By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Today (16 September 2023 ) is the 23rd death anniversary of Mohammad Hussein Muhammad Ashraff, the legendary leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). He was the Cabinet Minister in charge of Shipping, Ports, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation in the Government of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the time of his death. He, …

Continue reading ‘Remembering M.H.M. Ashraff, the legendary leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress who was always close to the Tamil language and its ethos.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Distressful memories of the Easter Sunday suicide killer bombings of Churches and Hotels on 21 April 2019 were revived for many this week when the British TV Channel 4 aired a documentary in its “Dispatches”program on 5 Sep 2023. For some of us it fanned into poignant flames, the embers of memory regarding …

Continue reading ‘Zahran Hashim Alias ”Al Ubaida” was the Linchpin in 2019 Easter Bombings.’ »

By Kshama Ranawana The Channel 4 documentary on the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings did not reveal much information that was not already known, but it has certainly caused a stir amongst all and sundry. Politicians of all hues; activists, journalists, Buddhist clergy and of course the Catholic church are all weighing in on the issue. …

Continue reading ‘Sallay, Nilantha Jayawardena, Deshbandu Tennekone and others whose names have cropped up in connection with the investigations should have the grace to step down from their posts until an investigation is over. That’s what Officers and Gentlemen do!’ »

By Meera Srinivasan India on Tuesday (12 Sep 2023) said the progress made by Sri Lanka, on its commitment to fulfill the Tamils’ aspirations, was “inadequate” and urged the island nation to “work meaningfully” to keep its promises. “We have taken note of reaffirmation by the Government of Sri Lanka on implementation of its commitments. …

Continue reading ‘“We hope that the Government of Sri Lanka will fulfill the aspirations of Tamils for equality, justice and peace and its commitment to implement the Thirteenth Amendment and conduct Provincial Council Elections to ensure a life of respect and dignity for Tamils in Sri Lanka,” – India at the UNHRC in Geneva’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed a three-member committee to thoroughly investigate the allegations aired by British broadcaster Channel 4 in its recent documentary. The committee is chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice S.I. Imam with retired Air Force Commander A.C.M. Jayalath Weerakkody and Harsha A.J. Soza PC. This committee’s primary mission is to investigate the serious …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe appoints three-member committee chaired by retd Supreme Court Judge S.I. Imam to thoroughly investigate the allegations aired by British broadcaster Channel 4 in its recent documentary.’ »

Former Ambassador Sarath Kongahage has accused British television network ‘Channel 4’ of ‘completely distorting’ his comments during the interview in their latest documentary on Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings of 2019. Speaking to the media in this regard on Tuesday (12 Sep.), Kongahage revealed that nearly one year ago, during the anti-government protests, Sri Lankan …

Continue reading ‘Former Ambassador Sarath Kongahage accuses Channel 4 TV of Completely Distorting his Comments in the Documentary aired on 5 Sep 2023; says he gave TV interview to UK’s Independent Television News (ITN) During “Aragalaya”Protests last year’ »

(Text of Editorial appearing in the “Daily FT” of 12 September 2023 under the Heading “MoD,the tail wagging the dog?”) The only thing more shocking than the allegations made by UK’s Channel 4 last week was the hyperbolic rebuttal issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Channel 4 claims that Sri Lanka’s intelligence apparatus had …

Continue reading ‘Is the Tail Wagging the Dog?If the Ministry of Defence on Behalf of the Govt can Deny Beforehand the Accusations in the Documentary Against the Intelligence Apparatus , then What is the Use of Presidential Commissions or Parliamentary Select Committees being Appointed to Investigate?’ »

(Text of Editorial appearing in the “Sunday Island”of 10 September 2023 under the heading “ Channel 4 – Why now? Why not?) The latest Channel 4 documentary on Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings is claimed to be an exposure, but while there’s nothing dramatically new in it, it seems to have is set the cat …

Continue reading ‘Strangely, Gotabaya Rajapaksa remains silent on the devastating allegation made by Whistleblower Azad Moulana in the Channel 4 Video that Gota wanted the editor of the Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge killed, ASAP (As Soon As Possible).- “Sunday Island”’ »

In an interview given to Hiru TV on September 4, 2023, the day after the Channel 4 documentary on the 2019 Easter bombing in Sri Lanka was aired in the UK, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, France, UNESCO and Russia, said that investigations into the Easter bombings …

Continue reading ‘The argument that ‘Islamic religious extremists will never engage in suicide missions to bring a Sinhala Buddhist President to office’, will not suffice,since the plotting and manipulation as distinct from the execution, could have been done by someone other than the bombers themselves States Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka in TV Interview’ »

By the “Sunday Times” Political Editor President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appoint a retired judge, possibly from the Supreme Court, to probe controversial revelations made by Britain’s Channel 4 television. The Sunday Times learns that it will be a prelude to the appointment of another Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) if it is found that the matter …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appoint a retired judge to probe controversial revelations made by Britain’s Channel 4 television,: a fresh Parliamentary Select Committee Probe is also likely but President will not heed calls for an international investigation.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Tamil cinema firmament has produced a galaxy of stellar comedians over the years. Arguably the greatest comedian ever seen in Tamil cinema was Nagesh. This legendary actor known as “Nagaichuvai Mannan Nagesh” (King of Comedy – Nagesh) ruled the comic roost of Tamil cinema as an uncrowned monarch for many many years. …

Continue reading ‘Comedy King (“Nagaichuvai Mannan”) Nagesh Ruled the Comic Roost of Tamil Cinema.’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the Ministry of Defence on 9th September 2023 under the Heading “ MINISTRY OF DEFENCE: OFFICIAL REBUTTAL TO CHANNEL 4’S REPREHENSIBLE ALLEGATIONS REGARDING THE EASTER SUNDAY ATTACK”) In the face of a heinous and merciless assault that shook the world – the Easter Sunday Attack of 2019 – which …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence emphatically asserts that Channel 4 will be held unequivocally accountable for any unforeseen actions or repercussions stemming from their unfounded, malevolent, and poorly substantiated claims made in the video documentary.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan (Fourteen years after the civil war, Tamils in Sri Lanka’s north and east are confronted with a new conflict. There are growing contestations over land, sparked by Buddhist structures springing up in a ‘restoration’ drive. Meera Srinivasan reports on how archaeological excavations are the latest manifestation of a lingering ethnic conflict) It …

Continue reading ‘Buddhist Clergy,Archaeology Dept and Security Forces Defy Court Order by Erecting “Kurundhi Stupa” on Kurundhur Malai Hilltop in Mullaitheevu District where Tamil Hindus Had Been Worshipping Trident of “Aadhi Aiyanaar” Siva Deity’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Maj. Gen. Suresh Sallay, in his present capacity as Director, State Intelligence has told Channel 4 Television that he was not in Sri Lanka for the whole of 2018 as he was in Malaysia as Minister Counsellor of the government of Sri Lanka. Therefore, the accusation that he met several members of …

Continue reading ‘State Intelligence Director Maj-Gen Suresh Sallay tells Channel 4 TV that he was not in Sri Lanka for the whole of 2018 as he was in Malaysia as Minister Counsellor of the government of Sri Lanka; Therefore accusation that he met several members of the National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ) in Puttalam on Feb. 2018 was baseless says Sallay’ »

In the wake of the UK’s Channel 4 documentary uncovering details about the Easter Sunday attack of 2019, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, during a Parliamentary session yesterday, called for an International inquiry into the incident. The Opposition leader urged the Government to permit such an investigation without causing any additional offence to the Archbishop of …

Continue reading ‘Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa calls for an International Investigation into the on Easter Sunday bombings of 19 April 2019; Says it is embarrassing that a foreign TV like channel 4 has to push for a probe to reveal who the masterminds were.’ »

(Text of Statement issued on 7 September 2023 by Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in response to the recent allegations made by UK Channel 4 News regarding the 2019 Easter bombings,) “The central allegation made in the latest film on Sri Lanka broadcast by Channel 4 is that the Easter Sunday suicide bombings of …

Continue reading ‘Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the latest Documentary on the 2019 April 21 Bombings by Channel 4 is primarily an anti-Rajapaksa tirade aimed at blackening the Rajapaksa legacy from 2005 onwards;film is filled with lies, much like previous films aired by the same Channel states Gota’ »

By JACK SEALE On Easter Sunday 2019, six suicide bombings hit Catholic churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, killing 269 people. Quickly, the perpetrators were identified as domestic religious extremists the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama’ath), claimed by Islamic State as their own. The wider world, pausing to note that the perceived threat of Islamic …

Continue reading ‘Hanzeer Azad Maulana Alleges in Channel 4 “Dispatches” that he was in the room when Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered the founding of the clandestine death squad called Tripoli Platoon; Ex- police officer Nishantha Silva Alleges in Documentary that Lasantha Wickrematunge Killing Investigations by him Revealed Tripoly Platoon Members were at the Murder scene’ »

Sri Lanka’s government will appoint a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations made in a British television report that Sri Lankan intelligence had complicity in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people. A man interviewed in the Channel 4 videos released on Tuesday said he arranged a meeting between a local Islamic State-inspired group …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s government will appoint a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations made in the Channel 4 British television report that top Sri Lankan intelligence Officials were complicit in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 269 people.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Myth is a value. Truth has no guarantee for it; nothing prevents it from being a perpetual alibi” – Roland Barthes (Myth Today) Generals are always preparing to fight the last war, goes an enduring proverb. The Ranil Wickremesinghe Government and its many opponents are forever preparing for the last uprising. Aragalaya’s …

Continue reading ‘Buddhism was born in a land with no Sinhalese. Long before Buddhism became a Sinhala property, it was a Tamil religion as well. But this history does not fit in with the narratives tenaciously held by extremists of both sides of the ethno-religious divide.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Morning”of 4 September 2023 under the Heading “The latest Easter attacks ‘conspiracy”) This week, the United Kingdom (UK) based media outlet Channel Four announced that it is planning to make some shocking revelations about the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks in a programme titled ‘Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings – Dispatches’ …

Continue reading ‘“The alleged involvement of the Rajapaksa family in the Easter Sunday attacks, especially Mahinda and Gotabaya and the alleged support extended by high ranking officials to carry out and cover up the attacks have remained in Sri Lankan society as rumours since the attacks in 2019.”’ »

By Catherine Philp – “Times” Diplomatic Correspondent Sri Lankan officials loyal to the Rajapaksa family were complicit in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people, including eight British tourists, whistleblowers have alleged. One highly placed insider claims in an interview with Dispatches, to be aired in the UK on Channel 4 …

Continue reading ‘TMVP Leader Pillaiyan’s ex-aide Hanzeer Azad Maulana Alleges that he set up meeting in 2018 between Gotabaya Loyalist Suresh Salley and ISIS linked Easter Sunday Bombers in Interview to UK Channel 4 TV ; SIS chief Salley writes to Channel 4 denying allegation saying “I have no connection whatsoever in the Easter Bombing,”’ »

By Krishnan Guru Moorthy -Presenter On Easter Sunday 2019, Sri Lanka was hit by a series of suicide attacks. Channel 4 Dispatches has exclusive interviews with high placed whistleblowers who allege that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the bombings. Watch Dispatches: Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings on Channel 4 on Tuesday 5 September …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka bombings: were 269 people killed for political power? – Queries UK Channel 4 TV in “Dispatches” Documentary to be Aired on 5 September 2023’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Jeyaraj’s Jottings Tharman Shanmugaratnam whose grandparents are from Urelu in the Jaffna district of Northern Sri Lanka made history on September 1st 2023 by getting elected as President of Singapore. Generally referred to as Tharman, the 66 year old London School of Econimics,Cambridge and Harvard educated economist is also the first “Ceylon …

Continue reading ‘Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Jaffna Ancestry becomes first Singaporean of Sri Lankan Tamil Ethnicity to be Elected as President of Singapore; Wins 70.4 % of votes in Landslide Victory.’ »

By Col R.Hariharan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is caught between a rock and a hard place, both externally and internally. Externally, t[he Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is getting turbulent with the big power confrontation between the US and its allies on the one hand, and China on the other. It threatens to spill over beyond Asia-Pacific. …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe is caught between a rock and a hard place, both externally and internally. Overall, the President is in an unenviable hot seat, likely to get hotter.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The first part of this article was published last week under the heading “How and why the LTTE helped Mahinda defeat Ranil in Nov. 2005”. In this second and final part, the focus would be on how the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) enforced a boycott of the November 2005 Presidential elections through …

Continue reading ‘2005 Presidential Election Boycott: Did Secret Financial Deal Involving Basil and Tiran Enable Mahinda Defeat Ranil ?’ »

(Text of Press release Issued by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)on 30 August 2023) On 22 August 2023, Sarath Weeresekera, a former Minister and a Member of Parliament belonging to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the country’s ruling political party, made an inflammatory speech with racist undertones in Parliament, referring to T. Saravanaraja, the …

Continue reading ‘International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Condemns Sarath Weerasekera Making an Inflammatory Speech in Parliament with Racist Undertones Criticising Mullaitheevu Magistrate Saravanarajah’s court order and for Offensive Personal remarks against him and his wife.’ »

(Text of speech made in Parliament on 30 August 2023 by Jaffna District MP, Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran ) This particular convention deals with enforced disappearances. The scourge that has affected our country, much more than it has affected many other countries of the world. There are other countries also that have suffered from this kind …

Continue reading ‘“People cant just go missing. They are made to disappear.During the long armed conflict that raged in the North and the East and particularly during the last phase,tens of thousands have gone missing” -MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s one and only Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka is very much in the news lately. The Gampaha district MP and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) chairman launched a “People’s Revolution”protest campaign against waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement on 11 August 2023. This has led to strong speculation that the former Army Commander and …

Continue reading ‘“Operation Fonny”: Shameful Arrest of Ex-Army Chief Sarath Fonseka by the Army he had Commanded.’ »

(Text of Statement by Marc-André Franchethe UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances – 30 August 2023) As the world marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, our thoughts turn to the victims of this heinous crime and those who have suffered the …

Continue reading ‘Enforced disappearances have left a painful scar on the nation’s history and continue to shape the lives of thousands of Sri Lankans who exist in a state of ambiguity, where their loved ones are neither present nor definitively absent.’ »

IT industry leader Mano Sekaram has been appointed as Norway’s Honorary Consul General to Sri Lanka. After three decades of operation, the Government of Norway made the decision to wind up operations in Sri Lanka, as of 31 July. This comes as part of a reform initiative. “To continue preserving the strong ties between Sri …

Continue reading ‘Mano Sekaram, Founder and CEO of 99X , Appointed as Norway’s Honorary Consul General to Sri Lanka.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan What do musician TM Krishna, writer Perumal Murugan, historian AR Venkatachalapathy, and publisher Kannan Sundaram have in common with audiences in Jaffna? Their shared interest in all things art, literature, and history. During their recent visit to this northern Sri Lankan town, it was hard to miss both, their connection with the …

Continue reading ‘Historian AR Venkatachapalathy, musician TM Krishna, Kalachuvadu publisher Kannan Sundaram and writer Perumal Murugan from Tamil Nadu Engage in Stimulating Discussions with Jaffna Audiences about Art,Literature and History’ »

By Meera Srinivasan and Dinakar Peri Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka over the coming weekend, defence sources confirmed. The visit comes at a time when the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry is considering a fresh request from China to allow the visit of a research ship. The Defence Minister is …

Continue reading ‘Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Sri Lanka this week-end on a Two -day Trip; expected to visit Trincomalee where India is jointly investing in the joint development of Oil Tank farm’ »

By Sunil Tantirige Flashback to September 2021: In September 2021 my sister texted me. “Sunil Perera of Gypsies has been readmitted to the ICU.” He had contracted covid-19 about a month ago and had been discharged from the hospital a couple of weeks ago. “This is bad.” I texted my sister back. Just few minutes …

Continue reading ‘Going Down Memory Lane : A Few Thoughts about Sunil Perera of the Gypsies’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj There has been in recent times a spurt of Ranil bashing in Sri Lankan Tamil circles. Many Tamil politicians as well as significant sections of the Tamil media are being highly critical of President Ranil Wickremesinghe these days. What fuels Tamil criticism of Ranil is his allegedly duplicitous conduct on the question of …

Continue reading ‘How and Why the LTTE Helped Mahinda Rajapaksa Defeat Ranil Wickremesinghe in November 2005 Presidential Election.’ »

By Tharushi Weerasinghe The opening of a new charcoal factory in Arambekema, Thanamalwila has been halted following outrage from villagers who claim that it is in violation of a few environment protection laws and the terms of its contracts with the state. The company claims everything is approved by the state. The charcoal factory, a …

Continue reading ‘People of Thanamalwila Protest Strongly Against Charcoal Factory in Arambakema; BOI Approved Lanka-China Project to Burn 4.5 Tons of Wood to Produce 1 Ton of Charcoal for Export to China.Japan and Korea.’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene The Supreme Court’s striking down of Clause 2 (e) of the ‘Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution’ Bill (gazetted on 26th June 2023) which had inexplicably brought in safeguarding ‘public order, public health and morals’ as an object of the Bill, is a relief. Why are obviously bad clauses included …

Continue reading ‘The Supreme Court’s striking down of Clause 2 (e) of the ‘Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution’ Bill, which had brought in safeguarding ‘public order, public health and morals’ as an object of the Bill, is a relief.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The conduct and pronouncements of some prominent Sinhala Buddhist monks have in recent times contributed greatly towards the deterioration of inter-ethnic amity and inter-faith relations in this country. It is indeed a matter of grave concern that the “antics” of these “patriotic” Buddhist monks have created a very negative image of the Buddhist …

Continue reading ‘The Nagadeepa Buddhist Prelate who was Much Adored by the Nainatheevu Tamil People.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Today, it is hard to open a newspaper or watch a newscast without cringing at how little has changed in our political psyche since the rout of Gotabaya Rajapaksa just over a year ago. Of course, with Rajapaksa himself out of power, Sri Lanka is no longer careening towards the edge …

Continue reading ‘If we had serious provincial government, Mangala Samaraweera would encourage every promising young leader to become a chief minister or provincial minister instead of hovering around Colombo.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya The rallying cry in political circles nowadays is a call for snap elections as if that would produce a magic wand to solve the economic crisis. This coterie of newly minted champions of electoral rights comes in all hues, many of whom do not see eye to eye on many issues. By …

Continue reading ‘Though Ranil Wickremesinghe prefers to shoot from the mouth, he is neither Pinochet nor Lee Kuan Yew and would chicken out at the sight of one big orchestrated protest against life-saving economic reforms.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “On this earth there are pestilences and there are victims – and as far as possible one must refuse to be on the side of the pestilence.” – Camus (The Plague) “Patriotism,” wrote Ambrose Bierce in The Devil’s Dictionary is “The combustible rubbish ready to the torch of anyone ambitious to illuminate …

Continue reading ‘What the Sinhala-Buddhist supremacists want from judges is not even – handedness but bias. A judiciary that will always rule for Sinhala-Buddhists is their idea of an ideal judiciary.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Lakshman Kadirgamar’s 18th death anniversary was observed last Saturday. The former foreign minister fell victim to a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) sniper in Colombo on 12 August 2005. Kadirgamar was one who defined himself first and foremost as a Sri Lankan. This endeared Kadirgamar to a very large number of Sri Lankans. …

Continue reading ‘The Jaffna Tamil Christian Heritage of Sri Lanka’s Former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene For the starry-eyed among us, it must be repeated with force that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s sharp admonition to the Supreme Court recently (ie; Parliament has powers over public finance, orders or instructions will not be tolerated from ‘anyone else’) is not a chance political remark tossed into public debate. Going beyond debt …

Continue reading ‘.Colombo’s elite seems to Opine that President Wickremesinghe is the only one who can deliver us from this economic devastation and therefore therefore he must be given full leeway.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan China has pledged help for Sri Lanka’s debt challenge yet again,even as theRanil Wickremesinghe government tries to finalise the terms of restructuring its foreign loans with bilateral creditors. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday “vowed that China will help Sri Lanka effectively address the challenges of financial debt”, according to a …

Continue reading ‘China reiterates support for Sri Lanka’s debt relief ahead of crucial IMF review but Sri Lanka and bilateral lenders are yet to reach agreement on a debt treatment plan’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Some in the group had walked over 200 kilometres, before they reached Matale last weekend. Their feet were visibly sore, but their spirit was intact. They sang, danced, and chanted slogans, as they converged at the Muthumariamman Temple in the hilly town, where their ancestors arrived 200 years ago. While some members …

Continue reading ‘Members of Sri Lanka’s Malaiyaha Tamil community Complete Symbolic March from Thalaimannar to Matale: walked over 250 km in a fortnight to mark 200 years since their ancestors’ arrival from South India in Sri Lanka’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj 18th Death Annivwrsary on 12 August 2023. Sri Lanka’s finest Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated in Colombo by a suspected sniper of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on 12 August 2005. His death was mourned by the nation at large as a tremendous loss to the country. The void caused …

Continue reading ‘Lakshman Kadirgamar was Sri Lanka’s Finest Foreign Minister.’ »

By ZIYA US SALAM & ILANGOVAN RAJASEKARAN BACK in 1979, when Sridevi marked her entry into Hindi cinema as the female lead in Solva Sawan (a remake of the path-breaking 16 Vayadhinile in Tamil) opposite Amol Palekar, no one thought she had a ghost of a chance in Bollywood. Hers was far from the dream …

Continue reading ‘Iconic Actress Sridevi’s Memorable Performances were with the Three Bbhishmas” of Tamil cinema, Balachander, Balu Mahendra , Bharathiraja and Mahendran.’ »

By Kamal Haasan (Kamal Haasan is an actor-turned politician and founder, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) Our nation, a mosaic of religious, ethnic, linguistic and cultural plurality, celebrates its modern rebirth today. This journey has been filled with love and hate, pain and joy, and highs and lows. And yet we march on. Our tryst with …

Continue reading ‘“At our core we are a just, spiritual and peace-loving people. We are the children of Buddha and Ashoka, Ambedkar and Gandhi, Thiruvalluvar and Periyar” – Kamal Haasan.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Jaffna Municipal Council elections held on 29 January 1998 resulted in Sarojini Yogeswaran of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) being elected as the first Mayoress of Jaffna. Sarojini, the widow of former TULF Jaffna MP Vettivelu Yogeswaran assumed duties as Jaffna’s fourteenth mayor on 11 March 1998. The first woman mayor …

Continue reading ‘Jaffna’s First Mayoress Sarojini Yogeswaran was a True Heroine of the Tamil People.’ »

Veteran Sri Lankan journalist, Srimal Abeyewardene, passed away at the age of 79 last week in Toronto, Canada. He leaves behind a legacy that spans five decades in the media industry and has significantly impacted the Sri Lankan community in Canada and beyond. Over the course of his long career, Abeyewardene’s main achievement was the …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Journalist Srimal Abeyewardene , Founder -Editor of “Sri Lanka Reporter, Passes awayat the age of 79 in Toronto,Canada’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene Hammer blows seem to be coming swiftly and cruelly from core points of political power in Sri Lanka, impacting hard on the country’s apex court. Was all this hot air warranted? First, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has resorted to his favorite tom-tom beat by warning the courts off interfering into what he …

Continue reading ‘The President was thoroughly miffed that petitions had been filed in the Supreme Court by opposition political parties challenging aspects of the restructuring process. Regardless, was it reasonable for the President to lash out in this way?’ »

By Meera Srinivasan A Chinese warship that arrived in Colombo on August 10 will be docking at the Colombo Port until August 12, the Sri Lankan Navy has said, exactly a year after the visit of a Chinese vessel caused diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Colombo. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy warship ‘Hai …

Continue reading ‘Chinese warship ‘Hai Yang 24 Hao’ docks at Colombo Port; “India is fully aware of the vessel’s visit and has not expressed any concern over It” says Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence spokesman Col. Nalin Herath sman Col. Nalin Herath’ »

By Bharathy Singaravel Leave logic at home, go for the Rajinism. Director Nelson Dileepkumar and the Superstar offer a film that may have gaping plot holes, but you wouldn’t really care. Jailer is an undiluted adrenaline rush for the diehard Rajini fan. The star brings his trademark larger-than-life mannerisms into Nelson’s quirky storytelling: a combination …

Continue reading ‘The Combination of Superstar Rajinikanth and Director Nelson Dileepkumar works out Perfectly in their film “Jailer” to Provide Fans with an Undiluted Adrenaline Rush’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Political struggle of the Sri Lankan Tamils to have their grievances redressed and lost rights restored has brought forth many “quiet” heroes. I say quiet because these persons never sought publicity or praise. They gave up their comfortable existence and served their community in many ways. Many of them refused to kowtow …

Continue reading ‘The Abduction and Killing of Human Rights Activist and Lawyer K.Kanthasamy by the EROS 35 Years ago.’ »

(Text of Special statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on August 9th 2023) The provincial council system was introduced in 1987 through the 13th Amendment to the constitution. This system has been operational in our country for 36 years. Nevertheless, numerous issues surround the implementation of the 13th Amendment, as well as the …

Continue reading ‘“The devolution of power within provincial councils is governed by the 13th Constitutional Amendment, which holds the status of the highest law of our nation. We cannot afford to disregard it. Both the executive and the legislature are obligated to execute its provisions.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Jeyaraj’s Jottings The fifth death anniversary of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and Dravidian Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) party leader M.Karunanidhi was commemorated on Monday 7 July 2023. Karunanidhi’s son and current Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin led a peace march in memory of his father. Stalin was joined by his sister …

Continue reading ‘Fifth Death Anniversary of Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Leader “Kalaignar” Karunanidhi Commemorated on 7 August 2023.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj This special three -part article denoting the 40th the “Black July” anti-Tamil pogrom concludes this week. The first part of this article published on 12 July 2023 titled “Black July: Anatomy of an Anti-Tamil Pogrom” was a brief overview of the horrific anti-Tamil violence that engulfed the Sri Lankan nation in July 1983. …

Continue reading ‘My Family’s Experience of “Black July” Forty Years ago.’ »

By Col R Hariharan | President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s July 20-21 visit to New Delhi ended with India and Sri Lanka jointly evolving an economic partnership vision to speed up Sri Lanka’s economic recovery. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs released the India-Sri Lanka Economic Partnership Vision document on July 21, 2023 after the visiting President …

Continue reading ‘Indian PM Narendra Modi is determined to win over the voters from Tamil Nadu in the 2024 parliamentary election. Resolving the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka will give him a huge leg up in the election, at least in BJP’s reckoning. President Wickremesinghe should not underestimate Premier Modi’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya The All-Party Conference on the 13th Amendment convened last week (26) ended in predictable discord, but that was not so much for the hypocrisy of the convener, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as you might have already heard from a horde of lawmakers. Hypocrisy was pervasive on all sides, but probably more so on …

Continue reading ‘TNA’s Political hypocrisy in rejecting the opportunity Provided by the All-party Conference to negotiate a substantial devolution of powers is to keep the Toxic Pot Boiling.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj History was made on 26 July 2023 when Sri Lanka born Gary Anandasangaree was appointed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Mniister of Crown –Indigenous Relations to his cabinet. Sathiyasangary Anandasangaree – who abbreviated his first name to Gary – will go down in Canadian history as the first Sri Lankan …

Continue reading ‘Gary Anandasangaree Makes History as Canada’s First Sri Lankan Tamil Cabinet Minister. Sworn in on 26 July 2023 with Hands Placed on “Thirukkural”.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “In the two months since February the two leading parties, the NPP/JVP and SJB, have experienced substantial declines in support…with the share of voters saying they would vote for other minor and unnamed parties increasing by 17 points to 28%. …support for the UNP seems to be plateauing at one in ten …

Continue reading ‘If current trends continue, the coming presidential and parliamentary elections will turn into four-way battles structurally incapable of producing clear winners or working majorities.’ »

(Text of Media Release Issued by the Tamil National Alliance on 31 July 2023) This statement is being issued in order to clarify our position with regard to the political solution for the Tamil National Question, the 13th amendment to the constitution, the conduct of the long delayed provincial council elections and the All Party …

Continue reading ‘TNA Position on the Political Solution to the Tamil National Question, 13 A, Provincial Councils and All Party Conferences Convened by President Wickremesinghe Clarified by Jaffna MP Sumanthiran.’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene The ‘arrest’ of a young journalist, Tharindu Uduwaragedera recorded by onlookers this Friday being forcibly dragged out of a three wheeler, grabbed by his hair and roughly manhandled by a posse of police officers before being whisked away in a police vehicle, is a chilling warning to Sri Lanka’s dissenters. Savages in …

Continue reading ‘Young journalist, Tharindu Uduwaragedera being forcibly dragged out of a three wheeler, grabbed by his hair , roughly manhandled by a posse of police officers and whisked away in a police vehicle, is a chilling warning to Sri Lanka’s dissenters.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj In a significant poitical development last week, some influential members of Tamil civil society in the northern and eastern provinces of sri Lanka took the initiative to write directly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking India’s help in urging the Sri Lankan Government to hold Provincial Council elections as early as …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Tamil Political Leadership Criticised by Tamil Civil Society in Letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Seeking Early Provincial Council Elections to the North and East.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya During his last week’s visit to New Delhi, President Ranil Wickremesinghe signed a host of agreements, which, if followed up earnestly, would interlock the Sri Lankan economy with the world’s fastest-growing large economy. Proposed collaboration in renewable energy, bidirectional energy trade, ports and acceptance of the Indian Rupee as a designated foreign …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka should make rising India a pillar of its economic calculations and recalibrate itself to ride piggyback on Indian growth. The President’s India visit should be hailed for exploring those opportunities.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The first part of this article published last week titled “Black July; Anatomy of an Anti-Tamil Pogrom” was a brief overview of the horrific anti-Tamil violence that engulfed the Sri Lankan nation in July 1983. The second part of this article being published this week will focus primarily on how “Black July”began in …

Continue reading ‘Beginning of “Black July “; 15 July Meesalai Army Attack and 23 July 23 Thinnavely LTTE Ambush.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj “All changed, changed utterly” is a powerful line from ‘Easter, 1916’, the famous poem of William Butler Yeats. The poem by W.B. Yeats was about the Irish Easter uprising in 1916, its cruel suppression and how all changed utterly in Ireland. In Sri Lanka “all changed” and “changed utterly” for the Tamil people …

Continue reading ‘“Black July”:Anatomy of the July 1983 Anti-Tamil Pogrom.’ »

BY BY TISARANEE GUNASEKARA “…the narrow exclusive, bigoted, simplistic attitude that reduces identity in all its many aspects to one single affiliation, and one that is proclaimed in anger… this is how murderers are made – it’s a recipe for massacre. – ”Maalouf Amin (In the Name of Identity – Violence and the need to …

Continue reading ‘Given Mr. Sarath Weerasekara’s antecedents both in and out of uniform, his incendiary remarks are hardly surprising. What is surprising and worrying is the inadequacy of political or societal reaction to his racist outpouring. That silence is telling.’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene It is only in singularly paradoxical Sri Lanka that Parliament can proudly announce its ‘unanimous’ passing of the country’s newest anti-corruption law while blithely counting in its ranks, a gold-smuggling parliamentarian and others on both sides of the political divide in regard to whom multiple allegations of gross corruption have …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s boast that the country will soon have the best anti-corruption law in Asia must be corrected.’ »

(Text of Speech made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi on 21 Jult 2023 during the official visit of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India) I warmly welcome President Wickremesinghe and his delegation to India. Today, President Wickremesinghe is completing one year in office. On this occasion, on behalf of all …

Continue reading ‘“We hope that the Govt of Sri Lanka Will fulfill its commitment to implement the 13th Amendment and conduct the Provincial Council Elections. And will ensure ,justice,peace and a life of equality, respect and dignity for the Tamil community of Sri Lanka”.- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

(Text of Speech delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on 21 July 2023 before a distinguished gathering including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi during his first official visit to India) “I am honoured to be in New Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is my first visit to India …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Shares with Indian PM his Comprehensive Proposals to further Reconcilation,power sharing through devolution and the multiple elements of the Northern development plan; Narendra Modi expresses his solidarity and goodwillfor these endeavours’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa known as Gotabaya or Gota Rajapaksa made a glorious entry to the pinnacle of political power through a grand victory at the presidential election held on 16 November 2019. The former military officer and ex-secretary of defence who polled 6,924,255 votes(52.25) at the hustings was sworn in as President …

Continue reading ‘The Ignominious Ouster and Inglorious Exit of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July 2022’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Tuesday(July 18)) “categorically rejected” Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s offer to implement the 13th Amendment sans police powers, terming his proposal for development and power devolution “another hollow promise”. The 13th Amendment is an over 30-year old Sri Lankan legislation on the devolution of power from …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Offer to Implement the 13th Constitutional Amendment without Police Powers is “ Categorically rejected” by the Tamil National Alliance.’ »

(Text of Press Release issued by the Presidents Media Division on 18 Jukly 2023) During a discussion with Tamil Parliamentarians representing the North and East today (18), President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that he has already put forth a comprehensive proposal to address the problems faced by the people in those regions and it is up …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe Formulates comprehensive proposals to address the problems faced by the people in the North and East and says it is up to the Tamil Parliamentarians to decide whether to take it forward or not.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan For singer Srinivas, Sri Lanka is familiar performance terrain. He has been visiting since the 1990s, first in his corporate avatar and later as a musician. In his recent show for the Colombo-Indian CEO Forum’s 10th year celebration last week at the Taj Samudra, he had a special request from a member …

Continue reading ‘Father -Daughter Singing Duo Srinivas and Sharanya Perform together in Taj Samudra with Sri Lankan Artistes at Colombo -Indian CEO Forum’s 10th Year Celebration event; Srinivas sings ‘Mein shayar to nahin’,from “Bobby” for Chief Guest Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal to implement the 13th Amendment (13A) to the Constitution with the exception of police powers fell foul of the Tamil National Alliance yesterday forcing Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiram to remind the President that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in three joint statements with India had promised to implement 13A …

Continue reading ‘“I am Ranil Wickremesinghe and not Ranil Rajapaksa. I am not bound by what President Rajapaksa did,” states President Ranil Wickremesinghe; tells TNA that he was not bound to any joint statements issued by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.’ »

President Ranil Wickreme-singhe yesterday placed the responsibility for making further progress on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (13A) back in the hands of Sri Lanka’s Tamil MPs representing the North and East. He urged them to reach a consensus on its implementation with the exception of police powers during the meeting held yesterday in …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe tells Tamil MPs from North and East to Reach Consensus on fImplementing 13 Amendment Sans Police Powers; “You have to decide if you want to go ahead with this or not because we must draft the legislation,” says Ranil’ »

By Meera Srinivasan A group of religious leaders, educationists, and professionals from Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority north and east have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to “persuade” President Ranil Wickremesinghe to call for provincial council elections, without further delay. The civil society members handed over their letter at the Indian Consulate in the …

Continue reading ‘Group of Tamil religious leaders, educationists, and professionals from Sri Lanka’s north and east write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to “persuade” President Ranil Wickremesinghe to call for provincial council elections, without further delay.’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s assertion during a recent interview with the French media that the Government of Sri Lanka will invite foreign jurists to ‘observe’ the sittings of the proposed Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) Commission and that therefore, ‘no one can say that it is a cover-up,’ is political satire of the …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Telling the French Media that Foreign Jurists would be invited to Observe Sittings of the Proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is Political Satire of the most Rip-roaring Kind.’ »

The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan has said that his party wants India’s support for the social advancement of the people of Indian Origin in Sri Lanka and not for their political goals. The TPA has changed the usual practice of demanding political support from the Indian government and asking the Government of …

Continue reading ‘Hill Country Tamils Want India’s assistance for Social Progress only and not for achieving political goals states Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganesan MP in a remarkable change of stance’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Sri Lanka experienced its first suicide bomber attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) on 5 July 1987. The Sri Lankan armed forces had commenced “Operation Liberation” on 27 May 1987 and succeeded in recapturing the Vadamaratchy region of the Jaffna peninsula. A major detachment of the Army was stationed at …

Continue reading ‘“Golden Lord” A.Thangathurai was Trincomalee District’s Man for all Seasons.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Someone in Sri Lanka, right now as I write, is distraught because a child, a parent or a loved one has died, is dying or is seriously ill due to lack of medicine and medical care. Some die because doctors just cannot handle the overwhelming number of patients, or they simply …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe can and must speak to the medical fraternity. The President himself has to convince them of the plans to turn things around, what has been done, what is going to be done, and why their support at this hour is so crucial for the wellbeing of the country and its citizens.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj This year 2023 marks the bicentennial of the arrival of people from India as ”indentured labour “ to work in Sri Lanka. Though persons from India have been coming over to the Island from time immemorial, it was in February 1823 that people were first brought “officially” as workers. This was during British …

Continue reading ‘The Injustice Meted out to “Malaiyahath Thamizhar”( Hill Country Tamils) Since Independence in 1948.’ »

(Text of Bar Association of Sri Lanka L statement titled ‘Upholding the Rule of Law and safeguarding the independence of the judiciary’ and signed by BASL President Kaushalya Nawaratne and BASL Secretary Isuru Balapatabendi) The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) re-affirms its commitment to upholding the Rule of Law and safeguarding the Independence of …

Continue reading ‘MP Sarath Weerasekesera’s Recent Statement in Parliament on 7 July 2023 is an unfounded, brazen attack on the Judiciary and the social fabric of this Country states Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL)’ »

By Meera Srinivasan India is seeking a “positive transformation” in its ties with Sri Lanka, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, following a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo on Tuesday. In a visit aimed at laying the groundwork for Mr. Wickremesinghe’s upcoming trip to New Delhi on July 21 — his first official visit …

Continue reading ‘India seeks positive transformation” in its ties with Sri Lanka says visiting Indian Foreign Secretary; “trying to ensure that the upcoming visit to New Delhi of President Ranil Wickremesinghe is actually a point of positive transformation in the relationship, states Mr. Vinay Kwatra’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya A year ago, on July 9th, hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans, dispossessed by the economic destruction unleashed by a government they elected not long ago, descended on the Capital, Colombo. They stormed the President’s House while President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was hurriedly evacuated to a waiting naval ship. Three days later, Rajapaksa …

Continue reading ‘Those who took part in “Aragalaya” Demanding Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster Won;Those who Tried to use “Aragalaya” to Grab Power for Themselves Lost.’ »

(This article appeared in the Asia section of “The Economist”print edition under the headline “If the dead could only speak”) As dark clouds of economic crisis, political chaos and mass protest loomed over Sri Lanka a year ago, optimists saw one silver lining. So incompetent and corrupt was the soon-to-collapse government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Plans to form a South African-style “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” (TRC) Seem Increasingly Unlikely to Succeed- “The Economist”’ »

By Dilshan Joseph The Anglican Church in Sri Lanka (Church of Ceylon) has made an immense contribution to education. The great school by the sea has educated thousands of young men, imparting in them core values of Christianity. When we read the Bible we find that Jesus was taken to the synagogue by his parents …

Continue reading ‘The Chapel of the Transfiguration has played a crucial role in the life of S. Thomas’ College, Mt.Lavinia and in the lives of all Thomians.’ »

By Nimal Sanderatne The government’s controversial domestic debt restructuring (DDR) plan has been approved by parliament. This is a necessary condition for the restructuring of the foreign debt and stabilising the country’s foreign finances. Hopefully, this would enable the restructuring of foreign debt favourably. The country’s foreign debt liabilities are expected to be reduced by …

Continue reading ‘The Central Bank is guaranteeing that the EPF and ETF pension funds will get 12 percent interest on their govt bonds till 2025 and thereafter 9 percent. This assurance from the govt and the CB we hope will be kept’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene This week’s order of the Colombo High Court granting bail to comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya imprisoned under Section 3(1) of the much abused International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR Act, 2007) for commenting ‘disrespectfully’on Buddhism, is a fine example of legal rectitude if not basic judicial commonsense. Understanding the limits …

Continue reading ‘Colombo High Court Order granting bail to comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya imprisoned under Section 3(1) of the much abused International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR Act, outlinines the proper legal use of Sri Lanka’s ICCPR Act.’ »

By Rathindra Kuruwita When the next Human Rights Council session comes up, Sri Lanka would have to present the steps it has taken to ensure the welfare of those affected by economic reforms, former head of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) Prof. Deepika Udagama said, addressing the media recently. There was hardly …

Continue reading ‘“Sri Lanka had to seek IMF assistance because the rulers of the country created an economic crisis. When we implement IMF policies, everyone knows that the poor suffer. The Sri Lankan government has a great responsibility to protect these people,” – Former HRCSL head Prof. Deepika Udagama’ »

(Text of Jaffna District Parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran’s speech in Parliament on 1 st July 2023 during the Debate on Domestic Debt Restructuring ) Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for the time allocated to me to participate in this very important debate today. As I begin, I wish to bring to the notice of this house …

Continue reading ‘“You dare not touch these Vultures because they’re your friends, they are your funders, they give you your election campaign money. They are the ones who give you kickbacks for doing this. So you are selling the soul of the country.”- MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By Nisthar Cassim The Central Bank yesterday allayed unfounded fears and debunked doomsayers over the Domestic Debt Optimisation (DDO) insisting it did what is best for Sri Lanka considering multiple factors and eyeing the broader goals of the country. Amidst criticism from the Opposition and some analysts, the Central Bank defended the DDO framework saying …

Continue reading ‘Central Bank Governor Dr.Nandalal Weerasinghe dismisses the assumption that DDO will result in Rs. 12 trillion impact to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and alleges “ it was wrong, misleading and a misrepresentation of facts, figures and reality”’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka is counting on tourists from India, its primary source market, to boost foreign exchange earnings and aid economic recovery, as the island expects fewer tourists from Europe amid the ongoing recession. Colombo is currently hosting the 67th convention of the Travel Agents Association of India, in a bid to further …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka is Counting on Getting more Tourists from India as fewer European Tourists are expected due to the Recession; 1,23,004 tourists or 24 % of the total arrivals were from India in 2022’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj It has been the practice for this column to devote the first article of each month to a topic on films, film personalities or film-related matters. As such this week’s article will focus on the evergreen “Dingiri Dingaley” song from the Tamil film “Anbu Engay?”(Where is love?) that was first screened 65 …

Continue reading ‘“Dingiri Dingaley Meenatchi Dingiri DingaaleyUlagam Poara Poakkaip Paaru, Thangamay Chillalay” : ”The Evergreen Tamil Film Song from “Anbu Engay”.’ »

BY Tisaranee Gunasekara “What causes do we not invent for the misfortunes that befall us? On what do we not place the blame, rightly or wrongly, so as to have something at which to strike?” – Montaigne (Essays) The question was simple: how the candidate was going to fund the many and extravagant election promises, …

Continue reading ‘Sajith Premadasa seems to be modelling himself on SWRD Bandaranaike and Gotabaya Rajapaksa rather than his father who didn’t need or want monks telling him how to govern’ »

The approval rating of the Government doubled to 21% in June 2023 from the 10% that was recorded in both February 2023 and October 2022, according to the latest round of the Gallup style ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll of Verité Research. The survey showed satisfaction with the state of the nation increased, although only …

Continue reading ‘Approval Rating of President Wickremesinghe Govt Doubles from 10% In February to 21% in June According to Latest “Mood of the Nation” Opinion Poll Conducted by Verite Research’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the Presidents Media Division on 5 July 2023) President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of avoiding misleading arguments and instead urged the entire opposition, led by the opposition leader, to join the government in addressing the country’s challenges. He pointed out that the opposition’s allegations regarding the restructuring of …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Invites Opposition Leader and Opposition to Join Govt and Solve Challenges Faced by the Country Instead Engaging in Misleading Arguments’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Parliament on Saturday (1 July 2023) approved a domestic debt restructuring program that would rework nearly half of the country’s US$ 42.1 billion domestic debt. The plan covered US$ 19.5 billion of Domestic debt in Treasury bills and bonds held by the Central Bank and superannuation funds (mainly the EPF and ETF) …

Continue reading ‘By opposing every govt measure to lift the country out of the economic crisis, the Opposition might be misreading public opinion. That may come to haunt them in future elections’ »

By Asiri Fernando The special parliamentary session on the Domestic Debt Optimisation (DDO) plan of the Government was approved last evening (1) with a majority of 60 votes, following a lengthy and occasionally-heated debate about the impact on superannuation funds. Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera then informed Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana in writing …

Continue reading ‘Parliament Passes Govt’s Domestic Debt Optimisation Plan by 60 Vote majority; 122 vote for and 62 against; SJB,NPP and TNA Vote against while SLPP in Govt and some SLPP dissidents in Opposition vote for;SLFP keeps away while Dissidents vote for;COPF chair Harsha de Silva votes against’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former Sri Lankan President and ex-defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa known generally as Gota figured prominently in an Associated Press (AP) news report dated 22 June 2023 . According to AP, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been accused of allegedly “tampering with police records in order to hamper investigations into mass graves discovered in an area …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Human Rights Violations in Matale District During the 1988-90 JVP Insurgency.’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene When Chilean-born author Isabel Allende wrote with consummate skill of Chile’s ‘disappeared’ under Pinochet’s dictatorship in her best-selling book, ‘Of Love and Shadows’ (1987), about the mothers who, ‘were no longer afraid and had no hesitation about placing their lives in jeopardy though life was all they had left; everything else …

Continue reading ‘The joining of common struggles for justice for the ‘disappeared’ from Point Pedro to Dondra may have been a powerful point of pressure on all Sri Lankan Governments, rather than divisions along race and ethnicity’ »

(Text of Message from Eric Walsh, the High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka on the occasion of Canada Day on July 1, 2023) Happy Canada Day! As High Commissioner to both Sri Lanka and Maldives, it gives me great pleasure to extend my warmest greetings to all Canadians and friends of Canada working, traveling …

Continue reading ‘“As Canada continues to grapple with the hard truths of its own past and to work with Indigenous peoples to address long-standing injustices, we remain ready to draw upon our own experiences in support of Sri Lanka’s efforts toward meaningful and lasting national reconciliation.” – Canadian Envoy Eric Walsh’ »

By Bharathy Singaravel The heart and soul of Maamannan is Vadivelu. After all, the title takes the name of his character. And it feels as if the actor never forgets that for even a moment when he is in front of the camera. This is a Vadivelu so spectacularly in form that you cry when …

Continue reading ‘It is interesting to see how director Mari Selvaraj in “Maamannan”manages his critique of electoral politics and caste in Tamil Nadu with the DMK’s heir-apparent Udhayanidhi Stalin helming the film.’ »

By Gopinath Rajendran In one of Maamannan’s most important and stunningly captured sequences, a bunch of kids are having the time of their lives, swimming and playing in the temple well. When upper-caste men know about this, they stone almost all the kids to a watery grave. The news of caste-related violence is unfortunately not …

Continue reading ‘Actors Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil’s impeccable performances save Mari Selvaraj’s politically-charged film “Maamannan”’ »

Sri Lanka United National Businesses Alliance (SLUNBA) Chairperson Tania Abeysundara yesterday expressed her disappointment at the Government’s failure to provide debt relief to local businesses struggling due to the ongoing economic crisis. “We requested our debt to be restructured. We asked to be given a grace period for repayments,” she said. “We simply requested the …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka United National Businesses Alliance Chairperson Tania Abeysundara expresses disappointment at Govt’s failure to provide debt relief to local businesses struggling due to the ongoing economic crisis.’ »

By Victor Ivan In this article I venture to analyse how Sri Lanka has become a failed and bankrupt nation and who should be held responsible for that? So far no one has endeavoured to make a rational political analysis about it. Sri Lanka remained a stagnant, underdeveloped nation when it became a British colony …

Continue reading ‘After independence, the Sinhalese majority and their rulers wanted most of the benefits gained from independence to be shared among them, the Sinhalese people.’ »

During a special press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre on Domestic Debt Optimization (DDO), Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, the Governor of the Central Bank, emphasized the importance of relieving the burden on the banking system caused by the already excessive 50% taxes. This measure aims to safeguard the treasury, strengthen the economy, and ensure …

Continue reading ‘Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe States the existing Employee Provident Fund (EPF) would remain untouched. Guarantees a minimum interest rate of 9% for the EPF and accessibility to funds upon retirement.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Five years back in China, I submitted my doctoral dissertation, having chopped off two complete chapters on my supervisor’s advice to be on the safe side for both of us. It was an analysis of competition for power and influence by China and India in South Asia. Given the vast power asymmetries …

Continue reading ‘The pendulum of economic growth is gradually shifting from China to India. The Sri Lankan economy if Integrated with India’s, would be better equipped to benefit from India’s rise.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka will shut down its banks and financial sector for five days beginning Thursday, ahead of an extraordinary weekend debate in Parliament on the government’s plan to restructure its domestic debt. The move comes a year after Sri Lanka decided to suspend servicing its foreign debt, to combat a devastating economic …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka to shut down its banks and financial sector for five days from June 29 ahead of an extraordinary weekend debate in Parliament on the government’s plan to restructure its domestic debt.’ »

By Krishan Francis Sri Lanka’s former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was accused in a report released Thursday of tampering with police records in order to hamper investigations into mass graves discovered in an area where he was a military officer at the height of a bloody Marxist insurrection in 1989. The report by activist groups including …

Continue reading ‘New report accuses Ex- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa of tampering with police records in order to hamper investigations into mass graves discovered in Matale where he was a military officer during Marxist insurrection in 1989’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga recently raised a pertinent question on Twitter about Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven.Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera and others of his ilk. She asked in her tweet why no action had ever been taken against Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera and others who had insulted other religions practised …

Continue reading ‘Gnanasara Thero , Bodu Bala Sena and the June 2014 Anti- Muslim Violence in Aluthgama -Beruwala.’ »