘February 4‘. Always remember that as Independence Day.

February 3: Anniversary Of “Mahatma Gandhi’s” Funeral (1948) — The Day Before Ceylon Independence Day.

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by Anura Guruge
on February 2, 2024

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Click to ENLARGE & view here. Click to access ‘Indian Express’ from the Google Newspaper archive.

‘Ceylon‘, now ‘Sri Lanka‘, Independence Day (from the British) was on February 4, 1948.

Ceylon’s Independence was overshadowed across the world by the GREAT MAN’s funeral. We as kids were never told this, & I only found out about it, accidently, well into my 50s. I was shocked.

To be honest, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you as to when he was tragically gunned down — though I have watched the outstanding ‘Gandhi’ movie (below) at least thrice.

It was on January 30, 1948.

The funeral was 4 days later on February 3. Ceylon Independence was the next day.

Since I found out, I can no longer think of Ceylon Independence WITHOUT connecting it with the Mahatma’s untimely passing.

Yes, he is ONE of my heroes. I admire him greatly and think of his sayings, often, especially about respecting the labors of others.

“Dexcom’s” ‘National Diabetes Awareness Month’ Message Disingenuous And Insulting.

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by Anura Guruge
on November 21, 2023

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Click to ENLARGE.

I can ONLY talk about the ‘Dexcom G7‘
— & I was NOT IMPRESSED.

I plan, soon, to do a whole series of posts about how UNHAPPY & DISAPPOINTED I was with the Dexcom G7 — that I wore, 24×7, for a month.

I would not bother with a G7 again.

It is possible the Dexcom G6 is more accurate and reliable. IF I ever go with Dexcom it will be with the G6.

Dexcom is just EXPLOITING us patients. I am not impressed with them.

So this message I got, via e-mail today, did NOT make me happy.

As far as I am concerned the Dexcom G7, like the ‘POGO‘, is NOT ready for prime time.

‘POGO’ On-The-Go Blood Glucose Monitor Is Way Inaccurate & Fails To Register Way Too Often.

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by Anura Guruge
on November 20, 2023

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I TESTED mine, TWICE, using the ‘control solution’ they sent me.
Still reads low — consistently.

The POGO was a crushing disappointment.

I, through PayPal, got a FULL REFUND!

Loved, loved, loved the CONCEPT. All-in-one glucose meter. No fuss, INSTANT testing.

But, it proved to be crushingly disappointing. Consistently gave low, VERY LOW — crazy LOW readings. Per its readings I should not have been standing.

I was wearing a ‘Dexcom G7‘ at the time. The Dexcom G7 wasn’t that great either, but the readings were more believable. Yes, I checked them both with a normal BG meter. The POGO was way low.

I called them. They sent me two batches of CONTROL SOLUTION. I used them both. They said the POGO was within ‘range’. NOT SO. NOT SO.

Well, I got my money back — so I really can’t complain MUCH. It is just that I am disappointed. I hate the hassle of using a standard meter. I don’t have the time or patience. I want to get it done quickly.

Well, it is NOT the POGO — yet!

Maybe they will get it right EVENTUALLY.

I offered to work with them — for FREE. They were NOT interested.

I can now understand why they PULLED their IPO from the market. They probably knew that they would face Class Action Lawsuits.

I am just sharing this with YOU so you don’t get misled.

When It Comes To Controlling Diabetes, You MUST Opt For ‘Ceylon’ Cinnamon (NOT The ‘Chinese’).

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by Anura Guruge
on November 11, 2023

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Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Google‘ (where else?)

I am NOT diabetic AS YET — but I just crept into
the prediabetes range.

Coming from ‘Ceylon‘ (now ‘Sri Lanka‘) {albeit leaving just before I was 14} I am NO STRANGER to Cinnamon. Ceylon, from time immemorial, has been famous for its spices — but in particular cinnamon. I have eaten cinnamon all my life & actually like the taste.

Until recently I had no idea, whatsoever, that cinnamon was supposed to be a potent means for keeping diabetes at bay. I discovered that when I started doing some research — once I was told that I had finally crept into the dreaded pre-diabetes range (albeit just). That is also when I found out that for diabetic control you MUST only go with CEYLON cinnamon. I had no issue with that — especially since Ceylon cinnamon is easy enough to get on Amazon.

But, this claim about Ceylon cinnamon helping to keep diabetes at bay kind of surprised me BECAUSE I have always known that Ceylon/Sri Lanka has a high incident of diabetes. I know many that do {though I can’t actually say ‘family members’ because I am a ‘hospital mixup‘ and have no idea who my biological relatives are}.

I looked it up. I was right. Things have not got better.


Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Google‘ (where else?)

Yes, there is racial/genetic predisposition PLUS their VERY CARB HEAVY diet — called ‘rice & dahl‘ (the latter being lentils). I have not eaten rice & dahl in decades (though I am rather partial to that diet).

I just thought I will let you know.