By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham A total of 39 candidates are contesting in Sri Lanka’s ninth Presidential Election scheduled to be held on 21 September. This is a record number of candidates contesting in an election in the history of Presidential Elections of the country. Until now, the Presidential Election has been a direct contest between candidates …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe points out that other main presidential candidates are not opposed to the agreement with the IMF and that they have openly said they will continue with it.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj From the time Ranil Wickremesinghe returned to the seat of power as Prime Minister and later as President, false narratives have been concocted and circulated e by his opponents, adeversaries, critics and detractors about him. One was that Wickremesinghe was afraid to face a presidential election and that he would put off the …

Continue reading ‘Namal Rajapaksa’s Entry Impacts Political Dynamics of 2024 Presidential Election.’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday highlighted the significance of the newly signed ‘Puluwan Sri Lanka’ (Sri Lanka Can) agreement, stressing that it is not intended to form a new political party but rather to unite the nation and build a brighter future. The agreement, endorsed by 34 political parties and alliances, symbolises a collective commitment to …

Continue reading ‘34 Political Parties and Alliances Endorse Support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Candidacy at “Puluwan Sri Lanka”Convention in Colombo.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Almost twenty years ago, I received a call from Don Harold Stassen Jayawardena. Of course, at the time I knew him as ‘Harry Jayawardena’ as did many Sri Lankans, especially in business circles. I was in England, veritably forced into exile by political circumstances which included the abduction and torture of …

Continue reading ‘Hardnosed businessman with the softest heartbeat Harry Jayawardena Celebrates 82nd Birthday on on 17th August 2024’ »

By Meera Srinivasan As many as 39 presidential aspirants will contest a crucial poll in Sri Lanka on September 21, the Election Commission said on Thursday (August 15, 2024), after closing nominations. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who rose to the top office through a parliamentary vote during the island nation’s 2022 crisis, is seeking a …

Continue reading ‘39 Candidates Contesting in Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election Scheduled for 21 September;Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and JVP/NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake are top Contenders’ »

. டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க முதலில் பிரதமராகவும் பிறகு ஜனாதிபதியாகவும் அதிகாரத்துக்கு வந்த நேரம் தொடக்கம் எதிரிகளும் விமர்சகர்களும் அவரைப்பற்றி பல தவறான கதைகளை கட்டிவிடுவதில் ஈடுபட்டு வந்திருக்கிறார்கள். ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலுக்கு முகங்கொடுப்பதற்கு அஞ்சுகிறார் என்பதும் அவர் வழமைக்கு மாறான நடவடிக்கைகள் மூலமாக தேர்தலைப் ஒத்திவைப்பார் என்பதும் அந்த்கதைகளில் ஒன்று. இந்த போலிக்கதை தேர்தல்கள் ஆணைக்குழு ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தல் திகதியை வர்த்தமானியில் வெளியிட்டபோது அம்பலமானது. விக்கிரமசிங்கவே ஒரு சுயேச்சை வேட்பாளராக முதலில் தனது கட்டுப்பணத்தையும் செலுத்தினார். …

Continue reading ‘நாமல் ராஜபக்சவின் பிரவேசம் 2024 ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தல் களச் சூழலில் ஏற்படுத்தும் தாக்கம்’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene Those who unwisely murmur ‘Bangladeshi people power a la Sri Lanka’ in assessing the ‘second liberation’ of Bangladesh following the jubilant toppling of fifteen year one-party rule by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by thousands of youth earlier this month, must restrain their enthusiasm in no small part. A lesson to all …

Continue reading ‘The two Chief similarities between Sri Lanka’s 2022 ‘youth aragalaya’ and Bangladesh’s youth uprising in 2024’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj President Ranil Wickremesinghe was cruelly bamboozled by the Rajapaksas early this week. The incumbent president was given false promises that the Medamulana clan-led “pohottuwa”party was firmly behind him in his bid to contest the forthcoming presidential poll. The note of discord struck by Namal Rajapaksa was lightly dismissed as being of very little …

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksas Backstabbing Ranil Over the Presidential Candidacy Issue Backfire on the SLPP.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Supreme Court, in two landmark judgments today, determined that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) decision to expel Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara from the party is legally valid. As a result of this Supreme Court judgment, the expulsion of Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara will lead to the loss of …

Continue reading ‘Tourism Minister Harin Fernando and Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara Lose Their MP Seats Following Two Rulings by Three Judge Bench of Supreme Court Upholding Expulsion of Both by SJB Party as Valid’ »

The ‘Tamil National Common Structure’, an alliance of Tamil political parties, has announced its decision to nominate former Batticaloa District TNA Parliamentarian P. Ariyanenthiran as their common candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election. Several Tamil political parties and a group of civil society representatives had reached an agreement to nominate a common candidate for the …

Continue reading ‘Former Batticaloa District TNA Parliamentarian P. Ariyanendran to Contest 2024 Presidential Poll as the Common Tamil Presidential Candidate.’ »

The ‘Samagi Jana Sandanaya (SJS)’, a broad political alliance led by the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), was officially unveiled yesterday (8) under the Leadership of SJB and Opposition Leader and Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa and with the signing of agreements with several parties.

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் ஜனாதிபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க கடந்தவார முற்பகுதியில் ராஜபக்சாக்களினால் கொடுமையான முறையில் ஏமாற்றப்பட்டார். எதிர்வரும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் மெதமுலான குடும்பம் தலைமையிலான’ தாமரை மொட்டு ‘ கட்சி விக்கிரமசிங்கவுக்கு பின்னால் உறுதியாக நிற்கும் என்று அவருக்கு பொய்யான உறுதிமொழிகள் வழங்கப்பட்டன.நாமல் ராஜபக்சவினால் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்ட மாறுபாடான கருத்தை பொருட்படுத்தத் தேவையில்லை என்றும் கூறப்பட்டது. பொதுஜன பெரமுன ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் ரணிலை ஆதரிப்பதில்லை என்று முடிவெடுத்திருக்கிறது. ராஜபக்சாக்கள் அவரின் முதுகில் குத்திவிட்டார்கள். விக்கிரமசிங்கவை ஆதரிப்பதா இல்லையா என்று தீர்மானிப்பது …

Continue reading ‘ராஜபக்சாக்கள் ரணிலுக்கு செய்த வஞ்சனை திரும்பிவந்து பொதுஜன பெரமுனவை தாக்குகிறது’ »

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is set to announce its Presidential candidate today. Earlier in the week, party General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam confirmed that the announcement would be made by SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa at 7:30 a.m. at the SLPP head office on Nelum Mawatha. While the event was initially scheduled to take …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa to Contest Presidential Poll as Business Magnate Dhammika Perera Withdraws from Presidential Election as SLPP Candidate’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The king is dead, long live the king” (Traditional proclamation made following the death of a monarch indicating the continuity of the monarchy) Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second presidential investiture was held two days after his 65th birthday, the twin occasions marked by grandiose displays of Rajapaksa power. The highlights of this political spectacle …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Rajapaksa was an Opposition-made myth. The Rajapaksas have nothing to gain from a Ranil Wickremesinghe victory. He was never a Rajapaksa creature.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Hours after Bangladesh Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina quit and fled the country on Monday following mass protests, Sri Lanka — whose former President was ousted by a citizen’s uprising two years ago — expressed solidarity with the people of Bangladesh. “Our hearts are with the people of #Bangladesh during these incredibly challenging times. …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka whose former President was ousted by a citizen’s uprising two years ago expresses solidarity with the people of Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Quit and Fled the Country after Mass Protests’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s Supreme court on August 2 issued an interim order suspending the government’s new visa scheme, run by a consortium including an Indian company, that earlier sparked controversy over allegations of corruption totalling over a billion dollars. The Supreme Court ordered that the previously used online visa system be restored. In …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Supreme court issues interim order suspending the govt’s new visa scheme run by a consortium that sparked controversy over allegations of corruption totalling 1.4 billion dollars.SC orders restoration of previously used online visa system..’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene If the glittering promise of the ‘Jathika Jana Balavegaya’ (NPP) is supposed to offer a better, brighter Sri Lanka to put an end to the ’76 year old curse’ of its political rivals, it is time that NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake refrains from justifying his actions during the run-up to …

Continue reading ‘The Supreme Court has consistently upheld the principle that a govt servant is empowered to refuse to obey an ‘illegal’ order by his or her superior resulting in the use of state assets for a particular political party or candidate.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham It has long been a common perception that none of the main candidates will be able to receive more than 50% of the popular vote in the upcoming Presidential Election. For the last few days, since the announcement of the Presidential Election by the Election Commission, many newspapers have been publishing details …

Continue reading ‘Dramatic changes in the political landscape make strange bedfellows. We will see more such additions in the coming days.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka known generally as Sarath Fonseka has thrown his hat into the presidential poll ring again . The former army commander who is Sri Lanka’s one and only Field Marshal has stated in a post on “X”(Twitter) that he would be a contender at the forthcoming presidential election. The following …

Continue reading ‘When Sarath Fonseka Challenged Mahinda Rajapaksa For The Presidency in 2010.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் சரத் பொன்சேகா என்று பொதுவாக அறியப்படும் கார்திஹேவா சரத் சந்திரபால் பொன்சேகா மீண்டும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் களமிறக்கப்போவதாக அறிவித்திருக்கிறார். இலங்கையின் ஒரேயெரு பீல்ட் மார்ஷலான முன்னாள் இராணுவத் தளபதி எதிர்வரும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலில் ஒரு போட்டியாளராக இருப்பேன் என்று ‘எக்ஸ் ‘ (ருவிற்றர்) சமூக ஊடகத்தில் பதிவொன்றைச் செய்திருக்கிறார். அவரின் முறைப்படியான அறிவிப்பு வருமாறு ; ஜனாதிபதி வேட்பாளராக போட்டியிடப்போவதை இலங்கை மக்களுக்கு அறிவிக்க விரும்புகிறேன். எம்மை வங்குரோத்து நிலைக்கு கொண்டவந்த திறமையற்ற ஒரு …

Continue reading ‘மீண்டும் ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலி்ல் களமிறங்கும் பீல்ட் மார்ஷல் சரத் பொன்சேகா மீண்டும் கவனத்தை ஈர்த்திருக்கிறார்.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Monday (July 29) night, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) finally parted ways with Ranil Wickremesinghe, announcing plans to field its own candidate at the presidential election. The move effectively split the Pohottuwa and saw President Wickremesinghe affiliated SLPP MPs, 11 of them, leaving the party’s central committee meeting and assembling at …

Continue reading ‘SLPP Deciding not to Support Ranil is a Blessing in Disguise for him because Wickremesinghe would be better off without the endorsement of the Rajapaksas.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP or People’s Front) — led by the once-powerful Rajapaksa clan which was deposed from power in 2022 — has said it will not back President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the presidential polls in September. The decision, announced after the party’s central committee’s meeting on Monday, marks the …

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa led SLPP Decides Not to Back Ranil Wickremesinghe in the 2024 Presidential Election. Despite Withdrawal of Support by SLPP, 92 out of 225 MPs Pledge Support to Wickremesinghe says President’s Office’ »

(Texr of Media Release Issued by Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran and Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam n 26 July 2024) The country is at cross-roads at the moment; A crucial pivotal point in our post-independence history. We were an economy with a surplus and an example for other to follow; even a model for …

Continue reading ‘“If Presidential Candidates are serious about their promises to eradicate corruption, will they be willing to face tough questions on these issues at a public forum we are prepared to host?-ITAK MPs Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The anti-Tamil pogrom of July 1983 is an unforgettable chapter in the post-independence history of Sri Lanka. The catastrophic events of that dark month drastically affected the lives of large numbers of Tamils in Sri Lanka. As a Sri Lankan Tamil journalist, Black July did have an effect on me in both personal …

Continue reading ‘My Family’s “Black July” Experience: A Personal Memoir.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s presidential polls will be held on September 21, the Election Commission said on Friday. Some 17 million voters will have their first chance of electing the country’s leader, after a mass people’s uprising ousted former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa two years ago. President Ranil Wickremesinghe was among the first to formally …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Presidential Elections to be held on 21st September 2024; Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe among the first to pay Cash deposit to Contest as an Independent Candidate’ »

by Krishantha Prasad Cooray There’s a political poster that’s been splashed on the walls of Colombo. Black letters on a yellow background mean that the author or the party cannot be identified. It is obviously a teaser campaign. It comes with a promise, which of course is the bread and butter of all politicians. Apparently, …

Continue reading ‘Ranil, Sajith and Anura Kumara must convince Sri Lankan Voters that they should not give up on hope and that they should not look elsewhere for a leader.’ »

Ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka has announced his intention to contest at Sri Lanka’s upcoming presidential election in a pre-dawn X (twitter) message.“I wish to announce my Presidential Candidacy to the people of Sri Lanka” “For 76 years, we have been led by an inept political group that has led us to bankruptcy.” “This is my …

Continue reading ‘Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka Will Contest for President at Forthcoming Election; EX-Army chief says “This is my formal and official announcement as the presidential candidate of Sri Lanka for the 2024 Presidential Election” in Message Posted on “X”(twitter)’ »

Sri Lanka’s Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe announced he will be running for president at the upcoming presidential election. “I am coming forward as a candidate for the victory of Sri Lanka state and its people,” Rajapakshe told reporters at the Independence Arcade on Thursday. Rajapakshe said short sighted policies led …

Continue reading ‘Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe announced he will Contest for President in the upcoming presidential election; says “I am coming forward as a candidate for the victory of Sri Lanka state and its people,”’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Supreme Court today issued an interim order restraining Deshabandu Tennakoon from functioning as the Inspector General of Police. The order will be effective until the final determination of nine Fundamental Rights Applications filed challenging his appointment as IGP. The order was issued by a three-judge-bench which comprised Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, Justice …

Continue reading ‘Three Judge Bench of Supreme Court Issues Interim Order Restraining Deshabandu Tennakoon from Functioning as Inspector -General of Police Until Final Determination of Nine Fundamental rights Petitions Challenging his Appointment as IGP’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka on Tuesday apologised for enforcing a “cremations only” policy during the Covid-19 pandemic, going against the religious sentiments of Muslims, as well as expert views that burials were safe. Issuing a statement on Tuesday, the government said the Cabinet approved a joint proposal from a group of ministers “to plead …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Apologizes for the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Administration Enforcing a “Cremation Only” Policy for Victims of Covid 19 Pandemic that Hurt Muslim Religious Sentiments’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் 1983 ஜூலையில் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு எதிராக கட்டவிழ்த்துவிடப்பட்ட கொடூரமான வன்முறை சுதந்திரத்துக்கு பின்னரான இலங்கையின் வரலாற்றில் மறக்கமுடியாத ஒரு அத்தியாயம். அந்த இருண்ட மாதத்தின் பெருங்கேடான நிகழ்வுகள் இலங்கையில் பெரும் எண்ணிக்கையிலான தமிழர்களின் வாழ்வை கடுமையாகப் பாதித்தன. இலங்கையின் ஒரு தமிழ்ப் பத்திரிகையாளன் என்ற வகையில், கறுப்பு ஜூலை என்னை தனிப்பட்ட முறையிலும் தொழில்சார் அடிப்படையிலும் பாதித்தது. மேலும், ஆயிரக்கணக்கான ஏனைய தமிழ்க் குடும்பங்களைப் போன்று எனது குடும்பமும் கொந்தளிப்பான அந்த நாட்களில் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு …

Continue reading ‘கறுப்பு ஜூலையில் ‘ ஒரு தமிழ்ப் பத்திரிகையாளர் குடும்பத்தின் அனுபவம்’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham After the death of veteran Tamil political leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan recently, a communist leader from Tamil Nadu contacted me and asked about the remarkable role the late leader played in Sri Lankan Tamil politics. I began by recounting Sampanthan’s contributions to the negotiations that led to the signing of the Indo-Lanka Peace …

Continue reading ‘Failure to find a political solution is a bigger shame than Black July’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Vallipuram Vasanthan alias “Captain Miller” the first Suicide bumber of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) is the focus of this two -part article. A brief description of the pioneering “Black Tiger” or “Karumpuli” and events leading to the first Black Tiger operation on 5 July 1987 was outlined in the first part …

Continue reading ‘Captain Miller’s Suicide Attack in Nelliaddy on 5 July 1987 Gave Birth to the “Karumpuligal” ( Black Tigers)’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The funeral of veteran Tamil political leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan took place in Trincomalee on 7th July 2024.Large crowds bade farewell to the Nonagenarian Trincomalee Parliamentarian who had served as MP for 32 years. Among those who paid homage to Sampanthan in Trinco was Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Earlier the President along with …

Continue reading ‘Rajavarothayam Sampanthan: The Political Journey of a “Perunthalaiver” (Great Leader) – Part 2.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya When the country ran out of foreign reserves and fuel queues sprang up, Sri Lankans stormed the President’s House and ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa. That may be an extreme case, but that was not the first time the street protestors toppled governments when the going got tough. Dudley Senanayake, the second prime minister, …

Continue reading ‘If Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe thinks he could win because he salvaged the economy from a free fall, he might be overly optimistic. Perhaps he has to rethink his campaign message to make it more palatable to the grassroots. Possibly, he can ask Mahinda Rajapaksa how to do that!’ »

President Ranil Wickreme-singhe has challenged Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa to disclose the source of funding for the party’s ongoing school bus donation program. Addressing another public meeting in Kandy under the “Ekwa Jayagamu” (Let’s Win Together) series of rallies over the weekend, President Ranil Wickremesinghe set a condition for joining the Samagi …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickreme-singhe challenges Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa to disclose the source of funding for the party’s ongoing school bus donation program.; says he will collaborate with SJB to combat corruption if it reveals source of funding behind school bus donations’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Captain Miller” is the name of an Indian film released on 12 January 2024. The block buster Tamil Movie had popular actor Dhanush acting in the lead titular role of Captain Miller. The film was a fictional tale about a heroic rebel who fought against British colonial rule. Reports state that the …

Continue reading ‘“Captain Miller” the LTTE’s First Black Tiger (Karumpuli) Suicide Bomber.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ் முதுபெரும் தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவர் இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தனின் இறுதிச் சடங்குகள் திருகோணமலையில் 2024 ஜூலை 7 ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை நடைபெற்றன. 32 வருடங்களாக திருகோணமலையின் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினராக இருந்த தலைவருக்கு பெருந்திரளான மக்கள் பிரியாவிடை கொடுத்தனர். ஜனாதிபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்கவும் திருகோணமலைக்கு சென்று இறுதிசடங்குகளில் கலந்துகொண்டார். முன்னதாக கொழும்பு பொரளை றேமண்ட் மலர்ச்சாலையில் சம்பந்தனின் பூதவுடல் அஞ்சலிக்காக வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தபோது ஜனாதிபதி தனது மனைவி மைத்ரி விக்கிரமசிங்க சகிதம் சென்று தனது இறுதி மரியாதையைச் செலுத்தினார். இராஜவரோதயம் …

Continue reading ‘இலங்கை தமிழர் அரசியலின் சமகால வரலாற்றில் தீர்க்கமான நிகழ்வுகள் நிறைந்த காலகட்டத்தை உள்ளடக்கிய இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தனின் அரசியல் பயணம்’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (Renowned Tamil Political leader Appapillai Amirthalingam was shot dead in Colombo along with Former Jaffna MP V.Yogeswaran on 13 July 1989. This article about the foul murder was published in the “Daily Mirror” in 2019. It is re-posted here without any changes to denote the 35th anniversary of the Amirthalingam Assassination) The …

Continue reading ‘Murder Most Foul: Assassination of Appapillai Amirthalingam 35 Years ago’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Ranasinghe Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s one and only non-Govigama Prime Minister and President is the focus of this two part article commemorating his birth centenary.The first part published last week traced in brief the early phases of Premadasa’s political journey . This second and final part -written with the aid of earlier writings – …

Continue reading ‘From Subaltern Status to the Pinnacle of Power: Ranasinghe Premadasa’s Remarkable Rise.’ »

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’ »