டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் தளபதி ‘ கேணல் ‘ கிட்டுவின் வாழ்வும் காலமும் – 4 தமிழீழ விடுதலை புலிகளின் முன்னாள் யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்ட இராணுவத் தளபதி கிட்டு என்ற சதாசிவம்பிள்ளை கிருஷ்ணகுமாரின் வாழ்வும் காலமும் இந்த நீண்ட கட்டுரையின் கவனக்குவிப்பாக இருந்துவருகிறது. முதல் மூன்று பாகங்களும் வல்வெட்டித்துறையை சேர்ந்த பதினெட்டு வயதான இளைஞன் எவ்வாறு விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்தில் ஒரு கெரில்லாப் போராளியாக இணைந்து படிப்படியாக உயர்ந்து யாழ்ப்பாணத்தின் ” முடிசூடா மன்னாக ” வந்தார் என்பதை …

Continue reading ‘“கேணல்” கிட்டு என்ற சதாசிவம்பிள்ளை கிருஷ்ணகுமாரின் வாழ்வும் மரணமும் உண்மையிலேயே வடக்கு போராளி ஒருவரின் வீரகாவியம்.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “There’s a world outside your window…” – Band Aid (Do they know it’s Christmas?) Austrian writer and Nobel Laureate Elfriede Jelinek’s magnum opus, ‘The Children of the Dead’, unfolds in the Austrian mountain resort, Alpenrose. Amongst the inn’s guests are three zombies, seeking ways to return to life. A fellow guest recognises …

Continue reading ‘The issue is not whether Mahinda Rajapaksa deserves an official residence or not. The issue is whether retired presidents should be maintained in such princely style – especially in a country where poverty has doubled since 2019 due mainly to the inane governance of the Rajapaksa family’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ‘ மாவை’ சேனாதிராஜா என்று பிரபலமாக அறியப்பட்ட முதுபெரும் தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவர் சோமசுந்தரம் சேனாதிராஜா 2025 ஜனவரி 29 தனது இறுதிமூச்சை விட்டார். எண்பது வயதைக் கடந்த, ஆறு அடி உயரமான அவர் மாவிட்டபுரத்தில் உள்ள தனது வீட்டில் ஜனவரி 26 ஆம் திகதி குளியலறையில் வீழ்ந்து தலை அடிபட்டதை அடுத்து தெல்லிப்பழை ஆதார வைத்தியசாலையில் சிகிச்சைக்காக அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டார். அவருக்கு மூளையில் இரத்தக்கசிவு ஏற்பட்டதாக அங்கு கண்டறியப்பட்டதை அடுத்து யாழ்ப்பாணம் போதனா வைத்தியசாலைக்க …

Continue reading ‘மாவை சேனாதிராஜா: பேரினவாத மேலாதிக்கத்துக்கு எதிரான தமிழர் அரசியல் உரிமைப் போராட்டத்தின் ஐந்து தசாப்தங்களுக்கும் அதிகமான சின்னம்’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s warning that he intends to order the Sri Lanka Army to transport rice from the mill to the stores if the owners of rice mills do not act according to Government directives, is less than reassuring. This awakens uncanny if not unsettling echoes of former President …

Continue reading ‘President Dissanayake’s warning that he will order the Army to transport rice from the mill to the stores awakens uncanny echoes of ex-President Gotabhaya’s vain thundering in 2022 that the military will be deployed for organic farming after farmers resisted his suicidal overnight ban on chemical fertiliser.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.” The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien J.R.R. Tolkien’s One Ring was an instrument of power and suppression, forged to subjugate the free people of Middle Earth. Yet, the first word-picture of the Ring begins by emphasising its seeming ordinariness. …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka has been waiting from 1994 for a Frodo Baggins to take the One Ring of executive presidency and cast it into the Crack of Doom. Is the fifth President Dissanayake the real thing or another imposter?’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Veteran Tamil political leader Somasundaram Senathirajah popularly known as “Maavai” Senathirajah breathed his last on 29 January 2025. The octogenarian six-footer suffered a brain concussion after a fall in the bathroom of his residence at Maaviddapuram on January 26th. He was admitted to the Thellippalai base hospital where a brain haemorrage was detected. …

Continue reading ‘Senior ITAK Leader Somasundaram “Maavai” Senathirajah was a Symbol of Tamil Political Resistance Against Majoritarian Hegemony.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Life and Times of Tiger “Col” Kittu-4 The life and times of former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) military chief for Jaffna district, Sathasivampillai Krishnakumar, has been the focus of this extended article. The first thee parts published weekly in the “Daily Mirror” told the tale of how an eighteen year old …

Continue reading ‘How Sathasivampillai Krishnakumar alias “Col” Kittu and his Comrades at arms, set fire to their ship “Ahat” and Killed Themselves to Prevent Being Captured by the Indian Navy in International Waters’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Senior Tamil politician Mavai Senathirajah, a key figure in the long political struggle for the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka’s north and east, passed away on Wednesday (January 29, 2025) after a brief illness. He was 82. An Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK or Federal Party) veteran and former Jaffna Parliamentarian, …

Continue reading ‘Former Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi Leader and Ex- Jaffna MP “Maavai” Senathirajah Passes away on 29 January at the age of 82.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Jaffna known as “Yaarlpaanam”in Tamil and “Yaapanaya”in Sinhala is the capital city of Sri Lanka’s northern province. Jaffna has for long been regarded as the citadel of Tamil nationalism and the cultural capital of the Sri Lankan Tamils. The tallest building in Jaffna city is the recently built Jaffna Cultural Centre. The iconic …

Continue reading ‘Name of Jaffna Cultural Centre is Suddenly Renamed after Poet Thiruvalluvar and Abruptly Re- changed to Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre after Protests’ »

Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, said he would “lead the world in seeking prosecutions in international courts” against Sri Lankan officials accused of war crimes if elected as Canada’s next prime minister. Speaking at the ‘Harvest of Hope’ event in Toronto, Canada on January 18, marking Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage …

Continue reading ‘Canada’s Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre says he would “lead the world in seeking prosecutions in international courts” against Sri Lankan officials accused of war crimes if elected as Canada’s next prime minister’ »

By Meera Srinivasan India has lodged a “strong protest” against a Sri Lankan Navy patrol which fired at an Indian fishing boat in the early hours of Tuesday, causing “serious injuries” to two fishermen, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Sri Lanka, however, claimed that the Indian fishermen were illegally fishing in its …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 13 Indians Poaching in Lankan Waters off Valvettithurai; Two Fishermen Slightly Injured in Accidental Fire Hospitalised; Indian Foreign Ministry Summons Sri Lankan acting High Commissioner in New Delhi and Lodges Strong Protest’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Life and Times of Tiger “Col” Kittu-3 Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) Jaffna district commander Sathasivamillai Krishnakumar alias “Col”Kittu was regarded as the uncrowned king of Jaffna in the mid-eighties of the twentieth century. The greater part of Jaffna peninsula was under LTTE control then. This state of affairs came in …

Continue reading ‘How Tiger “Col” Kittu Lost a Leg when a Bomb was Thrown at him in Jaffna.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் தளபதி ‘ கேணல் ‘ கிட்டுவின் வாழ்வும் காலமும் – 3 தமிழீழ விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்தின் யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்ட முன்னாள் தளபதியான கேணல் கட்டு என்ற சதாசிவம்பிள்ளை கிருஷ்ணகுமார் இருபதாம் நூற்றாண்டின 80 களில் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தின முடிசூடாமன்னனாக கருதப்பட்டார். யாழ்ப்பாண குடாநாட்டின் மிகப்பெரும் பகுதி அப்போது விடுதலை புலிகளின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் இருந்தது. கிட்டு ஓட்டிச்சென்ற வாகனத்துக்குள் இனந்தெரியாத நபர் ஒருவர் குண்டொன்றை வீசியபோது யாழ்ப்பாணம் எங்கும் பெரும் அதிர்ச்சிக்குள்ளானது. 1987 ஆம் ஆண்டில் …

Continue reading ‘தளபதி கிட்டு மீதான கொலை முயற்சி: காயமடைந்த போதிலும், கிட்டு தனது மக்னம் 357 துப்பாக்கியை எடுத்து குண்டை எறிந்துவிட்டு தப்பியோடிய நபரை நோக்கி சரயாரியாக சுட்டார்.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ்.ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கையின் வடமாகாணத்தின் தலைநகர் யாழ்ப்பாணம் தமிழ்த் தேசியவாதத்தின் கோட்டையாகவும் இலங்கை தமிழர்களின் கலாசாரத் தலைநகராகவும் நீண்டகாலமாக கருதப்படுகிறது. அண்மையில் நிர்மாணிக்கப்பட்ட யாழ்ப்பாண கலாசார மையம் தான் மிகவும் உயரமான கட்டிடம். அது தற்போது சிறிய அரசியல் புயல் ஒன்றின் மையமாக மாறியிருக்கிறது. அது தமிழர்களின் உணர்வுடன் சம்மந்தப்பட்டதாக இருக்கிறது. யாண்ப்பாண கலாசார மையம் இந்தியாவினால் வழங்கப்பட்ட நன்கொடை நிதியில் நிர்மாணிக்கப்பட்டதாகும். அந்த மையம் குறிப்பாக யாழ்ப்பாண மக்களுக்கும் பொதுவில் இலங்கை மக்களுக்கும் இந்தியாவினால் வழங்கப்பட்ட பரிசு …

Continue reading ‘யாழ்ப்பாண கலாசார மையத்தின் பெயர் திடீரென்று இந்தியாவினால் திருவள்ளுவர் கலாசார மையமாக மாற்றப்பட்டது ஏன்?’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் தளபதி ‘ கேணல் ‘ கிட்டுவின் வாழ்வும் காலமும் – 2 கடந்த வாரம் பிரசுரமான ‘ கேணல் ‘ கிட்டு என்ற சதாசிவம்பிள்ளை கிருஷ்ணகுமார் பற்றிய இந்த கட்டுரையின் முதல் பாகத்தில் விடுதலை புலிகளின் யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்ட தளபதியாக இருந்த அவரை நான் 1986 நவம்பரில் ‘ இந்தியாவின் புரொண்ட்லைன் ‘ செய்திச் சஞ்சிகைக்காக பேட்டி கண்டதைப் பற்றி குறிப்பிட்டிருந்தேன். அதுவே கிட்டுவுடனான கலந்துரையாடல் ஒன்று ஆங்கில சஞ்சிகை ஒன்றில் வெளியான முதல் …

Continue reading ‘புலிகளின் யாழ் மாவட்ட தளபதி ‘ கேணல் ‘ கிட்டுவின் செயலினால் நடிகர் விஜய குமாரதுங்க எவ்வாறு ஏமாறாறமடைந்தார், அமைச்சர் லலித் அத்துலத்முதலி எவ்வாறு ஏமாற்றப்பட்டார் ?’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Following Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara D issanayake’s recent, four-day visit to China, analysis and commentary in local media pointed to the leader’s “balancing act” with Beijing and New Delhi, Colombo’s two key partners vying for greater strategic influence on the island. During Mr. Dissanayake’s state visit from January 14 to 17, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Media Spotlights President Dissanayake’s “Tightrope Walk “between China and India.Editorials,Cartoons and Commentaries Focus on AKD’s “Balancing Act” While Engaging with Two Powerful Countries’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s ambitious Clean Sri Lanka project has received both positive and negative comments. During the Parliamentary Election campaign, the President told the nation that his Government would launch a special project with the aim of making Sri Lanka the cleanest country in the Asian region. However, following criticism that …

Continue reading ‘If Sri Lanka is to be truly ‘Clean,’ the President must commit himself to bringing about a fundamental change in the mindset of the majority community on the ethnic issue. This is essential for a Clean Sri Lanka to be complete.’ »

The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka has expressed its profound sorrow at the passing away last Sunday of one of its erstwhile members, Victor Ivan. Ivan was at the time a frontline member of the Free Media Movement. He joined The Guild as the Editor of the Ravaya at the height of a ‘Media Law …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Journalist and Doughty Defender of Press Freedom Victor Ivan Passes away:Editors Guild Expresses Profound Sorrow.’ »

(Text of Media Released by the High Commission of India in Colombo on 18 January 2025) High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E Santosh Jha and Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hon’ble Hiniduma Sunil Senevi jointly announced the naming of the Cultural Centre in Jaffna as ‘Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center’, in honour of …

Continue reading ‘Cultural Centre in Jaffna Constructed with Indian Grant Named ‘Thiruvalluvar Cultural Center’, in honour of the great Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar on 18 Jan 2025’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP ) was a specialized military intelligence unit of the Sri Lankan army that was deployed by the state against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) during the armed conflict. Sri Lanka’s Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol(LRRP) was known in Sinhala as the “Digu Dura Vihidum Balakaya” and in …

Continue reading ‘Shanmuganathan Ravishankar alias “Col” Charles was a Low Profile Tiger who Masterminded High Profile Attacks Outside North and East.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka has secured “one of its largest FDIs”, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced on Thursday, after signing a $3.7 billion-agreement with Sinopec during his ongoing state visit to China. Following bilateral discussions, President Dissanayake and Chinese President Xi Jinping, pledged to usher in a “new era” of development in bilateral ties, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Secures $ 3.7 Billion Foreign Direct Investment From Sinopec to set up State of the Art Oil Refinery with 200,000 Barrels Capacity in Hambantota District During President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s State Visit to China’ »

By Gamini Akmeemana While everyone is obsessed with the country’s economic crash, the consequences of the linguistic crash we suffered from 1956 onwards is just as serious. Even if the economy is salvaged at some point, Sri Lanka will continue to suffer the devastating long term consequences of that other, more cerebral crash in the …

Continue reading ‘Several decades of degrading and downgrading English following ‘Sinhala Only’ in 1956, have created a massive stumbling block to studying English It is now very hard for Sri Lanka to get out of this linguistic and cultural poverty trap.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Life and Times of Tiger “Col” Kittu-2 In the first part of this article on Sathasivampillai Krishnakumar alias “Col”Kittu published last week in the “Daily Mirror”, I had written about my interviewing the LTTE Jaffna district commander for the Indian news magazine “Frontline” in November 1986. It was at that time the …

Continue reading ‘Army -Tiger Prisoner Exchange: How “Col” Kittu Disappointed Vijaya Kumaratunga and Deceived Lalith Athulathmudali’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Sri Lanka has witnessed a remarkable political transformation. Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been elected as the country’s President. His party, the People’s Liberation Front (JVP), leads the National People’s Power coalition. Just four years ago, the JVP held only three parliamentary seats with 3% of the popular vote. Today, it controls …

Continue reading ‘For China, Sri Lanka under President Dissanayake’s leadership presents an opportunity to demonstrate how its Belt and Road Initiative can evolve to meet contemporary development challenges.’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene There is an intriguing question in the air. Is the creeping self-sabotage of Sri Lanka’s National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Government due to innate political clumsiness in power, the sycophantic antics of minions appointed to office who are characteristically unable to hold the chairs that they inhabit or a dangerous tendency to lean …

Continue reading ‘The ‘76 year old curse’ that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his NPP vowed to put an end to, does not show any signs of abating. The political ‘honeymoon’ is now well and truly over. It is time that the Govt starts performing.’ »

By Ruki Fernando January 6 this year is the 40 anniversary of the killing of Fr. Mary Bastian, a Catholic priest from the diocese of Mannar. It will be yet another anniversary to be celebrated without a body and grave. The government at the time of his killing claimed that Fr. Bastian had fled to …

Continue reading ‘Will the New President and the New Government Ensure Justice for the Enforced Disappearances and Kilings of Catholic and Protestant Christian Priests?’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கை ஆயுதப்படைகளுக்கும் தமிழீழ விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்துக்கும் இடையிலான 33 வருடகாலப் போர் இப்போதெல்லாம் நினைவில் இருந்து மெதுவாக அருகிக் கொண்டு போகிறது. விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கம் 1976 ஆம் ஆண்டு மே மாதம் 5 ஆம் திகதி முறைப்படி ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டது. மூன்று தசாப்தகால போருக்கு பிறகு விடுதலை புலிகள் முல்லைத்தீவின் நந்திக்கடல் ஏரியில் 2009 ஆம் ஆண்டு மே மாதம் 18 ஆம் திகதி தங்களது தோல்வியைச் சந்தித்தார்கள். வேலுப்பிள்ளை பிரபாகரன் தலைமையிலான …

Continue reading ‘சதாசிவம்பிள்ளை கிருஷ்ணகுமார் என்ற இயற்பெயரைக் கொண்ட விடுதலை புலிகளின் அன்றைய யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்ட தளபதி ‘ கேணல் ‘ கிட்டுவின் வாழ்வும் காலமும்’ »

By B.Kolappan Veteran playback singer P. Jayachandran, who died on Thursday (January 9, 2025), was Kerala’s gift to Tamil film music. He was introduced to the Tamil film world by late music director M.S. Viswanathan, and he rendered his first song for the film Manipayal in 1972. He had a unique voice, a mixture of …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Playback singer P. Jayachandran, who died on January 9, 2025 had a unique voice and went on to sing some of the best solo and duet numbers in Tamil films, but without a trace of Malayalam, his mother tongue, in his Tamil songs.’ »

By Jamila Husain The ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign launched by the government is hitting headlines especially in the electronic media, with videos of buses and three wheel drivers being stopped by police, advising them to remove the additional accessories on their vehicles. Despite a grace period extended by the police to remove such accessories, bus …

Continue reading ‘Can President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who came in with a mandate to end corruption, clean up his own parliament and ensure that both politicians and bureaucrats end their habits of bribes and commissions to get work done Under the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme ?’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Memories of the 33 year long war between the armed forces of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) are slowly receding nowadays. The LTTE ,known generally as the tigers, was formed officially on 5 May 1976. After three decades of conflict the LTTE met its waterloo by the waters …

Continue reading ‘Life and Times of Jaffna’s Former Tiger Commander Sathasivampillai Krishnakumar alias “Col” Kittu.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will visit China from January 14 to 17, the Cabinet Spokesman announced on Tuesday (January 7, 2025), confirming the Sri Lankan leader’s second state visit abroad, a month after he visited India. President Dissanayake will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath, …

Continue reading ‘President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to be in China from January 14 to 17 2025 on second state visit abroad one month after Indian visit: will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign AffairsVijitha Herath, and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake; Debt treatment and bilateral development cooperation expected to be discussed in Beijing’ »

The 16th anniversary of the assassination of The Sunday Leader founder Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge, which falls on 8 January, will be marked with a service at his graveside. Family, friends, former colleagues and others will gather at Borella Kanatte at 9 a.m. to mark the anniversary and remember Lasantha. Assassinated on 8 January 2009, Lasantha …

Continue reading ‘Graveside memorial service to mark 16th anniversary of Lasantha’s assassination On Wednesday 8 January 9 a.m. at Borella Kanatte’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கையின் புதிய ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்க டிசம்பர் 15 — 17 இந்தியாவுக்கு தனது முதலாவது உத்தியோகபூர்வ விஜயத்தை வெற்றிகரமாக முடித்துக்காண்டு நாடுதிரும்பினார். புதுடில்லிக்கான அவரின் மூன்று நாள்விஜயத்தின் காட்சிகள் நேர்மறையாக பாராட்டப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. ஜனாதிபதி திசாநாயக்க ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவினதும் ( ஜே.வி.பி.) அதன் தலைமையிலான தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியினதும் தலைவராக இருக்கிறார். அவரின் வெற்றிகரமான இந்திய பயணம் ஜே.வி.பி.யின் கடந்த காலத்துக்கும் நிகழ்காலத்துக்கும் இடையிலான ” பொருத்தமின்மை ” மீது கவனத்தைக் …

Continue reading ‘தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி அரசாங்கத்தின் உத்தேச அரசியலமைப்பும் 13 வது திருத்தமும்: 13 வது திருத்தத்தில் உள்ள அதிகாரப்பரவலாக்கல் அளவு புதிய அரசியலமைப்பில் சேர்த்துக் கொள்ளப்படுமா இல்லையா என்பதே முக்கியமான கேள்வியாகும்.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “History, despite its wrenching pain, Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage, need not be lived again”. – Maya Angelou (On the Pulse of Morning: An Inaugural Poem) The Kitchen Debate was an impromptu set of exchanges (via interpreters) between US vice president Richard Nixon and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev, on …

Continue reading ‘No Govt can cut direct taxes, maintain high military expenditure, keep white elephants like Sri Lankan going, manage the debt burden, and keep the economy afloat, without imposing huge burdens on ordinary masses.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has successfully concluded his first state visit to India from December 15 to 17. The optics of the three day visit to New Delhi has been hailed positively. President Dissanayake known popularly as AKD is the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna as well …

Continue reading ‘Past and Present India -Sri Lanka Relations ; 1987 Rajiv-JR Accord and the 2024 Modi-AKD Meeting.’ »

By Kelum Bandara Two ruling party MPs- Wijesiri Basnayake of Kurunegala and Ajith Gihan of Puttalam- came under mob violence when they came out in their separate vehicles after a meeting with the management of an apparel factory in the Bingiriya area. According to video footage of the scene now doing the rounds on social …

Continue reading ‘Angry Mob Surrounds Vehicles of NPP Govt’s Kurunegala MP Wijesiri Basanayake and Puttalam MP Ajith Gihan at Bingiriya and Attempts to Assault them while using abusive language.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ” விரும்பத்தகாத விளைவு நேரப்போகிறது என்பதற்கான முன்னறிவிப்பு ” ( The Writing on the Wall) என்பது பைபிளின் பழைய ஏற்பாட்டில் டானியலின் கதையில் இருந்து வந்த ஒரு உருவகமான மொழிநடையாகும். பாபிலோனிய சாம்ராச்சியத்தின் மன்னர் பெல்ஷாசாரும் அவரது நண்பர்கள் பரிவாரமும் உண்டுகுடித்து கும்மாளம் அடித்துக்கொண்டிருந்தவேளையில், வியக்கத்தக்க முறையில் கையொன்று தோன்றி அங்கிருந்த சுவரில் சில வரிகளை எழுதியதைப் பற்றி டானியல் பற்றிய நூலின் ஐந்தாவது அத்தியாயம் கூறுகிறது. அச்சமடைந்த மன்னராலும் நண்பர்களினாலும் …

Continue reading ‘2024 டிசம்பர் 16 ஆம் திகதி இந்திய — இலங்கை கூட்டறிக்கையில் 13 வது திருத்தம் குறித்து வெளிப்படையாக குறிப்பிடப்படாதது அரசியலமைப்புக்கான 13 வது திருத்தத்துக்கு நேரப்போகும் கதிக்கான முன்னறிவிப்பு ?’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Israel today is dynamiting the edifice of the global norms built after 1945.” Pankaj Mishra (The Shoah after Gaza – London Review of Books – 21.3.2014) In the second decade of the 21st Century, genocide is being televised. 72 Virgins – Uncensored was a Telegraph channel run by the Israeli Defence Forces’ …

Continue reading ‘Chabad House is a religious space belonging to the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic Movement which is deeply aligned with Israel’s ultra-right and the IDF.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham There was a stir in political circles when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his recent official visit to India and had a joint press meeting in New Delhi after talks with him, failed to say anything about the 13th Amendment (13A) to …

Continue reading ‘It would be useful to consider how far Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, who has been an MP for a long time has been able to move forward and reach his goals by adopting his ideologically stubborn political stance so far.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Season’s greetings to all readers! Let me begin the second part of this article on the speakers of Sri Lanka with a reference to former speaker Asoka Ranwala. A source who is usually well-informed about matters concerning the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) and the National People’s Power(NPP) got in touch with me a few …

Continue reading ‘The Speakers of Sri Lanka from 1931 to 2024 Served as the “Honourable ” Guardians of Parliamentary Supremacy.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “ The Writing on the Wall’is a figurative expression derived from the story of Daniel in the old testament of the Bible. Chapter five of the book of Daniel relates how the then monarch of the Babylonian empire Belshazzar and his cronies were feasting and drinking in the night when a hand …

Continue reading ‘Is “ the Writing on the Wall” for the Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment?’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ranwala Arachchige Asoka Sapumal Ranwala blazed across the parliamentary skies of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for a brief period .The National People’s Power(NPP) Gampaha district MP served as Sri Lanka’s speaker from 21 November to 13 December 2024 for 22 days. As is well known Ranwala was in the eye …

Continue reading ‘From Francis Molamure in 1931 to Asoka Ranwala in 2024 : An Overview of Sri Lanka’s Speakers.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The current controversy surrounding speaker Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala’s higher educational qualifications evoke memories of an earlier controversy of a similar nature concerning a prominent person associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE). The rumpus then was about the LTTE political strategist Anton Stanislaus Balasingham who was frequently referred to as Dr.Balasingham …

Continue reading ‘“Bala Annai” : an Up,Close and Personal Account about LTTE Political Strategist Anton Stanislaus Balasingham.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் கடந்த வாரம் பாராளுமன்ற சபாநாயகர் அசோகா சப்புமால் ரண்வலவை பதவியில் இருந்து விலகவைத்த அவரது உயர்கல்வித் தகைமைகள் தொடர்பான சர்ச்சை விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்துடன் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட முக்கிய பிரமுகர் ஒருவர் தொடர்பிலான இதே போன்ற முன்னைய சர்ச்சை ஒன்றை நினைவுபடுத்துகிறது. ஊடகங்களில் அடிக்கடி கலாநிதி பாலசிங்கம் என்று குறிப்பிடப்பட்ட விடுதலை புலிகளின் அரசியல் ஆலோசகர் அன்டன் ஸ்ரனிஸ்லோஸ் பாலசிங்கம் பற்றியதே அந்த குழப்பமாகும். விடுதலை புலிகளுக்கு எதிரான இயக்கங்களின் உறுப்பினர்கள் பாலசிங்கம் ஒரு கலாநிதி …

Continue reading ‘“பாலா அண்ணை “: அரசியல் ஆலோசகர் அன்டன் ஸ்ரனிஸ்லோஸ் பாலசிங்கத்துடனான அனுபவங்களின் நினைவுகள்.’ »

(Text of Statement addressing the media by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at New Delhi on 16 December 2024) His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi Honourable Ministers Excellencies Ladies and Gentlemen Friends from the media Ayubowan, Vanakkam, Namaste, Good Afternoon. It is indeed a pleasure to be in New Delhi on my first overseas …

Continue reading ‘“People from all the Provinces – North, South, East, and West—representing diverse communities contributed to our mandate.As a leader entrusted with such an important responsibility by my people, I clearly understand that the essence of democracy lies in the coexistence of diverse political views and groups.”- President Dissanayake in New Delhi’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The recently held parliamentary elections have resulted in the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) winning 159 seats and forming the Government. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB) with 40 seats is the chief opposition party. The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party(FP) with eight seats became the third …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Premier Tamil Political Party Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) Celebrates 75th Birth Anniversary.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray One side-effect of the polarizing effect of nationalism and populism around the world in recent years has been a decrease in the political stability and mandate enjoyed by incumbent regimes. From the erosion of nationalist hegemony in Malaysia or India to the rise of populism in the United States and pockets …

Continue reading ‘Beyond “Big Brother” : Reframing India-Sri Lanka Relations Under President Dissanayake’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will visit India from December 15 to 17, 2024, the foreign ministries of the two countries said on Friday (December 13, 2024), announcing his first state visit abroad since he won the presidency in September and his party swept the polls in the November general elections. …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Undertakes his First State Visit Abroad After Winning the Presidency in September; Three Day Visit to India from December 15 to 17’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Mata Allanda Bariwune,Madakkalappuwa vitharai” (I was unable to capture only Batticaloa) were the words with which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake smilingly greeted “Mattakkalappu”MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam in Parliament on 21st November. The president was mingling with the parliamentarians at the inaugural session of the tenth parliament. Anura was of course alluding to …

Continue reading ‘Sweet and Sour Election Results for Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK).: On Top in Batticaloa but Down in Jaffna.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ” மட்டக்களப்பை மாத்திரமே என்னால் கைப்பற்ற முடியாமல் போய்விட்டது.” பாராளுமன்றத்தில் நவம்பர் 21 ஆம் திகதி மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்ட பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் சாணக்கியன் இராஜபுத்திரன் இராசமாணிக்கத்தை புன்முறுவலுடன் வரவேற்ற ஜனாதிபதி அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க கூறிய வார்த்தைகள் இவை. பத்தாவது பாராளுமன்றத்தின் அங்குரார்ப்பணக் கூட்டத்தின்போது பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களுடன் ஒன்றறக்கலந்து ஜனாதிபதி அன்னியோன்யமாக உரையாடினார். நவம்பர் 14 பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலைப் பற்றியே சாணக்கியனிடம் அவர் அவ்வாறு மறைபொருளாக கூறினார். மட்டக்களப்பை தவிர இலங்கையின் சகல தேர்தல் …

Continue reading ‘தமிழரசு கட்சி மட்டக்களப்பில் பெற்ற பெருவெற்றியும் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் அடைந்த படுதோல்வியும்’ »

By Saman Gunadasa After two days of debate on December 3–4, the Sri Lankan parliament, without taking a vote, unanimously endorsed the policy statement of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National People’s Power (JVP/NPP) government, presented by the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on November 21. The unanimity of the ruling and opposition MPs on the policy statement, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan opposition parties have strengthened the hand of the JVP/NPP government to proceed with its assault on the living conditions of workers and the poor.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவை ( ஜே.வி.பி.) பொறுத்தவரை, நவம்பர் 13 பெரும் முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த ஒரு தினமாகும். ஜே.வி.பி.யின் வசீகரமிக்க தாபகத் தலைவர் றோஹண விஜேவீர 1989 நவம்பர் 13 ஆம் திகதி தான் கொலை செய்யப்பட்டார். 1994 ஆம் ஆண்டில் இருந்து ஜே.வி.பி. விஜேவீரவையும் 1971 கிளர்ச்சியிலும் 1987 — 89 கிளர்ச்சியிலும் உயிரிழந்த ஆயிரக்கணக்கான அதன் உறுப்பினர்களையும் நினைவுகூருவதற்கு வருடாந்தம் ஒரு நிகழ்வை ஏற்பாடு செய்துவருகிறது. தியாகிகளை நினைவு கூருவதற்கு வழமையாக …

Continue reading ‘ஜே.வி.பி.யின் தாபகத் தலைவர் றோஹண விஜேவீர கொலையை அநுராவின் அரசாங்கம் விசாரணை செய்யுமா?’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj November 13 is a date of great significance as far as the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) – known as the Makkal Viduthalai Munnani in Tamil and People’s Liberation Front in English-is concerned. It was on 13 November 1989 that the JVP’s charismatic founder-leader Rohana Wijeweera. Since 1994 the JVP has been annually conducting an …

Continue reading ‘Will Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s NPP Govt Order an Official Probe Into the “Unofficial Execution” of JVP Founder – Leader Rohana Wijeweera 35 Years ago?’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் தமிழ்த் தேசியவாதத்தின் கோட்டையான யாழ்ப்பாணத்தைச் சூழ்ந்த அநுரா அலை பற்றியதாக எனது கடந்த வாரத்தைய கட்டுரை அமைந்திருந்தது. ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுன (ஜே.வி.பி.) தலைமையிலான தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி 2024 நவம்பர் பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலில் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் அதிகூடிய வாக்குகளைப் பெற்ற தனிக்கட்சியாக வரலாறு படைத்தது. இலங்கை தமிழர்களின் பண்பாட்டுத் தலைநகரம் என்று வர்ணிக்கப்படும் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தின் ஆறு பாராளுமன்ற ஆசனங்களில் தேசிய கட்சிக்கு மூன்று ஆசனங்கள் கிடைத்தன. நவம்பர் 14 தேர்தல் தீர்ப்பு இலங்கையின் சுதந்திரத்துக்கு …

Continue reading ‘யாழ்ப்பாண வெற்றி தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியின் தேர்தல் கிரீடத்தில் பெறுமதியான அணிகலன்: யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் தேசிய மககள் சக்தி ஏன், எவ்வாறு வெற்றி பெற்றது?’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya The political Opposition in this country has yet again reduced to insignificance. This is a precarious existence for politics and the country at large, though this has been a recurrent phenomenon throughout the 2010s. Only the travails have incrementally worsened: In 2010, during the second term of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency, the UPFA …

Continue reading ‘The Serial stupidity of SJB leader Sajith Premadasa whose decision to run against Ranil Wickremesinghe in Presidential election assured the mutual destruction of both and played into the hands of the NPP and Anura Kumara Dissanayake.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Don’t let it happen. It depends on you.” – George Orwell (1984) They are back, creeping out of the woodwork. The gathering outside Colombo’s main railway station was mercifully small, just the mandatory monk and a handful of civilians. Having offered flowers to a statue of the Buddha, they proceeded to violate …

Continue reading ‘If Chabad-Lubavitch Movement is given a legal foothold in Arugam Bay, it may not be long before our own Muslims are accused of antisemitism and of igniting a pogrom! Imagine with what glee the BBS/Sinhala Ravaya types would hop on that bandwagon.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The Anura “Alai”or wave that engulfed the Tamil nationalist stronghold of Jaffna was the focus of this column published last week. (Anura “Alai”(Wave) Engulfs Tamil Nationalist Stronghold of Jaffna).The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) made history by polling the highest number of votes in Jaffna as a single party in the …

Continue reading ‘Despite Winning 159 Seats, the 3 MP Success in Jaffna is the Prized Jewel in the NPP’s Electoral Crown.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி 2024 நவம்பர் 14 பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலில் வரலாற்று முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த ஒரு வெற்றியைப் பதிவு செய்திருக்கிறது. ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவை (ஜே.வி.பி.) பிரதான அங்கத்துவக் கட்சியாகக்கொண்டு 21 அரசியல் கட்சிகள், குழுக்கள் மற்றும் தொழிற்சங்கங்களை உளாளடக்கிய ஒரு கூட்டமைப்பே தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியாகும். அது 6, 863,186 (61.6 சதவீதம் ) வாக்குகளைப் பெற்று 225 ஆசனங்களைக் கொண்ட இலங்கை பாராளுமன்றத்தில் 159 ஆசனங்களைக் கைப்பறாறியிருக்கிறது. இவற்றில் 141 ஆசனங்கள் …

Continue reading ‘யாழ் தமிழ் தேசியவாதக் கோட்டைக்குள் பலமாக அடித்த “அநுர அலை”: ஆறு யாழ்ப்பாண ஆசனங்களில் மூன்றில் தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி வெற்றி.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Whither politics of Tamil nationalism? What is the future of Tamil nationalist politics in Sri Lanka? This question, which has arisen in the aftermath of the recent Parliamentary Elections, should not be viewed simply in terms of the future electoral prospects of Tamil parties. It is a question related to the anxiety …

Continue reading ‘As a result of the Tamil nationalist parties splitting and contesting elections as different factions, the parliamentary representation of Tamils ​​from the north and east has been weakened even more than before. Tamil politicians had ignored the warnings given in advance in this regard.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Among the many historic ‘firsts’ that the November 2024 Parliamentary Elections witnessed, two achievements by the National People’s Power (NPP) have evinced the most attention. The NPP’s landslide victory marks the first time since the introduction of the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system in Sri Lanka that a single party or alliance …

Continue reading ‘The Tamil people had no other choice but to turn to the NPP because there was no political force among them that could lead them on a practical and sensible political path as an alternative to the Tamil parties.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj There is magic in the air! The country is in a festive mood. The toast of the town is a man called Anura Kumara Dissanayake who is the leader of two political parties namely the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) and National People’s Power(NPP). AKD as he is popularly known was the victor in a …

Continue reading ‘JVP, NPP and the Astounding Political Ascent of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray This will be my first Christmas without my father, Eric Cooray, who passed away three months ago. Life has felt strange since that inevitable moment, one I always dreaded, while never anticipating just how difficult his loss would be to accept. Almost every day starts and ends with thoughts of my …

Continue reading ‘Remembering my father Eric Cooray for his unwavering faith, calm demeanour, and boundless kindness’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் – 6 ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவினதும் ( ஜே.வி.பி.) தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியினதும் தலைவர் அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்க 2019 நவம்பர் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் திசைகாட்டி சின்னத்தில் போட்டியிட்டார். வெறுமனே 418, 553 ( 3.16 சதவீதம் ) வாக்குகளைப் பெற்று மிகவும் அவர் பின்தங்கிய ஒரு மூன்றாவது இடத்துக்கு வந்தார். மோசமான தோல்வியைக் கண்டு அவர் துவண்டு போகவில்லை. …

Continue reading ‘3 சதவீதத்தில் இருந்து 42 சதவீதமாக பதினான்கு மடங்கு பாய்ச்சலில் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க எவ்வாறு ஜனாதிபதி பதவியை வென்றெடுத்தார்?’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The National People’s Power(NPP) known in Sinhala as Jathika Jana Balawegaya(JJB) and Theseeya Makkal Sakthi(TMS) in Tamil has recorded a historic victory in the Parliamentary elections held on 14 November 2024. The NPP is a coalition of 21 political entities and trade unions of which the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) is the chief constituent. …

Continue reading ‘Anura “Alai”(Wave) Engulfs the Tamil Nationalist Stronghold of Jaffna. JVP/NPP Comes First in Jaffna with Three of Six Seats’ »

(Full Text of Address Delivered by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 21 November 2024 at the Inauguration of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament) Today is an exceptionally significant day in the history of our Parliament. For decades, political power in our country shifted back and forth between two main camps. However, during the …

Continue reading ‘“Today, all communities across all provinces have trusted us and granted us this power. It is with profound gratitude that I extend my deepest respect and thanks to the people who trusted us.”-President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka-PART SIX The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP)and National People’s Power(NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake contested the 2019 presidential election under the compass symbol.He finished a poor third with 418,553(3.16%) votes. Anura refused to be cowed down by that crushing defeat. AKD refurbished his image and …

Continue reading ‘How Anura Kumara Dissanayake Won the Presidency in a Fourteen Fold Quantum Leap from 3% in 2019 to 42% in 2024.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Wishes come true Not free.” (Stephen Sondheim, In to the Woods) The Grimm version is known wider but the Turkish one cuts deeper. In both tales, the boy goes in search of fear and finds a crown. In the Grimm version, fear comes when a pail of cold water full of tiny …

Continue reading ‘The breadth and the depth of the NPP/JVP’s parliamentary victory is unimagined and unimaginable in rational and historical terms. The new govt has enough power to do everything it has promised from alleviating economic misery and ending corruption to abolishing the executive presidency and enacting a new constitution.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna [JVP or People’s Liberation Front], which leads Sri Lanka’s ruling National People’s Power [NPP], could not have risen to power without widening its appeal and building a mass support base over the last few years, and the current political moment affords the party a chance to rewrite its …

Continue reading ‘“Marxism is not a set philosophy. It is really about providing answers to people’s problems at a particular time and context. We are committed to doing that through development, eliminating rural poverty, rooting out political corruption, achieving social justice and national unity We want to build a clean and beautiful Sri Lanka.” – JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray For the first time since the enactment of the 1978 Constitution and the advent of the system of proportional representation, the Sri Lankan people have united to confer a two-third majority of its legislative power to a single party, Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power. It also marks the first time …

Continue reading ‘The Historic 2024 Parliamentary Election marks the first time that Sri Lankans of all ethnicities across the country spoke with a single voice, and placed their faith in a single leader- Anura Kumara Dissanayake’ »

By Maneshka Borham President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) has achieved a landmark victory in the 2024 Parliamentary Election on Thursday, securing an impressive 159 seats and a commanding supermajority in Parliament. Apart from emerging as the unifying force of Sri Lanka especially winning districts in North and East except Batticaloa, this election …

Continue reading ‘President Anura Kumara Dissanayake-led National People’s Power Emerges as the Unifying Force of Sri Lanka’ »

Sri Lanka’s National People’s Power of President Anura Dissanayake has swept the 2024 parliamentary elections raking in a two thirds majority winning 159 out of 225 seats in the assembly. The NPP painted the island winning across ethnicities and religious groups and made history winning the Northern Jaffna district. Since the preferential votes started under …

Continue reading ‘President AK Dissanayake’s JVP led NPP With 159 Seats Makes History as First Party to get Two-thirds Majority under PR Voting System ; SJB -40,ITAK-8,NDF/UNP-6,SLPP-3,SLMC-3, One MP each for ACMC, DTNA, SB, ACTC, SLLP&Independent Group 14’ »

By Shihar Aneez Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election results showed unity among the island nation’s different ethnic and religious people in backing President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s request for a clean parliament, but a weaker opposition that could threaten the country’s fragile democracy. President Dissanayake’s Marxists Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led ruling National People’s Power (NPP) recorded a …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Majority Sinhalese as well as Minority Tamils and Muslims Unitedly Responding Positively to President Dissanayake’s Call for a Clean Parliament by Electing 159 MPs but Depleted Weak Opposition may Threaten Fragile Democracy’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Gaza was the first time I held a baby’s brains in my hand. The first of many.” – Dr. Mark Perlmutter, orthopaedic and hand surgeon (Open letter from American medical professionals who served in Gaza https://www.gazahealthcareletters.org/usa-letter-oct-2-2024) Last December, a group of ultra-religious Israeli soldiers turned a Palestinian home in the Gaza city …

Continue reading ‘Who is the mysterious Israeli staying in Arugam Bay for the last three years who has been provided with special security consisting of two members of the MSD, two army soldiers, several members of the police, and civil defence force?’ »

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power is heading for a landslide in the 2024 parliamentary elections, and is on track for a two – thirds majority, results released so far show. The NPP contesting under its Malimawa also became the largest party in Jaffna, overtaking traditional parties in the area, radically improving …

Continue reading ‘President Anura Dissanayake’s National People’s Power Contesting Under Compass Symbol Heads for Landslide Victory with Two-Thirds Majority: JVPled NPP Wins 65% of Votes Declared so far’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Thursday (November 14, 2024) said he expects his National People’s Power (NPP) alliance to secure a “strong presence” in Parliament to steer the island nation ahead with a “new political culture”. Addressing the media after casting his vote in the island nation’s general elections, Mr. …

Continue reading ‘President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says The NPP will Will Run a Government that is Accepted by People in the North,, South,East and West” of Sri Lanka; Hopes to Steer Island Nation ahead with a New Political Culture and Strong Presence in Parliament’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday (November 10, 2024) assured Tamils that their land —currently held by state agencies — will be returned by his government. Mr. Dissanayake, who was elected to the country’s top office in September, made the pledge at a public rally in Jaffna, days ahead of …

Continue reading ‘President Anura Dissanayake Addressing Meeting in Jaffna Assures Tamils that their Lands Seized by the State would be returned to them but makes no reference to Greater Power Devolution or a Political Settlement to the Ethnic Question’ »

. By D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Article Denoting Kamal Haasan’s 70th Birth Anniversary on 7 November 2024) Srinivasan Kamal Haasan known popularly as Kamal Haasan and/or Kamal is arguably the finest actor in Tamil cinema today. He is also acknowledged as being one of India’s foremost thespians.The multi-faceted artiste is a film director, producer, screenwriter, film lyricist, poet, …

Continue reading ‘Multi-faceted Tamil Actor Kamal Haasan is a Great Intellectual Among Indian Film Stars.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham This week’s Parliamentary Elections in Sri Lanka are taking place in a situation where the country’s political landscape has changed to a greater extent than during previous Parliamentary Polls. None of the traditional mainstream political parties are asking the people to vote in order to bring them to power. Their leaders are …

Continue reading ‘The Tamil polity is severely fragmented today as a result of the leaders of Tamil Political parties acting without foresight and failing to realise their historic responsibilities’ »

By Susitha Fernando Passed out as a lawyer from the Colombo Law College and having two Master-LLM from the University of Colombo and a LLM and Development as a Chevening Scholar at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, young activist Swastika Arulingam was a prominent figure in the Aragalaya (Protest) which toppled …

Continue reading ‘“ Parliament must be inclusive and representative of all ethnicities, caste and gender. It must also be a space where workers have representatives to speak for them. I am a woman, a Tamil and a Trade Unionist. The people and the politics we represent must have a space in Parliament.”- An Interview with Swasthika Arulingam’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka-PART FIVE The Presidential election of November 2019 and the Parliamentary elections of August 2020 proved to be huge disappointments to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) and its leader Anura Kumara Dissanauyake(AKD). As is well known, the JVP had in a strategic move, contested both …

Continue reading ‘Scenting the Sweet Smell of Success! How and Why Anura Kumara Dissanayake Anticipated Victory in the 2024 Presidential Race.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Regardless of the decisive change in Sri Lanka’s national politics — with the election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake in September this year — the country’s Tamil people will need strong representation in Parliament to assert their rights and long-neglected demands, according to prominent Tamil politician M.A. Sumanthiran. A senior lawyer and three-time …

Continue reading ‘With the election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Sep 2024 the country’s Tamil people will need strong representation in Parliament to assert their rights and long-neglected demands says ITAK Spokesperson M.A.Sumanthiran’ »

டி.பி.எஸ்.ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் – 5 ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுன (ஜே.வி.பி.) வுக்கும் அதன் தலைவர் அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்கவுக்கும் 2019 நவம்பர் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலும் 2020 ஆகஸ்ட் பாராளுமன்ற தேர்தலும் பெரிய ஏமாற்றமாகப் போரவிட்டது. ஒரு தந்திரோபாய நகர்வாகவே ஜே.வி.பி. அந்த இரு தேர்தல்களிலும் திசைகாட்டி புதிய சின்னத்தின் கீழ் புதியதொரு அரசியல் முன்னணியின் அங்கமாக போட்டியிட்டது. அந்த கட்சி தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி …

Continue reading ‘2024 ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் வெற்றியின் வாசனையை அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க எவ்வாறு முகர்ந்து பிடித்தார்?’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka-PART FOUR This is the fourth part of an extended article focusing on Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. In the first part of this article , the early years of Anura’s eventful life were delved into in some detail. In the …

Continue reading ‘How and Why the JVP led by Anura Dissanayake Formed the National People’s Power (NPP) in 2019.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் – 4 இலங்கையின் புதிய ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்வை பற்றிய எனது கட்டுரைத் தொடரின் நான்காவது பாகம் இதுவாகும். முதலாவது பாகத்தில் நிகழவுகள் நிறைந்த அவரது ஆரம்ப வாழ்க்கையையும் இரண்டாவது பாகத்தில் ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுன( ஜே வி.பி.) வுக்குள் அவரின் படிப்படியான சீரான வளர்ச்சி பற்றியும் மூன்றாவது பாகத்தில் ஜே.வி.பி.யின் தலைமைத்துவத்துக்கு அவரின் உயர்வு பற்றியும் எழுதியிருந்தேன். …

Continue reading ‘அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்கவும் தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியின் உருவாக்கமும்’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Is the “House of Rajapaksa” Falling Down? was the heading of an article written by me for our sister paper the “Daily Mirror” two and a half years ago. The article was published on 23 April 2022 when the “Aragalaya”(struggle) protests were going on. The article focused on the Rajapaksa family and its …

Continue reading ‘The Rise and Fall of the Medamulana Rajapaksa Dynasty.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ் ஜெயராஜ் கடந்த காலத்தில் அதிகாரத்தில் இருந்தவர்களினால் தடுக்கப்பட்ட அல்லது சீர்குலைக்கப்பட்டு நீதிகிடைக்காமல் போன பாரிய ஊழல் மோசடிகள், படுகொலைகள் தொடர்பான விசாரணைகளை மீண்டும் ஆரம்பிக்கப் போவதாக ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்க தனது தேர்தல் பிரசாரங்களின்போது அடிக்கடி வலியுறுத்திக் கூறினார். அண்மைய நிகழ்வுகள் தங்களது தேர்தல் வாக்குறுதிகள் குறித்து ஜனாதிபதி திசாநாயக்கவும் அவரது அரசாங்கமும் கரிசனையாக இருக்கிறார்கள் என்பதை வெளிக்காட்டுகின்றன. இது தொடர்பில் அவர்கள் அடுத்த கட்ட நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்கத் தொடங்கியிருக்கிறார்கள். அடுத்த மாதம் பாராளுமன்ற …

Continue reading ‘பத்திரிகையாளராக மாறிய போராளி ‘ தராக்கி ‘ சிவராம் ; கொடூரமான கடத்தலும் கொலையும்- மீண்டும் விசாரணைக்கு உத்தரவிட்டிருக்கும் ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமாரவின் அரசாங்கம்.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj President Anura Kumara Dissanayake frequently emphasised during his election campaign that he would re-open investigations into incidents of colossal fraud,mass murder and assassinations where the course of justice was allegedly obstructed or thwarted by those in power in the past. Recent happenings indicate that president Dissanayake and his Government are serious about their …

Continue reading ‘The Brazen Abduction and Brutal Murder of Militant Turned Journalist “Taraki” Sivaram.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj October 23rd 2024 is the 76th Birth anniversary of legendary Muslim Congress leader M.H.M. Ashraff. The dynamic lawyer – politician hailing from Eastern Sri Lanka would have celebrated his 76th Birthday ,if he were among the living today. Alas! This was not to be as Ashraff passed away in a helicopter crash on …

Continue reading ‘Remembering Legendary Muslim Congress Leader M.H.M.Ashraff on his 76th Birth Anniversary.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The future is cloth waiting to be cut.” Seamus Heaney (The Burial at Thebes) The point had been made often enough. Without a Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency, there wouldn’t have been an Anura Kumara Dissanayake presidency. For the NPP/JVP to go from 3 percent to 42 percent in four plus years, the system …

Continue reading ‘The JVP’s commendable evolution on matters economic has not been paralleled in the ethnic problem arena. The NPP was remarkably reticent on the subject in its presidential manifesto. Behind a non-racist façade, the JVP is as regressive about the Tamil question today, as it was in the past.’ »

By Kishali Pinto- Jayawardene The hideous sight of three former Presidents of Sri Lanka laughing their heads off on the national stage when invited by the country’s accounting professionals to speak on a corruption culture that brought the nation to ruinous bankruptcy in 2022 sums up exactly why the political parties that they lead have …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Presidents Chandrika,Ranil and Maithripala were responsible for corruption running rampant in the public/political sector when they handled the reins of executive office.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Almost one month has elapsed since Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) took oath as the ninth Executive President of Sri Lanka. During this period, he and other prominent leaders of the National People’s Power (NPP), especially the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), have been talking with pride about what they view as changes in …

Continue reading ‘The JVP has a bitter history of fiercely opposing all attempts at finding a political solution to the national ethnic problem. There was no place for the phrase ‘devolution of power’ in its political lexicon.’ »

Sri Lanka’s former President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has urged voters to send experienced members back to Parliament in the upcoming General Election, set for 14 November. In a special statement made yesterday, Wickremesinghe emphasised the need for seasoned politicians who worked alongside him to return to Parliament to address the country’s ongoing economic challenges. “Without experience, …

Continue reading ‘“Without experience, you cannot run Parliament, and you cannot achieve the goals we have set. Those who worked with me have the expertise to solve the economic challenges, These experienced politicians should be elected to Parliament, as part of the Government or the Opposition.”- Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka-PART THREE The year was 1969. A 31 year old mother sought the services of a prominent astrologer to draw up the horoscope of her six month old son. The astrologer made some calculations based on planetary movements that prevailed at the time of …

Continue reading ‘“Comrade”Anura Began Historic Journey After Becoming the Fifth Leader of JVP in 2014.’ »

டி பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் -3 அது 1969 ஆம் ஆண்டு. 31 வயதான தாய் தனது ஆறு மாத ஆண் குழந்தையின் ஜாதகத்தை எழுதுவிப்பதற்காக பிரபலமான ஒரு சோதிடரின் சேவையை நாடினார். முன்னைய வருடத்தில் குழந்தை பிறந்த நேரத்தில் இருந்த கிரக நகர்வுகளின் அடிப்படையில் சில கணிப்பீடுகளைச் செய்த சோதிடர் தாயாரை பெரு வியப்புடன் பார்த்து ” உங்கள் மகனுக்கு அவனது விதியில் …

Continue reading ‘பத்து வருடங்களுக்கு முன்னர் ”தோழர்” அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ஜே.வி.பி.யின் ஐந்தாவது தலைவராக வந்தபோது…..!…..’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Even those who did not vote for Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the presidential race would find it refreshing to see that the old rot that had infested Sri Lankan politics is being cleared out. But, look closer; while some of the old guard may have left politics for good, a good number …

Continue reading ‘Sajith Premadasa has made opposition politics unwinnable. He had the choice of making an alliance with the UNP but he was so insecure that Ranil Wickremesinghe would somehow wrest control of the Party that he turned it down.’ »

By K.K.S.Perera Targeting Dr. Harsha de Silva by senior SJB members began a couple of years ago when he started gaining recognition as a potential future leader. The brilliant economist faced criticism a few months ago after securing state funding for development work in Kotte. During a TV chat show explaining the process, Harsha made …

Continue reading ‘Dr. Harsha De Silva, with his expertise in economics, experience in governance, and reputation for pragmatism, could emerge as a more favourable candidate to lead the Samagi Jana Balavegaya(SJB)’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka – Part Two Sri Lanka’s newly elected ninth executive president Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) continues to be the focus of this column. In the first part of this article published last week, the early years of Anura’s eventful life were delved into in …

Continue reading ‘Anura Kumara’s Ascendancy Inside the JVP and his Political Rise Within Sri Lanka.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம் -2 இலங்கையின் ஒன்பதாவது நிறைவேற்று அதிகார ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்கவின் பரபரப்பான நிகழ்வுகள் பலப்பல நிறைந்த ஆரம்ப வாழ்க்கையைப் பற்றி இந்த கட்டுரைத் தொடரின் முதல் பாகத்தில் கடந்தவாரம் எழுதியிருந்தேன். இந்த இரண்டாவது பாகத்தில் ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவுக்குள் (ஜே.வி.பி.) ஒரு அரசியல் தலைவராக அவரின் படிப்படியான சீரான வளர்ச்சி குறித்து பாராப்போம். கடந்த வாரத்தைய பத்தியில் குறறிப்பிட்டதைப் …

Continue reading ‘ஜே.வி.பி . இயக்கத்தில் அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்கவின் வளர்ச்சியும் இலங்கை அரசியலில் துரித எழுச்சியும்’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene Is the Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) Presidency which came into power on a ‘reformist’ election platform able to legally justify the invocation of Section 12 of the Public Security Ordinance (PSO) using ‘special powers’ to call out the armed forces for the maintenance of public order? Sri Lanka’s pervasive militarisation Speaking …

Continue reading ‘On what legal basis did President Dissanayake call out the armed forces to maintain ‘public order?’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham Sri Lankan political parties have been forced to prepare for the Parliamentary Elections before the exhaustion of campaigning for the Presidential Election has worn off. Particularly, the parties of the losers among the main presidential candidates have to face a national election again before they can recover from the impact of the …

Continue reading ‘Just as people in the south have begun to reject traditional political parties and leaders, a rejection is also needed in the north and east.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj. The heading of this article is inspired by the title of Edgar Snow’s , “Red Star Over China”. Snow’s book first published in 1937 was a vivid account of his interaction with the Chinese communist leader Mao Ze Dong and the Red Army. Mao known then as Mao Tse Tung was relatively called …

Continue reading ‘Anura Kumara Dissanayake ; “Leftist” Star Rises Over Sri Lanka.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் இலங்கையில் நிறைவேற்று அதிகார ஜனாதிபதி ஆட்சிமுறையை ஒழிக்கவேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை ஒன்றும் புதியது அல்ல. அந்த ஆட்சிமுறை என்றைக்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டதோ அன்றிலிருந்தே அதை ஒழிக்கவேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கையும் முன்வைக்கப்பட்டு வந்திருக்கிறது. ஜனாதிபதி ஆட்சிமுறையை ஒழிக்கப் போவதாக தேர்தல்களில் வாக்குறுதி அளித்து மக்களின் ஆணையைப் பெற்று ஜனாதிபதியாக ஆட்சியதிகாரத்துக்கு வந்தவர்கள் எவருமே அதை ஒழிக்கவில்லை என்பது அண்மைக்கால வரலாறு. இறுதியாக நடைபெற்ற ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலிலும் பிரதான வேட்பாளர்களில் அநுரா குமார திசாநாயக்கவும் ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சக்தியின் …

Continue reading ‘ஜனாதிபதிகள் வரலாம் , ஜனாதிபதிகள் போகலாம், ஆனால் ஜே. ஆர்.ஜெயவர்தனவின் ஜனாதிபதி ஆட்சிமுறை தொடர்ந்து கொண்டேயிருக்கும்’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் அமெரிக்க பத்திரிகையாளர் எட்கார் சினோவின் ‘ சீன வானில் சிவப்பு நட்சத்திரம் ‘ (Red Star over China ) என்ற நூல்தான் கட்டுரைக்கு இந்த தலைப்பை வைப்பதற்கு தூண்டுதல் அளித்தது. சீனக் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் தலைவர் மாவோ சேதுங்குடனும் செஞ்சேனையுடனும் தனது ஊடாட்டம் பற்றிய உயிர்களையுடைய விபரிப்பாக அமைந்த அந்த முதலில் 1937 ஆம் ஆண்டில் பிரசுரமானது. மாவோ என்று அறியப்பட்ட மாவோ சேதுங்கைப் பற்றி அந்த நேரத்தில் மேற்குலகில் பெரிதாகத் தெரியாது. பல …

Continue reading ‘அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க ; இலங்கை வானில் ‘ இடதுசாரி ‘ நட்சத்திரம்’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Looking for the rain Looking for the rain.” – Gil Scott-Heron (Winter in America) The Election Commission continues to rock. This week, it halted, for the duration of parliamentary polls, an order by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to increase fertiliser and fuel subsidies to farmers and fishermen. The same way it stopped …

Continue reading ‘Can the Anura Kumara Dissanayake administration overcome prejudices deeply ingrained in society and within its own ranks, and break out of the ethno-religious vicious cycle which has caused Sri Lanka so much harm?’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya The presidential election’s outcome has been described in flowery language: A vote for system change, the rejection of the old regime, a clarion call against corruption and cronyism, a vote against the sale of national assets, and so on. All that is true to a certain degree, but they still miss the …

Continue reading ‘Anura Kumara Dissanayake “did not win”. Sajith Premadasa with his Oversized Ego and Hurry to become President Handed Over the Election to AKD’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham When Parliament elected Ranil Wickremesinghe as President two years ago, it was said that he was the ultimate beneficiary of the unprecedented people’s uprising in Sri Lanka. However, last week’s Presidential Election showed the world the real beneficiary of that uprising. Just as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Founding Leader, the …

Continue reading ‘Anura Kumra Dissanayake will ask the people who elected him as President to give his NPP a big victory at the Parliamentary Elections to stabilise the economy and fulfil promises.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s newly elected president Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Dr.Harini Amarasuriya as his Prime minister. The academic turned politico is Sri Lanka’s third woman prime minister. The first woman PM of the Island nation was Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Sirimavo shattered a global glass ceiling in 1960 by becoming the world’s first woman prime …

Continue reading ‘The Prelate and the Premier: Why Mapitigama Buddharakkitha Thera got SWRD Bandaranaike Assaassinated.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s newly elected government led byPresident Anura Kumara Dissanayake has restored the country’s old visa system, adhering to a recent Supreme Court order that suspended a controversial new portal managed by a consortium including an Indian company. The announcement was made late on Thursday (September 26, 2024), almost two months after …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s new Govt led by President Anura Kumar Dissanayake Restores Country’s Old Visa System in Adherence to a Recent Supreme Court Ruling’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray On the morning of the 13th of July 2022, nothing seemed certain about Sri Lanka. Just two months prior, the country had declared bankruptcy and defaulted on more than $50 billion of sovereign debt. Its self-styled ‘patriotic’ president had just fled the country, cowering in the back of a cargo plane. …

Continue reading ‘Inside the Enigma: Ranil’s Legacy and Anura’s Destiny’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Sri Lanka’s ninth presidential election will be held on Saturday the 21st of September. More than 17 million (17,140, 354) Sri Lankans are registered as eligible voters. Nominally thirty-eight candidates are in the ring but only three are regarded as te leading contenders. The hectic election campaigns ended on Sep 18 but election …

Continue reading ‘Presidents May Come and Presidents May Go but JR Jayewardene’s Executive Presidency Goes on Forever.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday (September 24, 2024) appointed MP and former academic Harini Amarasuriya as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, as part of a four-member Cabinet under him that will lead policy until the parliamentary elections scheduled on November 14. The date for the general elections was announced through a gazette …

Continue reading ‘Academic Turned MP Dr.Harini Amarasuriya Becomes Third Woman to be Prime Minist of Sri Lanka after Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1960 and Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1994; President Anura Dissanayake Dissolves Parliament to hold Election on 14th November’ »