By Ranga Jayasuriya The French experience at the concluded election offers an important lesson of political commonsense and the bare minimum of altruism for the common good Early this week, with the far-right knocking at the gates of government power, France pulled off a miraculous comeback to defend the Fifth Republic. After the far-right and …

Continue reading ‘The SJB and UNP should join ranks and field a unified candidate. That ideally should be Ranil Wickremesinghe, given his proven track record during the last two years. That might even make Sajith Premadasa the prime minister of the next government.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Veteran Tamil political leader and senior Trincomalee district MP,Rajavarothayam Sampanthan passed away peacefully in Colombo on 30 June 2024. The nonagenarian Sampanthan who had been ailing for some time was listening after dinner to an audio tape of “Kanthasashti Kavasam”verses sung by the Soolaman Sisters Rajalakshmi and Jeyalakshmi when he collapsed with a …

Continue reading ‘Political Journey of Tamil “Perunthalaiver” (Great Leader) Rajavarothayam Sampanthan.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் முதுபெரும் தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவரும் திருகோணமலை மாவட்டத்தின் நீண்டகால பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினருமான இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தன் 2024 ஜூன் 30 கொழும்பில் அமைதியாக இயற்கை எய்தினார். 90 வயதைக் கடந்த அவர் அண்மைக்காலமாக சுகவீனமுற்றிருந்தார். இராப்போசனத்துக்கு பிறகு சூலமங்கலம் சகோதரிகள் இராஜலக்சுமியும் ஜெயலக்சுமியும் பாடிய ‘ கந்தசஷ்டி கவசம் ‘ பக்திப்பாடலை ஒலிநாடாவில் கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்தபோது ஒரு வேதனை முனகலுடன் சம்பந்தன் நிலைகுலைந்தார். உடனடியாக லங்கா வைத்தியசாலைக்கு கூட்டிச்செல்லப்பட்ட அவர் அங்கு இரவு 11 மணியளவில் தனது …

Continue reading ‘“பெருந்தலைவர்’ இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தனின் அரசியல் பயணம்’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister on 12 May 2022 by the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka was in the grip of a debilitating economic crisis then. The “Aragalaya”(struggle) protest movement was raging. The new premier addressed the nation through a special statement on 16 May 2022. In that Wickremesinghe referred to …

Continue reading ‘Will the Economic “Good News” From Paris and Beijing Help Ranil Win the 2024 Presidential Poll in Sri Lanka?’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க 2022 மே 12 ஆம் திகதி அன்றைய ஜனாதிபதி கோட்டாபய ராஜபக்சவினால் பிரதமராக நியமிக்கப்பட்டார். அப்போது இலங்கை படுமோசமான பொருளாதார நெருக்கடியில் சிக்கியிருந்தது.’ அறகலய போராட்டம் தீவிரமடைந்து கொண்டிருந்தது. புதிய பிரதமர் 2022 மே 16 ஆம் திகதி நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு விசேட உரையொன்றை ஆற்றினார். அந்த உரையில் விக்கிரமசிங்க ஜேர்மன் நாடகாசிரியர் பேரொல்ற் பிறெற்றின் ‘ கோகேசியன் ஷோக் சேர்க்கிள் ‘ ( Caucasian Chalk Circle) என்ற நாடகம் …

Continue reading ‘பொருளாதார ” நற்செய்தி ” 2024 தேர்தலில் ரணிலுக்கு உதவுமா?’ »

Full Text of Special statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on 2 July 2024) Honourable Speaker, Last week, we were able to achieve another significant milestone in the challenging journey of restoring economic stability to a country that defaulted on its debts in 2022. On June 26, we reached an agreement with our …

Continue reading ‘“My decisions are not driven by political power or popularity. They are made solely for the country’s benefit. Every decision has been aimed at national progress, not personal gain”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Special Statement to Parliament’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The night is an open book. But the world beyond the night remains a mystery.” – Louise Gluck (Before the Storm) Sri Lanka always ranks low in the World Happiness Index; 128 out of 148 in 2024 (we rank 48 in Global Militarisation Index though, and possess the 17th largest military in …

Continue reading ‘Bhikku politics is a key causative factor of the national malaise and no system-change for the better is possible if political monks continue to propose and dispose.’ »

(Text of Address Delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the “Victory through Unity” (Ekwa Jayagamu) Held at the Matara Fort Grounds on 30 June 2024) “I have safely brought the Titanic, entrusted to me, to port. While other captains fled from the iceberg, we faced a critical decision: sink or navigate to safety. Now that …

Continue reading ‘“We can no longer afford to revert to old politics. The choices we make today profoundly impact our future. Can we afford to return to the days of long queues and traditional politics? We must decisively choose our course.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Matara.’ »

Funeral Arrangements of Hon. R. Sampanthan M.P. Tamil National Alliance (T.N.A) MP Hon. R. Sampanthan’s mortal remains will Lie at the A.F. Raymonds funeral parlour for viewing from 9.00 a.m. today (02nd July 2024) till noon tomorrow (03rd July 2024). Thereafter his mortal remains will Lie in State in Parliament from 2.00 pm – 4.00 …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Tamil Political Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan’s Funeral to be held in Trincomalee on Sunday 7th July’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj India, the world’s biggest democracy, held Parliamentary elections this year in seven phases from 19 April to 1 June. 642 million persons voted in the poll. Results were announced on 4 June. The incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi was re-elected PM for the third time. His party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won …

Continue reading ‘Ranasinghe Premadasa: Sri Lanka’s Solitary non-Govigama Prime Minister and President’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Veteran Sri Lankan Tamil leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, who dedicated his political life to pursuing a just solution to the island nation’s Tamil question, passed away in Colombo late on Sunday. He was 91. Mr. Sampanthan, of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), was a sitting MP from the eastern Trincomalee district, and …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Sri Lankan Tamil Political leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan passes away in Colombo at the age of 91. He dedicated his political life to pursuing a just solution to Sri Lanka’s Tamil question’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Sri Lankan Tamil politics has become more complicated due to contradictions among Tamil political parties regarding what position northern and eastern Tamils should take in the upcoming Presidential Election. It makes no sense to expect Tamil parties to be inclined to act unitedly or to come to a unified position to find …

Continue reading ‘Do the Tamil Critics of the 13th Constitutional Amendment have the Political Strength to Force a Future Govt to Introduce a Devolution Scheme better than what is Available in the Provincial Councils?’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja sentenced Hirunika Premachandra to three years imprisonment after she was found guilty of 18 counts, including conspiring and aiding in the abduction of the victim, threatening, assaulting, and intimidating victim Amila Priyankara after the abduction in Dematagoda. Hirunika Premachandra is the ninth accused in the case, …

Continue reading ‘Colombo High Court Finds Hirunika Premachandra Guilty of 18 Charges Including the Abduction, Assault and Intimidation of a Youth at Dematagoda in 2015 and Sentences Former Colombo MP to 3 Years Rigorous Imprisonment ;Will Seek Bail on Monday says her Lawyer’ »

(Text of special statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on 26 June 2024) Today marks a significant milestone in the recent history of our country, a special juncture reflecting the hard work and dedication of our efforts. Our country is now reaping the positive results of our persistent endeavours over the past years. This morning …

Continue reading ‘“The people must determine whether to move forward with me, as I truly comprehend the challenges facing the country, provide practical solutions, and demonstrate tangible results, or align with groups that have yet to grasp the issues and are blindly seeking power” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

(Textr of Press Release issued by the President’s Media Division on 26 June 2024) In a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s economic revitalization efforts, the nation has successfully finalized comprehensive debt restructuring agreements with key bilateral creditors. On June 26, 2024, Sri Lanka concluded negotiations with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) and China Exim Bank, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Finalizes Comprehensive Debt Re-structuring Agreements with the Official Creditor Committee Co-chaired by France,Japan and India and China Exim Bank to the Combined Value of US $ 10 Billion.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan and R.Rajaram A sailor from the Sri Lankan Navy was killed in an operation targeting Indian fishermen and their fishing vessel in the early hours of Tuesday, June 25, 2024, according to Sri Lankan authorities. As many as 10 Indian fishermen, seven from Nagapattinam, one from Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and two …

Continue reading ‘Indian Fishermen Poaching in Sri Lankan Waters “Aggressively Resist”Arresr and Seizure of Trawler by Lankan Navy; Sailor from Navy Special Boat Squadron Injured in Clash dies in Jaffna Hospital’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Captain Blood:His Odyssey”was an Adventure novel authored by well-known writer Rafael Sabatini in 1922. Sabatini had a flair for creating fictional characters set against the backdrop of true,historical events.This blend of fiction and fact was received well by readers, The Captain Blood novel became a best-seller then. The basic story line was …

Continue reading ‘The Tamil Doctor who Gave Medical Aid to Injured Tigers.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekera “All theory is grey… But forever green is the tree of life. Goethe (Faust) For three months in late 1990’s, American author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich lived the life of a low-wage worker. She wanted to discover, first hand, how President Bill Clinton’s welfare reforms were impacting on the lives of …

Continue reading ‘President Ranasinghe Premadasa Belived that asting unity – be it national or social – could be built only by effecting tangible improvements in the living-conditions of all the poor, Sinhala, Tamil, and Muslim.’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s call to Parliament that Special Determination 54-55/2024 on the Gender Equality Bill violates the powers of the House under Article 4 of the Constitution and that a Select Committee should be appointed to ‘look into it,’ is tantamount to gravely undermining the authority of the Supreme Court, …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe used the authority and the privilege of Parliament to accuse the Supreme Court of judicial cannibalism when the Special Determination in issue could have been soberly critiqued.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “We are accused of terrorismIf we dare to write about the remains of a homeland….About a homeland where birds are not allowed to sing…..About a homeland where writers must use invisible ink….” Nizar Qabbani (We are accused of terrorism) Had writer V.V. Ganeshananthan lived in Jaffna instead of New York, she would …

Continue reading ‘India’s Iconic Author Arundathie Roy is being charged with promoting terrorism under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Ms. Roy is being targeted both for who she is and as a message to those opponents and dissenters Against Narendra Modi’s BJP Regime’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “And one man in his time plays many parts” ,stated William Shakespeare in his play “As you like it”. The above mentioned observation by the Bard of Avon is quite appropriate in describing the life and work of Dr.Nissanka Wijeyeratne whose 100th birth anniversary was celebrated on June 14. Nissanka Parakrama Wijeyeratne …

Continue reading ‘Former Cabinet Minister Nissanka Wijeyeratne was a Versatile and Multi-Faceted Personality.’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday in Parliament raised a point of order that the Supreme Court determination on Gender Equality Bill violates the powers of the House and a Parliamentary select Committee must be appointed to look into the matter. Following are excerpts from the President’s statement in Parliament. “First and foremost the bill says, what …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Flays Supreme Court for Allegedly Engaging in “Judicial Cannibalism”; President says SC Ruling on Gender Equality Bill Violates Parliament’s powers and a Select Committee must be Appointed to Look into the Matter’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ” ஒரு மனிதன் தான் வாழும் காலத்தில் பல பாத்திரங்களை வகிக்கிறான்” என்று வில்லியம் சேக்ஸ்பியர் தனது ” நீங்கள் விரும்பிய வண்ணம் ” (As you like it ) என்ற நாடகத்தில் கூறினார். அவரது அந்த அவதானிப்பு கலாநிதி நிசங்க விஜேரத்னவின் வாழ்வையும் பணியையும் வர்ணிப்பதற்கு மிகவும் கச்சிதமாகப் பொருந்துகிறது. நிசங்க என்று பிரபல்யமாக அறியப்பட்ட நிசங்க பராக்கிரம விஜேரத்னவின் 100 வது பிறந்ததினம் ஜூன் 14 ஆம் திகதியாகும். ஒரு …

Continue reading ‘1961ம் ஆண்டு தமிழர் சத்தியாக்கிரகப் போராட்ட காலத்தில் அன்றைய யாழ்ப்பாண அரசாங்க அதிபர் நிசங்க விஜெயரத்ன‌வின் அனுபவங்கள்’ »

By Mimi Alphonsus and S. Rubatheesan For over a decade, an Australian company has tried to secure mining licences to extract heavy mineral sands from the ecologically rich region of Mannar Island—the fourth largest ilmenite deposit in the world—with little success. Renewed attempts to push the project further were met with protests by locals over …

Continue reading ‘Australian Titanium Sands Limited (TSL) Company’s Multi-billion Mineral Sands Extracting Project In Mannar Island Meets with Protests of People Due to Existential Concerns Over Environmental Consequences’ »

The Bishop of the Diocese of Mannar and three prominent environmentalists this week petitioned the Supreme Court in the public interest against the proposed 250 MW Mannar Wind Power Project by Adani Green Energy. Rev. Dr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando along with Rohan Pethiyagoda, Prof. Nimal Gunatilleke and Prof. Sarath Kotagama have challenged the procurement …

Continue reading ‘Mannar Catholic Bishop and Three Prominent Environmentalists Petition Supreme Court in the Public Interest against the proposed 250 MW Mannar Wind Power Project by Adani Green Energy.’ »

Stand up comedienne Nathasha Edirisooriya and SL VLOG Youtube channel owner Bruno Diwakara were released yesterday by the Fort Magistrates Court from the case filed against them under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act. The Police arrested Edirisooriya on 28 May 2023 for allegedly making controversial statements on Buddhism during her …

Continue reading ‘Stand up comedienne Nathasha Edirisooriya and SL VLOG Youtube channel owner Bruno Diwakara released by the Fort Magistrates Court from the case filed against them under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will arrive in Colombo on June 20, in his official first visit to a neighbouring country since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s coalition government assumed charge in India earlier this month. Confirming his Indian counterpart’s visit, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told The Hindu on …

Continue reading ‘Indian External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar to Visit Sri Lanka on 20 June “ to review progress in projects in various sectors such as renewable energy and connectivity” ;two cases filed in Lankan Supreme Court against $ 442-million wind energy project of Adani Green in North.’ »

(Text of Media Release issued by the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka on 14 June 2024) Sri Lanka is witnessing a positive transformation of electoral politics in relation to its long standing ethnic conflict that commenced with the economic collapse of 2022. The notion that the country required a “system change” was promoted by …

Continue reading ‘“The present time is opportune for a pledge to be taken together by the prospective candidates at the presidential election to support the implementation of the 13th Amendment and take forward the larger reconciliation process”- National Peace Council’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Although many amendments have been brought to the Sri Lankan Constitution during a period of more than four-and-a-half decades, which were detrimental to democratic governance, no major controversy has been raised against them. However, the 13th Amendment (13A), which has a relatively democratic dimension, has been in the Constitution for more than …

Continue reading ‘Will the current positions taken by Sajith Premadasa and Anura Dissanayake Regarding the 13th Amendment help bring about a positive change in the misconceptions among Sinhalese society about devolution of power?’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene The proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to grant a six months service extension to Sri Lanka’s Attorney General has put the hapless holder of that office in the centre of a vicious political whirlwind that further damages the already badly battered public reputation of the chief law officer of the …

Continue reading ‘The proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to grant a six months extension to Sri Lanka’s Attorney General has put the hapless holder of that office in the centre of a vicious political whirlwind’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s political stage was enlivened last week by the solo performance of United National Party (UNP) general -secretary Palitha Range Bandara. Addressing a media briefing on 28 May, the policeman turned politician came out with a suggestion that the presidential election due this year and the Parliamentary election scheduled for next year …

Continue reading ‘Range Bandara’s “Loud Thinking” about Election Postponement Damages Ranil’s Election Campaign in the Short Term.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The silence is a danger in itself” – Seamus Heaney (The Burial at Thebes) Ten years: that was how long three State institutions didn’t pay EPF and ETF monies to their retired and deceased employees. Most victims of this act of criminal injustice suffered and died in silence. A few (about 2,000) …

Continue reading ‘The Economic Transformation Bill offers imaginary solutions to real problems. The Bill is not a blueprint for efficiency but its antithesis.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan An international tribunal of former judges from the region said it was “horrified by the stark realities” of the lives of Sri Lanka’s tea and rubber plantation workers, after hearing testimonies from workers and trade unions. Hailing from the island nation’s Malaiyaha Tamil community, tens of thousands of workers are engaged in …

Continue reading ‘International Tribunal Comprising Three Former Judges from India,Nepal and Sri Lanka States it is “horrified by the stark realities” of the lives of Sri Lanka’s tea and rubber plantation workers,’ »

By Nirupama Subramanian Emphatic. An election result that throws up no outright winners would not be normally described as that. But this was no normal election. It was an election for the democratic heart and soul of India. And, in this sense, the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, which left the BJP with …

Continue reading ‘India voted emphatically for political, social, and economic inclusion, for a more consultative government, and for the sanctity of the Constitution.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Lord Buddha, elaborating on the notion of sorrow (dukkha) in the first sermon he delivered after attaining Enlightenment, observed that having to associate with those who are repugnant is sorrowful and being apart from those who are loved is also sorrowful — appiyehi sampayogo dukkho, piyehi vippayogo dukkho. So, we choose …

Continue reading ‘Dr Siri Kannangara was a rheumatologist, best known by Sri Lankans for the immense services he rendered in sports medicine.’ »

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa did not attend the scheduled televised debate with National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the Independent Television Network (ITN) last night (June 6). While Premadasa was absent, Dissanayake participated in the Thulawa political program, which was hosted by veteran broadcaster Sudarman Radaliyagoda. Earlier in the …

Continue reading ‘Sajith-Anura Televised Debate on ITN Fizzles out Due to SJB Leader Premadasa not Turning up at Studio;JVP leader AK Dissanayake Participates in ITN’s “Tulawa”Hosted by Sudarman Radaliyagoda Instead’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the President’s Media Division on 6 June 2024) President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated his new political office in Colombo today (06) at an auspicious moment. The office, located on Sir Ernest de Silva Mawatha, will serve as the center for future political operations.

By Kumudu Upul Shantha Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake issued an order, yesterday (5), directing the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit a report to the Court regarding an alleged error made by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara. This pertains to the inclusion of former MP Diana Gamage’s name in the SJB’s …

Continue reading ‘How did Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Appoint Diana Gamage as a National List MP when she was not a Sri Lankan Citizen? Colombo Addl Magistrate Orders CID to Investigate the Matter and Report Back to Court.’ »

The United National Party (UNP) made key appointments for its upcoming election campaign at a meeting held at Sirikotha on Sunday June 2nd. At the meeting chaired by Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, several key positions were filled to strengthen the party’s election strategy. Harin Fernando was appointed as the National Election organiser while Ravi Karunanayake …

Continue reading ‘UNP Re-structures Party Leadership to Face Elections. Harin Fernando appointed National Elections Organizer ; Ravi Karunanayake and Ronald Perera to Serve as Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Elections’ »

By Yashraj Sharma Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its national majority after suffering major losses in key states, marking a dramatic shift in a political landscape it has dominated for the past decade. The BJP emerged, comfortably, as the country’s single-largest party in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of …

Continue reading ‘Defying Doomsday Predictions of Exit polls the Congress -led INDIA -Bloc of Opposition Parties Shock the Ruling BJP in vital states, thereby resetting India’s political landscape.’ »

BY VARGHESE K. GEORGE ,NISTULA HEBBAR Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a third term in power on June 4, but he will be dependent on allies as the BJP fell almost 32 short of the halfway mark of 272 seats in the Lok Sabha. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 291 seats against the …

Continue reading ‘Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wins third term in Elections; BJP led NDA gets 291 seats while the Congress -led INDIA Bloc wins 234 seats’ »

Ahead of the general election that concluded on June 1st Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, was expected to romp home. His charisma, combined with an emphasis on infrastructure development, welfare payments to the poorest and a polarising Hindu nationalism, looked unbeatable. Mr Modi exuded a confidence that matched those predictions. He claimed that his Bharatiya …

Continue reading ‘Stunning Election Results Humble India’s Strongman Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is Forced to Form Coaition Govt with Alliance Partners – “The Economist”’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ஐக்கிய தேசிய கட்சியின் பொதுச்செயலாளர் பாலித ரங்க பண்டாரவின் ஓரங்க நாடகத்தினால் இலங்கை அரசியல் அரங்கு கடந்தவாரம் சுறுசுறுப்படைந்தது. பொலிஸ்காரராக இருந்து அரசியல்வாதியாக மாறிய அவர் மே 28 கொழும்பில் செய்தியாளர்கள் மகாநாடொன்றில் உரையாற்றியபோது இவ்வருடம் நடைபெறவிருக்கும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலும் அடுத்த வருடம் நடத்தப்பட வேண்டியிருக்கும் பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலும் ஒத்திவைக்கப்படவேண்டும் என்கிற அதேவேளை ஜனாதிபதியினதும் பாராளுமன்றத்தினதும் பதவிக்காலங்கள் இரு வருடங்களினால் நீடிக்கப்படவேண்டும் என்று யோசனையை முன்வைத்தார். அதற்காக பாராளுமன்றத்தில் தீர்மானம் ஒன்று நிறைவேற்றப்படவேண்டும் என்றும் …

Continue reading ‘ரங்க பண்டாரவின் உரத்த சிந்தனையும் ரணிலின் தேர்தல் பிரசாரமும்’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Former Cabinet Minister,Nuwara Eliya district Parliamentarian and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader Arumugan Thondaman would have celebrated his 60th birthday on 29 May,if he were alive today. Thondaman passed away due to a cardiac arrest four days before his 56th birthday four years ago on 26 May 2020. He was serving as a …

Continue reading ‘The Six Face(t)s of CWC Chief Arumugan “Thamby” Thondaman’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s United National Party (UNP) suffered a humiliating electoral defeat in the 2020 Parliamentary elections. Electoral debacles were nothing new to the UNP which is referred to by some as the grand old party. In 1956 the UNP got only eight seats in a Parliament of 101 MPs. In 1970 the party …

Continue reading ‘“Operation Sajaba” Intends to Deplete SJB Through Large Scale Crossover of MPs to Ranil Wickremesingh’s Side..’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s last official census was taken in 2012. According to that census, Sri Lanka’s majority ethnic community the Sinhalese comprises 74.9 % of the island nation’s population. Numerically, the second largest ethnicity is the Sri Lankan Tamils who are 11.1% of the population. The third largest ethnicity is the Sri Lankan Muslims …

Continue reading ‘Can Ranil Wickremesinghe Regain the Support of Tamil and Muslim Voters at the 2024 Presidential Elections?’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham When the Colombo High Court sent Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera to prison two months ago, it was not unexpected that intense efforts would be made to get him out as soon as possible. The Chief Prelates of Sri Lanka’s three main Buddhist chapters have jointly …

Continue reading ‘Gnanasara Thera was able to say and do anything without fear of the law during the Rajapaksa regime. During the reign of the Rajapaksas, Gnanasara Thera criticised Ranil Wickremesinghe in words that are Unmentionable.The Thera was so useful to the Rajapaksas that he was appointed head of a Presidential Task Force.’ »

By Kshama Ranawana Each year in May, since the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, Tamils gather together to remember their dead. And every time they are harassed by the police, even to the point of being arrested. It was no different this month; media reports stated that four …

Continue reading ‘Be it the ethnic conflict or the attempts to overthrow the government, innocents paid with their lives. Under the guise of national security, many who had no involvement in either of the conflicts were also killed.’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene Amidst the not-so-happy transformation of Vesak from the serene marking of an incomparably sacred event in the Buddhist calendar to an indulgent if not excessive race to compete with the ‘biggest pandal’ or the largest ‘dansal’ (generous gifting of food to the public), President Ranil Wickremesinghe has sublimely remarked that the long …

Continue reading ‘The dubious record of our police is primarily for arresting Tamil women cooking porridge or dragging away a Sinhalese comedian or a Muslim) poet on the basis of advocating national, racial or religious hatred’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கையில் உத்தியோகபூர்வ சனத்தொகை கணக்கெடுப்பு 2012 ஆம் ஆண்டில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டது. அந்த கணக்கெடுப்பின் பிரகாரம் இலங்கையின் பெரும்பான்மை இனத்தவர்களான சிங்களவர்கள் சனத்தொகையில் 74.9 சதவீதத்தினராக இருந்தனர். எண்ணிக்கையில் இரண்டாவது பெரிய இனத்தவர்களான இலங்கைத் தமிழர்கள் 11.1சதவீதத்தினராக இருந்தனர். மூன்றாவது பெரிய இனத்தவர்களான இலங்கை முஸ்லிம்கள் 9.3 சதவீதத்தினராகவும் நான்காவது பெரிய இனத்தவர்களான ‘ மலையகத் தமிழர்கள் ‘ என்று அறியப்படும் இந்திய வம்சாவளித் தமிழர்கள் 4.1 சதவீதத்தினராகவும் இருந்தனர். எண்ணிக்கையில் சிறுபான்மை இனத்தவர்களான இலங்கைத் …

Continue reading ‘2024 ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் தமிழ், முஸ்லிம் வாக்காளர்களின் ஆதரவை ரணிலால் மீண்டும் பெறமுடியுமா?’ »

BY MEERA SRINIVASAN When Antony Jesurathnam Mariapushparani, 62, recalls the horrific final days of Sri Lanka’s civil war in striking detail, it is hard to believe it has been 15 years since its end. “That is where we prepared and had the kanji (porridge); that is where we headed to cross the Vattuvagal bridge; that …

Continue reading ‘Poverty of Hope Among Sri Lankan Tamils due to Widespread Economic Misery Compounded by the 2022 Financial Crisis and a Fractured Tamil Polity’ »

By Lionel Bopage Sudath Mahadivulwewa’s latest film, now in cinemas, is openly political and experimental. A major aspect of the film is a debate between the old view of revolution and a more modern one Sudath Mahadivulwewa, the producer of the film ‘My Red Comrade’, is well-known for his various feature films, documentaries, theatre work …

Continue reading ‘Sudath Mahadivulwewa’s “My Red Comrade” is an excellent film, with fine direction, a masterful script, skilful use of sound and lighting and impeccable performance from the leads.It is a commendable and brave experimentation in filmmaking.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “A state of permanent war…where violence pervades all spheres of life, where the rich flourish and the poor live in misery; a state that will be deserted by the best of its children?” Yuri Avnery (Countercurrents) In Sri Lanka of 2024, kanji is a four letter word. During the long Eelam war, …

Continue reading ‘‘In Sri Lanka of 2024, kanji is a four letter word.By criminalising kanji making, another generation of Tamils is being told that even such a simple act of mourning can turn you into a criminal. Your dead have less value your grief less legitimacy because of your ethnicity.”’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj This is the fourth article in a series focusing on Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his evolving strategy to contest the forthcoming 2024 Presidential elections. In a political climate where deliberate attempts are being made to mislead people about Wickremesinghe’s presidential election plans and prospects, the objective of this series is to …

Continue reading ‘Tamil and Muslim Voting Trends in Past Presidential Elections.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Thousands of Tamils on May 18 converged in Mullaivaikkal, along Sri Lanka’s north-eastern coast, to pay homage to their relatives killed in May 2009, in the final battle of the island’s protracted civil war. As the war escalated before its gruesome end, lakhs of Tamil civilians were pushed to this narrow strip …

Continue reading ‘Thousands of Tamils Converge at Mullivaaikkaal On Mullaitheevu district coast to remember their Kith and Kin were killed 15 years ago in the Final phase of the war in May 2009’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene If the Sri Lankan State tried with all its might and main to look ridiculous in the eyes of the world, it could not do better than the preposterous performance of law enforcement agencies in the North and East during the formal remembrance of those who died during the ending of …

Continue reading ‘Is s it too much to allow the North and the East to remember lives of their loved ones felled in the conflict as much as the Sinhala-South remembers their fallen soldiers?’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Fifteen years have passed since the end of Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war, which lasted for about 30 years. None of the main political problems have been resolved. The country is not progressing economically either. Instead, we saw that all the problems worsened and the country reached a state of chaos and …

Continue reading ‘If the Current situation continues, there is a danger that Sri Lankan Tamils will become a group of people that the world does not pay attention to and Tamil politicians will become a group of people who make impractical political slogans and only crow within the confines of the peninsula.’ »

By Kshama Ranawana It’s high time Diana Gamage took a hard look at herself in the mirror! When the Supreme Court ruled in favour of petitioner Oshala Herath, that Diana Gamage is not a citizen of Sri Lanka, she told a media conference that she does not accept the ruling. She also went on to …

Continue reading ‘Diana Gamage’s speech, body language and behaviour in parliament often outdid unruly behaviour usually associated with bullies and thugs.’ »

By Patrick Lawrence I had the most salutary email the other day, a reviving lift amid these, humanity’s darkest days, surely, in the memory of anyone living. It was from George Burchett, an Australian painter who resides in Hanoi, the city of his birth. George was born in Hanoi because he is the offspring of …

Continue reading ‘70th Anniversary of the Historic 55 Day Battle of Ðiên Biên Phú , from March 13 to May 7, 1954. In which the French Army was catastrophically defeated by the Vietnamese Forces led by Ho Chi Minh and Võ Nguyên Giáp’ »

By M.A.Sumanthiran MP This week we commemorate the 15 year anniversary of the Mullivaikkal killings and other atrocities. It was a time when our people were locked into a narrow strip of land with no avenue for escape and had to survive only on kanji, while losing many loved ones and seeing many others maimed …

Continue reading ‘“I consider this moment, 15 years after the end of the armed struggle, as the opportune time to reflect and act on the changes that had happened in the political, social and economic positions of the Tamils.”’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் 2024 ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தல் எதிர்வரும் செப்டெம்பர் 17 ஆம் திகதிக்கும் அக்டோபர் 16 ஆம் திகதிக்கும் இடைப்பட்ட ஒரு திகதியால் நடத்தப்படும் என்று இலங்கை தேர்தல்கள் ஆணைக்குழு கடந்தவாரம் அறிவித்தது. ஏற்கெனவே தெரிந்த விடயத்தையே தேர்தல்கள் ஆணைக்குழு திரும்பக் கூறியிருக்கிறது. பிரத்தியேகமான திகதி ஒன்று அறிவிக்கப்படவில்லை என்றபோதிலும், தேர்தல் செப்டெம்பர் பிற்பகுதியில் அல்லது அக்டோபர் முற்பகுதியில் நடத்தப்படக்கூடிய சாத்தியம் இருக்கிறது. கடந்த காலத்தைப் போன்று ஜனாதிபதி பதவிக்கு பலர் போட்டியிடுவார்கள். சிலர் தேர்தலில் போட்டியிடும் …

Continue reading ‘கடந்தகால ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தல்களில் தமிழர்களும் முஸ்லிம்களும் வாக்களித்த போக்குகள்’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Like the rest of his ilk in this part of the world, Mahinda Rajapaksa overstayed his welcome in power. He ran the economy to the ground as he did with the national carrier, which he re-nationalized out of a fit of rage after its Emirates management refused to deplane fee-levying passengers to …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Opposes Re-structuring of Economy. If Wickremesinghe fails to save the do-or-die reform agenda of the government from the Rajapaksa’s dynastic scheming, history would not be kind to him.’ »

(Text of speech made in Parliament by ITAK Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran during Adjournment motion debate on 14 May 2024) Thank you deputy speaker for the time allocated for me to speak on this very important, adjournment motion that has been moved by Honorable Rauff Hakeem. I wish to approve of and support the sentiments …

Continue reading ‘“We are hypocritical when we say what happened in Sri Lanka is an internal matter for Sri Lanka, but what happens in Palestine is not an internal matter for Israel. That is double speak. ! If you are true to what you are saying Sign the ICC Rome statute “- MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The recent arrest of four Tamils in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province — when they commemorated their loved ones killed in the final phases of the civil war in 2009 — has put Tamils’ right to memorialise in sharp focus yet again. The police said the arrests were based on magistrate court orders …

Continue reading ‘Four Sri Lankan Tamils in Eastern Province Arrested for commemorating their loved ones killed in the final phase of the civil war in 2009 ;Tamils’ Right to Memorialise the dead Put into Sharp Focus’ »

By Kishali Pinto- Jayawardene Leaving apart the typically hysterical political brouhaha about the unseating of Diana Gamage, former (and largely unlamented) Member of Sri Lanka’s Parliament, what is greatly interesting about this otherwise distasteful saga is the different approaches taken by the Supreme Court and a majority decision of the Court of Appeal with profound …

Continue reading ‘What is greatly interesting about the Diana Gamage Saga is the different approaches taken by the Supreme Court and a majority decision of the Court of Appeal with profound implications on the roll of the judicial dice in each instance.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj May Day was at one time a significant event of the workers,for the workers and by the workers. It is not so nowadays where the working class has been relegated to the back seat. The political class has taken over. The rhetoric however echoes and re-echoes on May day but the reality is …

Continue reading ‘“Ranil Ralla”: Will Wickremesinghe ride on a Winning Wave?’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham The Sri Lankan Supreme Court’s landmark judgment last week that State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage was legally ineligible to serve as a Member of Parliament (MP) on the grounds that she was not a Sri Lankan citizen raises some crucial questions. The Supreme Court gave the ruling after hearing an appeal …

Continue reading ‘Diana Gamage who came to Parliament on the Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB) National List, has been an MP for almost four years without being a citizen of any country.’ »

by Krishantha Prasad Cooray There is no day in the calendar that can be called ‘Mother’s Day,’ not as far as mothers themselves are concerned. They don’t cease to be mothers on days that are not called ‘Mother’s Day.’ And yet, the 12th of May or rather the second Sunday in the month of May, …

Continue reading ‘Your mother is the one who will stand by you even if the entire world is against you. Christobel Cooray my Amma stood by me. She stands by me. It’s love, unadulterated. Children are reminded of all that when Mother’s Day comes around’ »

ம. ஆ. சுமந்திரன் பா.உ 2009 மே மாதம் நிகழ்ந்த முள்ளிவாய்க்கால் படுகொலைகளை இந்த வாரம் நாம் நினைவுகூருகிறோம். யுத்தத்தின் இறுதிக்கட்டத்திலே எந்தத் திசையிலும் தப்பியோட முடியாமல், தொடர்ச்சியாக அன்பானவர்களை இழந்தவண்ணமாக, வெறுங்கையர்களாக எமது மக்கள் , உணவில்லாமல், கஞ்சி மட்டும் குடித்தபடி, பாரிய நெருக்கடியிலும், துயரத்திலும் கழித்த நாட்கள் இவை. துப்பாக்கி, வெடிகுண்டு சத்தங்கள் மௌனித்த பின்பு, தாம் அகப்பட்டிருந்த இடத்திலிருந்து மக்கள் வெளியேறிய போது, பலர் அரச படைகளினால் சுட்டுக்கொல்லப்பட்டதும், மற்றவர்கள் பல விதங்களில் …

Continue reading ‘முக்கால் நூற்றாண்டு போராட்டமும் எமது தேசத்தின் எதிர்காலமும்’ »

Embattled former State Minister Diana Gamage yesterday expressed her refusal to accept the recent Supreme Court ruling that disqualified her from Parliament, due to the political conspiracy behind it. Addressing the media for the first time following the ruling, Gamage levelled accusations against Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma …

Continue reading ‘Unseated MP Diana Gamage Alleges that she was Disqualified as a Parliamentarian due to a Conspiracy Orchestrated against her by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya; Accuses SJB of Hatred Politics and Urges Women to be Cautious in voting for the Leader of the Opposition in Elections’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka has agreed to purchase power at $0.0826, or 8.26 cents, per kWh from Adani Green Energy, which is executing a wind power project in Mannar and Pooneryn in the island’s Northern Province. The country’s Cabinet cleared a proposal on Monday for a 20-year power purchase agreement with Adani Green Energy …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka to Purchase Power at 8.26 cents per kWh from India’s Adani Green Energy which will generate 484 MW Power Annually from a 442 $ millon wind power project at Mannar and Pooneryn in the Island’s Northern Province’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The protracted struggle by Sri Lankan Tamils to achieve justice and equality in the Island has brought into prominence several colourful and controversial personalities. Among such persons was a Tamil Nationalist political activist who adopted the nom de plume “Eelaventhan”meaning King of Eelam. Eelaventhan whose real name was MK Kanakenthran was active in …

Continue reading ‘The Tamil Nationalist Who Dubbed Himself as the “King of Eelam”.’ »

The Supreme Court in a unanimous verdict delivered yesterday unseated State Minister Diana Gamage. The Court held that Gamage was disqualified to be a Parliamentarian as she has no Sri Lankan citizenship. As a result a new seat in Parliament opens up for Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). Justice Janak De Silva reading portions of the …

Continue reading ‘State Minister Diana Gamage Unseated as MP ! Supreme Court in Unanimous Ruling States the Samagi Jana Balawegaya Appointed National List MP is disqualified to be a Parliamentarian as she has no Sri Lankan Citizenship.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan A fortnight after Sri Lanka switched to a new visa issuing system, authorities are facing a backlash over higher visa costs that could deter tourists, “Indian involvement”, and “corruption” in the subject minister’s push to outsource visa processing. Beginning April 17, 2024, Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration directed travellers to …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan authorities are facing a backlash over higher visa costs that could deter tourists , after a new visa portal, run by VFS Global, for online visa application processing Started Operations from 17 April 2024.’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene Do the actions of the Wickremesinghe Presidency and his Cabinet reflect strategic decision-making on the cusp of majorly significant national elections in Sri Lanka?\ The Government’s markedly asinine behaviour The latest controversy to erupt is over the Cabinet outsourcing the handling of on-arrival visas to foreigners at the national airport …

Continue reading ‘Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has a penchant for conduct that sits oddly with his ministerial duties, the latest being his declaring ‘Open Sesame’ to the police to use their weapons to ‘eliminate criminals.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The first part of this article published in the “Daily Mirror”of 20 April 2024 under the heading “Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs” has evoked a lot of reader responses. In a climate of Ranil-bashing many seem to be happy that Wickremesinghe’s courageous decision to accept the challenge of leading …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Plans to Contest 2024 Presidential Election as an independent non -party common candidate (Nirpakshika Podu Apekshaya) backed by a group of parties, organizations and key individuals’ »

By Meera Srinivasan With a presidential election expected later this year,the May Day rallies o fall main political parties in Sri Lanka seemed a prelude to their poll campaigns. Leaders of various political camps made a direct pitch to the people in their respective public events, seeking their support in what would be the first …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe Announces 700 Rupee Pay Increase to Plantation Workers at Ceylon Workers Congress May Day Rally at Kotagala; Current Daily Wage Rs 1000 Goes up to 1700 Rupees.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj In life, he was a controversial character who was mostly in the news for the wrong reasons.. He was a Parliamentarian who brandished a knife against a fellow MP during a brawl in the House. He had a notorious reputation for getting things done in the way he wanted by engaging in pressure …

Continue reading ‘UNP Kalutara Ex-MP Palitha Thewarapperuma was Called a “Hitha Honda Chandiya”(Good Hearted Strongman/Thug)’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Doubt is not a pleasant condition. But certainty is an absurd one.” Voltaire (Letter to Fredrick the Great – 28.11.1770) Sri Lanka’s road to ruin was marked by miracles. The story, born in mystery, spread across the land at the speed of light. Luminous rays were emanating from Buddha statues. For three …

Continue reading ‘The SJB and the JVP/NPP do not seem to have broken with Rajapaksa economics entirely. Both parties seem to think that Sri Lanka can have guns, rice, low taxes and low borrowings if corruption and waste are eliminated.’ »

Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam on Thursday accused the infamous Tripoli platoon, a paramilitary intelligence unit, of involvement in the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019. Speaking during the debate on the Easter Sunday attacks, Rasamanickam said the group had been involved in a spate of killings since early 2005, long before …

Continue reading ‘ITAK Batticaloa MP Shaniyan Rasamanickam Urges President Wickremesinghe to Arrest TMVP B’caloa MP Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan to find out the truth about Easter Bombing attacks’ reveals explosive details about alleged crimes committed by “Tripoli Platoon” in Parliament speech’ »

By Ranjith Padmasiri The Anuradhapura High Court on Friday passed a death sentence on five police officers who were found guilty of killing eight Tamil civilians at the Bharathipuram village in Kantale, Trincomalee 26 years ago. The sentence was passed by High Court Judge Manoj Thalgodapitiya. The five police officers were attached to the Bharathipuram …

Continue reading ‘Five Policemen Comprising an Inspector,Sub-inspector and three Constables Found Guilty of Killing Eight Tamil Civilians at Bharathipuram in Trincomalee district 26 Years ago Sentenced to Death by Anuradhapura High Court Manoj Thalgodapitiya’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene An (un)holy row has erupted between Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, head of Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa regarding ‘who said what’ in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks on April 21st 2019 by ‘home grown’ jihadists. Symbolic punishment is insufficient Examining several aspects of this dispute is relevant …

Continue reading ‘The “Unholy “Row Between Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Regarding the Easter Sunday Attacks by Home Grown Jihadists on 21 April 2019’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj “ The Dogs bark but the Caravan moves on”is a proverbial saying of supposedly Turkish origin. Caravan in this instance refers to a group of people, animals or vehicles on the move. As is natural members of the canine species respond to the strange sight of a caravan in their midst by barking. …

Continue reading ‘The Ranil Wickremesinghe Caravan Moves Forward Despite Barking Dogs.’ »

by Krishantha Prasad Cooray Robert Frost once wrote, ‘Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.’ It’s a place like Hotel California in the popular Eagles song by that name — you can check out any time you like but you can never leave. It’s all …

Continue reading ‘Why is there so much braggadocio about drug pushers being arrested and drug caches being seized, but nothing concrete is done to stop the inflow of drugs?’ »

By Kshama Ranawana Election fever is hotting up in Sri Lanka, and this time around the most coveted by Opposition parties are those affected by the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. It’s been a long five years of waiting for the masterminds to be publicly named and brought to justice. Yet, incumbent governments choose to ignore …

Continue reading ‘For five long years , Sri Lankan governments have thumbed their noses at the Catholic church leading the call for accountability and justice for the Easter Sunday bombings.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Global South must strive for their strength and autonomy, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Wednesday, even as he thanked his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi, who inaugurated a key power and irrigation project in the island nation. Expressing “gratitude to Iran for their technical support”, Mr. Wickremesinghe emphasised that without …

Continue reading ‘Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Arrives in Sri Lanka to Inaugurate Iran -funded Irrigation and Power Project amid Media Reports of “Western Pressure” on Colombo; Lankan President Wickremesinghe Thanks his Counterpart and says “Global South must Strive for Strength and Autonomy”.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Five years ago, on Easter Sunday, a group of local Islamists carried out coordinated suicide attacks targeting three churches and tourist hotels, killing over 270 worshipers and tourists and wounding 500 others. The fifth anniversary of that heinous crime, which fell last Sunday (April 21), turned out to be a sordid display …

Continue reading ‘The whole discourse of the Easter Sunday attack is degenerating into a sordid freakshow where the state, and not the Islamists who blew up the innocents, stand accused.’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene That a State Minister has called upon President Ranil Wickremesinghe to pardon Gnanasara Thero now serving his most recent sentence of four years handed down by the Colombo High Court last month for ‘outraging religious feelings’ of adherents of the Islamic faith in 2016, should surprise no one. Politico-military-religious impunity No doubt, …

Continue reading ‘Gnanasara Thero’s rhetoric, which eminently qualifies as hate speech during a press conference called by him, was directly aimed at the Muslim religion and its founder in referencing the Kuragala pre- historic archaeological site.’ »

By Arjuna Ranawana Five years on, Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings has left us with more questions than answers. Both the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government and now the Ranil Wickremesinghe tenure has been shown up poorly in terms of ensuring the masterminds and those who failed to prevent the bombings are bought to book. As one …

Continue reading ‘The Easter Sunday victims have been political pawns these past five years, just as the many others who lost family members in the various conflicts the country have been through.They too, are still awaiting justice.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Mangala Samaraweera would have turned 68 today, and had he not succumbed to Covid-19, I am certain we would have met and raised a cheer for all that is worthy of celebration even in the worst of times. He left us at a critical moment in our political history. Indeed, critical …

Continue reading ‘Mangala Samaraweera was a leader who saw things that others didn’t see. He was bold and had the courage of his convictions, never afraid to stand up for what he believed, whether or not the world appreciated it, and indeed whether or not it was a marginal or minority position that he was espousing.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party will celebrate its 75th Birthday in December this year. The premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamil people known as “Ilankai Thamizhar”in their mother tongue was born on 18 December 1949. On that day, a group of sixty Tamils including …

Continue reading ‘SJV Chelvanayakam and the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK)/Federal Party(FP).’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The encounter between the Fox and Crow is an ancient tale heard by most Sri Lankans in their childhood days. The crow has a vadai or kavun or piece of cheese in its beak. The crafty fox wants it and flatters the crow into thinking it is a harmonious singer with a sweet …

Continue reading ‘A US “Kaputa” (Crow) ,a Lankan “Nariya” (Fox) and a Presidential Election “Feast”.’ »

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama Mage Rata organization president Sanjaya Mahawatta today, lodged a complaint with the Illegal Assets Investigations Division, calling for an inquiry into model Piumi Hansamali using the Range Rover vehicle previously used by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. “It is clear that an election is near and politicians tend to inject all their …

Continue reading ‘Complaint Lodged with Illegal Assets Investigation Division that Actress – Model Piyumi Hansamali is Allegedly Using Range Rover vehicle (CBH 1949) Worth 100 Million Rupees that was Earlier Used by Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Current media coverage in Sri Lanka is heavily focused on the forthcoming Presidential elections. Though officially not announced yet, it seems a foregone conclusion that the presidential poll would take place later this year. Several potential candidates ranging from incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe to media magnate Dilith Jayaweera are tipped to be in …

Continue reading ‘“Siva Senai”(Siva’s Army) Leader Sachithananthan Weakens Tamil Nationalism Further by Widening the Hindu-Christian Divide.’ »

The killing started on April 7th 1994, as members of the presidential guard began assassinating opposition leaders and moderates in the government. Within hours the genocide of Rwanda’s minority Tutsis was under way. It was among the fastest mass killings in history: 100 days later three-quarters of Rwanda’s Tutsis, about 500,000 people, were dead. Most …

Continue reading ‘The International Court of Justice has no jurisdiction over war crimes other than genocide, which encourages complainants to allege genocide even when the facts do not support it. That cheapens the taboo against genocide and discredits the ICJ- “The Economist”’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The once powerful Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) waged war against the Sri Lankan state for over thirty years. The LTTE known popularly as the tigers was the determining force in Sri Lankan politics for nearly two decades. The decline of the LTTE began in 2004 when its Batticaloa and Amparai district special …

Continue reading ‘Karuna”s Rebel Tigers May Have Lost the Eastern Battle but Ultimately the Prabhakaran-led LTTE Lost the Eelam War.’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene National People’s Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s pronouncement in Jaffna earlier this week that he did not come to bargain for votes by assuring that he would give ’13 plus’ or a ‘federal solution’ begs the crucial question as to what exactly is the NPP’s public position in …

Continue reading ‘What Is NPP Presidential Candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Position on Thorny Issues like “!3 Plus”, “Federal Solution” and Militarisation of the State?’ »

By Shiranee Mills In the bicentennial year of Uduvil Girls’ College, especially during the month of April, our thoughts dwell closely on the founder principal of the school, Harriet Wadsworth Winslow (née Lathrop), whose birthday falls on April 9. Born in 1796, in Norwich, Connecticut, in the USA, Harriet from a young age, was filled …

Continue reading ‘Remembering Harriet Winslow the Founder Principal of Asia’s First All-Girls Boarding School – Uduvil Girls’ College in Jaffna.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj “Putting your foot in your mouth” is a figurative expression about a person saying or doing something that should not be done or not have been said, especially if it embarrasses the person concerned or someone else. Among those who frequently put their feet into their mouhs are politicians of all kinds and …

Continue reading ‘When “Aiyo” Sirisena Accused India’s RAW of Plotting to Assassinate Him While he was the President.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray When people who have the same first name meet up, there’s name-related humour. The more, the merrier, obviously, especially if they are good friends and enjoy friendly banter. Today I am thinking of three people who share the name Michael: Michael Tissera, Michael Sproule and Michael De Zoysa, all three who …

Continue reading ‘There are cricketers and gentlemen, but gentleman cricketers are rare. Lanka’s Former Cricket Captain Michael Tissera who Celebrated his 85th Birthday is one, for so many reasons.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka sees no reason for re-opening talks on Katchatheevu that India gave up 50 years ago, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry has said, in the first official reaction yet to the recent remarks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the island. “This is a …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka sees no reason for re-opening talks on Katchatheevu that India gave up 50 years ago says Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in First Official Reaction by Sri Lanka to Remarks made by Indian PM Modi and Foreign Minister Jaishankae’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The course of war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) and the Sri Lankan armed forces was drastically altered by the 2004 eastern revolt headed by former tiger commander of the Batticaloa and Amparai districts Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan alias “Col”Karuna. The LTTE was split vertically and horizontally as a result and gradually weakened. …

Continue reading ‘How the LTTE Crushed “Col” Karuna’s Eastern Tiger Revolt Through Force.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “We too live in a time when political structures we inhabit are fluid and perhaps on the cusp of great and potentially dangerous changes.” – Richard Whatmore (The end of enlightenment) Namal Rajapaksa had his crowning as crown prince last week. The SLPP titled the Tangalle meeting, “Let’s begin the Battle from …

Continue reading ‘Namal Rajapaksa anointed at Tangalle Meeting as king-in-waiting plus enabler and defender of Sinhala-Buddhist Lanka Torch of leadership passing from father and uncle to son/nephew. The SLPP is the only Lankan party founded to enthrone a family.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in the “Daily Financial Times”of 2nd April 2024 Under the Heading “Katchatheevu was not India’s to “give away”) Last week, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again raised a popular trope on the sovereignty of Katchatheevu and criticised his political opponents, the Congress party for ‘ceding’ the island to Sri Lanka …

Continue reading ‘The constant provocative claims on Sri Lankan territory, especially from the highest echelons of power in India, would only force our country to seek security guarantees elsewhere. it would be tragic for all concerned if Sri Lanka needs to apply the foreign policy theory of finding ‘friends’ elsewhere to protect itself against a ‘near foe’. -Daily FT’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Hindu”of 2nd April 2024 Under the Heading “No man’s land: Playing politics over Katchatheevu “) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by raking up the contentious matter of Katchatheevu, has set an unhealthy trend of politicising an issue for electoral gains, and one that has bearing on ties with Sri Lanka. …

Continue reading ‘“By raking up the contentious matter of Katchatheevu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an unhealthy trend of politicising an issue for electoral gains, and one that has bearing on ties with Sri Lanka.”- The Hindu’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Sri Lankan government is yet to comment on the recent remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Katchatheevu, but the island nation’s media took a critical view of the development, while fishermen’s associations urged Sri Lankan authorities to take up the issue of bottom trawling …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Newspapers Hit out Strongly Against “Katchatheevu”Remarks by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar’ »

By LAKMAL SOORIYAGODA Former President Maithripala Sirisena has informed the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court that he will not provide a confidential statement before the magistrate in connection with his controversial revelation regarding the Easter Sunday attacks. Court had earlier directed the former President to appear before Court on April 4 following a request by the Criminal …

Continue reading ‘Former President Maithripala Sirisena Informs Maligakanda Magistrate Lochani Abeywickrema that he would not Provide a Fresh Confidential Statement in Court as he has already done so to the CID’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (This article was first written in 1997 for a special volume commemorating the birth centenary of Tamil political leader SJV Chelvanayakam. It is being reposted with slight changes to denote his 126th birth anniversary on March 31) On September 6th 1977, Lalith Athulathmudali, then Minister of Trade said in Parliament “Samuel James …

Continue reading ‘S.J.V.Chelvanayakam: Respected “Gandhian”Tamil Political Leader was a Christian by religion and a Hindu by culture.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (Peoples Liberation Front) led Jathika Jana Balawegaya ( National People’s Power is a left-leaning, working class-oriented broad front consisting of the JVP and 27 other organisations. These entities comprise small parties, trade unions, rights groups, Women, student and youth organisations. The JVP is the pivotal, pre-eminent force in the …

Continue reading ‘How FSP Leader Kumar Gunaratnam Fought the Indian Army in 1989 as the Trincomalee JVP Commander “Gemunu”’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene Does the Sri Lankan Government believe that posting hundreds of military officers with guns at the ready in front of churches during the Christian Holy Week, will suffice to mitigate monumental lapses on the part of the State in not (properly) investigating or prosecuting those responsible for the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks? …

Continue reading ‘After unforgivably allowing a disaster of the magnitude of the 2019 attacks on churches and hotels to occur at the hands of local jihadists, what is the point of parading military men before churches now?’ »

By Mimi Alphonsus When renowned global TV chef and documentarian, Anthony Bourdain, tried street food on Galle Face Green for his episode in Sri Lanka in 2017, the public seaside walkway bustled with “issovadai” carts and “kottu” stands. Today, it’s a starkly different story. The vendors say the authorities have told them to clear out. …

Continue reading ‘“Isso vadai”Cart and “Kottu Rotti”Stand Vendors Forbidden on Galle Face Green from 2024 Independence Day; SLPMCS Cites Sanitation Issues as Reason but Others Suspecct “Gentrification” of vendors and Plans of moving them to Underground spaces as real motive’ »