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’ »
By Yohan Perera A group of SLPP MPs together with several other parties today formed the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna (PENP) led by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Minister Ramesh Pathirana will be the General Secretary of the new alliance. The symbol of the party is the cup. Allies of the new alliance include a section …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham The election manifestos of the three main presidential candidates were released last week. First, on 26 August, National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake released his manifesto titled ‘A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life’. Then, on 29 August, President Ranil Wickremesinghe released his manifesto under the title ‘Five Triumphant Years …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இம்மாதம் 24 ஆம் திகதி நடைபெறவிருக்கும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் 39 வேட்பாளர்கள் போட்டியிடுவதாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது. ஒருவர் இறந்ததை அடுத்து இப்போது 38 பேர் களத்தில் நிற்கிறார்கள். அவர்களில் ஜனாதாபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்கவும் எதிர்க்கட்சி தலைவர் பிரேமதாசவுமே பிரதான வேட்பாளர்கள். ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுன (ஜே.வி.பி.) தலைமையிலான தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியின் தலைவர் அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்க, ஸ்ரீலங்கா பொதுஜன பெரமுனவின் தேசிய அமைப்பாளர் நாமல் ராஜபக்ச,பிரபல ஊடக நிறுவனங்களின் உரிமையாளரான திலித் ஜயவீர, பிலாட் …
Continue reading ‘ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் தமிழ் பொதுவேட்பாளரும் தமிழர் அரசியலின் எதிர்காலமும்’ »
By Meera Srinivasan The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), a prominent political party representing Tamils of Sri Lanka’s north and east, on Sunday (September 1) pledged support for presidential aspirant Sajith Premadasa in the September 21 election. The move, which reflects one significant position within the island nation’s fragmented Tamil polity, comes even as the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Nominations have closed for the long awaited 2024 presidential election. 39 candidates are in the fray.It is widely acknowledged by the press and public that the chief presidential contenders are incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe,leader of the opposition Sajith Premadasa and JVP/NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Two others expected to make a mark are …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Saumiyamoorthy (spelled sometimes as Saumyamoorthy or Saumiamoorthy) Thondaman was the legendary co-founder and long-time leader of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC). Thonda, as he was widely known, played a prominent role in the country’s post-independence politics for many decades. His political life was intertwined with the vicissitudes of the Indian Tamil people of …
National People’s Power (NPP) Presidential Candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake officially unveiled the NPP’s Presidential election manifesto titled “A Prosperous Nation, A Beautiful Life” in Sri JayawardenepuraKotte yesterday. Addressing the gathering of NPP Executive Council members, professionals, academics, artists, and others, Dissanayake highlighted that the manifesto is the party’s response to disinformation disseminated by its political …
By Ranga Jayasuriya A rhetorical question: What difference would it have made if Sajith Premadasa delivered the speech Thalatha Athukorala did last week? First and foremost, the difference would have been between a mature democracy and one driven by petty personal greed; the latter is a hallmark of politics in this part of the world. …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj
By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court ruling this week that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s defiant action in postponing Local Government polls in 2023, citing a purported lack of funds in the wake of the country’s bankruptcy, had violated the fundamental right to equality and the right to vote of citizens, raises several interesting …
By Chandani Kirinde Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Ratnapura District MP Thalatha Atukorale, who resigned from her seat in parliament on Wednesday, said she is yet undecided on supporting any of the presidential candidates, but she could no longer remain in the SJB given the manner in which the party is being run. “There are many …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham There was a period when the abolition of the executive presidential system was a key issue at Presidential Elections. However, such a situation cannot be expected to arise again. The politicians who promised to abolish the executive presidency have not only failed to do so after winning the election and assuming office …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Nambukara Helambage Rajitha Harischandra Senaratne known as Rajitha Senaratne is the latest among well-known politicians to throw in their lot with incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB) MP for Kalutara district met with the president at the Gangaramaya temple in Colombo on 13 August and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) …
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Ratnapura District MP Thalatha Athukorala yesterday announced her resignation from Parliament delivering a scathing critique of party’s Presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa before stepping down. During a special address in Parliament, Thalatha Athukorala, who entered Parliament in 2004 after the untimely passing of her brother, United National Party (UNP) stalwart Gamini Athukorala, …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “…who’s the fairest of them all?” Grimm Brothers (Snow White) The most iconic moment at Nelson Mandela’s star studded memorial service was a handshake. As US President Barack Obama ran up to the podium under a light drizzle, a CNN reporter was droning about the extra security arrangements. Suddenly, the excited voice …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham A total of 39 candidates are contesting in Sri Lanka’s ninth Presidential Election scheduled to be held on 21 September. This is a record number of candidates contesting in an election in the history of Presidential Elections of the country. Until now, the Presidential Election has been a direct contest between candidates …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj From the time Ranil Wickremesinghe returned to the seat of power as Prime Minister and later as President, false narratives have been concocted and circulated e by his opponents, adeversaries, critics and detractors about him. One was that Wickremesinghe was afraid to face a presidential election and that he would put off the …
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday highlighted the significance of the newly signed ‘Puluwan Sri Lanka’ (Sri Lanka Can) agreement, stressing that it is not intended to form a new political party but rather to unite the nation and build a brighter future. The agreement, endorsed by 34 political parties and alliances, symbolises a collective commitment to …
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Almost twenty years ago, I received a call from Don Harold Stassen Jayawardena. Of course, at the time I knew him as ‘Harry Jayawardena’ as did many Sri Lankans, especially in business circles. I was in England, veritably forced into exile by political circumstances which included the abduction and torture of …
By Meera Srinivasan As many as 39 presidential aspirants will contest a crucial poll in Sri Lanka on September 21, the Election Commission said on Thursday (August 15, 2024), after closing nominations. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who rose to the top office through a parliamentary vote during the island nation’s 2022 crisis, is seeking a …
. டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க முதலில் பிரதமராகவும் பிறகு ஜனாதிபதியாகவும் அதிகாரத்துக்கு வந்த நேரம் தொடக்கம் எதிரிகளும் விமர்சகர்களும் அவரைப்பற்றி பல தவறான கதைகளை கட்டிவிடுவதில் ஈடுபட்டு வந்திருக்கிறார்கள். ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலுக்கு முகங்கொடுப்பதற்கு அஞ்சுகிறார் என்பதும் அவர் வழமைக்கு மாறான நடவடிக்கைகள் மூலமாக தேர்தலைப் ஒத்திவைப்பார் என்பதும் அந்த்கதைகளில் ஒன்று. இந்த போலிக்கதை தேர்தல்கள் ஆணைக்குழு ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தல் திகதியை வர்த்தமானியில் வெளியிட்டபோது அம்பலமானது. விக்கிரமசிங்கவே ஒரு சுயேச்சை வேட்பாளராக முதலில் தனது கட்டுப்பணத்தையும் செலுத்தினார். …
By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene Those who unwisely murmur ‘Bangladeshi people power a la Sri Lanka’ in assessing the ‘second liberation’ of Bangladesh following the jubilant toppling of fifteen year one-party rule by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by thousands of youth earlier this month, must restrain their enthusiasm in no small part. A lesson to all …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj President Ranil Wickremesinghe was cruelly bamboozled by the Rajapaksas early this week. The incumbent president was given false promises that the Medamulana clan-led “pohottuwa”party was firmly behind him in his bid to contest the forthcoming presidential poll. The note of discord struck by Namal Rajapaksa was lightly dismissed as being of very little …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Supreme Court, in two landmark judgments today, determined that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) decision to expel Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara from the party is legally valid. As a result of this Supreme Court judgment, the expulsion of Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara will lead to the loss of …
The ‘Tamil National Common Structure’, an alliance of Tamil political parties, has announced its decision to nominate former Batticaloa District TNA Parliamentarian P. Ariyanenthiran as their common candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election. Several Tamil political parties and a group of civil society representatives had reached an agreement to nominate a common candidate for the …
The ‘Samagi Jana Sandanaya (SJS)’, a broad political alliance led by the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), was officially unveiled yesterday (8) under the Leadership of SJB and Opposition Leader and Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa and with the signing of agreements with several parties.
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ஜனாதிபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க கடந்தவார முற்பகுதியில் ராஜபக்சாக்களினால் கொடுமையான முறையில் ஏமாற்றப்பட்டார். எதிர்வரும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் மெதமுலான குடும்பம் தலைமையிலான’ தாமரை மொட்டு ‘ கட்சி விக்கிரமசிங்கவுக்கு பின்னால் உறுதியாக நிற்கும் என்று அவருக்கு பொய்யான உறுதிமொழிகள் வழங்கப்பட்டன.நாமல் ராஜபக்சவினால் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்ட மாறுபாடான கருத்தை பொருட்படுத்தத் தேவையில்லை என்றும் கூறப்பட்டது. பொதுஜன பெரமுன ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் ரணிலை ஆதரிப்பதில்லை என்று முடிவெடுத்திருக்கிறது. ராஜபக்சாக்கள் அவரின் முதுகில் குத்திவிட்டார்கள். விக்கிரமசிங்கவை ஆதரிப்பதா இல்லையா என்று தீர்மானிப்பது …
Continue reading ‘ராஜபக்சாக்கள் ரணிலுக்கு செய்த வஞ்சனை திரும்பிவந்து பொதுஜன பெரமுனவை தாக்குகிறது’ »
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is set to announce its Presidential candidate today. Earlier in the week, party General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam confirmed that the announcement would be made by SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa at 7:30 a.m. at the SLPP head office on Nelum Mawatha. While the event was initially scheduled to take …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The king is dead, long live the king” (Traditional proclamation made following the death of a monarch indicating the continuity of the monarchy) Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second presidential investiture was held two days after his 65th birthday, the twin occasions marked by grandiose displays of Rajapaksa power. The highlights of this political spectacle …
By Meera Srinivasan Hours after Bangladesh Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina quit and fled the country on Monday following mass protests, Sri Lanka — whose former President was ousted by a citizen’s uprising two years ago — expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh. “Our hearts are with the people of #Bangladesh during these incredibly challenging times. …
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s Supreme court on August 2 issued an interim order suspending the government’s new visa scheme, run by a consortium including an Indian company, that earlier sparked controversy over allegations of corruption totalling over a billion dollars. The Supreme Court ordered that the previously used online visa system be restored. In …
By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene If the glittering promise of the ‘Jathika Jana Balavegaya’ (NPP) is supposed to offer a better, brighter Sri Lanka to put an end to the ’76 year old curse’ of its political rivals, it is time that NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake refrains from justifying his actions during the run-up to …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham It has long been a common perception that none of the main candidates will be able to receive more than 50% of the popular vote in the upcoming Presidential Election. For the last few days, since the announcement of the Presidential Election by the Election Commission, many newspapers have been publishing details …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka known generally as Sarath Fonseka has thrown his hat into the presidential poll ring again . The former army commander who is Sri Lanka’s one and only Field Marshal has stated in a post on “X”(Twitter) that he would be a contender at the forthcoming presidential election. The following …
Continue reading ‘When Sarath Fonseka Challenged Mahinda Rajapaksa For The Presidency in 2010.’ »
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் சரத் பொன்சேகா என்று பொதுவாக அறியப்படும் கார்திஹேவா சரத் சந்திரபால் பொன்சேகா மீண்டும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் களமிறக்கப்போவதாக அறிவித்திருக்கிறார். இலங்கையின் ஒரேயெரு பீல்ட் மார்ஷலான முன்னாள் இராணுவத் தளபதி எதிர்வரும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் ஒரு போட்டியாளராக இருப்பேன் என்று ‘எக்ஸ் ‘ (ருவிற்றர்) சமூக ஊடகத்தில் பதிவொன்றைச் செய்திருக்கிறார். அவரின் முறைப்படியான அறிவிப்பு வருமாறு ; ஜனாதிபதி வேட்பாளராக போட்டியிடப்போவதை இலங்கை மக்களுக்கு அறிவிக்க விரும்புகிறேன். எம்மை வங்குரோத்து நிலைக்கு கொண்டவந்த திறமையற்ற ஒரு …
By Ranga Jayasuriya Monday (July 29) night, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) finally parted ways with Ranil Wickremesinghe, announcing plans to field its own candidate at the presidential election. The move effectively split the Pohottuwa and saw President Wickremesinghe affiliated SLPP MPs, 11 of them, leaving the party’s central committee meeting and assembling at …
By Meera Srinivasan The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP or People’s Front) — led by the once-powerful Rajapaksa clan which was deposed from power in 2022 — has said it will not back President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the presidential polls in September. The decision, announced after the party’s central committee’s meeting on Monday, marks the …
(Texr of Media Release Issued by Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran and Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam n 26 July 2024) The country is at cross-roads at the moment; A crucial pivotal point in our post-independence history. We were an economy with a surplus and an example for other to follow; even a model for …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The anti-Tamil pogrom of July 1983 is an unforgettable chapter in the post-independence history of Sri Lanka. The catastrophic events of that dark month drastically affected the lives of large numbers of Tamils in Sri Lanka. As a Sri Lankan Tamil journalist, Black July did have an effect on me in both personal …
Continue reading ‘My Family’s “Black July” Experience: A Personal Memoir.’ »
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s presidential polls will be held on September 21, the Election Commission said on Friday. Some 17 million voters will have their first chance of electing the country’s leader, after a mass people’s uprising ousted former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa two years ago. President Ranil Wickremesinghe was among the first to formally …
by Krishantha Prasad Cooray There’s a political poster that’s been splashed on the walls of Colombo. Black letters on a yellow background mean that the author or the party cannot be identified. It is obviously a teaser campaign. It comes with a promise, which of course is the bread and butter of all politicians. Apparently, …
Ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka has announced his intention to contest at Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential election in a pre-dawn X (twitter) message.“I wish to announce my Presidential Candidacy to the people of Sri Lanka” “For 76 years, we have been led by an inept political group that has led us to bankruptcy.” “This is my …
Sri Lanka’s Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe announced he will be running for president at the upcoming presidential election. “I am coming forward as a candidate for the victory of Sri Lanka state and its people,” Rajapakshe told reporters at the Independence Arcade on Thursday. Rajapakshe said short sighted policies led …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Supreme Court today issued an interim order restraining Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the Inspector General of Police. The order will be effective until the final determination of nine Fundamental Rights Applications filed challenging his appointment as IGP. The order was issued by a three-judge-bench which comprised Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, Justice …
By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka on Tuesday apologised for enforcing a “cremations only” policy during the Covid-19 pandemic, going against the religious sentiments of Muslims, as well as expert views that burials were safe. Issuing a statement on Tuesday, the government said the Cabinet approved a joint proposal from a group of ministers “to plead …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் 1983 ஜூலையில் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு எதிராக கட்டவிழ்த்துவிடப்பட்ட கொடூரமான வன்முறை சுதந்திரத்துக்கு பின்னரான இலங்கையின் வரலாற்றில் மறக்கமுடியாத ஒரு அத்தியாயம். அந்த இருண்ட மாதத்தின் பெருங்கேடான நிகழ்வுகள் இலங்கையில் பெரும் எண்ணிக்கையிலான தமிழர்களின் வாழ்வை கடுமையாகப் பாதித்தன. இலங்கையின் ஒரு தமிழ்ப் பத்திரிகையாளன் என்ற வகையில், கறுப்பு ஜூலை என்னை தனிப்பட்ட முறையிலும் தொழில்சார் அடிப்படையிலும் பாதித்தது. மேலும், ஆயிரக்கணக்கான ஏனைய தமிழ்க் குடும்பங்களைப் போன்று எனது குடும்பமும் கொந்தளிப்பான அந்த நாட்களில் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு …
Continue reading ‘கறுப்பு ஜூலையில் ‘ ஒரு தமிழ்ப் பத்திரிகையாளர் குடும்பத்தின் அனுபவம்’ »
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham After the death of veteran Tamil political leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan recently, a communist leader from Tamil Nadu contacted me and asked about the remarkable role the late leader played in Sri Lankan Tamil politics. I began by recounting Sampanthan’s contributions to the negotiations that led to the signing of the Indo-Lanka Peace …
Continue reading ‘Failure to find a political solution is a bigger shame than Black July’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Vallipuram Vasanthan alias “Captain Miller” the first Suicide bumber of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) is the focus of this two -part article. A brief description of the pioneering “Black Tiger” or “Karumpuli” and events leading to the first Black Tiger operation on 5 July 1987 was outlined in the first part …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The funeral of veteran Tamil political leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan took place in Trincomalee on 7th July 2024.Large crowds bade farewell to the Nonagenarian Trincomalee Parliamentarian who had served as MP for 32 years. Among those who paid homage to Sampanthan in Trinco was Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Earlier the President along with …
By Ranga Jayasuriya When the country ran out of foreign reserves and fuel queues sprang up, Sri Lankans stormed the President’s House and ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa. That may be an extreme case, but that was not the first time the street protestors toppled governments when the going got tough. Dudley Senanayake, the second prime minister, …
President Ranil Wickreme-singhe has challenged Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa to disclose the source of funding for the party’s ongoing school bus donation program. Addressing another public meeting in Kandy under the “Ekwa Jayagamu” (Let’s Win Together) series of rallies over the weekend, President Ranil Wickremesinghe set a condition for joining the Samagi …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Captain Miller” is the name of an Indian film released on 12 January 2024. The block buster Tamil Movie had popular actor Dhanush acting in the lead titular role of Captain Miller. The film was a fictional tale about a heroic rebel who fought against British colonial rule. Reports state that the …
Continue reading ‘“Captain Miller” the LTTE’s First Black Tiger (Karumpuli) Suicide Bomber.’ »
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் முதுபெரும் தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவர் இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தனின் இறுதிச் சடங்குகள் திருகோணமலையில் 2024 ஜூலை 7 ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை நடைபெற்றன. 32 வருடங்களாக திருகோணமலையின் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினராக இருந்த தலைவருக்கு பெருந்திரளான மக்கள் பிரியாவிடை கொடுத்தனர். ஜனாதிபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்கவும் திருகோணமலைக்கு சென்று இறுதிசடங்குகளில் கலந்துகொண்டார். முன்னதாக கொழும்பு பொரளை றேமண்ட் மலர்ச்சாலையில் சம்பந்தனின் பூதவுடல் அஞ்சலிக்காக வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தபோது ஜனாதிபதி தனது மனைவி மைத்ரி விக்கிரமசிங்க சகிதம் சென்று தனது இறுதி மரியாதையைச் செலுத்தினார். இராஜவரோதயம் …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (Renowned Tamil Political leader Appapillai Amirthalingam was shot dead in Colombo along with Former Jaffna MP V.Yogeswaran on 13 July 1989. This article about the foul murder was published in the “Daily Mirror” in 2019. It is re-posted here without any changes to denote the 35th anniversary of the Amirthalingam Assassination) The …
Continue reading ‘Murder Most Foul: Assassination of Appapillai Amirthalingam 35 Years ago’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ranasinghe Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s one and only non-Govigama Prime Minister and President is the focus of this two part article commemorating his birth centenary.The first part published last week traced in brief the early phases of Premadasa’s political journey . This second and final part -written with the aid of earlier writings – …
By Ranga Jayasuriya The French experience at the concluded election offers an important lesson of political commonsense and the bare minimum of altruism for the common good Early this week, with the far-right knocking at the gates of government power, France pulled off a miraculous comeback to defend the Fifth Republic. After the far-right and …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Veteran Tamil political leader and senior Trincomalee district MP,Rajavarothayam Sampanthan passed away peacefully in Colombo on 30 June 2024. The nonagenarian Sampanthan who had been ailing for some time was listening after dinner to an audio tape of “Kanthasashti Kavasam”verses sung by the Soolaman Sisters Rajalakshmi and Jeyalakshmi when he collapsed with a …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் முதுபெரும் தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவரும் திருகோணமலை மாவட்டத்தின் நீண்டகால பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினருமான இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தன் 2024 ஜூன் 30 கொழும்பில் அமைதியாக இயற்கை எய்தினார். 90 வயதைக் கடந்த அவர் அண்மைக்காலமாக சுகவீனமுற்றிருந்தார். இராப்போசனத்துக்கு பிறகு சூலமங்கலம் சகோதரிகள் இராஜலக்சுமியும் ஜெயலக்சுமியும் பாடிய ‘ கந்தசஷ்டி கவசம் ‘ பக்திப்பாடலை ஒலிநாடாவில் கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்தபோது ஒரு வேதனை முனகலுடன் சம்பந்தன் நிலைகுலைந்தார். உடனடியாக லங்கா வைத்தியசாலைக்கு கூட்டிச்செல்லப்பட்ட அவர் அங்கு இரவு 11 மணியளவில் தனது …
Continue reading ‘“பெருந்தலைவர்’ இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தனின் அரசியல் பயணம்’ »
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister on 12 May 2022 by the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka was in the grip of a debilitating economic crisis then. The “Aragalaya”(struggle) protest movement was raging. The new premier addressed the nation through a special statement on 16 May 2022. In that Wickremesinghe referred to …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க 2022 மே 12 ஆம் திகதி அன்றைய ஜனாதிபதி கோட்டாபய ராஜபக்சவினால் பிரதமராக நியமிக்கப்பட்டார். அப்போது இலங்கை படுமோசமான பொருளாதார நெருக்கடியில் சிக்கியிருந்தது.’ அறகலய போராட்டம் தீவிரமடைந்து கொண்டிருந்தது. புதிய பிரதமர் 2022 மே 16 ஆம் திகதி நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு விசேட உரையொன்றை ஆற்றினார். அந்த உரையில் விக்கிரமசிங்க ஜேர்மன் நாடகாசிரியர் பேரொல்ற் பிறெற்றின் ‘ கோகேசியன் ஷோக் சேர்க்கிள் ‘ ( Caucasian Chalk Circle) என்ற நாடகம் …
Continue reading ‘பொருளாதார ” நற்செய்தி ” 2024 தேர்தலில் ரணிலுக்கு உதவுமா?’ »
Full Text of Special statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on 2 July 2024) Honourable Speaker, Last week, we were able to achieve another significant milestone in the challenging journey of restoring economic stability to a country that defaulted on its debts in 2022. On June 26, we reached an agreement with our …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The night is an open book. But the world beyond the night remains a mystery.” – Louise Gluck (Before the Storm) Sri Lanka always ranks low in the World Happiness Index; 128 out of 148 in 2024 (we rank 48 in Global Militarisation Index though, and possess the 17th largest military in …
(Text of Address Delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the “Victory through Unity” (Ekwa Jayagamu) Held at the Matara Fort Grounds on 30 June 2024) “I have safely brought the Titanic, entrusted to me, to port. While other captains fled from the iceberg, we faced a critical decision: sink or navigate to safety. Now that …
Funeral Arrangements of Hon. R. Sampanthan M.P. Tamil National Alliance (T.N.A) MP Hon. R. Sampanthan’s mortal remains will Lie at the A.F. Raymonds funeral parlour for viewing from 9.00 a.m. today (02nd July 2024) till noon tomorrow (03rd July 2024). Thereafter his mortal remains will Lie in State in Parliament from 2.00 pm – 4.00 …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj India, the world’s biggest democracy, held Parliamentary elections this year in seven phases from 19 April to 1 June. 642 million persons voted in the poll. Results were announced on 4 June. The incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi was re-elected PM for the third time. His party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won …
By Meera Srinivasan Veteran Sri Lankan Tamil leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, who dedicated his political life to pursuing a just solution to the island nation’s Tamil question, passed away in Colombo late on Sunday. He was 91. Mr. Sampanthan, of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), was a sitting MP from the eastern Trincomalee district, and …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Sri Lankan Tamil politics has become more complicated due to contradictions among Tamil political parties regarding what position northern and eastern Tamils should take in the upcoming Presidential Election. It makes no sense to expect Tamil parties to be inclined to act unitedly or to come to a unified position to find …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja sentenced Hirunika Premachandra to three years imprisonment after she was found guilty of 18 counts, including conspiring and aiding in the abduction of the victim, threatening, assaulting, and intimidating victim Amila Priyankara after the abduction in Dematagoda. Hirunika Premachandra is the ninth accused in the case, …
(Text of special statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on 26 June 2024) Today marks a significant milestone in the recent history of our country, a special juncture reflecting the hard work and dedication of our efforts. Our country is now reaping the positive results of our persistent endeavours over the past years. This morning …
(Textr of Press Release issued by the President’s Media Division on 26 June 2024) In a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s economic revitalization efforts, the nation has successfully finalized comprehensive debt restructuring agreements with key bilateral creditors. On June 26, 2024, Sri Lanka concluded negotiations with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) and China Exim Bank, …
By Meera Srinivasan and R.Rajaram A sailor from the Sri Lankan Navy was killed in an operation targeting Indian fishermen and their fishing vessel in the early hours of Tuesday, June 25, 2024, according to Sri Lankan authorities. As many as 10 Indian fishermen, seven from Nagapattinam, one from Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and two …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Captain Blood:His Odyssey”was an Adventure novel authored by well-known writer Rafael Sabatini in 1922. Sabatini had a flair for creating fictional characters set against the backdrop of true,historical events.This blend of fiction and fact was received well by readers, The Captain Blood novel became a best-seller then. The basic story line was …
Continue reading ‘The Tamil Doctor who Gave Medical Aid to Injured Tigers.’ »
By Tisaranee Gunasekera “All theory is grey… But forever green is the tree of life. Goethe (Faust) For three months in late 1990’s, American author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich lived the life of a low-wage worker. She wanted to discover, first hand, how President Bill Clinton’s welfare reforms were impacting on the lives of …
By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s call to Parliament that Special Determination 54-55/2024 on the Gender Equality Bill violates the powers of the House under Article 4 of the Constitution and that a Select Committee should be appointed to ‘look into it,’ is tantamount to gravely undermining the authority of the Supreme Court, …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “We are accused of terrorismIf we dare to write about the remains of a homeland….About a homeland where birds are not allowed to sing…..About a homeland where writers must use invisible ink….” Nizar Qabbani (We are accused of terrorism) Had writer V.V. Ganeshananthan lived in Jaffna instead of New York, she would …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “And one man in his time plays many parts” ,stated William Shakespeare in his play “As you like it”. The above mentioned observation by the Bard of Avon is quite appropriate in describing the life and work of Dr.Nissanka Wijeyeratne whose 100th birth anniversary was celebrated on June 14. Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne …
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday in Parliament raised a point of order that the Supreme Court determination on Gender Equality Bill violates the powers of the House and a Parliamentary select Committee must be appointed to look into the matter. Following are excerpts from the President’s statement in Parliament. “First and foremost the bill says, what …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ” ஒரு மனிதன் தான் வாழும் காலத்தில் பல பாத்திரங்களை வகிக்கிறான்” என்று வில்லியம் சேக்ஸ்பியர் தனது ” நீங்கள் விரும்பிய வண்ணம் ” (As you like it ) என்ற நாடகத்தில் கூறினார். அவரது அந்த அவதானிப்பு கலாநிதி நிசங்க விஜேரத்னவின் வாழ்வையும் பணியையும் வர்ணிப்பதற்கு மிகவும் கச்சிதமாகப் பொருந்துகிறது. நிசங்க என்று பிரபல்யமாக அறியப்பட்ட நிசங்க பராக்கிரம விஜேரத்னவின் 100 வது பிறந்ததினம் ஜூன் 14 ஆம் திகதியாகும். ஒரு …
By Mimi Alphonsus and S. Rubatheesan For over a decade, an Australian company has tried to secure mining licences to extract heavy mineral sands from the ecologically rich region of Mannar Island—the fourth largest ilmenite deposit in the world—with little success. Renewed attempts to push the project further were met with protests by locals over …
The Bishop of the Diocese of Mannar and three prominent environmentalists this week petitioned the Supreme Court in the public interest against the proposed 250 MW Mannar Wind Power Project by Adani Green Energy. Rev. Dr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando along with Rohan Pethiyagoda, Prof. Nimal Gunatilleke and Prof. Sarath Kotagama have challenged the procurement …
Stand up comedienne Nathasha Edirisooriya and SL VLOG Youtube channel owner Bruno Diwakara were released yesterday by the Fort Magistrates Court from the case filed against them under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act. The Police arrested Edirisooriya on 28 May 2023 for allegedly making controversial statements on Buddhism during her …
By Meera Srinivasan External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will arrive in Colombo on June 20, in his official first visit to a neighbouring country since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s coalition government assumed charge in India earlier this month. Confirming his Indian counterpart’s visit, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told The Hindu on …
(Text of Media Release issued by the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka on 14 June 2024) Sri Lanka is witnessing a positive transformation of electoral politics in relation to its long standing ethnic conflict that commenced with the economic collapse of 2022. The notion that the country required a “system change” was promoted by …
By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Although many amendments have been brought to the Sri Lankan Constitution during a period of more than four-and-a-half decades, which were detrimental to democratic governance, no major controversy has been raised against them. However, the 13th Amendment (13A), which has a relatively democratic dimension, has been in the Constitution for more than …
By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene The proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to grant a six months service extension to Sri Lanka’s Attorney General has put the hapless holder of that office in the centre of a vicious political whirlwind that further damages the already badly battered public reputation of the chief law officer of the …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s political stage was enlivened last week by the solo performance of United National Party (UNP) general -secretary Palitha Range Bandara. Addressing a media briefing on 28 May, the policeman turned politician came out with a suggestion that the presidential election due this year and the Parliamentary election scheduled for next year …
By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The silence is a danger in itself” – Seamus Heaney (The Burial at Thebes) Ten years: that was how long three State institutions didn’t pay EPF and ETF monies to their retired and deceased employees. Most victims of this act of criminal injustice suffered and died in silence. A few (about 2,000) …
By Meera Srinivasan An international tribunal of former judges from the region said it was “horrified by the stark realities” of the lives of Sri Lanka’s tea and rubber plantation workers, after hearing testimonies from workers and trade unions. Hailing from the island nation’s Malaiyaha Tamil community, tens of thousands of workers are engaged in …
By Nirupama Subramanian Emphatic. An election result that throws up no outright winners would not be normally described as that. But this was no normal election. It was an election for the democratic heart and soul of India. And, in this sense, the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, which left the BJP with …
By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Lord Buddha, elaborating on the notion of sorrow (dukkha) in the first sermon he delivered after attaining Enlightenment, observed that having to associate with those who are repugnant is sorrowful and being apart from those who are loved is also sorrowful — appiyehi sampayogo dukkho, piyehi vippayogo dukkho. So, we choose …
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa did not attend the scheduled televised debate with National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the Independent Television Network (ITN) last night (June 6). While Premadasa was absent, Dissanayake participated in the Thulawa political program, which was hosted by veteran broadcaster Sudarman Radaliyagoda. Earlier in the …
(Text of Press Release Issued by the President’s Media Division on 6 June 2024) President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated his new political office in Colombo today (06) at an auspicious moment. The office, located on Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, will serve as the center for future political operations.
By Kumudu Upul Shantha Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake issued an order, yesterday (5), directing the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit a report to the Court regarding an alleged error made by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara. This pertains to the inclusion of former MP Diana Gamage’s name in the SJB’s …
The United National Party (UNP) made key appointments for its upcoming election campaign at a meeting held at Sirikotha on Sunday June 2nd. At the meeting chaired by Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, several key positions were filled to strengthen the party’s election strategy. Harin Fernando was appointed as the National Election organiser while Ravi Karunanayake …
By Yashraj Sharma Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its national majority after suffering major losses in key states, marking a dramatic shift in a political landscape it has dominated for the past decade. The BJP emerged, comfortably, as the country’s single-largest party in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of …
BY VARGHESE K. GEORGE ,NISTULA HEBBAR Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a third term in power on June 4, but he will be dependent on allies as the BJP fell almost 32 short of the halfway mark of 272 seats in the Lok Sabha. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 291 seats against the …
Ahead of the general election that concluded on June 1st Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, was expected to romp home. His charisma, combined with an emphasis on infrastructure development, welfare payments to the poorest and a polarising Hindu nationalism, looked unbeatable. Mr Modi exuded a confidence that matched those predictions. He claimed that his Bharatiya …
டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ஐக்கிய தேசிய கட்சியின் பொதுச்செயலாளர் பாலித ரங்க பண்டாரவின் ஓரங்க நாடகத்தினால் இலங்கை அரசியல் அரங்கு கடந்தவாரம் சுறுசுறுப்படைந்தது. பொலிஸ்காரராக இருந்து அரசியல்வாதியாக மாறிய அவர் மே 28 கொழும்பில் செய்தியாளர்கள் மகாநாடொன்றில் உரையாற்றியபோது இவ்வருடம் நடைபெறவிருக்கும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலும் அடுத்த வருடம் நடத்தப்பட வேண்டியிருக்கும் பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலும் ஒத்திவைக்கப்படவேண்டும் என்கிற அதேவேளை ஜனாதிபதியினதும் பாராளுமன்றத்தினதும் பதவிக்காலங்கள் இரு வருடங்களினால் நீடிக்கப்படவேண்டும் என்று யோசனையை முன்வைத்தார். அதற்காக பாராளுமன்றத்தில் தீர்மானம் ஒன்று நிறைவேற்றப்படவேண்டும் என்றும் …
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By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former Cabinet Minister,Nuwara Eliya district Parliamentarian and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader Arumugan Thondaman would have celebrated his 60th birthday on 29 May,if he were alive today. Thondaman passed away due to a cardiac arrest four days before his 56th birthday four years ago on 26 May 2020. He was serving as a …
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