by Mala Hewavitarne Weerasekera It is opportune at this moment that a true understanding of the Anagarika and his message to the people is properly conveyed. His clarion call to the Sinhala People is in grave danger of being misinterpreted and misused by elements who are out to cause religious and racial disharmony. First, let …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Way back in 1963, Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, was hailed by the China media as the ‘Angel of Peace’ when she carried with her a set proposals to prevent a possible Indo-China war. While in China she signed the maritime agreement. Her proposals to prevent an Indo-China war was severely criticized …
By Vishwamithra 1984 An Open letter to the Uva voter- “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” ~T. S. Eliot In a column, dated July 26, 2011, published in a worldwide website this writer, under a different pseudonym wrote thus: “A people battered for more …
By G.A.D.Sirimal At the ceremonial opening of the Bellanwila Development Project, by President Mahinda Rjapaksa, it was magnanimous on the part of the Chief Incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya Bellanwila Wimalarathana, to pay a glorious compliment to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development Authority for successfully completing the project which …
By N Sathiya Moorthy The joint statement issued at the end of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo, praises internal mechanisms in Sri Lanka, in terms of ethnic reconciliation and accountability issues. PM Abe in particular underscored the need for continuing the dialogue among political stake-holders in Sri Lanka, …
By Dr.Sanjiva Wijesinha (Text of the eulogy delivered at the service of Celebration of the life of former Ombudsman and Parliament Secretary -General Mr.Sam Wijesinha on 9th September 2014 by his son Dr. Sanjiva Wijesinha) Sam Wijesinha: 27 June 1921 – 31 August 2014 Sam Wijesinha Your presence here today – and the many letters, …
By Franklin R. Satyapalan Northern Province Governor, Major General (Retd) G. A. Chandrasiri has advised the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) to spend Rs. 1.38 billion already allocated by the government for projects beneficial to the people in the region. Finance and Planning Ministry Secretary, Dr. P. B. Jayasundara who was in Jaffna last Friday met …
By Gamini Seneviratne `It’s been a long time. Now, at last, the celebrated home-grown stage plays of half a century ago, all out of print, have been published in a single volume. Ralahamy Rides Again, the title of this book, was the last of the plays written and produced by H C N de Lanerolle …
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was plunged into chaos this week with heated exchanges between the most senior officials in the sport who are now threatening to rip SLC apart at a very crucial time, according to highly placed sources at SLC headquarters. SLC President Jayantha Dharmadasa slammed Vice President Mohan De Silva in an official …
By Faizer Shaheid Moneragala has become the cynosure of all eyes ever since nominations for the upcoming Uva Provincial Council Elections concluded on 6 August, and then, all hell broke loose with election related violence erupting exponentially. By 11 September, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) reported a total of 259 election law violations …
by Shamindra Ferdinando Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday alleged that the majority of resolutions adopted at the 15th National Convention of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) held in Vavuniya recently were meant to cause fresh political turmoil. Therefore, a tangible campaign was necessary to neutralise the ITAK’s threat , he said. The ITAK is …
By Vishwamithra 1984 “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” ~Edmund Burke With Sajith Premadasa getting on board the platform of the United National Party at the Uva PC election campaign, there were huge a sighs of relief, some from …
Sri Lankan-born Rajan Anandan, the Head of Google India, has been ranked as India’s Top Multi National Corporation (MNC) Chief Executive Officer. Rajan is the son of endurance swimmer and multi-Guinness record holder, the late Kumar Anandan, and Manel Anandan (nee Samaraweera). He is an MIT and Stanford alumni, and previously worked for McKinsey, Microsoft …
Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa faces the twin challenges of external pressure for an international probe into allegations of war crimes and internal pressure over the dialogue process with the Tamil National Alliance. In his first interview since meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May, he spoke to Suhasini Haidar about the UNHRC resolution and …
By Dharisha Bastians When the Sri Lankan Government pins its hopes too dearly on a particular thing, it is almost a certainty that disappointment, disillusionment and bitter resentment are soon to follow. Major expectations were placed on Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, mere mortal and new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, successor to Navi …
By Vishwamithra 1984 “Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.” ~Francois de La Rochefoucauld Jathika Hela Urumaya seems to have awakened from their deep slumber. All of a sudden they seem to perceive only the negatives of the incumbent regime of which they are still an integral part. For eleven long years, they have …
By K.S.Sivakumaran Thanks to the Directors Guild for Lankan Cinema, we now have an opportunity to see international films of artistic quality in our own city. They deserve to be congratulated. Although I had problems in entering the theatres as a Press Pass holder, I managed to see a few films. Two films could not …
By Upul Joseph Fernando Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visited Japan much before the Japanese Premier, Shinzo Abe came to Sri Lanka. Modi and Abe centred their discussions on the Chinese expansion in Asia. Had Sri Lankan affairs surfaced during those talks, it would certainly have been India’s fear on the pattern China was flexing …
By Neil Irwin If you had told someone in 2012 that in just two years hence, the eurozone would remain bonded together but the United Kingdom might not, they would have thought you insane. But here we are. It’s been a good three centuries, but now Scotland may want out of the United Kingdom. The …
by M.Sarita Varma Even as all the bars in Kerala get ready to shut down from September 12, there is a fear that the hospitality business in the neighbouring Sri Lanka is getting ready to steal a march over Kerala’s Rs 22,000-crore tourism business. The new liquor policy that is guiding the state towards total …
By Ravinatha P.Aryasinha (Full Text of Statement by H.E. Mr. Ravinatha P. Aryasinha Ambassador / Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka and Leader of the Sri Lanka Delegation at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 8th 2014) Mr. President, Mr. High Commissioner, 1. Sri Lanka associates itself with the statements delivered by Iran …
(Press Release issued by the TNA Media office providing text of Fifteen Resolutions passed at the 15th National Convention of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi held at Vavuniya on 5, 6, 7 September 2014) Resolution 1 The 15th National Convention of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi which met in Vauniya on 5, 6, 7 September …
By K. Thirukumaran Ammah: Since god cannot be everywhere, Everyone here has this most selfless person in her or his own lives. Her passing is irreplaceable and all the more difficult to bear when she had not thought of seeing this day so soon a mere few weeks ago. She borne the 4 of us …
by N Sathiya Moorthy. The BJP’s new Tamil Nadu president, Dr Tamizhisai Soundararajan, a medical doctor whose septuagenarian father, Kumari Anandan, was a TN Congress chief and continues to be a loyal party leader, is the ‘most wanted woman’ in Amma’s Tamil Nadu. Barring the Congress and the communist rivals in national politics, almost every …
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj 71 Year old Somasundaram Senathirajah popularly known as “Maavai” Senathirajah was unanimously elected as the President of the premier Tamil political party the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) at the party convention held in Vavuniya today (September 6 2014). Senathirajah who was earlier the General secretary of the ITAK replaces veteran Trincomalee district …
BY FAIZER SHAHEID Anger and frustration surrounding war crimes allegations has haunted many a man, but it never went to the extent of self-immolation as done by former military Staff Sergeant T.V. Piyasena. Known to be a man of deep patriotism, Staff Sergeant T.V. Piyasena, 72 years of age at the time of his demise, …
BY SULOCHANA RAMIAH MOHAN In Tamil Nadu, anything that is pro Sri Lankan stirs up the four major student bodies –Maatram Maanavar Ilaiyor Iyakkam, Free Tamil Eelam Students Organization, Tamil Youth and Students Association and Progressive Students Front. Kaththi and Pulipaarvai and Lanka links According to Indian media, Kaththi is running into a major storm …
By N Sathiya Moorthy Now that there are budding hopes to the possible revival of political discussions between the Government/SLFP and the TNA, for finding a negotiated settlement to devolution-driven ethnic issue, both sides need to re-visit the past and ensure that they do not commit the same old mistakes all over again. It does …
After weeks of hemming and hawing, Sajith Premadasa will now become the Deputy Leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP). Their leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told a largely attended 63rd anniversary rally of the party in Passara that he would give prominence to Sajith Premadasa when appointing a Deputy Leader. He said that he …
by Shirley. W. Somanader Travel before the trains A measure of the efficiency of communication between a place and the outside world is the ease of accessibility to the Capital city. In terms of this measure, the isolation of the Batticaloa district, as late as the first quarter of the Twentieth century is expressed, by …
Continue reading ‘“When the Trains First came to Batticaloa”- A page from Eastern Railway History’ »
by Bradman Weerakoon Neville Jayaweera’s Memoir on his period of service as Government Agent Jaffna between August 1963 and 1966 is as Michael Roberts says in his Foreword a veritable feast of information to be mined. This was a defining phase of our history. It saw the Tamil resentment in the North on account of …
By Somapala Gunadheera Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva has argued in last Sunday’s Island, that despite the implementation of the 18th amendment, President Rajapaksa became constitutionally disqualified to seek a third term on the very day he was elected for a second term. Justice Silva’s argument is, the day President Rajapaksa was elected for …
by Rajan Philips The week belonged to BalaTampoe, to the honouring of one of Lanka’s most unique post-independence personas, who passed away on September 1, which ironically is Labour Day in some western countries that do not celebrate May Day because of its revolutionary connotations. On May Day this year, Mr. Tampoe was photographed taking …
By Waruni Karunarathne The Sri Lankan government was expecting the new BJP government to respond positively towards Sri Lanka government’s policies, especially towards Tamil national issue of the country. However, the recent statement of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka has clouded …
By Fathima Razik The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka which led to the creation of provincial councils as well as making Sinhala and Tamil as official languages with English as the link language was passed in parliament on 14 November 1987. Since then, this amendment has been a vexed issue with its …
by Meera Srinivasan Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran should take the permission of the Governor before leaving for New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet spokesperson said here on Thursday.
By Asoka Handagama Sri Lanka is a part of the world and the world a part of Sri Lanka. (Speech made by Asoka Handagama , Director of the International Film Festival of Colombo at the opening ceremony) Good evening ladies and gentleman. We are gathered here to witness a pivotal moment in the history of …
Obituary: Joan Rivers, born June 8 1933, died September 4 2014 Joan Rivers, who has died aged 81, was best known for her acerbic, backbiting humour. Tiny and sharp-boned with candyfloss blonde hair and talon-like fingernails, she started her routines with her catchphrase “Can we talk?” and maintained that she only asked “the questions that …
By Michael Carlson The quintessential acerbic Noo Yawker, the comedian Joan Rivers, who has died aged 81, was identified by the rasping, fingernails-on-the-blackboard voice, which added a frisson to her signature phrase, “Can we talk?” As she aged, her face and her countless cosmetic operations became another trademark, but her cutting wit, often aimed at …
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN NEW DELHI, September 4: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Chairman of the ruling party’s national strategic committee Dr Subramanian Swamy says the mechanised fishing boats seized by the Sri Lankan Navy from Tamil Nadu fishermen actually belong to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) …
By Chamitha Kuruppu The National Freedom Front used the upcoming election to get its 12 demands implemented by the Government, says Party Leader Wimal Weerawansa. Minister Weerawansa, who threatened to pull out of the Government, now claims his party will continue to work with the Rajapaksa regime as it has agreed to implement the NFF’s …
By Dr.Henry Kissinger Libya is in civil war, fundamentalist armies are building a self-declared caliphate across Syria and Iraq and Afghanistan’s young democracy is on the verge of paralysis. To these troubles are added a resurgence of tensions with Russia and a relationship with China divided between pledges of cooperation and public recrimination. The concept …
By Izeth Hussain 85TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF MERVYN DE SILVA – SEPT 5TH Mervyn de Silva was the quintessential Sri Lankan journalist of our time. As such he deserves something more than the usual obituary tributes. Perhaps a monograph, perhaps in the course of time a book, but in any case an examination of what …
Continue reading ‘An Intellectual of The Highest Calibre, A Fine Moral Intelligence’ »
BY SAM RAJAPPA There has been a reset in India’s Sri Lanka policy which is at variance with what Narendra Modi and Sushma Swaraj had stated in public in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Addressing an election rally in Chennai on 13 April and another in Ramanathapuram on 17 April, Modi said …
The prestigious US newspaper “The New York Times”carried an Editorial under the heading”sri Lanka’s Intransigience”on August 23rd 2014.Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Washington,Mr.Prasad Kariyawasam responded to it by writing to the newspaper on August 26th 2014 complaining that there were “insensitive assertions about my country” in the editorial. This was published by the NYT on September …
By Vishwamithra 1984 “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” ~ Muhammad Ali When liberal values are under attack, the first to react to the attack almost always happens to be the …
Continue reading ‘Artistes and Intellectuals Against the Rajapaksa Regime……..ARE THEY FOR REAL?’ »
BY PRASAD GUNEWARDENE Three decades ago when I was assigned to cover the trade union rounds with my colleague D. B. S. Jeyaraj for ‘The island’ newspaper, by the then Editor, Gamini Weerakoon, we both were in regular contact with trade union leaders like BalaTampoe, Alavi Moulana, Sirinal De Mel and Gamini Lokuge to name …
By Tissa Devendra (Sam Wijesinha ,Former Secretary General of Parliament and Ombudsman passed away at the age of 93 on Aug 31st in Colombo.An address by distinguished civil servant Tissa Devendra on the occasion of a book on Mr. Wijesinha being released when he turned 90 is published here as tribute) Hon. Prime Minister, Mr. …
by Maheen Senanayake Given a platform to mark his 65th year of service to the CMU, veteran trade unionist Bala Tampoe of Friday used the no frills occasion to trace the progress of the union rather than his own. “Most decisively it was in 1922, the year in which I was born, just four years …
Moneragala ‘ninja’ attackers move to Wellawaya – 4UNP offices and 5 JVP offices destroyed Where are the high powered police motorbikes? – Road blocks still not in place Nine election offices of opposition political parties have been attacked in Wellawaya and Moneragala between August 29 and 30. Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) observes …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Former EPDP MP, Dr. K. Vigneswaran on Friday (Aug 29) alleged that LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran had facilitated the then Premier, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s victory at the Nov. 17, 2005 presidential election as he believed the new president would create a situation conducive for him to speedily achieve Eelam. One-time Chief Secretary of …
Former Secretary General of Parliament and Ombudsman Sam Wijesinha passed away at the age of 93 last evening (Aug 31st) in Colombo.He also served as Chairman of the Human Task Force and the Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka. Sam Wijesinha had a distinguished record of public service in a career spanning more …
By Kelum Bandara While saying that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution provided the unit of devolution, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran in an interview with the “Daily Mirror” said that the TNA rejected the 13A as it was fundamentally flawed citing External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris. However, he said that the …
By N Sathiya Moorthy If the Indian position on Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue under the post-poll Narendra Modi leadership has deviated from those of predecessor governments, including the immediate-past Manmohan Singh dispensation, it is here. Or, so would it seem. “The Prime Minister urged all stake-holders in Sri Lanka to engage constructively, in a spirit …
By C.A.Chandraprema Sri Lanka must be the country with the silliest election laws on the planet. This is a country that got universal suffrage in 1931 just three years after the British public won the same privilege and from that time onward, elections to various levels of government have been a part of life in …
By Ananth Palakidnar Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian and senior Tamil politician “Mavai” Somasundaram Senathirajah, who is expected to succeed R. Sampanthan, as the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) leader, at the Party’s annual general meeting this week in Vavuniya, speaks to Ceylon Today on the TNA’s recent talks with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra …
The advent of the Modi Government in New Delhi and its UPFA counterpart’s initiatives in Colombo to shore up relations leave much to be desired. The most visible and much publicised exercise was a seminar in Colombo by the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies. The organisers described it as “track two diplomacy.” BJP parliamentarian, Subramanian …
Three TNA delegation memebers — Mavai Senathirajah, Pon Selvarajah and Selvan Adaikkalanathan — returned to Colombo while others proceeded to Chennai. Adaikkalanathan thereafter returned to Chennai to join the others. Senathirajah, currently General Secretary, is tipped to become leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK). They are the principal partner in the TNA and …
A precursor to the TNA meeting with Narendra Modi was significan event of the Tamil National Alliance meeting with former Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh. After arriving in New Delhi on August 21, Sampanthan and his delegation called on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his private residence. Singh declared that he was deeply touched …
Indian Premier Narendra Modi has urged the TNA to begin a direct dialogue with the Government. He was reiterating India’s earlier call that the Government should have a blateral dialogue. India has concurred with the TNA’s position in not taking part in the Parliamentary Select Committee. The earlier request was made in the days after …
A few hundred metres away from one of New Delhi’s best known addresses – No 7, Race Course Road – security men stopped a three-vehicle convoy. The occupants were told to alight and board three other vehicles for the rest of their journey. It was to the official residence of the Prime Minister of India. …
By Kalana Senaratne There was a time, especially during the latter half of his stint as Chief Justice, when one felt that anything was possible with Sarath N. Silva. For a brief moment, even his critics were confused; for some of his decisions began to irk the rulers quite severely. That shrewdest of all contemporary …
The United National Party is caught up in a fresh dilemma with Sajith Premadasa, who is likely to be appointed as the Deputy Leader of the party soon, proposing to abolish the Leadership Council of the party. Premadasa has also demanded that 10 members, nominated by him, should be appointed to the Working Committee of …
By Jean-Pierre Page (Contributive Presentation at the Marga Colloquium on “Issues of Truth and Accountability Narration III-The Last Stage of the War in Sri Lanka” at BMICH Colombo on August 29th 2014) I would like to share with you a few ideas in relation to the 3rd narrative of the last stage of the war …
By Emma Partridge A woman appeared agitated and concerned as she left the foyer of a Sydney unit block just 12 hours before her body was found in a Sydney creek on Wednesday morning. Homicide detectives and local police are trying to establish whether Amesha Rajapakse’s death is suspicious after the 31-year-old’s body was found …
By N Sathiya Moorthy It seems that the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham doesn’t learn from its mistakes. Following their crushing loss in the 2014 elections, party cadres and sympathisers thought things would change. However, it doesn’t appear to be. The party seems determined to continue on this ‘self-destructive’ mode. Despite drawing a huge blank in the …
By Vangeesa Sumanasekara It is possible that one may find my title to be exaggerated: this is not the first time that we are hearing the words ‘international film festival’ in a Sri Lankan context. Over the years, we have had many events of this nature where films made by non-Sri Lankans were shown together. …
Continue reading ‘Colombo International Film Festival: Six Days That Would Change Your World’ »
AT FIRST glance, Niromi de Soyza* is just like any other mum you might meet, one who juggles the school run with running a household in an affluent area of North Sydney. But behind this peaceful suburban life lies an extraordinary story of AK-47s, cyanide capsules and death, fighting alongside rebel soldiers in the jungles …
BY PAOLO AFFATATO ROME-In his trip to Sri Lanka, that will take place between the 13th and the 15th of January 2015, before proceeding to the Philippines, Pope Francis will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu and will thus be the first Pope in history to set foot in a territory where most …
by Upul Joseph Fernando Mahinda’s sudden visit to Houston in America has stirred the curiosity of many Sri Lankan watchers of the developing political scene. In January 2011 also Mahinda went on an unscheduled visit to Houston quite suddenly raising a whole host of speculations. To an inquisitive media the government sources at the time …
Continue reading ‘Mystery of Sudden Visit by Mahinda Rajapaksa to Houston,USA.’ »
by Upul Joseph Fernando Political analysts are intrigued by what Mahinda is studying with much interest these days. It is, without a doubt, reports submitted to him by his political intelligence sources, in particular about the political leaders who attended Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera’s latest and much publicized meetings. He must be wondering who, among …
By Dharisha Bastians Observing what he called a ‘slowdown’ of development activities in the north, powerful Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday called on the Northern Provincial Council to cooperate with his Ministry to push the process forward. Minister Rajapaksa said that his understanding was that the Northern Provincial Council was not very interested in …
by Susitha R.Fernando While the question whether President Mahinda Rajapaksa could contest the Presidency for the 3rd term has become a hotly debated argument in legal and political circles, former Chief Justice and Constitutional expert, Sarath N. Silva says that President Rajapaksa has no right to contest the next Presidential Election. Describing why the 18th …
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said today it was ready to resume talks with the Government in search of a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis based on power devolution within a united Sri Lanka. TNA parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran told a news conference that it did not have a hidden agenda and said it was strongly …
By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) activist and Attorney Nimalka Fernando has complained to the Fort police seeking an inquiry against a poster campaign by unknown persons indicating that puppies were to be sold, giving her contact number in the posters. Ms. Fernando had told police that the posters had emerged outside the Colombo …
The foundation stone of the project to renovate the Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna was laid by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage and High Commissioner of India Y.K. Sinha at a ceremony yesterday (27). Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri, Northern …
A post-war milestone was achieved yesterday when the first investment zone in the north, the Atchchuvely Industrial Estate, was opened by Economic Minister Basil Rajapaksa. The Industrial Estate is expected to attract potential investors, from within and outside Sri Lanka, by providing suitable infrastructure and amenities. The main focus will be setting up eight ventures …
By Dharisha Bastians Subramanian Swamy is the new celebrity in Sri Lanka. In the capital, he travels in tinted jeeps with a security detail, presumably because he has been a vocal critic of the LTTE. Swamy is mobbed by reporters eager to hear his views on Indo-Lanka relations and the Tamil issue. He is afforded …
By Malinda Seneviratne The faith of South Asian people in dynastic rule is astounding considering all the braggadocio about democratic traditions. There have been the odd ‘outsider’ of course but by and large the political stories of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and as of late the Maldives have been about fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, …
By Meera Srinivasan After over two decades of remaining shut over Sri Lanka’s civil war, a once-thriving industrial zone near Jaffna is abuzz with activity yet again. The Atchchuvely Industrial Estate, which India has helped revive with a Rs.10 crore investment, seems to have raised expectations among locals who have returned to their village after …
BY RUWAN LAKNATH JAYAKODY The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday demanded IGP N.K. Illangakoon to act promptly and disarm hoodlums deployed by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), and institute legal action against those goons, presently running amok and threatening the conduct of a free and fair election in Uva. The government is deploying thugs …
By N Sathiya Moorthy After visualising India as the ‘net-provider’ of security in and for South Asia, as then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had mentioned, the nation may now face the dilemma of defining and designing it to the satisfaction of its neighbours. It’s not without reason, cause or worry, either. The expectations from individual …
BY Ruwan Laknath Jayakody The pot does sometimes call the kettle black. In this peculiar case against non-governmental organizations (NGOs) it has something that is more deep and debatable. Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. P.B. Jayasundara delivering the keynote address at the recently concluded 2014 Defence Seminar on 18 August to delegates and defence attaches …
By Meera Srinivasan The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has sought India’s help in the return of Sri Lankan refugees from India. “There are over one lakh refugees in Tamil Nadu living in 115 camps. We have requested the Indian government to pressure the Sri Lankan government to release their [refugees’] land in the north which …
CHENNAI: The Tamil Eelam Supporters Organization (Teso), headed by DMK chief M Karunanidhi, on Tuesday lauded the Narendra Modi-led NDA government’s efforts to find a political solution for the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and urged the Centre to expedite steps in that direction. “It’s heartening to know that the Modi government has taken an interest …
By Vishwamithra 1984 “Undermine their pompous authority, reject their moral standards, make anarchy and disorder your trademarks. Cause as much chaos and disruption as possible but don’t let them take you ALIVE.” ~Sid Vicious Chaos, they say, is order undeciphered. Such undeciphered order is what is prevalent in Sri Lanka. All attempts by any quarter …
Continue reading ‘Demons of the 18th Amendment are devouring body and soul of Sri Lanka’ »
PTI- A two-day-long Dharma Sansad (religious conclave) convened by the Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati of Dwarka Peeth on Monday passed a resolution that Sai Baba, the 19th century saint of Shirdi, should not be worshipped as a deity by the followers of “Sanatan Dharma”. “Kashi Vidvat Parishad has taken a decision that Sai Baba was …
By Meera Srinivasan While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on devolution of political rights to Tamils is welcome, a solution has to come ultimately from within Sri Lanka, Tamil politician and Cabinet Minister Douglas Devananda said here on Monday. He was referring to Mr. Modi’s statement at a recent meeting with Tamil National Alliance (TNA) …
By N Sathiya Moorthy The West has lately been miffed that the Sri Lankan Government should be resisting the UNHRC probe just for the sake of it. Worse critics, some even nearer home, attribute it to apprehensions of personal vilification at the hands of the probe, and political and personal consequences for some. The truth …
By Niranjala Ariyawansha JVP leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake in an interview with Ceylon Today,giving reasons for the exit of former JVP firebrand Wimal Weerawansa from the party said, “In Weerawansa’s case, he gave party internal information to the enemy, and did not maintain the minimal discipline needed by a party stalwart and disregarded party decisions. …
By Indika Sri Aravinda Former Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva said today there were provisions to take legal action against the Elections Commissioner if he makes arrangements to hold the presidential election before November 19, 2016. He said if this was to happen he would intervene by petitioning the Supreme Court against the Elections Commissioner. …
BY BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE Richard Attenborough, a distinguished stage and film actor in Britain who reinvented himself to become the internationally admired director of the epic “Gandhi” and other films, died on Sunday. He was 90. His death was confirmed by his son, Michael, according to the BBC. Mahatma Gandhi travels across India ♫ in Gandhi …
By Rathindra Kuruwita Eleven election offices of the Opposition Political Parties, including four of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), were attacked on Saturday night and early yesterday in the Moneragala District. Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) said Saturday had been one of the most tense days in the recent election campaign and supporters …
BY Ruwan Laknath Jayakody In the run up to the 20 September Uva Provincial Council polls, incidents of violence and violation of election laws have rapidly increased in the Province, police and election monitors claim. The Network for Election Monitoring – Intellectuals for Human Rights (NEM-IHR), Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and People’s …
Last Saturday, the President had been up in Nuwara Eliya for the 125th anniversary of the Golf Club. There he had wowed members, society ladies, caddies and cooks alike and when asked to swing a wooden driver to hit the golf ball across the range, he turned to old friend and one time Nuwara Eliya …
By C.A.Chandraprema Last week the Irida Lankadeepa published an interview with the former Chief Justice Sarath Silva where he had argued that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was disqualified from contesting a third time. It was a ruling given by Silva in 2005 that sent Chandrika Kumaratunga home one year before she thought she was due to …
Revelations in the Sunday Times in the past two weeks have prompted a review of mandatory information forwarded to the US Department of Justice by public relations (PR) and lobbying firms assigned by Sri Lanka using vast sums of public money. The FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) Unit of the US Justice Department said it …
By Chris Kamalendran The Northern Provincial Council has sought Treasury approval to operate a ‘Chief Minister’s Fund’ despite objections by the Governor, a spokesman for the Chief Minister’s office said. The Council had granted approval for the establishment of the fund which hopes to attract aid from foreign donors and well-wishers. Similar funds have been …
By S. Rubatheesan Fisheries minister Rajitha Senaratna yesterday rejected a call to allow Indian fishermen to fish in Sri Lankan waters on a permit system for three years. He was responding to a call by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader Subramanian Swamy who made the suggestion at a seminar organised by the Defence Ministry …
By N Sathiya Moorthy Despite claims to the contrary by the SLFP leader of the ruling UPFA the controversy over the need and demand for abolishing/down-sizing Executive Presidency has refused to die. The latest to join issue, if it could be dubbed so, are two partners in the UPFA, as has been the case in …
By Arthur Wamanan Chairman of the Bharathiya Janatha Party Committee on Strategic Action and former Union Minister of the Government of India Dr. Subramanian Swamy is confident that Tamil Nadu would soften its stance on Sri Lanka with regard to its concerns on human rights issues. Speaking to The Nation during the Defense Seminar held …
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, yesterday urged all Sri Lankan stakeholders to engage constructively, in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation, towards finding a political solution that builds upon the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan Constitution. The Prime Minister met the six-member TNA delegation, led by MP R. Sampanthan, …
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday urged Sri Lanka to ensure “equality, dignity, justice and self-respect” for its Tamil minority. Modi made the appeal when a six-member delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Sri Lanka’s main Tamil political party, called on him. “The prime minister stressed the need for a political solution that …
by Thulasi Muttulingam Time and tide, they say, wait for no man. Now though, through the intervention of an infrastructure project funded by the European Union to help fishermen, tides have been taken out of the equation. The Palk bay, running along the coast of Mannar, is known to many for various reasons, not the …
By P K Balachandran COLOMBO: In a paper published in the latest issue of the US Defence Department’s journal “Prism”, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has reiterated his belief that Islamic terrorism poses a threat to the island nation. Since the LTTE’s defeat, some of the Muslim groups in Lanka have begun to engage …
By Devirupa Mitra NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told a visiting delegation of Sri Lankan Tamil Members of Parliament on Friday that New Delhi continues to look at the 13th amendment as the framework for a political solution in the island nation. This was the first engagement of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) …
By Shamindra Ferdinando Democratic Party Leader and former Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka insists that he has no faith in coalitions meant to achieve short term projects such as consensus on a common presidential candidate to face incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the next presidential election. Asked to comment on a recent statement attributed …
India was keen on engaging with the Sri Lankan government and all political parties to help with the ongoing reconciliation process in the island nation. This was conveyed to a visiting Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday, signalling broad continuity of the Sri Lankan policy adopted by the …
by J. Yogaraj Sometimes those who are elected by the people forget their basic obligations. When you take things personally, you may not think about the public service. Most politicians face two major challenges. 1. Winning the election, 2. Keeping the promises given in the election manifesto. The Chief Minister of the Northern Province is …
By Chamitha Kuruppu The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) claims the Opposition is still not prepared to put forward a common presidential candidate, despite speculation. TNA Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran asserted that although a common presidential candidate will be the only way out of the present situation, there is lack of seriousness in the talks about the …
By SHIV VISVANATHAN Often I feel angry with death and the Gods. They take away the best in a way that leaves me inconsolable. I feel helpless not just because of the pain of missing them but because my world shrinks, my map of friendship collapses into empty outlines. This happened when my friend the …
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