This is a guide book that talks about everyday life in Australia.

The book gives practical information about the basics aspects of Australian society.

The book is written for Sri Lankans who want to understand about life in Australia before they go and gives an idea about how it is to really live in Australia. For example it explains how to find lodging, how much it’s going to cost for a room? For a house? How to buy a house? Rates?

It explains about the transport system –prices of tickets, about weekly-deals that will save money. Then discounted markets — the price of food items, how much is a loaf of bread. Clothes — how to do winter-shopping cheap. The prices. About how to find jobs — part time jobs and professional jobs, nature of job industry in Australia.

The reason for this booklet? The university magazines and other booklets in the industry give only a vague idea to students and don’t give practical information about how to live there and how much it’s going to cost them. This book will make the students and migrants properly informed before they go to Australia (plus they can do a budget). Why Rajaman’s Guide To Australia? It’s like a Mr. Bean-like character who explains everything with humour. 

Review by Carl Muller

“Beautifully enough, this guide also carries a poem by G. K. Samarakoon that you simply must read. This is a guide book extraordinary, and it brings Australia to you in so many ways no other book does. But this handy guide is not only one of the most lively and whacky I have come across, but it is so down to earth that one wonders how well the writer has assembled both wit and wisdom in bringing within covers a full pouch, brimming with information that serves up, for migrants and visitors, a full platter.

Review by Northern Star – Australia

Rajaman’s Guide To Australia is a practical information book released by Migrant Education Centre, Victoria. What it is, is an ‘Idiot’s Guide to Australia’ written by G.K. Samarakoon an Australian writer, teacher and traveller. The book is written by the perspective of a migrant, hence it explains things in simple language with a bit of humour. The book covers everything from maps, how to find lodging, food, transport, part-time jobs, immigration and visas etc.

There were a few things which I learned from the book as well. And things like the weekly tickets are taken for granted by Australians in the country but these things could be a novelty to new migrants. So in that sense this book is a must-have for anyone coming in to the country to study or live. – Susan Bingley, Migrant Counsellor.

A bold attempt by Dr. Piyasiri Vijayasekere

The launch of Piyasiri Vijayasekere’s translation of Marcel Pagnol’s ‘La fille du puisatier’ took place at the Alliance Francaise, Colombo on September 24 amid a gathering of friends, well-wishers and literary enthusiasts.

The book, titled, Lin, Mamage Donianda Hewath Lindo was received with much acclaim. Addresing the gathering at the launch, Vijayasekere, who has spent much time in France and is well spoken in both Sinhala and French explained that though this translation is not the first of this classic French story, he is certain that it brings home the story to Sinhala readers in a clear manner.

Dr. Piyasiri Vijayasekere’s translation Well-Digger’s Daughter is PAGNOL’s fourth work in Sinhala. He has also translated Nobel Prize laureate Albert Camus’s The Stranger (1992) (Best Translation, 1993, Independent Literary Festival), Elie-Georges Berreby’s Le Visiteur (theatre, 1903, unpublished), Pearl Fishers (opera) (Carré & Cormon, 2008) and Michael Ondaatje’s Running In The Family (2008). He holds a Masters degree (Panthéon Sorbonne) and a Doctorate (Université de Paris). According to Dr. Vijayasekere, direct French-Sinhala translations offer an additional advantage of engaging in a culturo-ideological decolonisation process vis-à-vis the dominant (colonial) mode of communication.

Kinnara ’09 

Kinnara ’09 was organised by the Hewisi Band of S. Thomas’ College on September 12 and brought together over 2000 people, young and old. This year’s performance was compered by Sahan Rathnayake and Dylan John – two young Thomians whose talents in this department were truly exceptional.

The Chief Guest, Sam Wijesinghe, and Ranjini Abeynaike opened the evening by lighting the oil lamp together with the Warden, Revd. John Puddyfoot, Sub Warden, Harshana Fernando, Chaplain, Rev. Rebecca, Master in Charge Dilanka Matthew, Malsiri Peiris representing the parents, Asst. Band Leaders Sandharu Ferdinando and Trehan Manathunge and Band Leader Mevan Peiris.

The show commenced with the Band of Museaus College.

Trinity College, Kandy – one of the most renowned Hewisi bands in the country came in with their exceptional drumming and fire antics adding colour and vibrancy to the show. Bishop’s College brought on a band comprising of over 40 performers on a range of percussion instruments on to the chapel steps amidst a loud cheer from the audience.

The youngsters from S. Thomas’ Guruthalawa put on an amazing show of fire-dancing which was very courageous and looked quite dangerous too for a troupe of young boys.

The dance troupe of the Asian International School brought in a difference to the line up as a small group of eight talented teenagers took to the floor. The fusion music and their well practiced performance kept the audience mesmerised.

The STC Old Boys came in with a lovely line up of popular Eastern and Fusion melodies. Their presence bore witness to the fact that Thomians are Thomians for life. Their love for their alma mater will bring them back offering her their talents, resources and love for the next generations of school boys.

The Grand Finale was the 30 minutes of music brought on by the Hewisi Band of STC Mount Lavinia. Thirty eight youngsters on flutes, davul bera, geta bera, thammatam, thalam-pata, cymbals, base drum, African jambur, thabla, bamboo, practiced for three months to bring on this show and they certainly did themselves proud. Kushlani Allis directed the choreography which certainly added to the beauty and quality of the show.

Band Leader Mevan Peiris did an outstanding job in training the boys and keeping them motivated over the long practice sessions and coordinating all aspects of the show – most of which were handled by the school boys themselves. The Assistant Band Leaders Sandaru Ferdinando, Trehan Manathunge and the team of seniors took the responsibility to make the event happen. Their vision and commitment to take the show to the next level is probably the recipe for success.

“This is my seventh Hewisi concert and I’ve learnt all I know from the seniors who in turn learnt from their seniors,” says Mevan. “Over the years I’ve been involved in almost all the sports offered in college, I did not excel in them all, but I certainly built a huge group of great friends throughout the school at all levels. To be available for each other and support each other in achieving our dreams is what friendship is about – and at S. Thomas’ we live that kind of friendship,” he stated.

The teamwork within the band and among the different groups of boys within the school was simply awesome. The scouts, the cadets, the house prefects, college prefects, the parents, the teachers, the minor staff and the old boys and many more all contributed in a big way. The bandsmen themselves took on a host of responsibilities. One handled the decorations and the entire design aspect of all print material, one coordinated the souvenir, one the ticket sales and so on. The master in charge Dilanka Matthew — also in his teens — was a great support to the boys.