by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Last year when speculation was rife about former Army commander Sarath Fonseka announcing his candidacy for the Presidential elections this columnist was among those who warned of adverse consequences befalling the Country as a result of this unprecedented move.
Chief among these was the very strong possibility of an escalation in the continuous process of the military being politicised and society being militarised in the Country.
Posters for Sarath Fonseka in Jaffna-pic. indi.ca
I perceived the Fonseka phenomenon as the logical outcome this long process.
Continue Reading January 23rd, 2010
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Three days from today (23rd) the nation will be going to the polls to elect the most powerful person in the Country
Twenty-Three potential candidates handed in their nominations on December 17th 2009but with the Commissioner of Elections rejecting one there were only twenty-two in the fray.
Of these two dropped out from the race with one-a Buddhist priest-transferring his support to Mahinda Rajapakse and the other-a Muslim parliamentarian-extending his solidarity to Sarath Fonseka.
Of the twenty contestants for the Presidential stakes, Sixteen are contesting from big, huge, medium, small, tiny and miniscule parties. Four are Independents
Continue Reading January 22nd, 2010
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Veluppillai Prabhakaran’s father Thiruvengadam Veluppillai breathed his last on Wednesday January 6th night. The 86 year old retired government servant’s birthday was on January 10th.
Thiruvengadam Veluppillai Parvathiamma Veluppillai, Prabhakaran, Mathivathani and son Charles Anthony-Reuters pic
The octogenarian hailing from the northern coastal town of Valvettithurai (VVT)and his wife Parvathiamma were staying in a chalet within the precincts of the Army cantonment at Panagoda.
Continue Reading January 8th, 2010
Remembering “Lassieboy” on the first anniversary of his death
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
It was on January 8th last year that Lasantha Wickrematunga the Editor of “The Sunday Leader” in Colombo was killed by “unknown” assassins. He was my colleague, editor, friend and above all a kindred soul.
Lasantha Wickrematunga
How I miss him.
There is big vacuum in the media scene after his departure
Continue Reading January 7th, 2010
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Hello Friends
Today January 6th is the first anniversary of a “terror” attack on the MTV-MBC Radio/TV station in suburban Colombo. None of the culprits responsible for the attack have been apprehended let alone prosecuted despite a whole year passing by.
What I want to do here is to refresh memories of readers about this vicious attack on media freedom and the freedom of expression by reproducing excerpts from a few news stories I wrote last year about the incident for the Transcurrents website:
Continue Reading January 5th, 2010
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
“Who Killed Cock Robin”?
Not I, said the Sparrow
With my Bow and Arrow”
The above lines from an old nursery rhyme recur constantly in my mind when looking at the controversy surrounding the deaths of some senior leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) in the early hours of May 18th 2009.
Balasingham Mahendran alias Nadesan
The LTTE’s political commissar Balasingham Mahendran alias Nadesan and head of tiger peace secretariat Seevaratham Prabhakaran alias Pulidevan and some other tiger leaders and members had allegedly been executed in cold blood after surrendering with white flags.
Seevaratham Prabhakaran alias Pulidevan
In the current climate both Government and opposition ranks are in a state of denial about the alleged incident. The focus now is not whether the alleged incident occurred or not but on whether any reference should have been made about it at all.
In such a situation the important question of “Who killed Cock Robin” or in this instance who killed Nadesan and Pulidevan and how they were killed is being sidetracked, overlooked or ignored.
Continue Reading December 28th, 2009
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Hello Friends
The presidential election campaigns of both Mahida Rajapakse and Sarath Fonseka seem to have got off the ground with customary procedures.
Mahinda Rajapakse began his with a visit to Anuradhapura on Undu wap daypoya day and was seen hugging the Sri Maha Bodhi tree with devotional fervour.
Continue Reading December 3rd, 2009
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj
Hello Friends
This is just a brief introduction to another thought-provoking piece by writer, journalist and activist Kusal Perera.
Present trends indicate that the question of abolishing the executive presidency will be the central theme of the current presidential election.
Continue Reading December 1st, 2009
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj
Hello Friends
The question of abolishing the Executive Presidential system has received fresh focus after the foray of Gen.Sarath Fonseka into politics.
Campaign hoarding in Colombo-pic by: indi.ca
The UNP along with the UNF led by it and the JVP are all part of an “unholy alliance” now in backing Fonseka’s candidacy.
The main reason trotted out by these strange bedfellows for supporting Sarath Fonseka is the Generals promise to abolish the Executive presidency.
Continue Reading November 29th, 2009
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Coup d’etat meaning “stroke of state” in French is used to describe the overthrow or deposition of a government or head of state through illegal or unconstitutional means. A coup d’etat generally referred to as a coup is usually undertaken by officer/s of armed forces against the established government.
Continue Reading November 27th, 2009
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