The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has suspended Sri Lanka Cricket’s membership of the ICC with immediate effect, the world’s cricket governing body said on Friday, a day after the island nation’s parliament unanimously decided to remove the current administrators of the sport. Sport Minister Roshan Ranasinghe stubbornly took the leadership to sack the current …

Continue reading ‘International Cricket Council (ICC) Suspends Sri Lanka Cricket(SLC) from Membership of the ICC with Immediate Effect a day after Sri Lanka’s parliament unanimously Resolved to remove the current administrators of SLC’ »

Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, named after British naturalist David Attenborough, was photographed for the first timesince …

Continue reading ‘Mammal Species with Hedgehog Spines, Anteater Snout and Feet of a Mole re-discovered by Scientists in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountain 60 Years after it was last recorded; Attenborough’s Long Beaked Echidna was named after British Naturalist David Attenborough’ »

In a rare moment of unity, parliamentarians of both the Government and the Opposition yesterday came together to unanimously pass a resolution in Parliament against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The resolution, titled “Removal of Corrupt Officials, Including the Chairman, from Sri Lanka Cricket Board,” received unanimous support from both Government and Opposition MPs, leading Speaker …

Continue reading ‘Without Taking a Formal Vote, Parliament Unanimously Passes Resolution Against Sri Lanka Cricket(SLC) , titled “Removal of Corrupt Officials, Including the Chairman, from Sri Lanka Cricket: Sajith Premadasa Proposes and Nimal Siripala de Silva Seconds “Unity” Resolution.’ »

(Text of Speech made by Jaffna District MP M.A.Sumanthiran PC in Parliament on 08th November 2023) Thank you Deputy Chairman for the time allocated for me to speak on the very important bill that has been presented by the Minister of Justice today. I am saying important bill because for a long time the need …

Continue reading ‘“Fundamental right cases at leave stage itself have been argued for 10 days – surely to argue for 10 days there was reason to look into the matter. After full 10 days of arguments, full bench has said we see no reason to grant leave to proceed! That’s the only reason”- MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By Sahan Tennekoon The Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe claimed that the recent stay order issued by the Court of Appeal (CA) suspending the Interim Committee appointed to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) depicts the downfall of the country’s Judiciary. Making a special statement in the Parliament yesterday (8), Minister Ranasinghe said that a conflict of …

Continue reading ‘Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe Flays Appeal Court for Issuing Stay Order Suspending SL Cricket Interim Committee. Alleges in Parliament that Appeal Court President Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne’s Sister in Law;s son and Lawyer Asela Rekawa is Closely Associated with SLC Chairman Shammy Silva’ »

By Jamila Husain Hours after Sports Minister Roshan Ranasingha appointed an interim committee headed by former cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga to assume control of Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday, an angry President Ranil Wickremesinghe telephoned Ranasingha and asked for an immediate explanation as to why he had made such a move without consulting him or the cabinet. …

Continue reading ‘Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe Suspends Sri Lanka Cricket Board and Appoints Interim Committee to Take Over Without Consulting President or Govt. A Furious President Ranil Wickremesinghe Berates Ranasingha and Calls for Explanation;Cabinet Appoints 4 Member Ministerial Committee to Oversee SLC’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The first and second parts of this article published on 14 and 21 Ocober respectively narrated the story of how I was arrested by the CID in October 1987 and detained on the 4th floor for having exposed the realities of the war between the Indian army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil …

Continue reading ‘How the CID Interrogated me About Suspected LTTE -JVP Links on the 4th Floor.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan, Dennis S.Jesudasan A video-recorded message by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was not telecast at the ‘Naam 200’ event in Colombo on Thursday due to reported objection from the Government of India over its “last minute” inclusion. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had addressed the event in person. However, Mr. Stalin’s video message …

Continue reading ‘Did BJP Govt in New Delhi Stymie Tamil Nadu Ruling Party DMK Participation in “Naam 200” HHill Country Tamil Event in Colombo? Chief Minister Stalin’s Message not Telecast; Delayed Clearance Prevents T,Nadu Finance Minister Thennarasu from Attending.’ »

(Text of address delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe when declaring open the modern courts complex in Welimada on November 3 2023) “The administration of justice we have is about the oldest in Asia coming from the Dutch and the British and we are the oldest as far as the rule of law is concerned. It …

Continue reading ‘It has been said that you must come to courts with clean hands. So why shouldn’t it apply to the Human Rights Council? Next September come with clean hands and we will also answer you. If you haven’t got clean hands, why should we answer you? -President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s cracklingly combative question as to ‘why does the United Nations apply one rule to Israel and another rule to us?’ when declaring the opening of the Welimada courts complex this Friday must surely delight the hearts of his steadily growing band of nationalist cheerleaders in Sri Lanka. “The end …

Continue reading ‘In each and every place where populations are ‘dehumanised,’ where children are killed and countries destroyed, the violators work to a single play book.It is the victims who have no voice.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Friends are the family we choose for ourselves. Friends are the home we never lose, the refuge we can count on when the world turns against us. Friends are the tree that shelters us from everything that is inclement and unseasonal. Johann Wijesinghe was such a friend to me. With him …

Continue reading ‘“Friends are the tree that shelters us from everything that is inclement and unseasonal. Johann Wijesinghe was such a friend to me. . Now that he is gone, I feel as if I’ve lost a world”’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “How much past tomorrow holds.” Mahmoud Darwish (A rhyme for the odes Mu’allaquat) During her 2013 visit to Sri Lanka, then UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay wanted to lay a wreath to commemorate the war-dead. “When I go to a country, I like to honour the victims, all victims, victims of …

Continue reading ‘Hamas committed war crimes. Israel is committing war crimes. And the West, the self-appointed guardians of International Humanitarian Law, is enabling Israel to go on committing war crimes.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage will keep her Parliamentary seat after the Court of Appeal ruled in its majority decision that there is no merits in the writ petition which sought an order declaring that she is not qualified to be a Member of Parliament. Social activist Oshala Herath filed this …

Continue reading ‘Appeal Court Dismisses Writ Petition against State Minister Diana Gamage in 2 to 1 Majority Judgement by Justices Karunaratne and Swarnadhipathy ; Justice Marikka Dissents and Issues Writ of Quo Warranto Separately Ruling That Diana is Disqualified as MP;Petitioner Oshala Herath to File Appeal to Supreme Court Challenging Appeal Court Order.’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj It’s almost official or unofficially official! President Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated publicly that the next Presidential election would be held in 2024. Addressing the United National Party ( UNP)’s Special convention held at the Sugathadasa Stadium on 21 October 2023, the President outlined the timeline for upcoming elections in line with the …

Continue reading ‘Why Ranil Wickremesinghe Wants to Hold a Presidential Election First in 2024.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Chinese research vessel Shiyan 6, which arrived in Colombo last week amid concerns raised by India and the United States, is set to begin its two-day research off the Sri Lankan coast today, Sri Lankan authorities said. The research will be pursued off Sri Lanka’s western coast, and in collaboration with Sri …

Continue reading ‘Chinese research vessel Shiyan 6, which arrived in Colombo last week amid concerns raised by India and the United States will begin its two-day research off the Sri Lankan coast today.’ »

By Sonia Gandhi On October 7, 2023, on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel, killing more than a thousand people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200 more. The unprecedented attack was devastating for Israel. The Indian National Congress strongly believes that violence has no place in …

Continue reading ‘The world was diminished by the brutal attacks on Israel; the world stands diminished again by Israel’s disproportionate and equally brutal response.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj It was in October 1990 that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forcibly expelled the Tamil speaking Muslim people from the Northern Province in an atrocious act amounting to ethnic cleansing. Within a few days the Muslims were chased out of their homeland where they had lived for many, many centuries. The …

Continue reading ‘“Black October”: The Mass Expulson of Northern Muslims by the LTTE 33 Years ago’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj (This is the second part of the article “How I was Arrested by the CID and Detained on the 4th Floor” published last week) As stated last week, the CID director DIG Bennet Perera showed me the letter written by Defence Secretary Gen.Sepala Attygalle instructing the Police to question me for information …

Continue reading ‘How I went on a “Hunger Strike” in CID Custody on the 4th Floor.’ »

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Spokesman and MP M.A. Sumanthiran writing to IGP C.D. Wickramaratne yesterday questioned the police’s inaction against the recent controversial comments inciting “racial hatred and violence” made by the Chief Incumbent of the Magalaramaya Vihara, Batticaloa – Ampitiye Sumana Thera. In a recent video shot this week the Thera’s behaviour became highly …

Continue reading ‘Batticaloa Magalaramaya Vihara Chief Incumbent Ampitiye Sumana Thera Threatens to cut Tamils Living in South to Pieces;MA Sumanthiran MP writes to IGP CD Wickramaratne Questioning Police Inaction over Monk’s Statement Violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Act’ »

Sri Lanka’s human rights activist Ambika Satkunanathan has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture by the UN Secretary General António Guterres. Satkunanathan has worked over twenty years with persons and communities impacted by human rights violations, especially in the conflict-affected North and East, and assisted them …

Continue reading ‘UN Secretary General António Guterres. Appoints Former Sri Lankan Human Rights Commissioner Ambika Satkunanathan to the Board of Trustees of UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture .’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera In the wake of recent controversies pertaining to lands in the Batticaloa District, Eastern Provincial Governor Senthil Thondaman said that the Government has dealt with the people who have forcibly acquired State lands in the district in accordance with the relevant legal provisions and not on the basis of their nationality or …

Continue reading ‘“Not only the Sinhalese, but also Tamils and Muslims who have acquired land illegally have been evicted from some lands in the East. This monk Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera is living in an illusory world. He should first understand that the law of the land is being enforced”- Eastern Governor Senthil Thondaman’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera While it is up to the Defence Ministry to decide whether to implement the Parliament’s Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on National Security’s recommendation to inform United States (US) Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung to refrain from making remarks regarding the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, the said SOC stated that their …

Continue reading ‘US Ambassador Julie Chung “has intervened in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs too much. It should come to an end.” says Rear Admiral (Ret.) Dr. Sarath Weerasekera’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya If you keep yourself up to date with local news, you are also likely to be bombarded with an overdose of negativity, which might make an inquisitive tourist ponder whether he or she is in a different country. That dichotomy may partly be due to the differential exposure to the local life, …

Continue reading ‘During the “Aragalaya” the JVP and Peratugamis, had far-reaching objectives. Their objective was not just the ouster of Gotabaya but the regime capture by exploiting the political vacuum.’ »

The Judiciary of the Nineteenth Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Virginia on 20 October hosted a special ceremony to mark the investiture of the Divani Raveena Nadaraja who is of Sri Lankan origin. Judge Divani Nadaraja’s journey to this prestigious position has been marked by a wealth of experience and dedication to the pursuit …

Continue reading ‘Divani Nadaraj of Sri Lankan Tamil Origin appointed judge in Nineteenth Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Virginia.USA.’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the Presidents Media Division on 23 October 2023) The three Cabinet ministers took their oaths at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (23), in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Mr. Keheliya Rambukwella now serves as the Minister of Environment, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera as the Minister of Plantation Industries and …

Continue reading ‘Keheliya Rambukwella, Mahinda Amaraweera and Dr.Ramesh Pathirana Sworn in by President Wickremesinghe as Cabinnet Ministers in Charge of Environment, Plantation Industries and Health Respectively; State Finance Minister Ranjit Siyambalapitiya Appointed as State Minister of Plantation Enterprise Reform also’ »

Apparently ending speculation, President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday confirmed that the elections cycle will begin from next year. Speaking at the UNP’s convention, the President outlined the timeline for upcoming elections in line with the constitutional provisions, detailing that the presidential election is slated for the following year, followed by parliamentary elections. Furthermore, local Government …

Continue reading ‘“Next year, I will conduct the presidential election as mandated by the Constitution. Subsequently, parliamentary elections will be held, and perhaps Provincial Council elections in early 2025,” -President Ranil Wickremesinghe at UNP Special Convention’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Do not use our death and our pain to bring the death and pain of other people and other families…” Israeli peace activist Noy Katsman (eulogy for his brother Hayim Katsman murdered by Hamas on October 7) Jewish Currents is a US-based leftwing Jewish magazine. Soon after October 7 Hamas attack, its …

Continue reading ‘When religion marries politics, death and destruction are the offspring they bear, a universal truth we in Sri Lanka too should remember.’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene Sri Lanka’s political establishment continues to be in unusually excited tumult following this month’s Supreme Court decision in the Nazeer Ahamed case, upholding the opposition Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)’s expulsion of a dissident member of parliament for voting against the party whip in Parliament. Amusing repercussions of the Court ruling He …

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Ruling in Nazeer Ahamed Case; the cry of a single ‘koha’ will not bring about the ‘Avurudu’ season.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Thirty-six years ago in October 1987, I was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police and detained at the Crminal Investigation Department(CID) Office on the fourth floor of the Police secretariat in Fort, Colombo. I was then working as a journalist for “The Island” in Colombo. I was also the Sri Lanka Correspondent of …

Continue reading ‘How I was Arrested by the CID and Detained on the 4th Floor.’ »

(Text of Speech made on the current Israel – Palestine conflict by Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran on 20th October 2023 in Parliament ) Thank you deputy speaker for the time allocated to speak on this very important issue that is shocking the conscience of the world. Let me at the outset express my solidarity with …

Continue reading ‘“I speak as a representative of the (Tamil ) people who have suffered protracted violencThe events that are unfolding now in the Middle East are strikingly similar to what we experienced for three decades more than 15 years ago.”- MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By Yohan Perera In accordance with the Constitution, the Presidential election is scheduled for next year, followed by the parliamentary election, President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured today despite reports that there will be Constitutional reforms instead. “Both the Presidential election and the general elections will be held next year while the Provincial Council election will be …

Continue reading ‘“Both the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections will be held in 2024 While Provincial Council Elections will be held in Early 2025” States President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Address at the UNP Convention in Colombo’ »

By Gideon Levy This bloodbath must be stopped immediately; it isn’t leading anywhere good. Massacres can be answered with massacres, but even a terrible massacre like the one perpetrated in southern Israel cannot justify whatever follows it, with no limits. A terrible massacre might even be able to justify another terrible massacre if it has …

Continue reading ‘What happened October 7 shook Israel beyond recognition. But even in the heat of our anger and frustration, we must not lose whatever remains of our conscience and moral compass. We must not let all of Israel become Hamas.’ »

Sri Lanka has received conditional nod from the staff of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following the completion of the first review of the $ 3 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program. IMF said the staff-level agreement is subject to the approval by its management and the Executive Board in the period ahead, contingent on: …

Continue reading ‘International Monetary Fund Staff Level Agreement Green Lights , $ 330 Million Second Tranche of Extended Fund Facility to Sri Lanka Subject to Approval by IMF Executive Board.’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by President’s Media division on 20th October 2023) President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China stated that China is committed to assisting Sri Lanka in achieving economic stability without any political agenda. He expressed his desire to collaborate closely with President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Furthermore, President Xi Jinping acknowledged …

Continue reading ‘President Xi Jinping states China is committed without any political agenda to assist Sri Lanka in achieving economic stability; Acknowledges President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Speech at UN, reflected Sri Lanka’s strategic independence and its neutral stance.’ »

State Minister Diana Gamage has been admitted to the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital following her claims about being assaulted by a male parliamentarian representing the main opposition. She also filed a complaint with Welikada Police prior to getting hospitalized. Earlier today, during the parliamentary session, Damage accused Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Sujith Sanjaya Perera of …

Continue reading ‘State Minister Diana Gamage Hospitalized Following Alleged Assault by SJB MP Sujith Samaya Perera in Parliament. Was Allegedly Involved in Argument with SJB MP Rohana Bandara who says “We, men, also need to defend ourselves when we are insulted and attacked.”’ »

By Yohan Perera No one should contest the next presidential election for the sake of the nation, UNP Chairman and Member of Parliament Vajira Abeywardana said yesterday. “It is better if no one comes forward to contest the Presidential election next year as it would help the nation to stabilize,” MP Abeywardana told a media …

Continue reading ‘If No One Comes Forward to Contest the Next Presidential Election, the Incumbent President Can Continue in Office and Bring about Economic Stability says UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardana MP’ »

By Jamila Husain President Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to make drastic changes in the higher up of the gov-ernment including in the cabinet and the defence ranks following the budget in November, the Daily Mirror learns. The move comes at a time when the government is feeling the heat over the inability of some ministers …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Likely to Make Drastic Changes in Composition og Government and Upper Echelons of Defence Sector after November Budget’ »

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana There are no moves to scrap the Executive Presidency as it is a difficult task, Minister of Justice Wijedasa Rajapaksha told Parliament today. “Scrapping the Executive Presidency is a complicated and difficult process. There is no way we can do it through the present Parliament. It is also an …

Continue reading ‘No Moves on to Abolish the Executive Presidency says Wijedasa Rajapakshe;“Scrapping the Executive Presidency is a complicated and difficult process. There is no way we can do it through the present Parliament, Justice Minister says.’ »

The United National Party (UNP) will effect major changes to its constitution at its special convention scheduled for October 21 similar to the reforms introduced way back in 1978, party’s chairman MP Wajira Abeywardena said. He said that the Special Convention will be conducted at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, at 2p.m. He said …

Continue reading ‘The United National Party (UNP) will effect major changes to its constitution at the special convention scheduled for October 21 states partychairman Wajira Abeywardena MP’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene Not so long ago, on the cusp of some general election or the other, there was a pithily phrased segment in one of Sri Lanka’s electronic media channels titled ‘Kawde Pannin Ne?’ (in other words, ‘who will jump next?’) Heady inducements of ‘cross overs’ That was a ‘must watch’ commentary on …

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court ruling on Nazeer Ahamed v SLMC and others, case redresses a tilt evidenced since the year 2000 in favour of an expelled political party member and to the clear disadvantage of the political party concerned.’ »

By Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz (Dr Shamsul Bari and Ruhi Naz are chairman and assistant director (RTI), respectively, at Research Initiatives, Bangladesh ). The importance of people’s right to information (RTI) for good governance and sustainable development is often loudly proclaimed but quietly ignored by people and governments alike. It is heartening, therefore, that …

Continue reading ‘How the Right to Information(RTI) Law Helped Sri Lanka Manage its Crisis and Enabled Citizens to Probe their Government More Thoroughly’ »

By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Mohammed Mihilar Mohammed Hanzeer alias Azad Maulana was the main whistleblower featured in the Channel 4 documentary on Sri Lanka that was aired on 5 September 2023. . Azad Maulana made some startling revelations against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, State Intelligence Service head Maj-Gen Suresh Salley and Rural Road Development State Minister …

Continue reading ‘Life and Death of EPRLF Razeek the Relentless Tiger Hunter.’ »

By Indika Sakalasooriya China has taken the front seat in Sri Lanka’s external debt restructuring process making a calculated move akin to a chessboard strategy, catching everyone off-guard, by entering a preliminary debt deal with the Sri Lanka authorities. Despite being Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral lender, China remained in shadows as Sri Lanka initiated negotiations …

Continue reading ‘China Exim Bank enters preliminary debt deal with Sri Lanka authorities Surprising Other Creditors and IMF;Finance Ministry hopes deal will facilitate approval by IMF Executive Board and the disbursement of the next tranche of IMF financing’ »

Human Rights Watch has determined based on verified video and witness accounts that Israeli forces used white phosphorus in military operations in Lebanon and Gaza on October 10 and 11, 2023, respectively. The videos show multiple airbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus over the Gaza City port and two rural locations along the Israel-Lebanon border. White …

Continue reading ‘Israeli Forces Used white phosphorus in military operations in Lebanon on October 10 and Gaza on 11, 2023, States Human Rights Watch: videos show multiple airbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus over the Gaza City port and two rural locations along the Israel-Lebanon border.’ »

In a static decades-long conflict that has rotted for the past 20 years, it can be hard to believe that real change is possible. Be in no doubt, however, that Hamas’s murderous assault has blown up the status quo between Israel and the Palestinians. The coming weeks will determine whether war in Gaza sinks the …

Continue reading ‘If Israel destroys Hamas in Gaza and pulls out, who knows what destructive forces will fill the vacuum left behind?The only way to eradicate Hamas is for Israel and its Arab allies to create stability—and, one day, peace. -The Economist’ »

. By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Kathiravelu Nythiananda Douglas Devananda is a senior Sri Lankan Tamil political leader. The Secretary-General of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party(EPDP) has been continuously representing the Jaffna district in Parliament since 1994. Devananda known generally as Douglas , has served as a cabinet minister in different Governments for more than 15 years. He …

Continue reading ‘The Brutal Attack on EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda by LTTE Suspects at the Kalutara Jail.’ »

By Jamila Husain Sri Lanka’s political circle has gone into a quandary after information has spread that moves are underway to abolish the executive presidency before the Presidential Election next year as no candidate or political party will be able to secure an over 50 percent win at the polls. The Daily Mirror learns that …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe Engages in Discussions to Examine the Question of Abolishing the Executive Presidency Before Scheduled Presidential Elections newx year; a Referendum on the abolition of the Presidential system being Mooted.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Several Foreign Ministers, including those of India, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Iran, Malaysia and South Africa, will participate in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers meeting in Colombo on October 11, 2023, according to the Sri Lankan government, which is preparing to take over as Chair of the regional grouping this …

Continue reading ‘Several Foreign Ministers Including India’s S.Jaishankar in Colombo to Participate in IORA Council of Ministers Meeting Even as Sri Lanka takes over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association’ »

In the 18 years since withdrawing from the Gaza strip, Israel has invaded it twice. The first occasion was Operation Cast Lead, which involved a 15-day ground invasion in January 2009. The second was Operation Protective Edge in 2014, in which the Israel Defence Forces (idf) spent 19 days on the ground. A third ground …

Continue reading ‘Ultimately, Israeli leaders are caught between the maximalist rhetoric of eliminating Hamas and the implausibility of re-occupying Gaza.- The Economist’ »

The attack by Hamas was as unexpected to ordinary people in Gaza as it was in Israel. The Jewish state was horrified not just by videos of black-clad gunmen taking women and children hostage, murdering hundreds of unarmed civilians and overrunning military bases. It was also shocked that its intelligence and military forces had so …

Continue reading ‘Hamas’s militants are now preparing for the Israeli ground invasion they assume is imminent -The Economist’ »

The vicious success of Hamas, the Islamic movement that controls Gaza, in launching a massive terrorist attack on October 7th against communities in southern Israel, leaving at least 800 dead within Israel, without their plans being unveiled is matched by the astounding failure of Israeli intelligence at every level. Officials are in shock that an …

Continue reading ‘Hamas’s textbook military operation attack was an Israeli intelligence failure on multiple fronts -The Economist’ »

Israelis woke on October 7th, Simchat Torah, the Jewish festival which celebrates the end of the yearly cycle of reading the Torah, to a hail of more than 2,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip, the Palestinians’ tiny coastal enclave. But soon reports began filtering through of a much more devastating attack. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist …

Continue reading ‘Israel reels from Shock as Hamas launches a spectacular and bloody offensive on Simchat Torah, the Jewish festival celebrating the end of the yearly cycle of reading the Torah’“We are at war,” announces Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene If the Bard once said in a somewhat excessively sentimental aside that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, we can only remark that Sri Lanka’s counter terrorism or anti-terrorism bills emanate a distinctly unpleasant odour, irrespective of whatever ‘name’ it possesses. Risk of imperilling national security To …

Continue reading ‘Govt’s deliberately poised pincer moves with the Online Safety Bill and the Anti-Terrorism law poses the greatest threat to Sri Lanka’s national security, quite apart from internal or external threats as the case may be.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The first part of this article was published in the “Daily Mirror”of 16 September 2023 under the heading “Who is Hanzeer Azad Maulana the Whistleblower on Channel 4?”. The focus of that piece was Mohammed Mihilar Mohammed Hanzeer alias Azad Maulana who appeared on a documentary aired on 5 September 2023 by the …

Continue reading ‘How and Why “Whistleblower” Mohammed Hanzeer Alias Azad Maulana Suddenly Fled From Sri Lanka and Sought Asylum in Europe.’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda The Supreme Court in a landmark judgment today determined that the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress’ decision to expel Minister Nazeer Ahamad from the party membership is legally valid. With this Supreme Court judgment, Nazeer Ahamad’s expulsion will lead to the loss of his parliamentary seat.

By Tisaranee Gunasekara Ramzi Razeek was arrested in the early days of the pandemic when knowledge of the virus was sketchy and myths filled the gaps. The Rajapaksa regime had militarised a health crisis. The army commander was running the show. Patients were treated like enemy aliens, entire communities forced into poorly-prepared quarantine centres literally …

Continue reading ‘If the proposed Online Safety Bill becomes law, Sri Lanka will have a stringent blasphemy law on the books. Without mentioning the word blasphemy even once, the Bill will make religious repression legal – and frighteningly real.’ »

By Kshama Ranawana Ranil Wickremesinghe just dug himself into a hole! In attempting to outsmart Deutsche Welle’s Martin Gak during an interview, President Wickremesinghe said that there had been no external involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday massacre. Claiming that the Sri Lankan government will not entertain an international inquiry, Wickremesinghe said he forgot to …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe gets embroiled in Verbal Clash with Deutsche Welle’s Martin Gak During Interview; friendly chat turned nasty when a question regarding the Channel 4 documentary was posed’ »

BY Kesara Abeywardena In recent times, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been making headlines with his candid and outspoken remarks on critical geopolitical issues during his foreign visits. His latest interview with DW News in Germany, although more of a verbal sparring match than a usual run-of-the-mill television interview, shows a stance against what could be …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe’s recent Remarks on the International stage Showcase his Resilience in the face of Biased Questioning and Emphatically Present a Counter Viewpoint.’ »

By Ruki Fernando Today, 4th October will be 5000 days since the disappearance of cartoonist, journalist and human rights defender Prageeth Ekneligoda. It is also nearly 5000 days since I first met his wife Sandya Ekneligoda, in the initial days of her struggle to search for Prageeth and to hold those responsible accountable. The Ekneligoda …

Continue reading ‘The Enforced Disappearance of Cartoonist-Journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda 5000 Days ago and his Remarkable Wife Sandya Ekneligoda’s Long Search and Relentless Pursuit of Justice.’ »

By Dr.Radhika Coomaraswamy More than any other religion Buddhism has the capacity to capture the imagination of many people born to other faiths. Its intellectual clarity, its appeal to reason and foresight has appealed to those not born into the tradition. Being an outsider allows you to forsake the ritual and customs that parochialise all …

Continue reading ‘Shyam Selvadurai’s “Mansions of the Moon” ia Novel of epic proportions.The beautiful language makes the tale irresistible and the Buddhism that emerges fully recognises human failing and aspiration.’ »

BY D.B.S.Jeyaraj (Article Commemorating Sivaji Ganesan’s 95th Birth Anniversary on October 1st 2023) Sivaji Ganesan, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Gemini Ganesan comprised the triumvirate that dominated Tamil cinema in India from the fifties to the seventies of the 20th century. The most senior of the trio was M.G.Ramachandran who was born in 1917. MGR passed …

Continue reading ‘Many Tamils earnt to appreciate the beauty and power of the Tamil language because of Sivaji Ganesan . He made many Tamils love their language more.’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene Four months ago, President Ranil Wickremesinghe was quick to retort to his detractors, (friendly or otherwise), who were outraged by the Broadcasting Regulatory Commission Bill that he is a media ‘defender’ and, as such, had abolished criminal defamation laws in Sri Lanka. Presidential assurances and UK precedents Apparently stung by strident …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Draconian Online SafetyBill seeks to protect the Wickremesinghe Government which is apparently ‘frightened out of its skin’ by the possibility of another ‘aragalaya’ (mass protest).’ »

By Ravana Foreign Minister Ali Sabry has needlessly poked his finger into the Canada-India row. Sri Lanka has nothing to do with the Khalistan issue. The Canada-India row is purely a bilateral issue, where Sri Lanka has no status to get involved in a dispute outside her political spectrum. Minister Sabry was going on at …

Continue reading ‘The Diplomatic Buffoonery of Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry’ »

. By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Remembering the Tiger “Martyr” Thileepan on his 36th Death anniversary -Part Two Rasiah Partheeban alias Thileepan engaged in a fast unto death protest on 15 September 1987. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE )stalwart died after 12 days of fasting on 26 September without even drinking water. Thileepan’s 36th death anniversary was …

Continue reading ‘Rasiah Partheeban Alias Thileepan Weaponised Non-violence Through his Death Fast.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan A district judge from Mullaitivu in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province has resigned and fled the country citing threats to his life, Tamil media in Sri Lanka reported on September 29. In a letter that several publications reproduced in their news reports, Mullaitivu District Judge T. Saravanaraja — who recently ruled on two …

Continue reading ‘“The Judiciary is under severe stress and challenge today. For the first time ever, a judge is said to have fled the country fearing for his life, for having made a judicial order,” – MA Sumanthiran PC’ »

By Siva Parameswaran A senior Tamil Judge in the war-torn district of Mullaitheevu has resigned from his post and has fled the country fearing for the safety of his life. Mullaitheevu District Judge and Magistrate T. Saravanarajah has said his life is under threat in his letter of resignation sent to the Judicial Services Commission …

Continue reading ‘Mullaitheevu District Judge and Magistrate T. Saravanarajah Resigns and Flees Country in Fear after Threats made to his Life;Official Security was Reduced; Attorney -General Exerts Pressure on Judge to Revise his earlier rulings on the Kurunthoormalai temple/Vihara Issue’ »

Mullaitheevu District Judge T. Saravanarajah has tendered his resignation from his posts due to threats on his life and a lot of stress, the Mullaitivu District Magistrate said. His resignation letter was sent to the secretary of the Judicial Services Commission on September 23. According to the letter, he resigned from the post of District …

Continue reading ‘Mullaitheevu District Judge T.Saravanarajah Resigns Suddenly from all Posts Including District Judge, magistrate, family court judge, primary court judge, small claims court judge and Juveniles court judge Due to Alleged Threats and Pressure Over his Rulings in Kurunthoormalai Dispute’ »

By Anusha Rathi and Jack Detsch Congress is calling on the Biden administration to formally hold Sri Lanka responsible for its human rights abuses and violation of international humanitarian law, including decades of torture, military abuse, and other “horrific crimes” carried out against the country’s minority Tamil population. In a letter sent to Secretary of …

Continue reading ‘12 Members of US Congress Write to Secretary of State , Anthony Blinken,Urging the Biden Administration to Hold Sri Lanka Responsible for Violations of International Humanitarian Law; “would like to see the Biden administration take the case all the way to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague”’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The first part of the article titled “Who is Hanzeer Azad Maulana the Whistleblower on Channel 4? Was published in these columns last week. Even as I was writing the second part of the article, I received some interesting information about an event in Geneva relating to the Channel 4 TV documentary and …

Continue reading ‘Channel 4 Documentary Whistleblower Hanzeer Azad Maulana Discloses More Info About Easter Bombings at Geneva Screening Event.’ »

. By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The twenty-sixth of September has become an important day in Sri Lanka ever since the then Prime minister Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (SWRDB) was assassinated in 1959. Bandaranaike who was shot by Talduwa Somarama Thera on 25 September, succumbed to his injuries the following day. September 26th however is of particular …

Continue reading ‘Remembering the Tiger “Martyr” Thileepan on his 36th Death anniversary.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Following India, the U.S. has raised concern with the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration, over the scheduled visit of a Chinese research vessel to Sri Lanka in October, Colombo-based media has reported. In a recent meeting with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland took up …

Continue reading ‘USA Joins India in raising Concerns with President Wickremesinghe’s Govt over led ScheduVisit of “Chinese geophysical scientific research vessel Shiyan 6” to Sri Lanka in October’ »

By B.Kolappan As the country gears up for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the political discourse in Tamil Nadu is highly polarised. An opinion on any issue in the news is expected to be in favour of either the Hindutva ideology or the Dravidian ideology; a middle path is viewed with suspicion from those on …

Continue reading ‘Political Discourse in Tamil Nadu gets Highly Polarised Between Hindutva Ideology and Dravidian Ideology; Middle Path Viewed with Suspicion by Both sides’ »

By Bhuvanesh Chandar Greta Lee’s Nora turns her back to Teo Yoo’s Hae Sung and to a life she could no longer even daydream, and walks back to John Magaro’s Arthur, a life she was gifted with. The rain outside as I watched the scene might just be the tears of all star-crossed souls. And …

Continue reading ‘Why is Tamil cinema so reluctant to explore varied shades of romance?’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene It takes a Government wholly insensible to public opinion to be audacious enough to gazette two Bills grievously impacting on constitutional liberties of citizens literally within a few days apace. Doom for Sri Lanks’s constitutional governance Or maybe this was precisely the intent, deadly and clear in its message. First, the …

Continue reading ‘While President Wickremesinghe talks the sweetly reasonable language of debt equity, climate change and what not to the world, his regime is busy drawing an anti-liberties net over Sri Lankans.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Britain’s Channel 4 TV aired the documentary “Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings” in its “Dispathes” program on Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 11:05pm. Prior to the telecast, Channel 4 Dispatches stated that the documentary has “exclusive interviews with high placed whistleblowers who allege that some Sri Lankan government officials were complicit in the bombings. …

Continue reading ‘Who is Hanzeer Azad Maulana, the Whistleblower Featured in the Channel 4 TV Documentary on Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings?’ »

In a damning report released in Geneva, coinciding with the 42nd regular session of UN Human Rights Council, the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) has named 58 from the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) of the Sri Lankan police as those involved in systematic brutal torture and sexual violence against men and women. Seventy-three survivors …

Continue reading ‘New ITJP Report released in Geneva Names 58 Sri Lankan Policemen Including High Ranking Officers as being Allegedly Involved in Systematic Brutal Torture and Sexual Violence against Men and Women; Report Based on Testimonies of 73 Tamil and Sinhala Survivors of Torture’ »

(Text of Jaffna District MP M.A.Sumanthiran’s Speech in Parliament on 21.09.2023) Thank you presiding member for the opportunity to say a few words. The previous speaker concluded by saying there is Karma and those who caused this carnage will suffer eventually. His words have already come true. The former President who is supposed to have …

Continue reading ‘MA Sumanthiran Refers in Parliament to Azad Maulana’s Allegation in Voice Clip about Alleged Judicial Impropriety in the Release of State Minister Pillayan from Imprisonment in the Joseph Pararajasingham Murder case ; serving judges have been party to this great betrayal of the people[s trust says MP’ »

For years, India objected to Western strategists lumping it together with its violent and chaotic neighbour in the phrase “Indo-Pakistan”. Now recognised as a fast-growing giant and potential bulwark against China, India claims to have been “de-hyphenated”. Yet the explosive charge aired this week by Justin Trudeau suggests that diplomatic recalibration may have gone too …

Continue reading ‘“If India ordered a murder in Canada, there must be consequences. Western countries have for too long acquiesced to the Indian government’s abuses”- The Economist’ »

On the evening of June 18th Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader whom India considered a terrorist, was sitting in his truck in a car park outside a gurdwara (a Sikh temple) in Vancouver when two masked men shot him dead. They escaped through a park and disappeared. On September 18th Justin Trudeau, Canada’s …

Continue reading ‘The devastating accusation by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau against India Leads to a Row between Canada and India that could draw in America and Britain”- The Economist’ »

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 19 said he was not looking to “provoke” India or “escalate” tensions, but urged New Delhi to take the killing of a Sikh separatist leader with the “utmost seriousness”. Mr. Trudeau’s comments came hours after Canada and India expelled a senior diplomat each following his allegations about the …

Continue reading ‘Canada not looking to ‘provoke’ India, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; urges New Delhi to take killing of separatist Sikh leader Nijjar seriously’ »

By Nishantha Hewage In 1816, American missionaries founded the American Ceylon Mission (ACM) in Jaffna. The ACM established missions in other parts of the Jaffna peninsula too. As a result, on July 22, 1823, the Batticotta Seminary was established in Vaddukoddai to educate students on the peninsula. However, it was closed in 1855. The alumni …

Continue reading ‘From Batticotta Seminary to Jaffna College, Vaddukkoddai: Bicentenary Celebrated Grandly With Alumni from 12 Countries Participating’ »

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that Canada is investigating possible links between the Indian government and the assassination of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The Canadian government also said that it has expelled a top Indian diplomat as a consequence. Mr. Trudeau said in Parliament Monday that Canadian …

Continue reading ‘Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Expresses Concern to Indian PM Narendra Modi about Possible Links Between Indian Govt and the Assassination of Pro-Khalistan Sikh Hardeep Singh Nijjar On June 18 in BC; Seeks India’s Cooperation in Investigations; Diplomat who was “head of Indian intelligence in Canada has been expelled as a Consequence says Foreign Minister Melanie Joly’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “It isn’t knowledge as a product or commodity that we need…but a qualitatively different knowledge based on understanding rather than on authority…It is not fact but how facts are connected to other facts…how one is to judge the relationship between truth and interest, how to understand reality as history. These are only …

Continue reading ‘The Rajapaksas are only a part of the problem. The interrelated issues of Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism and minority extremisms would remain even if the Sri Lankan electorate banishes the Rajapaksas to political wilderness forever. The real problem is us, the gullible unthinking people.’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene The Sri Lankan Government’s deft recourse to Commissions and Committees of Inquiry to investigate extraordinary human rights violations in shifting the focus away from the penal thrust of the criminal law is truly villainous. The political skill-set in play The very latest is President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s appointment of a committee …

Continue reading ‘Certainly the Channel Four allegations have taken a scathingly ironic turn. But we cannot behave as if that barbarity occurred in a rare bubble. The sooner that the good Cardinal and his supportive flock recognises this fact, the better.’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj State minister of Rural Road Development and Batticaloa district Parliamentarian sSvanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias “Pillayan”figured prominently in the recent documentary “Sri Lanka’s Easter Bombings” aired by Britain’s Channel 4 TV in its “Dispathes” program on Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 11:05pm. The 47 minute long documentary that is making waves pointed the finger at …

Continue reading ‘How and why TMVP Chief “Pillayan” was Arrested and Indicted for the Batticaloa MP Joseph Pararajasingham Murder and Released After 5 Years of Imprisonment’ »

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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