By Dr.Amrith Rohan Perera (Text of the Romesh Jayasinghe -Memorial Oration delivered by Dr Amrith Rohan Perera PC at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo on May 30, 2012) I first heard of Romesh Jayasinghe from his father, the late W T Jayasinghe, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as it then …
Continue reading ‘The Role of international law in contemporary diplomacy’ »
A sleeping dragon awakes: Kurds Take Centre Stage in West Asia by James.M.Dorsey Synopsis As popular uprisings and post-revolt transitions change the political, economic and social structures of the Middle East, Kurds, the world’s largest nation without a state of their own, are emerging as the force that could spark a redrawing of borders and …
by Faiza Thassim Tucked away in the southwest corner of Sri Lanka’s coastline, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy town of Galle lies the quaint old peninsula that is the Galle Fort. Originally built by the Portuguese and then modified by the Dutch in the 17th century, this little enclave shot to …
Continue reading ‘Good old days of the Galle Fort: Golden memories’ »
Public Hearing Committee: Justice A.P. Shah, Former Chief Justice of Madras and Delhi High Court Geeta Ramaseshan, Advocate, Madras High Court Prof. Prabha Kalvimani Irular Tribes Protection Association Date of Public Hearing: 14 May, 2012 Published: June 2012 Organized by: Chennai Solidarity Group for Koodankulam Struggle.
by S. P. Udayakumar Actors on Stage: -The Cheranmahadevi Sub-Collector, Mrs. Rohini Ramdas -The Radhapuram Tahsildar, Mr. Subramanian -150 policemen -An assortment of revenue and health department officials -A bigger group of NPCIL officials -Another group of paid laymen -Behind the Screen (in the NPCIL Township) -The District Collector, Dr. R. Selvaraj -The Superintendent of …
Continue reading ‘Disaster management drama at Nakkaneri village in Tamil Nadu’ »
By Chackravarthy Well every thing started with the 11th International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) held in Colombo from June 3 to 5th 2010. In a way it was an Ill conceived – white elephant project that failed drastically to give the desired result as the sponsors had no deep knowledge about Bollywood or Indian …
Continue reading ‘Insulting Lankan VIPs in Tamilnadu amounts to insulting Tamil culture!’ »
By Paul Newman Sivagnanam Shritharan, 43, is the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Sri Lankan Parliament from Kilinochchi. Elected in 2010, he was earlier the head master of the Kilinochchi Mahavidyalayam in Kilinochchi, where LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran’s children had studied. An ardent advocate of peace who loses no opportunity to criticise the flawed …
By Nimmi Gunasekera Armed with images from the news media of a partially restored Galle Fort in the context of the, literary festival, and with the excuse of driving down the new southern highway, we, a group of four, set forth to spend a weekend in the Fort. Starting with a very tasty Sri Lankan …
Continue reading ‘Will the Galle Fort become a haven for the rich devoid of vibrant people?’ »
by R.M.B.Senanayake At a recent seminar on the peace dividend, the speaker Dr Muttukrishna Sarvanandan drew attention to the fact that the share of government services which includes defense services is a high of 53% in the Northern Province. He was quoting from the Provincial GDP data prepared by the Department of Census & Statistics …
Continue reading ‘How has Northern Province economy fared since the end of the war in 2009?’ »
by Kalana Senaratne From its inception in late 1949 as the Tamil Federal Party, the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) – a party which, as the late Lakshman Kadirgamar once claimed in Parliament, was founded by a “dedicated group of principled men” – has been in the forefront of Sri Lankan (and Tamil) politics. It …
Continue reading ‘The spectre of separatism and the language of self-determination’ »
BY Rajan Philips Whether he intended it or not, TNA leader R. Sampanthan’s speech in Batticaloa two weeks ago has stirred up a hornet’s nest. The occasion was the 14th National Convention of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), once known in English as the (Tamil) Federal Party. The speech became the subject, and the …
by S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole The University Grants Commission (UGC) never ceases to amaze me by its ability to posture through high principles which it never practices. Indika Sri Aravinda reports (Leader, 3 June) that the UGC will henceforth fine illegal doctorates and that according to the UGC Chairman, issuing doctorates for a payment is …
by Arthur Wamanan LTTE’s one time global arms procurer and financial controller Pathmanathan alias KP, accusing the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) of misleading Tamil youth in this country by spreading false propaganda, expressed regret at Tamil politicians’ failure to live up to the expectations after government had restored peace in the once war-torn areas. In …
By Latheef Farook Is Sri Lanka heading towards another July 1983 type pogrom? This is the growing fear in view of the repeated threats on mosques and madrasas provoking Muslims. In the midst of this turbulence, the Criminal Investigation Department’s call for a list of mosques and madrasas – no information on worshipping centers of …
Continue reading ‘Is Sri Lanka heading towards another July ’83 with Muslims as the Target?’ »
by A. Srivathsan In most ways, Thiyaganur is a typical village in Tamil Nadu. Matchbox houses with gleaming white walls and red earth tiles, fields with irregular patterns, a provisional store that sells garishly coloured beverages, and the occasional bus chugging through. The lime-washed temple, in this village 80 km north-west of Tiruchi, has a …
Continue reading ‘Buddhism in Tamil Nadu: The ‘Buddha Samy’ of Thiyaganur’ »
Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka, a former advertising copywriter, has won the Commonwealth book prize for his highly praised debut novel Chinaman: the Legend of Pradeep Mathew. Narrated by the alcoholic former sports journalist WG Karunasena, the novel is the story of his quest for Pradeep Mathew, a devastatingly talented Sri Lankan spin bowler who …
Continue reading ‘Shehan Karunatilaka wins 2012 Commonwealth book prize’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Mahinda Rajapaksa was let down badly by the London based Commonwealth Business Council that had invited the Sri Lankan President to deliver the keynote address in a symposium organized by it for the Diamond jubilee of accession to the throne by Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrives at the …
Continue reading ‘‘Pulathup Puligal’ (LTTE) protest against Mahinda in London’ »
By M. A. Sumanthiran Thank you sir for providing me some time to speak on this motion moved by Hon. Ravi Karunanayake. This is a timely motion that’s being brought to the Parliament, reminding us all that private members’ motions that are debated and approved must be taken seriously, since they are approved by Parliament. …
Continue reading ‘Parliament is becoming increasingly irrelevant’ »
by Dushy Ranetunge in London On the eve of the Presidents visit to the UK to attend the Queens Diamond Jubilee, Gotabaya in his usual finger wagging style told the BBC that the north cannot be recognised as a “Tamil” region. Front page of ‘The Independent’, Thursday, June 7, 2012 In the run up to …
Continue reading ‘Rajapakse besieged in London, after Gota denies Tamil region’ »
Ambassador Kunanayakam Seeks Clarification Given below is the complete text of a letter sent by the Permanent Representative of the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Tamara Kunanayakam, to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navanethem Pillay, regarding an email communication circulated by the Chief of the Asia Pacific Dvision of her Office, Mr. …
Continue reading ‘Did Navi Pillai’s Office work for UN Resolution against Sri Lanka in Geneva?’ »
by Niromi de Soyza As soon as I step into the reception room which reminded me of a sterile hospital cafeteria, a woman with long dark hair in a black blazer catches my eyes. The epaulettes on her jacket give her small skinny frame an air of authority. I recognise the young woman easily as …
Continue reading ‘Meeting Ranjini: A Day at the Villawood Detention Centre’ »
By Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah From Gary Barlow’s backing musicians to flags fluttering on the flotilla, the Commonwealth featured prominently in the diamond jubilee celebrations. Commonwealth Heads of Government lunch with HM Queen Elizabeth II H E Mr Mahinda Rajapaska, President of Sri Lanka, arrives with his wife Mrs Shiranthi Rajapaska at the Commonwealth Heads of Government …
Continue reading ‘Commonwealth Institutions seem unable to lend a helping hand with Sri Lanka’ »
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj In an unexpected,sudden development the Commonwealth Economic Forum the event in which Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was scheduled to deliver the keynote address has been called off. The Commonwealth Business Council that had organized the event made a special announcement announcing the decision. In a tersely worded statement the Commonwealth Business …
Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa’s London address to Commonwealth Economic Forum cancelled’ »
By N. Sathiya Moorthy At the annual conference of the ‘Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK)’, which he heads as the elected president, the nominated chief of the larger Tamil National Alliance (TNA), R. Sampanthan, made a few points. One, the ITAK was the leader/ guiding spirit of the TNA and that the Sri Lankan Tamils …
by Smriti Daniel The recently crowned Gratiaen Prize winner Madhubashini Dissanayake-Ratnayaka describes her winning work and her journey towards calling herself ‘a writer’ Madhubashini Dissanayake-Ratnayaka is on the run. Her colleague is on the phone with a question related to work, her younger daughter is waiting for a ride (they’re late for chess class), her …
by T.M.K. Samat PERHAPS, the next thing they might resort to is to put national cricketers in hijabs so as to conceal them from the media – or, on returning from the playing field, bundle the lot into a room and place a sentry at the door. And if need be, extend that surveillance to …
Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan national team cricketers gagged from speaking to media’ »
By Tissa Jayatilaka A revised edition of Handy Perinbanayagam A Memorial Volume & The Jaffna Youth Congress edited by Santasilan Kadirgamar, published by Kumaran Publishers, Colombo, was released under the auspices of the Indo-Lanka Foundation on March the 4, 2012 at the Saraswathy Hall in Colombo. The first edition of the above publication, also edited …
by D.B. S. Jeyaraj His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is expected to express concerns over the personal safety of most reverend Rayappu Joseph the Catholic Bishop of Mannar-Vavuniya diocese in Sri Lanka when Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa calls on him at the Vatican later this week. President Rajapaksa scheduled to visit Britain on June …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The recent interview given by Defence and Urban development secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to Charles Haviland of the BBC in Colombo has resulted in the “Archaeological expert” of the Jathika Hela Urumaya(JHU) showering praises on the presidential sibling. JHU parliamentarian Ven.Ellawela Medhananda Thero in a statement to the “Dasa Desin”programme has described the …
Continue reading ‘Gota’s BBC Interview: ‘Absolute Truth’ about Tamils and the Northern Province’ »
By Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri The recent attack led by Buddhist monks on the Khairya Jumma mosque located in the so-called “sacred zone” of the Dambulla rock temple in the central province is important even though it did not develop into a larger scale clash between the Buddhist and Muslim communities of Sri Lanka. The Dambulla …
Continue reading ‘Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism Generally Perceives Muslims to be a Grave Threat’ »
(London, May 29, 2012) –The United Kingdom should immediately suspend deportations of ethnic Tamil asylum seekers to Sri Lanka and review its policies in assessing these claims, Human Rights Watch said today. The next scheduled deportation of Tamils from the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka is due to take place on May 31, 2012. Investigations …
By Moara Crivelente The ethnic aspect which is usually defined as a cause of conflict between Hutus and Tutsis – either historically fundamented or discursively constructed, and instrumentalized by political leaders – has deep roots with which society has to deal. A photograph of the three-day exhibition titled Lessons from Rwanda: An Account of the …
Continue reading ‘Revival of community courts in Rwanda to strengthen reconciliation’ »
By S.P. Udayakumar We have been fighting against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) since the late 1980s. This Russian project was shelved right after the Soviet Union’s collapse and taken up again in 1997. The Indian government and Russians have constructed two huge reactors of 1000 MW each without the consent of or consultation …
Continue reading ‘Why and How People in Tamil Nadu are Protesting Nuclear Energy’ »
My greetings to all respected delegates of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi I sincerely welcome you all – the life and vitality of our party – to our National Convention here in Batticaloa. As those in service to the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi, which has become the political symbol of the Tamil Nation, with its …
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj The “release” of General Sarath Fonseka Former Army commander and erstwhile contender for the 2010 Presidential stakes from jail due to remission of his prison sentences by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has infused fresh excitement into the Sri Lankan Political scenario. Photojournalists in anticipation to cature release of release of General Sarath Fonseka-pic …
Continue reading ‘Sarath Fonseka: Historic confluence of twin processes’ »
Head of state and government: Mahinda Rajapaksa Death penalty: abolitionist in practice Population: 21 million Life expectancy: 74.9 years Under-5 mortality: 14.7 per 1,000 Adult literacy: 90.6 per cent The government continued to arbitrarily detain, torture or ill-treat people and subject people to enforced disappearance. It failed to address most instances of impunity for violations …
Dear Fellow Citizens of India , This appeal is a reflection of our collective frustration and instead of being sent to the Govt, it will be presented before people of India. It is already endorsed by eminent Indians like Prashant Bhushan, Aruna Roy, Binayak Sen, Vandana Shiva, Lalita Ramdas, Partha Chatterjee, Praful Bidwai, Achin Vanaik, …
Continue reading ‘An Appeal to the people of India regarding the PMANE protest over Koodankulam’ »
By Dr.Sudharshan Seneviratne “A stage of resignation envelopes the community. The long shadow of the gun has not only been the source of power and glory, but also of fear and terror as well. In the menacing shadow play, forces complementing each other, dance in each other’s momentum. The paralyzing depression is not due to …
Continue reading ‘Shared cultures and heritage for conflict resolution: A South Asia perspective’ »
By N. Sathiya Moorthy It could not have come at a better time, or worse. President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga’s speaking/reading about ‘home truths’ in Sri Lanka’s relations with neighbouring India coincided to the week with the conclusion of ‘Eelam War IV’ and the end of the LTTE. His references to India’s role in the Sri …
by Namini Wijedasa I have missed my vocation in life. I should have been a treasure hunter. I fault my parents for this. They never told me it would be so easy, or so painlessly lucrative. All you need is a good archaeological site (and we’ve plenty of those), some basic implements—and a backhoe. These …
Continue reading ‘Being a Treasure Hunter would have been a lot more fun than this Writing Job’ »
BY Prashant Bushan I visited Koodankulam yesterday to meet the people fighting against the nuclear power plant to see for myself what is happening there. It was very impressive and inspiring to see the discipline and determination of the thousands of people, particularly women and children who were sitting at the dharna site at Idinthakarai.
By Sam Rajappa THE manner in which the authorities have been trying to crush the agitation of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy, which is no longer a mere protest against generating electricity by using nuclear energy to boil water, is shocking. It is a life-and-death struggle for the very survival of government of the …
By Prof. V.Suryanarayan TAMIL TIGRESS: MY STORY AS A CHILD SOLDIER IN SRI LANKA’S BLOODY CIVIL WAR. | Niromi de Soyza (Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 2011), pp. 308, Price not mentioned. Writing about his literary career, Robert Frost once wrote: “I have never started a poem yet whose end I know. Writing a poem is …
by S.P. Udayakumar Let’s leave an Earth where our children and grandchildren can all play without worries.” – Yoko Kataoka, a retired baker from Japan. The indefinite hunger strike has been going on for the past 7 days. Some 25 men have been on the fast since May 1 and 302 women and 10 more …
by Rt.Rev Kumara Illangasinghe It was with much sadness that we learnt of the passing on of our beloved Bishop Andrew Kumarage, the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Kurunagala, in the early hours of April 21, 2012. He was ailing for some time, but briefly and was a wonderful relief for some of us …
Continue reading ‘Kurunegala Anglican Bishop Emeritus Andrew Kumarage – An Appreciation’ »
By Dr. U. Pethiyagoda As a sector of indisputable importance to the nation, the tea industry draws periodic comments and now seems such a time. Court Lodge Estate, Kandapola-pic by: UKInSriLanka The various assessments and comments are naturally, not wholly acceptable. In fact, my long held view is that the assumed profitability of the industry …
by Javid Yusuf The incidents surrounding the Dambulla mosque and its aftermath have left the Muslim community shaken and uneasy. The Muslims have over centuries lived in harmony with their brother communities and enjoyed excellent relationships with both the Sinhala and Tamil communities. This state of being was rudely shaken on April 20th when the …
Continue reading ‘Immediate investigation needed for Dambulla Mosque incident’ »
by Meena Kandasamy “The university and all teaching systems that appear simply to disseminate knowledge are made to maintain a certain social class in power, and to exclude the instruments of power of another social class…. The real political task in a society such as ours is to criticise the workings of institutions, which appear …
Continue reading ‘Fighting Food Fascism: The Beef-eating festival at Osmania University’ »
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj “Disappeared”woman activist Dimuthu Attygalle has been “released” now at newly formed party office in Madiwela will have press conference soon Aussie citizen Kumar Gunarathnam released due to Australian pressure. What about “Disappeared” woman activist & ex-JVP MP Dimuthu Attygalle?
By Dianne Silva Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Paris Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka has come under scrutiny in recent days for his controversial remarks in the aftermath of the passing of the United States sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council Sessions, last month. Certain remarks that were misconstrued as having compared …
Letter dated March 30th 2012 sent by Mr.W.A.S. Prasanna, Actg Director General (Overseas Administration) states thus: “Instances of administrative and financial irregularities resulting from your administration of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Paris have come to the attention of this Ministry. In this context, while noting the following instances, explanations on the same are hereby …
Text of a press Release issued by PMANE on April 1, 2012 The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) entered into a negotiation with the Tamil Nadu State officials on March 27, 2012 with the assistance of some credible and respectable mediators. Koodankulam: pic courtesy of: thehindubusinessline.com As per that mediation, the Tamil Nadu State …
By Marwaan Macan-Markar (As Burma heads for an election on April 1st this analysis written in January is reproduced here due to its current relevance. The writer is a Sri Lankan journalist now working for IPS in Bangkok – DBSJ) BANGKOK, Jan 23, 2012 (IPS) – As he dismantles a 50-year military dictatorship without a …
Continue reading ‘Dismantling a dictatorship peacefully in Myanmar’ »
by S.P. Udayakumar Dear Friends: Greetings! Pushparayan, the other 12 friends and I have become weaker and tired; but we are still able to sit up and talk to people. Today is the seventh day of the indefinite hunger strike. pic by: Eunheui Nobody from the State Government or the Central Government has bothered to …
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj Fifteen years ago on this day (Oct 30th ) around 28, 000 men , women and children were expelled from Jaffna by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization. They were all Tamil – speaking Muslims living in the Muslim “vattaaram” or zone of Jaffna town. About 500 plus Muslims living in …
Continue reading ‘Fifteenth anniversary of the Muslim expulsion from Jaffna’ »