(This article was posted in 2013 to denote the 30th anniversary of Black July 83 and is reproduced here again with minor changes in view of the 32nd anniversary of the anti- Tamil pogrom) by D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Shops, Banks, Offices and Restaurants in the Capital’s crowded City Centre and Main Streets being burnt while the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Watching Tamil movies on screen and listening to Tamil film songs over radio was an integral part of life for me as a child growing up in Colombo. The Tamil ‘Varthaga Oliparappu’ or Commercial service of ‘Radio Ceylon’ was a treasure trove of film songs. Apart from broadcasting the latest Tamil film songs …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj In writing last week about legendary film actor Tony Ranasinghe, I referred to the comment by Malani Fonseka about Tony being the greatest romantic lover in Sinhala films. The queen of Sinhala cinema who has acted in about 40 films with him said of Tony Ranasinghe “I find him the most romantic …
Continue reading ‘♫ Kaadhal Mannan ♫ Gemini Ganesan, Romantic Actor King of Tamil Cinema ♥’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Tony as an actor is the best character-based actor not even witnessed in the Indian screen. He has an actor within himself who emerges at the correct moment. Tony Ranasinghe is the best character actor in Asia” – Gamini Fonseka. “Tony Aiya was a well-read man of wisdom. Not only as his …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s ebullient Foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera is currently in the forefront of a move to review and possibly remove the ban imposed on certain Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora organizations and individuals designated as “terrorist” under provisions of the United Nations Act No 45 of 1968. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) and …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj An event of great significance occurred within the sphere of minority community politics in Sri Lanka on June 3rd 2015. Three political parties representing sections of the Tamil people living outside the Tamil dominated Northern province and Tamil majority Eastern Province announced at a media conference held at the Taj Samudra Hotel in …
Continue reading ‘Tamil Progressive Alliance and the Tamils Living Outside the North-East’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj There was a time when I was afflicted by the supernatural in the form of ghost stories and horror movies. Being terrified by terrible tales of ghosts, devils, vampires and monsters was an enjoyable type of agony then.It was a self-inflicted period of craze for the macabre. This phase in my life began …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife, If once I be a widow, ever I be a wife!………” The lady doth protest too much, methinks” – William Shakespeare :Hamlet Act 3,Scene 2. Politicians are a breed thriving on publicity –negative or positive. Their preference is to bask in the limelight always. …
Continue reading ‘Ananthy Sasitharan in the Eye of a Controversial Publicity Storm Again’ »
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj Thambirajah Subathiran alias “Robert” was assassinated in Jaffna by a sniper of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Twelve years ago on June 14th 2003 while the Norway facilitated ceasefire between the Sri Lankan Government led by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE was in force. “Robert …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj A perennial classic in the sphere of Tamil film songs is ‘Kaatriniley Varum Geetham’ based on the Sindhubhairavi raga.It is sung by the nightingale of India MS Subbulakshmi in the film ‘Meera’ where she plays the title role.This song was a favourite of one of my aunts who would be singing snatches from …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (The brutal gang rape and murder of 18 year old schoolgirl Vidya Sivaloganathan in the Northern Island of Pungudutheevu has resulted in widespread revulsion and condemnations. It has drawn attention to the burning issue of sexual violence against women in general and Tamil women in particular. This is a recurring phenomenon with …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj I was pleasantly surprised this week when a South Indian journal asked me to revise an article I had written earlier about the singer Porayathu Leela – popularly known as P. Leela. The request for an article to denote Leela’s birthday was most unexpected as she had passed away 10 years ago …
Continue reading ‘♬ P. Leela, ‘Forgotten’ Singer Who Sang Unforgettable Songs In Tamil Cinema ♥’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Kandiah Balasegaran alias Balraj the legendary military commander of the LTTE died of a heart attack on May 20th 2008.This article is an updated amalgamated version of articles written by me in 2008 and 2011 about him. It is being published here to denote the seventh death anniversary of “Brigadier” Balraj – DBSJ) …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Today May 21st is the 24th death anniversary of former Indian Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. He was killed on May 21st 1991. The date of Rajiv Gandhi’s death has poignant significance for me personally. May 21st is the date of my birth. My birth and his death which happened thirty – seven …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj 12 May was the birthday of an actress who was described by the American Film Institute as the “greatest American screen legend” among female stars. Katharine Hepburn, known popularly as Kate Hepburn, with her regal appearance and distinctive patrician-sounding accent, strode majestically across stage and screen in an acting career spanning more than …
Continue reading ‘Katharine “Kate” Hepburn holds Oscar record for most wins in acting category’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj “The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it” – Omar Khayyam in the Rubaiyat (translated into English by Sir Edward Fitzgerald) The month of May is significant …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj The ‘Spotlight’ column returns after a lengthy interval. The focus this time is on American actor Gregory Peck. There is no particular reason other than nostalgia for writing about this former Hollywood idol at this time. Born in 1916, Peck passed away in 2003. So this year 2015 does not mark any …
Continue reading ‘Gregory Peck’s flu cured by ginger-coriander tea when filming in Ceylon’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The successful passage of the 19th Constitutional amendment in Parliament with an overwhelming majority has resulted in the Executive Presidency ushered in by the 1978 Constitution losing some if not all of its powers. This in turn has focused the spotlight on the first Executive President of Sri Lanka –Junius Richard Jayewardene …
Continue reading ‘How JR Jayewardene Ushered in the Executive Presidency in 1978’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The tenth death anniversary of well-known columnist D.P.Sivaram who wrote under the pseudonym of “Taraki” falls this week. Dharmaretnam Puvirajakeerthi Sivaram who wrote in English and Tamil was abducted on April 28th 2005 at Bambalapitiya around 10. 30 pm.His body was found about four hours later by the Police on the banks …
Continue reading ‘“Taraki” Sivaram: From Gun Toting Militant to Pen Wielding Journalist’ »
By D.B.S. JEYARAJ “And everybody praised the Duke Who this great fight did win.” “But what good came of it at last?” Quoth little Peterkin. “Why, that I cannot tell,” said he, “But ’twas a famous victory.” – Robert Southey -“ The Battle of Blenheim” Fifteen years ago on April 22nd 2000 the strategic Elephant …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Friday April 17th was the 99th Birth Anniversary of Sirima Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike who created history as the world’s first woman Prime minister. The 55th anniversary of her being appointed as the then Ceylon’s premier falls on July 21st this year.The Island’s elder stateswoman was in active politics for almost forty years .She …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj The traditional April new year dawned on a sad note for me last year.I woke up to the news that well –known singer of film songs Prathivadi Bayankara Sreenivas (P.B.S) had passed away in India. He was one of my favourite filmsong singers.I grew up with the Tamil film songs of people …
Continue reading ‘♥ Remembering PB Sreenivas and His Enchanting Duets With S. Janaki ♫’ »
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj Tamil New Year will once again be officially observed in Tamil Nadu in midApril instead of Thai Pongal day in midJanuary as being done now Although Tamil new year had been observed in April by Thamizhians for centuries the DMK govt of M.Karunanidhi changed it officially in 2008
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Actions speak louder than words! A very effective message regarding the contentious issue of the national anthem being sung in Tamil also was sent out early this week to the nation in general and the Tamil people in particular in the form of exemplary concrete action by the triumvirate comprising President Maithripala Sirisena, …
Continue reading ‘History of the National Anthem of Sri Lanka has been Mired in Controversy’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Once upon a time there was a Beautiful Island with wonderful people that was regarded as God’s own country. After gaining Independence from a colonial power the modern nation with an ancient civilisation adopted a national anthem of its own.The anthem was written in the language spoken by the majority of its inhabitants. …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The phenomenon of “Traitorization” in Tamil Nationalist Politics has raised its ugly head again. I use the word traitorization instead of treachery or treason in order to differentiate between those who are actually treacherous or really committing treason as opposed to those being accused or labelled as “traitorous” or traitors. The reality is …
Continue reading ‘Recurring Phenomenon of “Traitorization” in Tamil Nationalist Politics’ »
by D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) was formed in 1949 by a dissident faction of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) led by well –known lawyer G.G. Ponnambalam. The new party was called the Federal party in English though its name in Tamil stood for “Ceylon Tamil State Party”. The break away group …
Continue reading ‘Imperative Need to Support Tamil Moderates in the Struggle Against Extremists’ »
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj Tamil National Alliance(TNA)Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan MP and TNA National list Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran won many hearts and minds by participating in the official Independence day ceremony held in Battaramulla on February 4th. The diplomatic community in Colombo hailed it as a commendable symbolic gesture towards ethnic reconciliation in a land torn asunder …
Continue reading ‘Tamil “Extremists” Target Sampanthan and Sumanthiran of the TNA as “Traitors”’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former Supreme court judge and current Northern Province chief minister CV Wigneswaran met with President Maithripala Sirisena at the presidential secretariat in Colombo on Thursday February 12th and discussed a number of issues including the controversial resolution passed by the Northern provincial council accusing successive sri Lankan regimes of committing genocide of the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) political commissar for Batticaloa and Amparai districts Eliyathamby Nagenthiran Lingarasa alias Kausalyan was assassinated on February 7th 2005. This article published in “The Sunday Leader”then is reproduced to denote his 10th death anniversary…..DBSJ) It was the third day of March last year. Around 125 to 150 senior …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Former Tamil National Alliance Amparai district MP Ariyanayagam Chandranehru was assassinated on February 7th 2005. This Article published then in “The Sunday Leader”is reproduced here to denote his 10th death anniversary………….DBSJ) Ariyanayagam Chandranehru was the latest unfortunate casualty caught in the crossfire of a dirty war between the LTTE and its former Eastern …
Continue reading ‘Ariyanayagam Chandranehru: Tamil Nationalist son of the Eastern soil’ »
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj (Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) political commissar for Batticaloa and Amparai districts Eliyathamby Nagenthiran Lingarasa alias Kausalyan and Tamil National Alliance (TNA)ex-parliamentarian from Amparai district Ariyanayagam Chandranehru and seven others were assassinated along the Batticaloa-Polonnaruwa road on February 7th 2005. This article published in “The Sunday Leader” at that …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Leading Politbureau member of Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Kumar Gunaratnam alias “Kumara Mahathaya” a.k.a. Noel Mudalige is very much in the news these days.There is much speculation that Kumar (whose full name is Premakumar Gunaratnam) who is currently in Sri Lanka on a month long tourist visa may not obtain an extension and …
Continue reading ‘How the JVP Fought a Guerilla War Against the Indian Army in Trincomalee’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj General Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka is very much in the news these days. The former army commander has had his lost rank, titles, honours, decorations and civic rights restored. He is likely to be made Field Marshall and may very well enter Parliament in the days to come. General Fonseka was deprived …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Former Health minister Maithripala Sirisena is the man of the moment having quit the UPFA Govt and coming forward as the common opposition candidate challenging incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the Presidency with the slogan “Supirisidu Nayakathwayak, Maithree Palanayak”.This article was written by me at a time when Maithripala Sirisena was riding high …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj January 8th 2015 is upon us! It’s the Day of decision for Sri Lanka as it faces yet another election to either re-elect or elect the most powerful person in the Country. My thoughts and prayers with all Sri Lankans as they cast their votes in what is perhaps the most crucially …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj What was the nature of the role played by Former Health minister and current Common Opposition Presidential Candidate Maithripala Sirisena during the final phase of the war conducted against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)? The question is of great relevance and grave significance at a time when the United Nations Human …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj September 14th 2013 was a red letter day for the people of Kilinochchi as the “Yarl Devi” Train streamed into Kilinochchi after many years on that Saturday.Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself was on board the train as a special passenger during the 35 minute journey of the “Yarl Devi” from Omanthai.He had …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa, known to his country and the world at large as Mahinda Rajapaksa, celebrated his 69th birthday on 18th November. Sri Lanka’s fifth Executive President has been at the helm of the nation for nine years since November 2005. Currently he is poised to create a record of sorts by …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Ten years ago on December 26th 2004 a series of giant Tsunami waves engulfed the coasts and littoral areas in different parts of Sri Lanka. It was a terrible tragedy that resulted in tremendous loss of human life,limb and property.Until the destructive waves rolled over our shores on that fateful day most …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Fifty years ago on December 3rd 1964 , Charles Percival de Silva the minister of Land, Irrigation and Power in the SLFP-LSSP Coalition Government of Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike crossed over to the opposition in dramatic fashion with a group of thirteen MP’s. The CP de Silva crossover as the event was …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The controversial cross over of Senior minister Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena from the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa to the opposition and related developments have evoked memories of another cross over from treasury benches to the opposite side by another senior minister from the Rajarata 50 …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj November 27th 1989 was the day on which the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE)first observed its annual “Maaveerar Naal” or Great Heroes Day (GHD).Twenty five years have passed since then and the silver jubilee of the event is today Nov 27th 2014. The event continues to be observed on a large scale by …
Continue reading ‘Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Great Heroes Day Event Observed by the LTTE’ »
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj If Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE)leader Thiruvengadam Veluppillai Prabhakaran was alive now, he would be celebrating his 60th birth anniversary on November 26th.The tiger supremo who was killed in Mullaitheevu district on May 19th 2009 was for decades the determining force in Sri Lankan politics.Though Prabhakaran is no more, the Sri Lankan …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Patabandi Don Nandasiri Wijeweera known to the world at large as Rohana Wijeweera was killed twenty –five years ago on November 13th 1989.The revolutionary leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or Peoples Liberation Front was 49 years old at the time of his death. The mastermind behind two bloody insurrections – in …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Hegel remarks somewhere that all great, world-historical facts and personages occur, as it were, twice. He has forgotten to add: the first time as tragedy, the second as farce.” -Karl Marx Karl Marx expanded famously on Friedrich Hegel’s remark about “history”occurring twice and stated that history repeats firstly as tragedy and secondly …
Continue reading ‘How the LTTE Enforced a Boycott in 2005 to Prevent Ranil Becoming President’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ten years ago on 30 September the brightest light of Sri Lankan cinema went out. Gamini Fonseka, the monarch of Sinhala moviedom, passed away peacefully on that day. Gamini Fonseka was my favourite actor on the Sinhala silver screen and became an important part of my childhood. This week’s ‘Spotlight’ focuses on him …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The assortment of political parties known as the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) is regarded as the premier political configuration representing the Sri Lankan Tamils in Parliament, the Northern and Eastern provincial councils and various local authorities in the north and east.The TNA has in recent times ardently supported the ongoing probe on Sri Lanka …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The South Indian state of Tamil Nadu has been ruled alternately by two “Dravidian”political parties since 1967.One is the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham(DMK)under the command of nonagenarian Muttuvel Karunanidhi. The other party currently in the saddle is the All- India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham(AIADMK)which is led by Jayalalithaa Jayaram who was removed from chief …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj In what appears to be a remarkable turn of events , President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered a twin pronged inquiry into the incident in New York on September 24 involving Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Dr. Chris Nonis, Galle district Parliamentarian and External Affairs ministry monitoring MP Mr. Sajin de …
by D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Ex-Film actress Ms.jayalalithaa Jayaram who was convicted over charges of acquiring disproportionate wealth has now been acquitted of all charges by the Karnataka High Court which heard her appeal.This article written for “Spotlight” Column in the “Daily Financial Times” of October 11th 2014 is re-posted here without …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (This Article is a condensed version of an article written on the occasion of Ms. Jayalalithaa Jayaram’s 60th birthday in 2008.It was reproduced here on the occasion of the Tamil Nadu Chief minister’s 66th birthday early this year on February 24th. Now it is posted here again without any changes at a time …
Continue reading ‘Jayalalithaa Jayaram: From Alluring Actress to Powerful Politician’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The three –decade period of intense conflict from 1983 to 2009 has resulted in hundreds of political assassinations in Sri Lanka. Both Tamil and Sinhala armed groups have been responsible for these killings at different times and diverse locations. The killings of those who held or were holding high political office were so …
Continue reading ‘The Assassination of Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike 55 Years Ago’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (It was Ten years ago on September 30th that Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka known generally as Gamini Fonseka passed away at the age of 68.The uncrowned monarch of Sinhala cinema was one of my favourite actors since the age of eight when I first saw -“Ranmuthuduwa”-a film starring him at the Gamini …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj It was 25 years ago on September 21st 1989 that Dr. Rajini Thiranagama nee Rajasingham was killed in Jaffna. She was 35 years old at the time of her death.The 25th anniversary of her death is to be commemorated through a series of events next week in the northern capital. This is …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj This is a period of time in Sri Lanka which is referred to as “Ashraff season” in lighter vein by observers of the Sri Lankan Muslim political scene. The Country witnesses a series of meetings and events paying tribute to the late Muslim Congress leader MHM Ashraff during this period. From the date …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj In my earlier writings on the film scene in Sri Lanka before launching the ‘Spotlight’ column, there were two things I emphasised as being necessary for the upliftment of serious cinema in the island – one was the need to establish a fully-fledged Film Institute; the other was about holding an international …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj When news reached me in Toronto that Philips Balendra Tampoe popularly known as Bala Tampoe had passed away in Colombo on September 1st 2014, I felt somewhat guilt ridden and remorse stricken. The reason for these feelings was that with Bala being no more there was no way in which I could …
Continue reading ‘Comrade Bala Tampoe: Life and Times of a Legendary Trade Union Leader’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Astute Observers consistently following the erratic course of Sri Lankan Tamil politics were in for a pleasant surprise last week. The premier political representatives of the Sri Lankan Tamil people configured electorally as the Tamil National Alliance(TNA)embarked on a passage to India to meet the recently elected Prime minister Narendra Modi and …
Continue reading ‘Why Narendra Modi Wants Sri Lanka to Build on the 13th Amendment’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Veteran Trade Union leader Bala Tampoe has passed away in Colombo at the age of 92. Philips Balendra Tampoe born on May 23rd 1922 was a legend in his lifetime being general secretary since 1948 to date of the Ceylon Mercantile, Industrial and General workers union known popularly as the CMU. Having interacted …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj ♫ “Neeyay Unakku Endrum Nigaraanavan”♫ The fourth season of Vijay TV Airtel Supersinger Competition has concluded with a fairy tale ending. The winner Diwakar is from a humble social background and without any formal training in singing. Diwakar was not only the choice of the Judges, but also of the people who endorsed …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj It was five years ago on August 5th 2009 that Selvarasah Pathmanathan alias “KP” the chief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was captured in Malaysia and brought to Colombo in a well-planned operation amounting to an “extraordinary rendition”. KP who had served for many years as the chief arms procurer …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj An official delegation representing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) was engaged in negotiations with the Government of President Ranasinghe Premadasa in Colombo when Former Leader of the opposition Appapillai Amirthalingam and his colleague Vettivelu Yogeswaran were assassinated by a tiger hit squad on July 13th 1989.The assassination caused much embarrassment to …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The first Tamil film which impacted on me greatly during childhood was ‘Veera Pandiya Kattabomman’. It was a kind of bio-picture about a ‘Paalayakkaaran’ or Polygar (feudal chieftain) who defied the British during the last decade of the 18th Century and paid the supreme penalty. Kattabomman whose full name was Veera Pandiya …
Continue reading ‘Sivaji Ganesan: Tamil cinema’s versatile actor par excellence’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj July 13th 1989 was the date on which the well-known Sri Lankan Tamil leader Appapillai Amirthalingam was assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE).The former leader of the Opposition was a national list MP of the Tamil United Liberation Front(TULF)at the time he was gunned down in Colombo. Amirthalingam was killed along …
Continue reading ‘Assassination of Tamil Leader Appapillai Amirthalingam by the LTTE 25 Years Ago’ »
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj ‘Rekava’ or the line of destiny was the path-breaking film by Lester James Peries which altered the destiny of Sinhala cinema. (Though Rekava is spelled with both a ‘v’ as well as a ‘w’ in English, I am sticking to v because the original titles shown in the film spelled it with …
Continue reading ‘Lester James Peries and the Making of his Path-breaking Sinhala film “Rekava”’ »
Marianne David Interviews DBS Jeyaraj for DailyFT Pix by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai Introduction Forced into exile 25 years ago and compelled to stay away in order to stay alive, journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj always dreamt of returning to Sri Lanka. That flame of hope flickered occasionally, as the war dragged on and then escalated despite intermittent ceasefires, …
By D.B.S.JEYARAJ Outgoing UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navanetham Pillay known as Navi Pillay has presented a “fait accompli” as her parting gift to an unreceptive Sri Lanka! After weeks of speculation and expectation the UN Human rights chief has formally announced the setting up of an investigative panel to conduct a comprehensive …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj The suggestion made in this column last week that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) should promote truth, accountability and reconciliation by taking the lead in presenting evidence before the investigation to be conducted by the UN Human Rights Commissioner’s office has evoked much controversy Overseas activists of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil …
Continue reading ‘LTTE-TNA Nexus:Why the TNA was Formed and How the LTTE Gained Control of it.’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Malaysian Police in a sweeping counter terrorist operation launched simultaneously on Thursday July 3rd 2014 arrested four persons of Sri Lankan origin suspected of terrorist activity with alleged links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) and an Islamic extremist group. It is learnt reliably that one of those arrested is a …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Fathima Thahir is a Muslim woman in her forties who manages a small provision store owned by her family in the Colombo suburb of Battaramulla. The store “Fathima Stores”was named after her by her father who founded it in 1949 long before Battaramulla experienced the current scale of urban development.”Fathima Stores” on 192 …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj A highly respected statesman of international stature with immense experience in helping resolve prickly issues in the sphere of international relations is strongly tipped to co- head the forthcoming UN Probe on Sri Lanka. Martti Ahtisaari It is learnt reliably that former Finland President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari has …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The tense situation prevailing in the Kalutara district of Sri Lanka’s Western Province after the occurrence of anti-muslim vioence last week took a sharp turn for the worse in the early hours of the morning on Saturday June 21st when a large,well-known Muslim owned apparel store cum showroom in the Panadura town was …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Pre- emptive action by the Police and Courts in Badulla has prevented the Bodhu Bala Sena and Sihala Ravaya from instigating anti-Muslim violence in the salubrious capital of Uva province as in the case of Aluthgama in the Western province . BBS in Badulla in May 2014-pic via twitter.com/Camp4justice Plans by the ethno …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Although Prime Minister DM Jayaratne has informed Parliament that the situation in Aluthgama, Dharga Nagar, Beruwela and other areas have been normalised , the actual reality in the troubled region is different say informed sources who visited those places recently. pic via~bbc.com According to these sources armed gangs of thugs and hoodlums describing …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Related events over the past few weeks have raised serious questions whether Sri Lankan journalists in general and Tamil media personnel in particular have the basic right of conducting or participating in a training workshop designed to improve or develop their professional skills. Inter-linked incidents in Polonnaruwa, Negombo and Colombo where three top …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj SD Bandaranayake, one of Sri Lanka’s colourful Political personalities passed away on June 3rd 2014 at the ripe old age of 97. The funeral of the man who represented the Gampaha constituency for thirty years in Parliament will be conducted on Saturday June 7th at the Chandrajothi school grounds in Yakkala.The laird …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Controversial Tamil politician Ms. Ananthy Sasitharan is very much in the news these days. Ananthy is the wife of senior Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Sinnathurai Sasitharan alias Ezhilan who is now “missing” after reportedly surrendering to the Sri Lankan Armed forces in Mullaitheevu district in May 2009.Ms. Sasitharan contested elections …
Continue reading ‘Anandhi Sasitharan the Vibrant Wife of Senior Tiger Leader Ezhilan’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Anandhi’s Husband Ezhilan Committed many Atrocities Against Tamil Civilians of Wanni Controversial Tamil politician Ms. Ananthy Sasitharan is very much in the news these days. Ananthy is the wife of senior Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Sinnathurai Sasitharan alias Ezhilan who is now “missing” after reportedly surrendering to the Sri …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former Governor-general and Campodian war crimes Tribunal judge Dame Silvia Cartwright has been appointed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms.Navanetham Pillay as one of two senior human rights experts to “lead” the UN team that would probe the war in Sri Lanka for the period 2002 to 2009. The team of …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj A senior UN woman official who was expelled by South Sudan for allegedly conducting an unethical probe into human rights violations in the country has now been appointed as the senior coordinator of the probe into Sri Lanka by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It is reliably learnt that UN High …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj It was in April this year that this column exclusively reported for the “Daily Mirror” about how Subramaniam Kapilan alias Nanthagopan had been deported on March 6th 2014 to Sri Lanka from Malaysia with the assistance of law enforcement authorities in Iran and Malaysia.The 45 year old deputy leader of the Liberation Tigers …
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj How the Third Diaspora Backed Attempt Led by Theiveegan-Appan-Gobi Trio to Revive LTTE was Thwarted in Sri Lanka-PART THREE (CONTINUED FROM MAY 6th DAILY MIRROR) The arrest and detention of Jeyakumari Balendra resulted in a huge outcry strongly critical of the Government. The fact that Jeyakumari and her daughter were …
Continue reading ‘Anatomy of an Aborted Attempt to Revive The LTTE in Sri Lanka’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The arrival in France of Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) political commissar Supiah Paramu Thamilselvan’s family has caused much excitement among tiger and pro-tiger circles in the Global Tamil Diaspora. Thamilselvan’s wife Sasirekha along with daughter alaimagal and son Olivaenthan arrived in France on April 24th 2014. The family travelled from …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj (CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK) Preliminary information gleaned by the Police in Pallai from 34 year old Kumarasingham Kulasankar alias Muhunthan and 28 year old Augustine Gnanaseelan alias Gnana revealed vague details of a plot to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)and commence operations in Sri Lanka. Interestingly enough the large …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Mazhai Nindraalum Thooral Nitkavillai”is a saying in Tamil meaning though the rain has ceased the drizzle is not over. In similar vein, the recent attempt by tiger elements to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE)has been foiled by the security apparatus but mopping up efforts continue in the country. The deaths …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The traditional April new year named “Jaya” or Victory dawned on a positive note this year for Sri Lanka. A massive security operation launched by the Sri Lankan armed forces had resulted in the deaths of three persons in the Jungles of Vedivaithakallu-Oothukkulam-Bogaswewa in the North. Paradoxical as it may appear the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The demise of renowned Telugu actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao has revived memories of his many films.Although most of his films are in Telugu, the great thespian has acted in several Tamil films too. “Devadas”, “Anarkali”, “Manithan Maaravillai”, “Manjal Mahimai”, “Engal Veetu Mahalakshmi”, “Kalyanapparisu” are but some of the films featuring Nageswara Rao who …
Continue reading ‘The Unforgettably Popular Film Songs of Tamil Cinema Classic “Devadas” ♫’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ten years have passed since the once dreaded Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) experienced an internal politico-military revolt spearheaded by its erstwhile Eastern regional commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan alias “Col” Karuna. The revolt lasting six weeks from March 3rd to April 11th 2004 was ruthlessly suppressed through military means by the mainstream LTTE …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Eight Persons including a woman who were under detention for more than three weeks breathed the air of freedom on the eve of the traditional April new year. These eight persons taken into custody by the Police after a lightning raid on a bakery in Dehiwela some weeks ago. Twelve persons including the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Sri Lankan Government has designated 424 individuals and sixteen organizations including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) under the United Nations Act No 45 of 1968 by Gazette Extraordinary No 1856/41dated March 21st 2014. Details of the listing of the LTTE and fifteen other entities suspected of being LTTE fronts by …
by D.B.S.Jeyaraj Hectic events over the past few weeks in Sri Lanka have driven home three salient truths on the security front relating to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization. The first is that tiger or pro-tiger elements in the Tamil Diaspora will persist with efforts to resurrect the LTTE and disrupt life …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Sri Lankan defence establishment has successfully accomplished the feat of renditioning a senior leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) functioning abroad with the aid and cooperation of Iranian and Malaysian authorities. The “Daily Mirror” learns reliably that the senior LTTE leader Nanthagopan was brought to Sri Lanka exactly one month …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE)organization and fifteen other entities suspected of being tiger fronts were proscribed by the Sri Lankan Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week. The Sri Lankan ministry of External Affairs issued a terse press release announcing the proscription. It stated as follows – “An order, designating persons …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Among the 422 individuals designated by the Sri Lankan Government through a gazette Extraordinary issued on March 21st 2014 is included the name of a person who died two years ago. The 86th name in the relevant Gazette notification is that of Karunanithi Thurairatnam a.k.a Thurai. The notification also states that Thurairatnam was …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Sri Lankan Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has in a decisive move with far reaching implications proscribed as foreign terrorist entities several overseas organizations suspected of being fronts of the Liberaton Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE). The Government of Sri Lanka against which a US sponsored resolution was passed by the UN …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj Two pistol shots rang out in the afternoon of Thursday March 13th 2014 at house No. 5 of the Indian Housing scheme in Musalampitty in the Puliyampokkanai area of Tharmapuram region in Kilinochchi district. A fifty year old Police officer named Ratnakumara attached to the Terrorism Investigation Division(TID)was injured. The man suspected …
Continue reading ‘Shooting Incident at Tharmapuram: Is There a Real LTTE Resurgence in the North?’ »
By D.B.S.JEYARAJ The Tamil National Alliance(TNA)regarded as the premier political configuration of the Sri Lankan Tamils issued a public statement last week after “careful consideration to the draft resolution on Sri Lanka proposed at the 25th sessions of the Human Rights Council by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Two Sri Lankan Human Rights defenders who were detained and arrested under provisions of the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) have been now released.Though held for 51 hours and interrogated without access to lawyers or relatives ,the respected human rights activists were released without any charges being filed against them. The two …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj LATEST UPDATE Deputy Inspector-General(DIG) of Police Chandra Wagista who is in charge of the Terrorism Investigation Division(TID)confirmed to lawyers watching the interests of detained Human Rights Defenders Ruki Fernando and Ref.Fr.Praveen Mahesan that both persons were being held at the TID headquarters in Colombo. DIG Wakista who informed the lawyers concerned of the …
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj 80th Birth Anniversary on February 5th Last week saw this column paying tribute to the memory of Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) MP Dr.Neelan Tiruchelvam on account of his 70th birth anniversary.This column focuses this week on another departed TULF Parliamentarian whose 80th birth anniversary was on February 5th. Former …
Continue reading ‘Vettivelu Yogeswaran the Darling of Tamil Youths who Became Jaffna MP’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (Updated version of the “DBS Jeyaraj Column” article that appeared in the “Daily Mirror”of February 2nd 2013) Sri Lanka will Celebrate its Sixty-sixth Anniversary of Independence from the United Kingdom this Monday. The country then known as Ceylon obtained full freedom from the British on February 4th 1948.Completing 66 years is significant …
Continue reading ‘Sixty-six Years of Independent Sri Lanka and the “Tamil State of Mind” .’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Seventieth Birth Anniversary on January 31st 2014 January 31st is the birthday of eminent Constitution lawyer, academic and politician Dr.Neelakandan Tiruchelvam. Neelan as he was popularly known would have completed the biblical life span of three score years and ten had he been among the living today. Born on January 31st 1944,Neelan Tiruchelvam, …
Continue reading ‘Neelan Tiruchelvam the Foremost Intellectual of Contemporary Tamil Politics’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Tamil National Alliance(TNA) is now directing its anger towards Northern Province Council(NPC) Chief Secretary Ms.Wijiyaludchumi Ramesh instead of Northern Governor GA Chandrasiri as it did earlier. The TNA despite winning 30 of the 38 seats of the Northern Provincial council seats at elections held on September 21st 2013 has been unable to …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Saffron terror” in the form of an ethno religious fascist organization called “Hela Bodu Pawura”descended upon the coastal town of Hikkaduwa in Sri Lanka’s southern province on Sunday January 12th 2014! Mobs led by Buddhist priests launched attacks on two christian churches while Sunday worship was in progress demanding that the places …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj A house in the suburbs of Colombo city in Sri Lanka where Christian worship and prayers were being held was set on fire in the early hours of Sunday January 12th 2014 by “unknown” elements. This incident is separate to that of the twin attacks launched against two Christian churches in the Southern …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Even as newly elected Northern Province chief minister Canagasabapathy Viswalingam Wigneswaran is embroiled in an imbroglio with the Northern Governor GA Chandrasiri over the question of exercising authority in the province,sections of the Tamil National Alliance(TNA) are reportedly engaged in surreptitious moves to dislodge the former Supreme court Judge from his post and …
Continue reading ‘Conspiracy in TNA to Oust C.V. Wigneswaran as Northern Chief Minister.’ »
Fifth Death Anniversary of the Assassinated “The Sunday Leader” Editor By D.B.S.Jeyaraj I vividly remember that long night in Toronto on January 7th/8th 2009 which was daytime in Colombo.The telephone rang while I was reading a magazine article on the wildlife in Sri Lanka. It was Dushi (Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai). She broke the news that Lasantha …
Continue reading ‘Lasantha Wickrematunge Remained Unbowed and Unafraid to the Very End’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The new year started off on a positive note for Canagasabapathy Viswalingam Wigneswaran! The Northern province chief minister was invited by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a discussion on January 2nd.A direct meeting with the Executive President was something the former Supreme court Judge had been trying to secure for a …
by D.B.S Jeyaraj Joseph Pararajasingham who served as Batticaloa district MP for fifteen years was killed eight years ago on Christmas day.Had the Batticaloa parliamentarian been among the living ,he would have turned eighty in November 2014. Despite his many years of service to the people of the East and being described at one time …
Continue reading ‘Remembering Joseph Pararajasingham the “Uncrowned King of Batticaloa”’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ranil Wickremesinghe, the “Eksath Jathika Pakshaya Nayakathuma” is portrayed as the single cause for the perceived decline suffered by the United National party(UNP). It is said that Ranil is a liability to the UNP and that the party can revive and renew itself only after he quits or is jettisoned. Sadly a substantial …
Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UNP Leadership and the TINA Factor’ »