The New Year Dawns – a time for reflection

I wish all my avid readers and the occasional itinerant a very blessed New Year filled with fulfillment of your personal goals and aspirations.

The auspicious time of 7.20pm on Friday 13^th April 2012 was when the New Year dawns. It is usually on April 14^th but this year, I think due to the leap year it came a few hours earlier and was 13^th night. It was just marked by the ear shattering sound of fireworks all around me. I was more concerned for the welfare of the dogs as they usually get very agitated at the sound of fireworks. I guess it is a traditional sign of something to remember by and the lighting of the hearth time was 7.42. At least I have a hearth in my kitchen, in a separate building next to the house, which uses firewood here on the farm, though I also have a gas cooker in the pantry.

Unlike the traditions with no family here to partake in the rituals, I decided to spend the last few hours typing a document on suggestions for improvement in the higher education sector, namely the state one, as I believe the private sector can take care of itself.

We in Sri Lanka are fortunate, in that the 1^st of the year as well as Sinhala New Year gives us two cracks at the cherry. I am confused when combined with Hindu New Year and not Tamil. Why is one based on religion and the other by a race? I guess those waiting to have a dig at SL will use this as a point, so let us just call it Tamil New Year and be done with it. I googled and in Tamil Nadu they celebrate Tamil New Year, so it is NOT Hindu as Sinhala chauvinists would like to call it!!

For me it is a time to spend a few days on the farm in Godagama, catch up on my laundry, time with the dogs, and generally recharge for the next innings.

I have received so many greetings by way of texts. This form of greeting has taken over from the traditional cards. Then when one goes into facebook there are numerous New Year cards inserted by people all with traditional New Year looks but except for the girls serving at Food City, I find it hard even at this time of year to find anyone wearing the Redda and Hatta. Despite the fireworks, which signifies any event, it is not the same as the traditional attire at New Year, one of the Hallmarks of our culture, is absent. Let us toast to a revival of that please!!!!

I just heard the fireworks again, this is the 10.28pm calling for the tradition of partaking in the first meal for the new year. I have no photos today, and will instead put a few photos taken on April 1^st when we were giving kids at three different Sunday schools in the Minneriya electorate books, chairs and certificates.

A paduru party at Ratmale

I had the privilege of hosting a party for over 300 people at my home in Ratmale in Minneriya. Actually this was the first party I had since I built this home.

We had built a super bonfire which is shown here on the left and was still flaming away after the party ended around 2am.

There was a crowd of young people who also came from Hingurakgoda in a bus as well as the youth from the villages of Ratmale and the adjoining village of Rotawewa the two purana gamas which were in existence when the area was rediscovered by the British in the early nineteenth century.

The village of Ratmale was into agriculture, and Rotawewa was known for hunter gatherers in the surrounding forests and collecting bees honey from the bee hives there.

They have a unique dialect borne out of their isolation all those years back.

Dinner was served for all around 8pm with the food served on the Nelum Kola. All the food was local except for the Potato Thel Dala.

The two gentlemen in the photo were my special guests as I have known them for over 10 years and they are from the local area. Due to their age and infirmity they left after an hour, but were introduced to the chief guest, Mr Ruwan Wijewardene, who came to meet the youth of the Minneriya area and the rest of the Polonnaruwa district.

After dinner there was dancing and singing, with a lot of natural talent on display.

So after a lot of merriment, those whose legs were tired decided to relax on the provided mats and enjoy the evening, in twilight. After all I do not have electricity and the stars in the sky come out to hit you in these circumstances.

The locals from Ratmale joined in late as they could stay as long as they liked, while those from outer parts had to leave earlier due to the distances they had to travel to get home.

There was no alcohol served, and it was definitely not even needed and so it all ended with weary legs and not much else to complain about.

Maybe we should do this more often. It was all thanks to the ladies of the village who did a sterling job during the day to cook.

For those who wish to see the cooking in progress please see my blog which was created to showcase the home, called Kumbuk Pokuna Lodge.

www.ratmale,blogspot.com I have not begun to take bookings yet!!

Today at the Jaya Shri Maha Bodhinwansa - Anuradhapura

We paid our respects and to obtain blessings for the hard road ahead in building a National Youth Front to empower and embolden the Youth of Sri Lanka

Atamasthanadipathi who is the caretaker of the sites in Anuradhapura where certain people with god complexes are trying to change the course of history, much to the chagrin of the Maha Sangha

A few words in lighter vein about my condition caused by the lust for power

Some of the office bearers of the NYF about to make the offering

The podi hamuduruwo of the Atamasthanadipathi who accepted the offerings to take up to the Uda Maluwa

A moment of contemplation

The anushasana for our cause

The pirith noola being tied round the wrist by the podi hamuduruwo

Dalada Maligawa with the Youth Front

We paid homage to the casket containing the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Dalada Maligawa on Friday evening. There were crowds gathered at the Temple that time.

There were about 15 of the NYF who came with us and were allowed into the inner sanctum. The young lads and one lass were infused with the strength of this visit to carry on their allotted duties in growing and spreading the arms of the organization nationwide.

A visit to Kandy to obtain blessings for a Empowering Campaign

I was in Kandy, as part of the new campaign by the National Youth Front to energize and empower our youth, both male and female out of the current climate in Sri Lanka and to provide them with an alternative that takes cognizance of their individual and personal needs and the manner in which they will be able to meet their goals, providing them with some real hope and not broken promises.

There were about 20 Active members of the Organization accompanying us to meet with the Malwatte Mahanayake Thera who we visited for two different reasons. First was that he had asked for Dudley Senanayake’s photo, as it was the only photo of our national leaders he did not have in the temple. It was the task of his grand nephew to deliver one to the Mahanayaka Thera personally.

The second was to ask for blessings for the program of the NYF for the year, which will see us travelling the length and breadth of this country presenting our case to the youth to join hands with us in living by way of example and showing the powers that rule us that there is an alternative, better than the status quo.

It is not an easy task, but as is customary when a new project of this nature is undertaken, the blessings from such a position holds the dedicated in a good frame of mind to fearlessly carry out their responsibilities believing that the task at hand is right and just, in battling an unjust and unfair rule.

We had also arranged to visit the Asgiriya Chapter, but later we were told it was not possible to see the Mahanayake. We do not know the real reason, but suspect that he did not wish to be questioned on the result of the UNHRC resolution that had just been passed and be put on the spot by an opposition politician when he is a quite partial to the government having been just given a massive Rs700M as a donation during the 700^th anniversary of this chapter, to do as they please. We have already been made aware of some contracts being granted to government Ministers for the work to be carried out. In any case it was never to put him on the spot!!!Signing the visitors book

We paid our respects to the older Anunayaka Thera as well and were offered the traditional plain tea with juggery. I think the tea is probably from the many estates owned by the temple, one of the largest landowners in the country.

Of course the Boss had a long one on one private discussion on matters of state, as the state of the nation is of natural concern to the Mahanayaka Thera. The current state is nothing to be proud of with daily litany of killings, even of priests, and robberies and other nefarious activities which are on the rise.

Anunayaka Thera

High Tea or is it now really a case of pastries and spaghetti and porkies?

I was recently invited to High Tea for a family celebration, where my cousin who is currently in Switzerland was in town with her twin daughters and we had an early first birthday for them, as the real one was to be April 2^nd being one with Hans Christian Anderson of fairy tale fame. So the cake shown here was an exquisite tea pot. Don’t they make fabulous cakes in Sri Lanka? I have never seen more amazing creations anywhere else.

High Tea at the Galle Face of all places must include the traditional British finger sandwiches as well as scons, jams and clotted cream but it could not be further. It was of course a full meal if anyone cared to eat that much at 4pm, but I was most disappointed with the tea as it was make yourself a teabag job. That for high tea is just a no no. I have had this at the Ritz and the Dorchester and the tea proper was part of the big deal.

They should just serve a real pot of tea and give three flavors. Using spring water, proper service, and tea leaves. I guess it is all too much for the Galle Face, faced with a severe shortage of experienced servers, who really understand service, so they have to rely on yet another buffet style help yourself operation. It seems to be their way of maximizing the bottom line and minimizing the experience!

The high light of course was the family gathering, the fellowship and meeting some after a long while. One photo above shows my friend and the hostesses friend, Morgan from France with one of the twins, whilst their mother is carrying Edgar, Morgan’s third son whose birthday happened to fall on the day of the event, so he also had a jolly first birthday with many strangers for company!!

The other photos comprise a gaggle of nieces including the twins, the rest are now all sorry the twins have left our shores. Their Dad is from Japan, where they will return in about a year once he finishes his studies in Switzerland.

I used to take photos in days gone by, and now it is all on digital format. We rarely see real photos anymore, and that is only when we take the trouble to get some prints of the favorite digital photos. I presume people will have fewer photo albums excluding the electronic ones, and fewer photos adorning their homes. I have in the meantime decided to dispose of most of my photos to the people who are on the photos, as they are most likely to appreciate them more, and I will be relieved to part with shoe boxes of photos, I have not even looked at in a long while. In a way we now have blogs to share some of our photos with strangers and I am therefore sharing a little of my world with you.

In Commemoration - appreciation of those who helped us in life

I attended a small function today off the 34km post of the Kandy Road, in Gampaha. It was arranged by an elderly couple Mr& Mrs Sepala Akikari, in their 80s in their small home in commemoration of the Senanayake family, and DS, Dudley, Robert and his son Ranjit in particular remembering and giving thanks to them (particularly Robert) who helped him with his first job and gave him a kick start in his life's path over 70 years ago.

We were reminded of how rare it is today, to actually remember and give a dana for and on behalf of people who have truly helped us get to where we are today.

The event was merely for the neighborhood people who belong to the local Community Center, who attended the 70minutes of Bana from a young priest at a local Temple that had been helped by the Senanayakes followed by some light refreshments.

Then there was a welcome speech as shown in the photo by the host reminding people of the contribution that DS whose 60th death anniversary was on the 22nd of March, and the contribution and he and his Dudley made to this country lest we forget.

One of Mr Adikari's daughters is and has been in the service of the family for 24 years.

Two of Robert Senanayake's grandsons, Sujan and Ruwan Wijewardene were on hand to grace the occasion along with their father Ranjit, and distribute various gifts to the local people including school books to the school going children.