By D.B.S. Jeyaraj In the first part of this article on Sathasivampillai Krishnakumar alias “Col”Kittu published last week in the “Daily Mirror”, I had written about my interviewing the LTTE Jaffna district commander for the Indian news magazine “Frontline” in November 1986. It was at that time the first conversation with Kittu published in an …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கை ஆயுதப்படைகளுக்கும் தமிழீழ விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்துக்கும் இடையிலான 33 வருடகாலப் போர் இப்போதெல்லாம் நினைவில் இருந்து மெதுவாக அருகிக் கொண்டு போகிறது. விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கம் 1976 ஆம் ஆண்டு மே மாதம் 5 ஆம் திகதி முறைப்படி ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டது. மூன்று தசாப்தகால போருக்கு பிறகு விடுதலை புலிகள் முல்லைத்தீவின் நந்திக்கடல் ஏரியில் 2009 ஆம் ஆண்டு மே மாதம் 18 ஆம் திகதி தங்களது தோல்வியைச் சந்தித்தார்கள். வேலுப்பிள்ளை பிரபாகரன் தலைமையிலான …
By B.Kolappan Veteran playback singer P. Jayachandran, who died on Thursday (January 9, 2025), was Kerala’s gift to Tamil film music. He was introduced to the Tamil film world by late music director M.S. Viswanathan, and he rendered his first song for the film Manipayal in 1972. He had a unique voice, a mixture of …
By Jamila Husain The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign launched by the government is hitting headlines especially in the electronic media, with videos of buses and three wheel drivers being stopped by police, advising them to remove the additional accessories on their vehicles. Despite a grace period extended by the police to remove such accessories, bus …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Memories of the 33 year long war between the armed forces of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) are slowly receding nowadays. The LTTE ,known generally as the tigers, was formed officially on 5 May 1976. After three decades of conflict the LTTE met its waterloo by the waters …
By Meera Srinivasan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will visit China from January 14 to 17, the Cabinet Spokesman announced on Tuesday (January 7, 2025), confirming the Sri Lankan leader’s second state visit abroad, a month after he visited India. President Dissanayake will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath, …
The 16th anniversary of the assassination of The Sunday Leader founder Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge, which falls on 8 January, will be marked with a service at his graveside. Family, friends, former colleagues and others will gather at Borella Kanatte at 9 a.m. to mark the anniversary and remember Lasantha. Assassinated on 8 January 2009, Lasantha …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கையின் புதிய ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்க டிசம்பர் 15 — 17 இந்தியாவுக்கு தனது முதலாவது உத்தியோகபூர்வ விஜயத்தை வெற்றிகரமாக முடித்துக்காண்டு நாடுதிரும்பினார். புதுடில்லிக்கான அவரின் மூன்று நாள்விஜயத்தின் காட்சிகள் நேர்மறையாக பாராட்டப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. ஜனாதிபதி திசாநாயக்க ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவினதும் ( ஜே.வி.பி.) அதன் தலைமையிலான தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியினதும் தலைவராக இருக்கிறார். அவரின் வெற்றிகரமான இந்திய பயணம் ஜே.வி.பி.யின் கடந்த காலத்துக்கும் நிகழ்காலத்துக்கும் இடையிலான ” பொருத்தமின்மை ” மீது கவனத்தைக் …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Compliments of the Season everyone and best wishes for a bright and blessed 2025. I am beginning the new year by re-posting “The Hymn of Ceylon” on my Blog. The “hymn of Ceylon” was written by by Rev. W. S. Senior. Walter Stanley Senior was a scholar, pastor, teacher and poet who …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “History, despite its wrenching pain, Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage, need not be lived again”. – Maya Angelou (On the Pulse of Morning: An Inaugural Poem) The Kitchen Debate was an impromptu set of exchanges (via interpreters) between US vice president Richard Nixon and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, on …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has successfully concluded his first state visit to India from December 15 to 17. The optics of the three day visit to New Delhi has been hailed positively. President Dissanayake known popularly as AKD is the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna as well …
By Kelum Bandara Two ruling party MPs- Wijesiri Basnayake of Kurunegala and Ajith Gihan of Puttalam- came under mob violence when they came out in their separate vehicles after a meeting with the management of an apparel factory in the Bingiriya area. According to video footage of the scene now doing the rounds on social …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ” விரும்பத்தகாத விளைவு நேரப்போகிறது என்பதற்கான முன்னறிவிப்பு ” ( The Writing on the Wall) என்பது பைபிளின் பழைய ஏற்பாட்டில் டானியலின் கதையில் இருந்து வந்த ஒரு உருவகமான மொழிநடையாகும். பாபிலோனிய சாம்ராச்சியத்தின் மன்னர் பெல்ஷாசாரும் அவரது நண்பர்கள் பரிவாரமும் உண்டுகுடித்து கும்மாளம் அடித்துக்கொண்டிருந்தவேளையில், வியக்கத்தக்க முறையில் கையொன்று தோன்றி அங்கிருந்த சுவரில் சில வரிகளை எழுதியதைப் பற்றி டானியல் பற்றிய நூலின் ஐந்தாவது அத்தியாயம் கூறுகிறது. அச்சமடைந்த மன்னராலும் நண்பர்களினாலும் …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Israel today is dynamiting the edifice of the global norms built after 1945.” Pankaj Mishra (The Shoah after Gaza – London Review of Books – 21.3.2014) In the second decade of the 21st Century, genocide is being televised. 72 Virgins – Uncensored was a Telegraph channel run by the Israeli Defence Forces’ …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham There was a stir in political circles when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his recent official visit to India and had a joint press meeting in New Delhi after talks with him, failed to say anything about the 13th Amendment (13A) to …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Season’s greetings to all readers! Let me begin the second part of this article on the speakers of Sri Lanka with a reference to former speaker Asoka Ranwala. A source who is usually well-informed about matters concerning the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) and the National People’s Power(NPP) got in touch with me a few …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “ The Writing on the Wall’is a figurative expression derived from the story of Daniel in the old testament of the Bible. Chapter five of the book of Daniel relates how the then monarch of the Babylonian empire Belshazzar and his cronies were feasting and drinking in the night when a hand …
Continue reading ‘Is “ the Writing on the Wall” for the Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment?’ »
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERY ONE! COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON TO ALL! It’s Christmas season again! An integral part of Christmas is the singing of Christmas carols in churches as well as at events celebrating Christmas. The Many Faces of Christmas – Shaped Wooden Puzzle from Sri Lanka ~ Photographed at an exhibit of …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran known popularly as MGR ruled Tamil movidom for three decades until becoming Chief Minister of India’s Tamil Nadu State in 1977. MGR served as chief minister (CM) for ten years until his demise in 1987. His 37th death anniversary will be commemorated this week on December 24. MG Ramachandran entered …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ranwala Arachchige Asoka Sapumal Ranwala blazed across the parliamentary skies of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for a brief period .The National People’s Power(NPP) Gampaha district MP served as Sri Lanka’s speaker from 21 November to 13 December 2024 for 22 days. As is well known Ranwala was in the eye …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The current controversy surrounding speaker Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala’s higher educational qualifications evoke memories of an earlier controversy of a similar nature concerning a prominent person associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE). The rumpus then was about the LTTE political strategist Anton Stanislaus Balasingham who was frequently referred to as Dr.Balasingham …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் கடந்த வாரம் பாராளுமன்ற சபாநாயகர் அசோகா சப்புமால் ரண்வலவை பதவியில் இருந்து விலகவைத்த அவரது உயர்கல்வித் தகைமைகள் தொடர்பான சர்ச்சை விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்துடன் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட முக்கிய பிரமுகர் ஒருவர் தொடர்பிலான இதே போன்ற முன்னைய சர்ச்சை ஒன்றை நினைவுபடுத்துகிறது. ஊடகங்களில் அடிக்கடி கலாநிதி பாலசிங்கம் என்று குறிப்பிடப்பட்ட விடுதலை புலிகளின் அரசியல் ஆலோசகர் அன்டன் ஸ்ரனிஸ்லோஸ் பாலசிங்கம் பற்றியதே அந்த குழப்பமாகும். விடுதலை புலிகளுக்கு எதிரான இயக்கங்களின் உறுப்பினர்கள் பாலசிங்கம் ஒரு கலாநிதி …
(Text of Statement addressing the media by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at New Delhi on 16 December 2024) His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi Honourable Ministers Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen Friends from the media Ayubowan, Vanakkam, Namaste, Good Afternoon. It is indeed a pleasure to be in New Delhi on my first overseas …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The recently held parliamentary elections have resulted in the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) winning 159 seats and forming the Government. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB) with 40 seats is the chief opposition party. The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party(FP) with eight seats became the third …
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray One side-effect of the polarizing effect of nationalism and populism around the world in recent years has been a decrease in the political stability and mandate enjoyed by incumbent regimes. From the erosion of nationalist hegemony in Malaysia or India to the rise of populism in the United States and pockets …
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will visit India from December 15 to 17, 2024, the foreign ministries of the two countries said on Friday (December 13, 2024), announcing his first state visit abroad since he won the presidency in September and his party swept the polls in the November general elections. …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Mata Allanda Bariwune,Madakkalappuwa vitharai” (I was unable to capture only Batticaloa) were the words with which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake smilingly greeted “Mattakkalappu”MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam in Parliament on 21st November. The president was mingling with the parliamentarians at the inaugural session of the tenth parliament. Anura was of course alluding to …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ” மட்டக்களப்பை மாத்திரமே என்னால் கைப்பற்ற முடியாமல் போய்விட்டது.” பாராளுமன்றத்தில் நவம்பர் 21 ஆம் திகதி மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்ட பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் சாணக்கியன் இராஜபுத்திரன் இராசமாணிக்கத்தை புன்முறுவலுடன் வரவேற்ற ஜனாதிபதி அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க கூறிய வார்த்தைகள் இவை. பத்தாவது பாராளுமன்றத்தின் அங்குரார்ப்பணக் கூட்டத்தின்போது பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களுடன் ஒன்றறக்கலந்து ஜனாதிபதி அன்னியோன்யமாக உரையாடினார். நவம்பர் 14 பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலைப் பற்றியே சாணக்கியனிடம் அவர் அவ்வாறு மறைபொருளாக கூறினார். மட்டக்களப்பை தவிர இலங்கையின் சகல தேர்தல் …
By Saman Gunadasa After two days of debate on December 3–4, the Sri Lankan parliament, without taking a vote, unanimously endorsed the policy statement of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National People’s Power (JVP/NPP) government, presented by the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on November 21. The unanimity of the ruling and opposition MPs on the policy statement, …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவை ( ஜே.வி.பி.) பொறுத்தவரை, நவம்பர் 13 பெரும் முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த ஒரு தினமாகும். ஜே.வி.பி.யின் வசீகரமிக்க தாபகத் தலைவர் றோஹண விஜேவீர 1989 நவம்பர் 13 ஆம் திகதி தான் கொலை செய்யப்பட்டார். 1994 ஆம் ஆண்டில் இருந்து ஜே.வி.பி. விஜேவீரவையும் 1971 கிளர்ச்சியிலும் 1987 — 89 கிளர்ச்சியிலும் உயிரிழந்த ஆயிரக்கணக்கான அதன் உறுப்பினர்களையும் நினைவுகூருவதற்கு வருடாந்தம் ஒரு நிகழ்வை ஏற்பாடு செய்துவருகிறது. தியாகிகளை நினைவு கூருவதற்கு வழமையாக …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj November 13 is a date of great significance as far as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) – known as the Makkal Viduthalai Munnani in Tamil and People’s Liberation Front in English-is concerned. It was on 13 November 1989 that the JVP’s charismatic founder-leader Rohana Wijeweera. Since 1994 the JVP has been annually conducting an …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் தமிழ்த் தேசியவாதத்தின் கோட்டையான யாழ்ப்பாணத்தைச் சூழ்ந்த அநுரா அலை பற்றியதாக எனது கடந்த வாரத்தைய கட்டுரை அமைந்திருந்தது. ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுன (ஜே.வி.பி.) தலைமையிலான தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி 2024 நவம்பர் பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலில் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் அதிகூடிய வாக்குகளைப் பெற்ற தனிக்கட்சியாக வரலாறு படைத்தது. இலங்கை தமிழர்களின் பண்பாட்டுத் தலைநகரம் என்று வர்ணிக்கப்படும் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தின் ஆறு பாராளுமன்ற ஆசனங்களில் தேசிய கட்சிக்கு மூன்று ஆசனங்கள் கிடைத்தன. நவம்பர் 14 தேர்தல் தீர்ப்பு இலங்கையின் சுதந்திரத்துக்கு …
By Ranga Jayasuriya The political Opposition in this country has yet again reduced to insignificance. This is a precarious existence for politics and the country at large, though this has been a recurrent phenomenon throughout the 2010s. Only the travails have incrementally worsened: In 2010, during the second term of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency, the UPFA …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Don’t let it happen. It depends on you.” – George Orwell (1984) They are back, creeping out of the woodwork. The gathering outside Colombo’s main railway station was mercifully small, just the mandatory monk and a handful of civilians. Having offered flowers to a statue of the Buddha, they proceeded to violate …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Anura “Alai”or wave that engulfed the Tamil nationalist stronghold of Jaffna was the focus of this column published last week. (Anura “Alai”(Wave) Engulfs Tamil Nationalist Stronghold of Jaffna).The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) made history by polling the highest number of votes in Jaffna as a single party in the …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி 2024 நவம்பர் 14 பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலில் வரலாற்று முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த ஒரு வெற்றியைப் பதிவு செய்திருக்கிறது. ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவை (ஜே.வி.பி.) பிரதான அங்கத்துவக் கட்சியாகக்கொண்டு 21 அரசியல் கட்சிகள், குழுக்கள் மற்றும் தொழிற்சங்கங்களை உளாளடக்கிய ஒரு கூட்டமைப்பே தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியாகும். அது 6, 863,186 (61.6 சதவீதம் ) வாக்குகளைப் பெற்று 225 ஆசனங்களைக் கொண்ட இலங்கை பாராளுமன்றத்தில் 159 ஆசனங்களைக் கைப்பறாறியிருக்கிறது. இவற்றில் 141 ஆசனங்கள் …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Whither politics of Tamil nationalism? What is the future of Tamil nationalist politics in Sri Lanka? This question, which has arisen in the aftermath of the recent Parliamentary Elections, should not be viewed simply in terms of the future electoral prospects of Tamil parties. It is a question related to the anxiety …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Among the many historic ‘firsts’ that the November 2024 Parliamentary Elections witnessed, two achievements by the National People’s Power (NPP) have evinced the most attention. The NPP’s landslide victory marks the first time since the introduction of the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system in Sri Lanka that a single party or alliance …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj There is magic in the air! The country is in a festive mood. The toast of the town is a man called Anura Kumara Dissanayake who is the leader of two political parties namely the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) and National People’s Power(NPP). AKD as he is popularly known was the victor in a …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (26 November 2024 is the 70th Birth Anniversary of LTTE Supremo Veluopillai Prabhakaran) The demise of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran occurred fourteen years ago. The tigers as the LTTE was known were defeated militarily by the armed forces of Sri Lanka in May 2009. Prabhakaran’s dead body was found …
Continue reading ‘Little-known Facts About Legendary LTTE Leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (The 35th anniversary of the “Maaveerar Naal”(Great Heroes Day) is on 27 November 2024) November 27, 1989, was the day on which the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) first observed its annual “Maaveerar Naal” or Great Heroes Day (GHD). The event continues to be observed in Sri Lanka and by sections of …
Continue reading ‘The Birth and Growth of the “Maaveerar Naal” (Great Heroes Day) Event.’ »
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray This will be my first Christmas without my father, Eric Cooray, who passed away three months ago. Life has felt strange since that inevitable moment, one I always dreaded, while never anticipating just how difficult his loss would be to accept. Almost every day starts and ends with thoughts of my …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் – 6 ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவினதும் ( ஜே.வி.பி.) தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியினதும் தலைவர் அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்க 2019 நவம்பர் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் திசைகாட்டி சின்னத்தில் போட்டியிட்டார். வெறுமனே 418, 553 ( 3.16 சதவீதம் ) வாக்குகளைப் பெற்று மிகவும் அவர் பின்தங்கிய ஒரு மூன்றாவது இடத்துக்கு வந்தார். மோசமான தோல்வியைக் கண்டு அவர் துவண்டு போகவில்லை. …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The National People’s Power(NPP) known in Sinhala as Jathika Jana Balawegaya(JJB) and Theseeya Makkal Sakthi(TMS) in Tamil has recorded a historic victory in the Parliamentary elections held on 14 November 2024. The NPP is a coalition of 21 political entities and trade unions of which the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) is the chief constituent. …
(Full Text of Address Delivered by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 21 November 2024 at the Inauguration of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament) Today is an exceptionally significant day in the history of our Parliament. For decades, political power in our country shifted back and forth between two main camps. However, during the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka-PART SIX The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP)and National People’s Power(NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake contested the 2019 presidential election under the compass symbol.He finished a poor third with 418,553(3.16%) votes. Anura refused to be cowed down by that crushing defeat. AKD refurbished his image and …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Wishes come true Not free.” (Stephen Sondheim, In to the Woods) The Grimm version is known wider but the Turkish one cuts deeper. In both tales, the boy goes in search of fear and finds a crown. In the Grimm version, fear comes when a pail of cold water full of tiny …
By Meera Srinivasan The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna [JVP or People’s Liberation Front], which leads Sri Lanka’s ruling National People’s Power [NPP], could not have risen to power without widening its appeal and building a mass support base over the last few years, and the current political moment affords the party a chance to rewrite its …
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray For the first time since the enactment of the 1978 Constitution and the advent of the system of proportional representation, the Sri Lankan people have united to confer a two-third majority of its legislative power to a single party, Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power. It also marks the first time …
By Maneshka Borham President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) has achieved a landmark victory in the 2024 Parliamentary Election on Thursday, securing an impressive 159 seats and a commanding supermajority in Parliament. Apart from emerging as the unifying force of Sri Lanka especially winning districts in North and East except Batticaloa, this election …
Sri Lanka’s National People’s Power of President Anura Dissanayake has swept the 2024 parliamentary elections raking in a two thirds majority winning 159 out of 225 seats in the assembly. The NPP painted the island winning across ethnicities and religious groups and made history winning the Northern Jaffna district. Since the preferential votes started under …
By Shihar Aneez Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election results showed unity among the island nation’s different ethnic and religious people in backing President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s request for a clean parliament, but a weaker opposition that could threaten the country’s fragile democracy. President Dissanayake’s Marxists Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led ruling National People’s Power (NPP) recorded a …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Gaza was the first time I held a baby’s brains in my hand. The first of many.” – Dr. Mark Perlmutter, orthopaedic and hand surgeon (Open letter from American medical professionals who served in Gaza https://www.gazahealthcareletters.org/usa-letter-oct-2-2024) Last December, a group of ultra-religious Israeli soldiers turned a Palestinian home in the Gaza city …
Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power is heading for a landslide in the 2024 parliamentary elections, and is on track for a two – thirds majority, results released so far show. The NPP contesting under its Malimawa also became the largest party in Jaffna, overtaking traditional parties in the area, radically improving …
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday (November 14, 2024) said he expects his National People’s Power (NPP) alliance to secure a “strong presence” in Parliament to steer the island nation ahead with a “new political culture”. Addressing the media after casting his vote in the island nation’s general elections, Mr. …
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday (November 10, 2024) assured Tamils that their land —currently held by state agencies — will be returned by his government. Mr. Dissanayake, who was elected to the country’s top office in September, made the pledge at a public rally in Jaffna, days ahead of …
. By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Article Denoting Kamal Haasan’s 70th Birth Anniversary on 7 November 2024) Srinivasan Kamal Haasan known popularly as Kamal Haasan and/or Kamal is arguably the finest actor in Tamil cinema today. He is also acknowledged as being one of India’s foremost thespians.The multi-faceted artiste is a film director, producer, screenwriter, film lyricist, poet, …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham This week’s Parliamentary Elections in Sri Lanka are taking place in a situation where the country’s political landscape has changed to a greater extent than during previous Parliamentary Polls. None of the traditional mainstream political parties are asking the people to vote in order to bring them to power. Their leaders are …
By Susitha Fernando Passed out as a lawyer from the Colombo Law College and having two Master-LLM from the University of Colombo and a LLM and Development as a Chevening Scholar at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, young activist Swastika Arulingam was a prominent figure in the Aragalaya (Protest) which toppled …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka-PART FIVE The Presidential election of November 2019 and the Parliamentary elections of August 2020 proved to be huge disappointments to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) and its leader Anura Kumara Dissanauyake(AKD). As is well known, the JVP had in a strategic move, contested both …
By Meera Srinivasan Regardless of the decisive change in Sri Lanka’s national politics — with the election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake in September this year — the country’s Tamil people will need strong representation in Parliament to assert their rights and long-neglected demands, according to prominent Tamil politician M.A. Sumanthiran. A senior lawyer and three-time …
டி.பி.எஸ்.ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் – 5 ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுன (ஜே.வி.பி.) வுக்கும் அதன் தலைவர் அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்கவுக்கும் 2019 நவம்பர் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலும் 2020 ஆகஸ்ட் பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலும் பெரிய ஏமாற்றமாகப் போரவிட்டது. ஒரு தந்திரோபாய நகர்வாகவே ஜே.வி.பி. அந்த இரு தேர்தல்களிலும் திசைகாட்டி புதிய சின்னத்தின் கீழ் புதியதொரு அரசியல் முன்னணியின் அங்கமாக போட்டியிட்டது. அந்த கட்சி தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka-PART FOUR This is the fourth part of an extended article focusing on Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. In the first part of this article , the early years of Anura’s eventful life were delved into in some detail. In the …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் – 4 இலங்கையின் புதிய ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்வை பற்றிய எனது கட்டுரைத் தொடரின் நான்காவது பாகம் இதுவாகும். முதலாவது பாகத்தில் நிகழவுகள் நிறைந்த அவரது ஆரம்ப வாழ்க்கையையும் இரண்டாவது பாகத்தில் ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுன( ஜே வி.பி.) வுக்குள் அவரின் படிப்படியான சீரான வளர்ச்சி பற்றியும் மூன்றாவது பாகத்தில் ஜே.வி.பி.யின் தலைமைத்துவத்துக்கு அவரின் உயர்வு பற்றியும் எழுதியிருந்தேன். …
Continue reading ‘அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்கவும் தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியின் உருவாக்கமும்’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj 25th Death Anniversary Commemoration on 30 October 2024 The 25th death anniversary of Plantation Tamil Patriarch Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman is being commemorated today 30 October 2024. Saumiyamoorthy (name is spelled as Savimiyamoorthy and Saumiamurthy also) Thondaman who passed away on 30 October 1999, was the undisputed leader of Sri Lanka’s predominantly Indian Tamil plantation …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Is the “House of Rajapaksa” Falling Down? was the heading of an article written by me for our sister paper the “Daily Mirror” two and a half years ago. The article was published on 23 April 2022 when the “Aragalaya”(struggle) protests were going on. The article focused on the Rajapaksa family and its …
Continue reading ‘The Rise and Fall of the Medamulana Rajapaksa Dynasty.’ »
டி.பி.எஸ் ஜெயராஜ் கடந்த காலத்தில் அதிகாரத்தில் இருந்தவர்களினால் தடுக்கப்பட்ட அல்லது சீர்குலைக்கப்பட்டு நீதிகிடைக்காமல் போன பாரிய ஊழல் மோசடிகள், படுகொலைகள் தொடர்பான விசாரணைகளை மீண்டும் ஆரம்பிக்கப் போவதாக ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்க தனது தேர்தல் பிரசாரங்களின்போது அடிக்கடி வலியுறுத்திக் கூறினார். அண்மைய நிகழ்வுகள் தங்களது தேர்தல் வாக்குறுதிகள் குறித்து ஜனாதிபதி திசாநாயக்கவும் அவரது அரசாங்கமும் கரிசனையாக இருக்கிறார்கள் என்பதை வெளிக்காட்டுகின்றன. இது தொடர்பில் அவர்கள் அடுத்த கட்ட நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்கத் தொடங்கியிருக்கிறார்கள். அடுத்த மாதம் பாராளுமன்ற …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj President Anura Kumara Dissanayake frequently emphasised during his election campaign that he would re-open investigations into incidents of colossal fraud,mass murder and assassinations where the course of justice was allegedly obstructed or thwarted by those in power in the past. Recent happenings indicate that president Dissanayake and his Government are serious about their …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj October 23rd 2024 is the 76th Birth anniversary of legendary Muslim Congress leader M.H.M. Ashraff. The dynamic lawyer – politician hailing from Eastern Sri Lanka would have celebrated his 76th Birthday ,if he were among the living today. Alas! This was not to be as Ashraff passed away in a helicopter crash on …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The future is cloth waiting to be cut.” Seamus Heaney (The Burial at Thebes) The point had been made often enough. Without a Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency, there wouldn’t have been an Anura Kumara Dissanayake presidency. For the NPP/JVP to go from 3 percent to 42 percent in four plus years, the system …
By Kishali Pinto- Jayawardene The hideous sight of three former Presidents of Sri Lanka laughing their heads off on the national stage when invited by the country’s accounting professionals to speak on a corruption culture that brought the nation to ruinous bankruptcy in 2022 sums up exactly why the political parties that they lead have …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Almost one month has elapsed since Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) took oath as the ninth Executive President of Sri Lanka. During this period, he and other prominent leaders of the National People’s Power (NPP), especially the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), have been talking with pride about what they view as changes in …
Sri Lanka’s former President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has urged voters to send experienced members back to Parliament in the upcoming General Election, set for 14 November. In a special statement made yesterday, Wickremesinghe emphasised the need for seasoned politicians who worked alongside him to return to Parliament to address the country’s ongoing economic challenges. “Without experience, …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka-PART THREE The year was 1969. A 31 year old mother sought the services of a prominent astrologer to draw up the horoscope of her six month old son. The astrologer made some calculations based on planetary movements that prevailed at the time of …
டி பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் -3 அது 1969 ஆம் ஆண்டு. 31 வயதான தாய் தனது ஆறு மாத ஆண் குழந்தையின் ஜாதகத்தை எழுதுவிப்பதற்காக பிரபலமான ஒரு சோதிடரின் சேவையை நாடினார். முன்னைய வருடத்தில் குழந்தை பிறந்த நேரத்தில் இருந்த கிரக நகர்வுகளின் அடிப்படையில் சில கணிப்பீடுகளைச் செய்த சோதிடர் தாயாரை பெரு வியப்புடன் பார்த்து ” உங்கள் மகனுக்கு அவனது விதியில் …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Even those who did not vote for Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the presidential race would find it refreshing to see that the old rot that had infested Sri Lankan politics is being cleared out. But, look closer; while some of the old guard may have left politics for good, a good number …
By K.K.S.Perera Targeting Dr. Harsha de Silva by senior SJB members began a couple of years ago when he started gaining recognition as a potential future leader. The brilliant economist faced criticism a few months ago after securing state funding for development work in Kotte. During a TV chat show explaining the process, Harsha made …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka – Part Two Sri Lanka’s newly elected ninth executive president Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) continues to be the focus of this column. In the first part of this article published last week, the early years of Anura’s eventful life were delved into in …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj 79th Birth Anniversary of Vijaya Kumaratunga on 9 October 2024. Kovilage Vijaya Anthony Kumaratunga, known to the world as Vijaya Kumaratunga, was born in Seeduwa on 9 October 1945. Vijaya was an endearing personality with an enduring vision whom I liked, admired and respected very much. He was a man who envisaged the …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் -2 இலங்கையின் ஒன்பதாவது நிறைவேற்று அதிகார ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்கவின் பரபரப்பான நிகழ்வுகள் பலப்பல நிறைந்த ஆரம்ப வாழ்க்கையைப் பற்றி இந்த கட்டுரைத் தொடரின் முதல் பாகத்தில் கடந்தவாரம் எழுதியிருந்தேன். இந்த இரண்டாவது பாகத்தில் ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவுக்குள் (ஜே.வி.பி.) ஒரு அரசியல் தலைவராக அவரின் படிப்படியான சீரான வளர்ச்சி குறித்து பாராப்போம். கடந்த வாரத்தைய பத்தியில் குறறிப்பிட்டதைப் …
By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene Is the Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) Presidency which came into power on a ‘reformist’ election platform able to legally justify the invocation of Section 12 of the Public Security Ordinance (PSO) using ‘special powers’ to call out the armed forces for the maintenance of public order? Sri Lanka’s pervasive militarisation Speaking …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Sri Lankan political parties have been forced to prepare for the Parliamentary Elections before the exhaustion of campaigning for the Presidential Election has worn off. Particularly, the parties of the losers among the main presidential candidates have to face a national election again before they can recover from the impact of the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj. The heading of this article is inspired by the title of Edgar Snow’s , “Red Star Over China”. Snow’s book first published in 1937 was a vivid account of his interaction with the Chinese communist leader Mao Ze Dong and the Red Army. Mao known then as Mao Tse Tung was relatively called …
Continue reading ‘Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka.’ »
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கையில் நிறைவேற்று அதிகார ஜனாதிபதி ஆட்சிமுறையை ஒழிக்கவேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை ஒன்றும் புதியது அல்ல. அந்த ஆட்சிமுறை என்றைக்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டதோ அன்றிலிருந்தே அதை ஒழிக்கவேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கையும் முன்வைக்கப்பட்டு வந்திருக்கிறது. ஜனாதிபதி ஆட்சிமுறையை ஒழிக்கப் போவதாக தேர்தல்களில் வாக்குறுதி அளித்து மக்களின் ஆணையைப் பெற்று ஜனாதிபதியாக ஆட்சியதிகாரத்துக்கு வந்தவர்கள் எவருமே அதை ஒழிக்கவில்லை என்பது அண்மைக்கால வரலாறு. இறுதியாக நடைபெற்ற ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலிலும் பிரதான வேட்பாளர்களில் அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்கவும் ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தியின் …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அமெரிக்க பத்திரிகையாளர் எட்கார் சினோவின் ‘ சீன வானில் சிவப்பு நட்சத்திரம் ‘ (Red Star over China ) என்ற நூல்தான் கட்டுரைக்கு இந்த தலைப்பை வைப்பதற்கு தூண்டுதல் அளித்தது. சீனக் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் தலைவர் மாவோ சேதுங்குடனும் செஞ்சேனையுடனும் தனது ஊடாட்டம் பற்றிய உயிர்களையுடைய விபரிப்பாக அமைந்த அந்த முதலில் 1937 ஆம் ஆண்டில் பிரசுரமானது. மாவோ என்று அறியப்பட்ட மாவோ சேதுங்கைப் பற்றி அந்த நேரத்தில் மேற்குலகில் பெரிதாகத் தெரியாது. பல …
Continue reading ‘அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம்’ »
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Looking for the rain Looking for the rain.” – Gil Scott-Heron (Winter in America) The Election Commission continues to rock. This week, it halted, for the duration of parliamentary polls, an order by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to increase fertiliser and fuel subsidies to farmers and fishermen. The same way it stopped …
By Ranga Jayasuriya The presidential election’s outcome has been described in flowery language: A vote for system change, the rejection of the old regime, a clarion call against corruption and cronyism, a vote against the sale of national assets, and so on. All that is true to a certain degree, but they still miss the …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham When Parliament elected Ranil Wickremesinghe as President two years ago, it was said that he was the ultimate beneficiary of the unprecedented people’s uprising in Sri Lanka. However, last week’s Presidential Election showed the world the real beneficiary of that uprising. Just as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Founding Leader, the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s newly elected president Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Dr.Harini Amarasuriya as his Prime minister. The academic turned politico is Sri Lanka’s third woman prime minister. The first woman PM of the Island nation was Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Sirimavo shattered a global glass ceiling in 1960 by becoming the world’s first woman prime …
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s newly elected government led byPresident Anura Kumara Dissanayake has restored the country’s old visa system, adhering to a recent Supreme Court order that suspended a controversial new portal managed by a consortium including an Indian company. The announcement was made late on Thursday (September 26, 2024), almost two months after …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj September 26th is of particular significance to a substantial number of Sri Lankan Tamils . For it was on this day in 1987 that a senior member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thileepan died in Nallu after undertaking a fast unto death. Although the LTTE lost thousands of cadres during …
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray On the morning of the 13th of July 2022, nothing seemed certain about Sri Lanka. Just two months prior, the country had declared bankruptcy and defaulted on more than $50 billion of sovereign debt. Its self-styled ‘patriotic’ president had just fled the country, cowering in the back of a cargo plane. …
Continue reading ‘Inside the Enigma: Ranil’s Legacy and Anura’s Destiny’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s ninth presidential election will be held on Saturday the 21st of September. More than 17 million (17,140, 354) Sri Lankans are registered as eligible voters. Nominally thirty-eight candidates are in the ring but only three are regarded as te leading contenders. The hectic election campaigns ended on Sep 18 but election …
By Meera Srinivasan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) appointed MP and former academic Harini Amarasuriya as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, as part of a four-member Cabinet under him that will lead policy until the parliamentary elections scheduled on November 14. The date for the general elections was announced through a gazette …
By JAMILA HUSAIN and AJITH SIRIWARDENA Parliament will be dissolved tonight(24) and a Parliamentary Election will be held by December, the Daily Mirror exclusively learns. Following the resignation of Dinesh Gunawardena as the Prime Minister yesterday, a senior source from the National People’s Power (NPP) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will today appoint an …
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday (September 23, 2024) promised to strengthen democracy and “work hard to win people’s trust”, with the disclaimer that he is no “magician”. “I am not a magician; I am not a miracle-worker. There are things I know and don’t know. But I …
(Text of Farewell Message delivwred by outgoing President Rani Wickremesinghe on 22 September 2024) “Ayubowan! Dear Citizens, The people of the country have given their decision at this Presidential Election held on 21st September 2024. Therefore, we must respect their decision and act according to that mandate to ensure the functioning of the country. Two …
The National People’s Power (NPP) Presidential candidate and Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected yesterday (22) as the ninth Executive President of Sri Lanka. The Election Commission (EC) formally announced Dissanayake as the winner of the Election yesterday evening. The EC said that Dissanayake had garnered 42.31% of the votes at the 21 September …
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankans gave their mandate to the country’s next leader in a peacefully held Presidential election on Saturday (September 21, 2024). The outcome of the critical election, expected on Sunday (September 22, 2024), is watched closely as the island nation navigates a challenging phase of economic recovery following a crushing crisis two …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s ninth presidential election will take place one week from now on 21 September 2024. Among the 38 contestants, three are regarded as the top contenders. They are President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and JVP/NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Three others namely Hambantota District MP Namal Rajapaksa, Ex-Batticaloa …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கையின் ஒன்பதாவது ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தல் எதிர்வரும் சனிக்கிழமை ( செப்டெம்பர் 21)நடைபெறவிருக்கிறது. 38 வேட்பாளர்களில் மூன்று பேரே பிரதான வேட்பாளர்களாக கருதப்படுகிறார்கள். ஜனாதிபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க, எதிர்க்கட்சி தலைவர் சஜித் பிரேமதாச மற்றும் ஜே.வி.பி. / தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியின் தலைவர் அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்க ஆகியோரே அவர்கள். மற்றைய வேட்பாளர்களில் ஸ்ரீலங்கா பொதுஜன பெரமுனவின் வேட்பாளரான அம்பாந்தோட்டை பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் நாமல் ராஜபக்ச, தமிழ் பொதுவேட்பாளர் என்று வர்ணிக்கப்படும் தமிழ் தேசிய கூட்டமைப்பின் …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Have you learned nothing from history?” Freud (The Future of an Illusion) “Wrath” is the opening word of The Iliad. Wrath is a key driver of the upcoming presidential election. People are angry at political leaders for bankrupting the country. Hopefully, the anger is accompanied by reason, not just pointing fingers outward …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) regarded as the premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamils has declare its support for Samagi Jana Sandhanaya (SJS) leader Sajith Premadasa in the Presidential2 election scheduled on 21 September 2024. The “Mathiya Seyal Kuzhu”(Central Working Committee) of the party met on September 1st and resolved …
By Charumini de Silva With less than 10 days to go, incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday described the decisive Presidential election as “still open” but expressed confidence of victory on the strength of his proven prowess and the dynamic plan and implementation focus to deliver higher socio-economic growth. Despite his busy schedule in the campaign trail, …
By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya A Severe controversy has erupted over a video circulating on social media showing Jalani Premadasa, the wife of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa supposedly receiving a present arms salute by SLAF personnel while she was entering the Air Force Camp in Palali yesterday (10) The present arms is a salute position where …
By Ranga Jayasuriya The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National People’s Power candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake rides high on opinion polls, social media posts, Twitter and Facebook likes and the crowd size. While none of them offers a credible measure of popular support, some local pundits take pride in parroting them, which are then regurgitated by foreign media …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கை தமிழர்களின் பிரதான அரசியல் கட்சி என்று கருதப்படும் இலங்கை தமிழரசு கட்சி 2024 செப்டம்பர் 21 ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் ஐக்கிய மக்கள் கூட்டணியின் ( சமகி ஜன சந்தானய ) தலைவர் சஜித் பிரேமதாசவை ஆதரிக்கப்போவதாக அறிவித்திருக்கிறது. செப்டெம்பர் முதலாம் திகதி வவுனியாவில் கூடிய அதன் ‘ மத்திய செயற்குழு ‘ அதற்கான தீர்மானத்தை எடுத்தது. தமிழ் பொதுவேட்பாளராக போட்டியிடும் பாக்கியசெல்வம் அரியநேத்திரனை ஆதரிப்பதில்லை என்றும் தீர்மானம் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்டது. மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்டத்தின் முன்னாள் …
By Ranga Jayasuriya When political pundits call the Presidential election of 2024 the most unpredictable of recent times, they are right. But then they attribute the uncertainty to the popular public anger at the traditional political establishment in the backdrop of the economic crisis. That is not without a grain of truth. However, it is …
By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene When NPP (National Peoples’ Power) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake proclaimed unblushingly during election campaigning in the North a few days ago that his party is the only ‘non-racist’ party and he is the only ‘non-racist’ candidate in the coming presidential poll, that claim must be taken not only with a pinch …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham With the Presidential Election still two weeks away, the main candidates are intensifying their campaigns, which are in full swing all over the country. Although 38 candidates are in the fray, many of them have not been seen in public for many days. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith …
BY D.B.S. Jeyaraj The eagerly anticipated 2024 presidential election is scheduled to be held on 21 September 2024. Initially 39 candidates were in the fray. The death of a declared candidate has lowered the number to 38.Chief among the candidates are incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa. Among other notable …
Continue reading ‘Contours of the Common Tamil Presidential Candidate Controversy’ »