By D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Nallathor Veenai Seithe – athai Nalangkedap Puluthiyil Erivathundo?” [ Is a good Veena (musical instrument) made and thrown into the dust to decay? ]-Subramaniya Bharathiyar Twenty years have passed since the signing of the Indo – Lanka accord by Rajiv Gandhi and Junius Richard Jayewardena on July 29th 1987. It was hailed …
Continue reading ‘Paradise Gained and Lost: The Indo-Lanka Accord and Tamils’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The federal idea is not a new concept to Sri Lanka. It is however a controversial theme in the Country and is viewed on both sides of the ethnic divide with great hostility.Sri Lankan “patriots” think the introduction of federalism will ultimately lead to division of the Country. Tamil Eelam “patriots” think …
Continue reading ‘Banda, Chelva and the Elusive Federal Idea’ »
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj “maybe the federal idea isn’t such a bad idea after all”– Bill Clinton (in 1999) Ailing president of Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruiz, wrote recently an article responding to some observations made by US President George W Bush. In the last part of that article Fidel related an anecdote from his halcyon days …
Continue reading ‘Impact of the Federal Idea on a World Changing Fast’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj They took off from unknown locations within tiger controlled territory in the northern mainland of the Wanni; they flew hundreds of kilometres over hostile territory in the darkness of night ; they flew at low altitude to avoid being spotted on radar; and swooped down suddenly from the skies above their target …
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by D.B.S. Jeyaraj The attempt made by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to enforce a Tamil boycott of the Presidential elections will affect Ranil Wickremasinghe as the bulk of Tamil votes was expected to be cast for him. The LTTE – TNA press conference in Kilinochchi has made it clear that the tigers are …
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by D.B.S. JEYARAJ The LTTE snuffs out the eastern rebellion but the political issues raised by the rebel leader Karuna are too serious to rule out any dissension in future. THE eastern revolt within the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has come to an end after renegade ex-commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna called it …
“The new constitution that is in the process of being drafted will contain an elaborate chapter on devolution. We are convinced that a substantial degree of devolution represents the key to the most vexed problem confronting the Sri Lankan nation at this time” — Prof. G.L. Peiris “The package for the devolution of power submitted …
by D.B.S.Jeyaraj “In devising policy toward this region of ancient cultures, we know that a rounded historical perspective and due regard for South Asian attitudes are needed. And so is humility! As an American diplomat who has lived five years in India and about six months here in Sri Lanka, I appreciate the need for …
Continue reading ‘The Historical Quest to Restore Tamil Rights’ »