Sri Lanka could learn from Myanmar which has radically changed bringing democratic reforms in the country says Sri Lanka Ambassador to France, Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka. Press conference with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ~ Foreign Secretary of UK William Hague visited Burma in January 2012, where he met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi He told Sandeshaya [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Current affairs category.
‘Shape karala ganna puluwan’ (Can fix it) plan of Govt failed in Geneva
By Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu The reaction of the Rajapaksa regime to the successful US resolution at the Human Rights Council makes out the resolution to be, in effect, the first defeat suffered by the regime, its feeble efforts at damage limitation notwithstanding. Needless to say it should not have come to this. What passed for [...]
Govt must present road map for implementing recommendations in LLRC Report
by Jayantha Dhanapala and Prof. Savitri Goonesekere The Friday Forum is an informal gathering of public spirited persons wishing to contribute to the future development of Sri Lanka within a framework of democracy, social justice and pluralism. It is in that spirit that we wish to share some of our concerns with the wider public [...]
This is a struggle between powerful pro-mega development folks and powerless pro-sustainable development masses
by S.P. Udayakumar Dear Friends: Greetings! Pushparayan, the other 12 friends and I have become weaker and tired; but we are still able to sit up and talk to people. Today is the seventh day of the indefinite hunger strike. pic by: Eunheui Nobody from the State Government or the Central Government has bothered to [...]
The rise of populism: A comparative perspective from South Asia
by Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P. I must begin by thanking the Secretariat of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats for putting together an excellent concept paper, which presents us with a very balanced view of the topic of our general assembly this year. It is all too easy to think of populism in negative terms, [...]
‘We speak two noble languages (Sinhala and Tamil) but with one voice (Sri Lankan)’
By Dr.Devanesan Nesiah Some countries are predominantly monolingual. Perhaps England, Japan, France, Germany and Thailand could, subject to some qualifications, be placed in this category. The British High Commission marked the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2011 by hosting an Art Festival in Colombo, involving over 50 school children-pic courtesy of: UKinSriLanka Some [...]
Post-war Northern Province: Some facts and fallacies
By Dr.Rajasingham Narendran I have been concerned by the claims of some politicians, journalists, NGOs and INGOs about post-war developments of an adverse nature relating to purported settlement of Sinhalese in the Northern Province, contrary to what I could see and gather from the people living within the province. Table 1 : Population Statistics for [...]
Tamil Nadu peoples protest against the Koodankulam nuclear power project
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj Fifteen persons comprising eight men and seven women have been on an indefinite hunger strike for eight days now at a place called Idinthakarai adjacent to Koodankulam in Tirunelvely district of the Southern state of Tamil Nadu in India. The indefinite hunger strike is a continuation of a long drawn out peoples [...]
After Geneva vote New Delhi finds itself in a precarious position in Colombo vis a vis Beijing
by N.Sathiya Moorthy History will remember two dates this week as the defining moment in the India-Sri Lanka relationship. Rather, by extension, they were landmarks in re-defining India’s evolving the 21st century equations in the South Asian neighbourhood — and by extension, in the larger geo-strategic milieu. On March 19, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told [...]
We talk about victory and defeat but who really won or lost in Geneva?
by Kalana Senaratne The US-sponsored resolution at the UNHRC had to be defeated. It was not. 24 in favour, 15 against, 8 abstained. Hearts are broken, glasses are shattered, the ‘gods’ have ignored our prayers, there is madness surrounding us; 2012, we are now sure, is when the world comes to an end. Miu Zhenmin, [...]
Full text of Indian Prime Minister’s letter to the Sri Lankan President
Press Information Bureau, Government of India The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has written to President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka on the resolution in the UN Human Rights Council. The text of the Prime Minister’s letter to the President of Sri Lanka is as follows:
‘In the Face of such Overwhelming Pressures it is still Impressive that we Secured 15 votes’
By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha I was first asked by the External Affairs Ministry to go to Geneva , after a lapse of a couple of years, the night the US tabled its Resolution. The reason, I believe, was the work I had done in reconciliation, since the impression the United States and its friends were [...]
