by

Vishnuguptha

The scourge of Ranil Wickremesinghe has fallen on the United National Party (UNP), the ‘Grand Old Party’ of Sri Lanka. The Party that once was the strength of the common masses, the Party towards which scores of Parliamentarians of the opposition ranks flocked, the Party that could boast about many a national achievement, from Mahaweli Program to Mahapola, massive housing schemes, land grants and of course, free education and the open-market economy has ended up as the laughing stock of Sri Lanka.

The UNP did not fall into this pit by accident, although its demise began with the assassination of the trio of its post-J R leaders, R Premadasa, Gamini Dissanayake andLalith Athulathmudali. Ever since the present leader took over the navigational wheel into his hands, the United National Party has been drifting away in the muddy waters of Sri Lanka’s politics, handing over key Party positions to his cronies whose physical closeness to himself was placed as a premium on the party hierarchy.

Continue reading ‘Unless Ranil Wickremesinghe Resigns Now or is Immediately Ousted the UNP may Soon Become the Third Political Force in Sri Lanka’ »

Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne

Here is a definite victory now, for the pro-devolution forces. It is not necessarily achieved,with the intervention of the Indian rulers. There is no doubt that Indian pressure is a significant factor, but a combination of forces within Lanka played a key role in pushing the Sinhala chauvinist lobby to a corner.

One thing critical in this combination is the development within the JVP; the most important organisation that backed the military campaign of the Mahinda regime. Its help surpassed in a way, the entire Indian help given in kind.

Continue reading ‘Both the JVP and Breakaway Frontline Socialist Party Condemn Chauvinist Bodu Bala Sena and Ravana Balakaya’ »

By

S.L.Gunasekara

Sri Lanka is a Country where everybody (with hardly any exception) loves a Tamasha. This is particularly so among politicians who not only gain from them but are also avid supporters of Tamashas provided they are paid for by somebody else – preferably from the public purse.

One attempt at such a Tamasha made at a colossal expense to the Country was made when the Government sought to have at a sports meet staged in Sri Lanka. A team of ‘hurrah-boys’ and/or favourites of the Government headed by `no less’ a person than Nivard Cabraal, the political appointee who functions as the ‘Governor of the Central Bank’ went to Australia, in pursuance of that endeavour and, from all reports had a ball of a time. There was an aircraft of the National Carrier idling on the tarmac for several days (with the crew idling) to bring them back to Sri Lanka.

The newspapers featured a photograph showing a party thrown by our delegation at which this political appointee was depicted playing the children’s game of ‘trains’ with the son of the President, Namal Rajapaksa, MP both of whom had inane smiles pasted on their faces. The People of this Country regardless of political affiliation, race, ethnicity, caste or religion rejoiced about the failure of our Country to secure even at such colossal expense as the People were compelled to bear, the right to stage that sports meet in Sri Lanka. Indeed I was unable to find a single person who grieved about that `failure’.

Continue reading ‘Canada’s Stephen Harper is Unwittingly Helping Sri Lanka by Opposing”Trojan Horse”Commonwealth Summit Being Held in Sri Lanka’ »

BY

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

While I wish that Dayasiri Jayasekara had broken away from the UNP to form a new party rather than join the government, he has, I must admit, made a smart move, as has his new leader Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The smart move was not to cross the floor and accept a cabinet portfolio but to move out to the provincial level. If Dayasiri is half the success that Gamini Jayawickrema Perera was as Chief Minister of the North Western Province (‘Wayamba’), the sky is the limit as far national political possibilities go, because he is young enough to outlast the shelf life of the ruling elite.

It is also a cannily played hand on the part of President Rajapaksa, who is more than aware of twin dangers within his coalition—from those who resent the glass ceiling imposed by family rule and are speculating about a comeback by their deposed queen, and the racist hardliners who are dismayed by the entirely pragmatic Presidential decision to proceed with the Northern Provincial election. Mahinda Rajapaksa seems to be inducting and building up a core of SLFP ‘young Turks’, some of whom are ex-UNPers.

By sandwiching the Northern election between two others, and by making it an interesting race with Dayasiri’s induction, the President has just diverted attention from the Northern controversy and more crucially, given the provincial council system a renewed local legitimacy.

Continue reading ‘“Dayasiri Detonation”Demonstrates that Unless Leader is Changed the UNP is Doomed to a Slow Death’ »

By
Tisaranee Gunasekara

“….anyone who dresses or speaks differently is not simply a different person, but a different animal from a different sty with whom there can be no accommodation, and who must be hated and hounded out”.
Victor Klemperer (The Language of the Third Reich)

The spirit of Black July is not dead. It is alive; triumphantly, confidently and self-righteously alive.

The politico-economic and socio-psychological premises which enabled the shameful carnage of Black July did not emerge from a vacuum, instantly. The actual killing and the pillaging may have been the work of a criminally-inclined minority; but these miscreants could not have indulged in their fanatical desires with such brutal and deadly abandon, without the consent of state-entities and the approbation of a societal-majority. Had the state made a serious attempt to impose order, had society not discarded basic humanity and ordinary decency, no minority, however fanatical, however intoxicated by hate, could have continued that orgy of Tamil-hunting, day after day, for almost two weeks.

Continue reading ‘The Spirit of Black July is Triumphantly ,Confidently and Self-righteously Alive’ »

By

Kelum Bandara

(An Interview with Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda who is also the Secretary-General of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party(EPDP)

Excerpts:

Q: You said right throughout that you would be the chief ministerial candidate of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for the Northern Provincial Council Election. Now the election has been declared. What is your stand now?

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa Does not Want to Lose the only Tamil Minister from North Serving in his Cabinet –DouglasDevananda’ »

By Saman Indrajith

UNP Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera yesterday resigned from his parliamentary seat after making a 40-minute special statement in Parliament, where he said that he would lead the UPFA campaign at the North-Western Provincial Council to victory and become its Chief Minister.

As Jayasekera accused the UNP leadership of inaction and being shiftless, Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe remained in his seat listening to accusations.

A large number of government members were present in the House listening to Jayasekera and thumping their desks approving of what he said.

Continue reading ‘UNP Kurunegala Dist MP Dayasiri Jayasekera Resigns Parliamentary Seat to Lead UPFA Campaign in Wayamba Poll and Become Chief Minister’ »

By Raashid Riza

(This article was first published in the print version of the “Ceylon today” on 24 July 2013 and is in response to an interview of Dr.Ameer Ali published in the paper on 19 July 2013 titled ‘Muslims are self-alienating’.The interview by Ranga Jayasuriya was posted on the dbsjeyaraj.com blog under the heading “Muslims in Sri Lanka are self-alienating themselves from the mainstream community –Dr. Ameer Ali)

The state of Muslims in Sri Lanka has been closely observed over the last few years. Indeed the plight of Sri Lankan Muslims has become somewhat dire; new radical Sinhalese groups like the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and the Sihala Ravaya (SR) have hijacked Buddhism and are both committing and advocating crimes against the Muslim community. It is in such a context, that Dr. Ameer Ali’s interview was published a few days ago.

When asked if he concurs with the widely asserted notion that a peaceful Muslim minority are under threat by elements representing a hegemonic Buddhist nationalism, Dr Ali opines that after more than a hundred years of ‘rationalism’, religion is once again in the ascendency. As such, Buddhism in Sri Lanka is seeing a revival.

Continue reading ‘When it Comes to Languages Muslims are the Least Polarised and Insular and the Most Diverse Sri Lankan Community’ »

By

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

There was not an iota of doubt that popular UNP Parliamentarian, Dayasiri Jayasekera, would get tired of an ongoing political duel with his Party Leader and eventually call it a day. Yesterday, he made public, his decision to move on and to move into the ruling coalition, offering charismatic leadership to the UPFA’s electoral campaign in the North-Western Province (NWP).

Few would doubt his capacity as a crowd puller, his ability to lead or to win. But the decision to part did not come easy to Jayasekera after nine years as a UNP Parliamentarian. He is established, has mass appeal and has the necessary political savvy. His mature years as a politician were indeed spent within the green camp, though his beginnings were essentially within the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). Though a troubled return, to that extent, Jayasekera is only returning home.

Continue reading ‘Appointment of Akila Viraj Kariyawasam as UNP Kurunegala District Leader by Ranil Wickremesinghe Led to Dayasiri Jayasekera’s Defection’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Dayasiri Jayasekera

“Harima dukayi (very sad)” muttered a senior Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) legislator, almost to himself inside an elevator at the Parliamentary complex two days ago.The implication could not be clearer.

After months of speculation and back and forth, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had finally clinched the deal by afternoon on Tuesday (23) to ensure the defection of UNP Kurunegala District MP and popular politician Dayasiri Jayasekera to the ruling coalition. It is the worst kept secret in Parliament and political circles that SLFP stalwarts are disgusted by the move.

Continue reading ‘Mahinda Ensures Victory at Wayamba Province Poll Through Defection of Dayasiri Jayasekera From UNP to Govt Ranks’ »

By

Elise Sole

Meet His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge!

Kate Middleton and Prince William revealed their baby name via a statement through Kensington Palace on Wednesday, only two days after Middleton gave birth.

Continue reading ‘Royal Baby’s Name is Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge: He will become George the Seventh when Mounting Throne’ »

By Latheef Farook

(This article is a response to the article “Refusal by Butchers to Stop Barbaric Cruelty Justifies Raising Demand to Stop Slaughter of Cattle” written by Sagarica Rajakarunanayake of Sathya Mithra)

I admire Ms Sagarica’s compassion towards animals especially cows. Reflecting the general mindset she has accused Muslims of committing these cruelties.

However the question is what is preventing the relevant authorities from stopping such cruelties by strict legal measures. Most meat traders point out that this is not a common practice though there may have been incidents where animals were ill treated.

I agree with her demand to ban on cattle slaughter and turn this country into a nation of vegetarians. The question is that, according to meat traders, around 80 to 85 percent of the customers have been non Muslims, Sinhalese and if they stop buying the demand drops abruptly and the number of animals slaughtered too will drop accordingly.

There is some good news for Ms Sagarica and her likeminded Sathva Mithra colleagues and friends. A group of Muslims are exploring the possibility of launching a nationwide campaign to not only stop slaughtering cows but seeking to impose complete ban on the import of any meat products. After all animals are animals wherever they come from- be it America Europe, Asia or Australia.

Continue reading ‘80%-85% of Customers in Meat Trade in Sri Lanka are Non-Muslims and if they Stop Buying Beef Cattle Slaughter will Drop Dramatically.’ »

By

Sagarica Rajakarunanayake -Sathva Mithra

The government is going ahead with a national scale milk industry incurring a massive investment. Its aims are to provide nutrition to the people, and eliminate the huge cost incurred by the state in importing milk powder to the country. The fillip given to dairy farmers in the way of enhanced prices for milk, and the improvement of the local strains of animals through high yielding imported breeds will bring them a better income. The milk cow will save our children from malnutrition and usher in health and prosperity, once more becoming an important asset. Strict laws must, therefore, be introduced to protect it. Such laws will be instrumental in reviving in our people the traditional values of compassion and gratitude to animals that help us in agriculture, dairy farming and other livelihoods.

In the past, before the commercialization of our economy, animals were used by people to work in the field, obtain milk, and for transport .However, in accordance with Buddhist culture, animals were not cruelly and ruthlessly exploited; in fact people treated work animals with gratitude and cared for them until the end of their lives. The cow had gained a ‘mother image” in our society, because children were nourished by her milk and until about sixty years ago, the family cow was not sold to the butcher even past the age of productivity. Selling one’s cow was considered a despicable act and looked on with contempt.

Continue reading ‘Refusal by Butchers to Stop Barbaric Cruelty Justifies Raising Demand to Stop Slaughter of Cattle’ »

by

Upul Joseph Fernando

“Justice Vigneswaran has consented to a media interview regarding growing threats against the judiciary”.’Editor of The Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickrematunga, who was brutally gunned down in 2009, spoke of C.V. Vigneswaran’s decision to talk to the media with some surprise. It happened close on the heels of a Supreme Court order to imprison S.B. Dissanayake for contempt of Court. None had the nerve, nor dared, to challenge the then Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva.

It was at such a time that Vigneswaran came forward to talk about the breakdown in the system of justice in the country under Chief Justice, Sarath N. Silva, during the government of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

In that interview, Vignenswaran did not talk about either Norway or the Norway-sponsored peace process. Instead, he harshly criticized the erosion of law and order and the rule of law in the country affecting all communities, be they Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims.

Vigneswaran, who has much unpretentious credentials, has now thrown down the gauntlet, entering the fray for the coveted Chief Minister post. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which succeeded in getting a unanimous vote over his nomination, has earned kudos from one and all for its choice of a crusader for rule of law as the Chief Ministerial candidate.

Continue reading ‘Will Opposition in South Field Shirani Bandaranayake in the Future Like the TNA Did with CV Wigneswaran in North?’ »

By

Kath Noble

For the first time in a long while, I feel hopeful about the future of Sri Lanka. Everybody accepts that the main challenge at this juncture is reconciliation – uniting the country in spirit now that it has finally been united in body. And despite the many appalling failures of the Government – together with the complete inability of the Opposition to make any impact whatsoever on even absolutely mundane issues – there is suddenly reason to feel positive.

The Northern Provincial Council election is going ahead.

It is of course a reflection of the dismal state of post-war Sri Lanka that this very basic democratic requirement should be considered an achievement. Still, after months of frenzied campaigning by Sinhalese extremists, the fact that candidates are being nominated and preparations made is a huge relief.

Denying residents of the North the right to elect their representatives as people living elsewhere in the country do as a matter of course would have given the Tamil separatist project a tremendous boost.

Continue reading ‘Justice Wigneswaran’s Nomination Indicates the TNA wants to Try to find a Way to Work with the Govt’ »

AP- Prince William’s wife, Kate, has given birth to a boy, a child now third in line to the British throne.

The Queen’s Press Secretary and a footman post the official announcement of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby on an easel in Buckingham Palace forecourt-pic by: British Monarchy

The child was born on Monday, after many Britons woke up to the news that Princess Kate had gone into labour with the couple’s first child.

The birth announcement, via a press release from Kensington Palace, said the boy was born at 4.24 p.m. weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces.

Continue reading ‘Princess Kate Gives Birth to a Boy Weighing 8 Pounds and 6 Ounces at 4.24 PM on July 22nd 2013’ »

by

Manekshaw

Rajavarothayam Sampanthan

Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, has proved his political maturity and his able leadership in maintaining the integrity of the TNA by getting all five constituent parties in the Alliance to concur with his decision to nominate former Judge of the Supreme Court, C. V. Vigneswaran, as the chief ministerial candidate of the TNA for the Northern Provincial Council, election.

The trilingual Sampanthan is named after South India’s Pallava period Hindu saint, Thirugnanasampanthar, who had rendered 10 devotional lyrics in Tamil on the Koneswaram Rock Temple of Lord Siva in Trincomalee in the 7th century.

The members in the TNA or from Sampanthan’s own party, the Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK), may occasionally fall out with the Leader, but his security personnel who are Sinhalese officers from the Sri Lanka Police, treat him with due reverence and utmost care, and will even sacrifice their lives to safeguard him. The devotion is to be expected, as the 80-year-old veteran Tamil politician is extremely fluent in the Sinhala language and is known to treat his men in a gentlemanly manner.
Continue reading ‘TNA Chief Sampanthan Kills Two Birds with One Stone Through Selection of Justice Wigneswaran as Chief Ministerial Candidate’ »

By
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha M.P.

Perhaps the clearest test of a pluralistic outlook amongst Sri Lankans, to say nothing of basic decency too, is their response to the events of July 1983. Anyone fit to pass the test sees it as an aberration in Sri Lankan history, an outrage in which defenceless Tamils were systematically persecuted.

Those who offer excuses or play down the event seem to me morally repugnant. That is why, despite his comparative efficiency and honesty, I think Ranil Wickremesinghe would not be a suitable leader for Sri Lanka. His comments soon after the riots, when he played down their impact, and claimed that far worse things had happened to the Sinhalese because of the Bandaranaike policy of nationalization of businesses, were disgusting.

Since he also claimed that that policy had not affected businesses in the hands of minorities, he was in a sense parroting the Cyril Mathew line that was one of the reasons behind the attacks on Tamil businesses in Colombo, namely greed and the use of emotive racism to suppress competition. I can only hope that those politicians and decision makers now in government who are encouraging the Bodhu Bala Sena, and the shadowy forces behind it that are trying to knock out successful Muslim commercial enterprises, realize that they are repeating history and behaving just as a more callow Ranil Wickremesinghe did in his youth.

Continue reading ‘Recognizing and Regretting the Outrage of July 1983 when Defenceless Tamils were Systematically Persecuted’ »

by

W.A.Wijewardena

The return of a girl condemned to die

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani school girl who was shot by Taliban in October 2012 when she was 15 years old for the crime of fighting for the right of Muslim girls to education and thereby defying a Taliban order that girls should not go to schools, celebrated her 16th birthday on 12 July 2013 in a way that no other girl has ever done. She did so by delivering a very powerful and inspirational speech at the UN Youth Assembly in the presence of a large number of dignitaries including the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown now a UN Ambassador on inclusive education (available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRh_30C8l6Y).

Malala Yousafzai at the United Nations ~ Pic by: Rick Bajornas, UN Photo

Her address at the UN coincided with the declaration of her birthday as ‘Malala Day’ by the UN, a rare honour which a girl of her age and status could expect from a world body. She is not big-made and could not even reach the top of the podium of the UN Assembly without the support of a low deck to stand on. Yet, the powerful speech she delivered with confidence throughout and meaning in every word spoken captivated not only the high dignitaries who were present in the Assembly but also millions of viewers and readers worldwide.

Continue reading ‘Malala’s Message is an Inspiration not only for Sri Lanka’s Youth but also for its Adults’ »

By Dean Nelson

Khuram Shaikh

Khuram Shaikh, a 32-year-old Red Cross aid worker from Rochdale, had been in Sri Lanka to rest after an assignment in Gaza, when he and his Russian girlfriend were attacked by eight men in a hotel bar in Tangalle, on the south coast. One of the men accused of the attack is a prominent figure in Rajapaksa’s Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP).

Shaikh was stabbed in the throat and shot dead after he complained about the men sexually harassing his girlfriend as they enjoyed a drink in the early hours of Christmas Day 2011. His girlfriend was beaten unconscious and gang-raped, according to Sri Lankan Police.

But despite assurances from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, suspicions of a politically-motivated cover-up to protect a key supporter have grown, amid threats against witnesses and misleading statements by government figures.

Continue reading ‘Politically Motivated Cover Up of British Tourist Murder at Tangalle to protect Key Supporter of Rajapaksa regime’ »

The National Film Archive of India (NFAI) and New York-based World Cinema Foundation (WCF), have decided to restore the film Nidhanaya, a Sri Lankan masterpiece.

Nidhanaya is a 1972 Sinhalese language film directed by Lester James Peries, starring Gamini Fonseka and Malini Fonseka. The movie is based on a story written by G.B. Senanayake in one of his short story collection known as ‘The Revenge.’

The film would have been lost forever to the world, but for the NFAI, the Pune-based institute’s Director, Prashant Pathrabe, said. There is no film element available of this title in the whole world, neither with the producer, the right holder nor with the director in Sri Lanka, he said. The only surviving film element was the dupe negative that had been preserved at the NFAI.

Continue reading ‘“Nidhanaya” (treasure) the Masterpiece Movie by Lester James Peries to be Restored by Cineteca Bologna in Italy’ »

Coming out strongly against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Monday said he does not want him to become India’s prime minister as he does not have secular credentials.

Amartya Sen

On being asked why he did not want so, Sen said, “He could have first of all been more secular and he could have made the minority community feel more secure.”

The prominent economist also criticised Modi’s model of governance saying he did not approve of it.

“Yes, I don’t want him,” Sen told CNN-IBN in reply to a question on whether he wanted him as his prime minister.

“As an Indian citizen I don’t want Modi as my PM… He has not done enough to make minorities feel safe,” he said.

Continue reading ‘Indian Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen says he does not want Gujerat’s Narendra Modi as BJP Prime Minister of India’ »

By
Supun Dias

Outgoing Army Commander General Jagath Jayasuriya who will be the next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) spoke to Daily Mirror on a wide range of key untapped developments already underway and responded to a number of allegations levelled against the Army. The second longest serving Army Commander in the country pointed out that no one could criticise the role played by the troops.

Excerpts

Q:What was your role during the war?

Continue reading ‘We are Investigating into the Summary Executions of Captured LTTE Cadres as Alleged by Channel 4 TV says Outgoing Army chief Gen.Jagath Jayasuriya’ »

(Text of Joint media release attributed to Kevin Rudd – Prime Minister, Mark Dreyfus – Attorney General and The Hon Tony Burke MP – Australian Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship)

As of today asylum seekers who come here by boat without a visa will never be settled in Australia.

Under the new arrangement signed with Papua New Guinea today – the Regional Settlement Arrangement – unauthorised arrivals will be sent to Papua New Guinea for assessment and if found to be a refugee will be settled there.

Arriving in Australia by boat will no longer mean settlement in Australia.

Continue reading ‘Australia has had enough of Seeing Peoples Smugglers Exploiting Asylum Seekers and Seeing Them Drown onthe High Seas-Rudd,Dreyfus and Burke’ »

(Text of an Editorial Appearing in the “Ceylon Today”Newspaper)

The retiring Army Commander, General Jagath Jayasuriya, is reported to have told a section of the media that the Army is planning to enter profit-making ventures and that Cabinet approval is being awaited to start these activities. The General is reported to have specifically mentioned construction works as an area that the Army could handle profitably. He had cited countries such as Russia and China where the State gets involved in such activities by using the armed forces.

As mentioned by the General, the Army may be able to execute projects with profit, because unlike the odds faced by civilian contractors, the Army would not have many overheads to meet, with almost all heavy equipment already in its possession and paid personnel too readily available. Of course one needs to agree that in projects handled by the Army, there would be strict military discipline with no delays in their execution, which is absent when projects are handled by civilian contractors who have to discipline construction workers to get the best of the wages paid to them and also make a profit.

Continue reading ‘Is it Ethical for the Sri Lankan Army to Compete with Civilian Contractors for Profit Making Construction Projects?’ »

By
Shamindra Ferdinando

A British passport holder of Sri Lankan origin, Logeswaran Manimaran, 37, wanted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for fraudulently withdrawing Rs. 3,28,71,000 from the Commercial Bank and the Hatton National Bank, has been recently produced in Cardiff Magistrate’s court, Wales, under a different name.

The suspect, Manimaran Sadasaramoorthy, 42, of Mitcham, Surrey was produced before Judge Martin Brown on July 10 for invading the Swalec stadium pitch during an ICC Champions Trophy match between Sri Lanka and India on June 20. The court appearance was made in the wake of Interpol issuing a red notice on behalf of the Sri Lankan government for his arrest. Interpol has identified the suspect as a one-time resident of Polikandy, Jaffna.

Continue reading ‘Is Cardiff Pitch Invader Manimaran Sadasaramoorthy(42)the Logeswaran Manimaran(37)Wanted by CID for Bank Fraud in Colombo?’ »

by
Dilrukshi Handunnetti

A defiant and determined Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, the director of the Sinhala-Tamil anthological film Igillena Maluwo (Flying Fish) finds the current controversy surrounding his anthological film, ‘truly interesting.’

pic courtesy of: sanjeewafilm

Denying allegations of being a conspirator to being funded by the Tamil Diaspora to create films detrimental to national interest, Seoul-based Pushpakumara in a telephone interview with Ceylon Today said, he had no wish to insult the Sri Lankan Security Forces, but expressed dismay over the inability to appreciate art, for the sake of art.

Excerpts:

Q: How do you react to the current controversy that surrounds your film?

A: I find it truly interesting. I am happy that so many talk about a film many have not seen or even heard of, until the recent problem about a special screening. Finally, I feel my work is up for discussion, whichever way people receive it.

Continue reading ‘“Flying Fish” Film Director Sanjeewa Pushpakumara Denies Allegations of Being Funded by Tamil Diaspora to Make Movies Insulting Lankan Security Forces’ »

by

Nasser Al-Awlaki

I learned that my 16-year-old grandson, Abdulrahman — a United States citizen — had been killed by an American drone strike from news reports the morning after he died.

The missile killed him, his teenage cousin and at least five other civilians on October 14, 2011, while the boys were eating dinner at an open-air restaurant in southern Yemen.

Continue reading ‘The American Drone that Killed my 16 Year old US citizen Grandson Eating at a South Yemen restaurant’ »

Agence France-Presse – Buildings were razed as hundreds of asylum-seekers escaped detention during riots at an Australian refugee facility on Nauru, witnesses said Saturday, following the launch of a hardline immigration crackdown.

Australia announced on Friday that boatpeople will no longer be resettled in the country and all future unauthorized arrivals will be sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea for permanent resettlement.

The riots on Friday night saw detainees many of them Sri Lankans take control of the Immigration Processing Centre on the remote Pacific atoll of Nauru and arm themselves with makeshift weapons.

Nearly half of the facility’s 545 asylum-seekers escaped and a number of buildings were set alight, according to local photographer, Clint Deidenang.

Continue reading ‘Asylum Seekers Including many Sri Lankans Revolt in Nauru Taking Control of Australian Refugee Facility with Makeshift weapons’ »

By

Padma Rao Sundarji

Justice CV Wigneswaran

Justice CV Wigneswaran, chief ministerial nominee of Sri Lanka’s oppositional Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for the forthcoming northern province elections spoke to Padma Rao Sundarji. Here’s the exclusive interview:

HT: President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decision to hold elections in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province (NP) in September, for the first time in the history of the region rocked by 30 years of Asia’s bloodiest civil war and despite opposition from Sinhala chauvinist coalition members is being touted as ‘historic’. Equally so, your nomination by the hitherto fractious five parties of the oppositional Tamil National Alliance (TNA), as its candidate for chief minister. The jubilant Sri Lankan media is calling you the ‘next Laxman Kadirgamar’: a tough-talking, legal eagle who will not stand bullying by the Colombo coalition. And yet, you told a local channel that you “feel like a person who has jilted his lover and is getting married to the person his parents found for him”. Why the despondency?

Justice CV Wigneswaran: I used the analogy to indicate that I am giving up something I have loved all my life to take on something I am obliged to do. My life has been quiet: I have been largely involved in religious activities and my profession. But for a long time, my friends, others lawyers, judges and my students were pushing me to enter politics.

The most difficult argument to counter was when they asked me why, if I took the advice of the Bhagwat Gita to perform one’s duties seriously, was I shirking my responsibility? Then, the TNA’s five component parties finally saw eye-to-eye over one single candidate. So I had to accept it.

Why this euphoria over me? So far it has been only about politicians. I suppose I bring a fresh air of perception. Politics has no meaning for me. I am also not interested in this post. I am just taking on a job. If it is possible to do it, I will, otherwise I’ll just turn back and go away.

Continue reading ‘Friends in Tamil Nadu Must Allow us to Work out Our Own Solution to Our Own Problems Within a United Sri Lanka says Wigneswaran’ »

by
Ananth Palakidnar

Justice C. V. Vigneswaran

The Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) decision to nominate Justice C. V. Vigneswaran, as its chief ministerial candidate for the Northern Province for the September Provincial Council (PC) elections, has been hailed by many, in politics and out of it, as a judicious move that illustrates the kind of strategic thinking needed in politics when fundamental issues are at stake. Identified as a symbol of Tamil ‘soft power,’ he has made no bones about the unsuitability of persons with military mindsets being Governors of democratically elected administrative bodies. In a wide ranging interview with Ceylon Today, the Colombo born and educated retired judge of the Supreme Court, who will be creating history by becoming the first Supreme Court Judge to contest elections, talks about his candidacy, the 13th Amendment, the significance of land and police powers and his role as a politician.

Following are excerpts:

Q: How do you see your nomination as the TNA’s chief ministerial candidate for the NPC polls?

Continue reading ‘13th Amendment Gives with the Left hand and Takes away with the Right Hand -CV Wigneswaran’ »

by

Vishnuguptha

“Some things you must always be unable to bear. Some things you must never stop refusing to bear: Injustice and outrage and dishonor and shame. No matter how young you are or how old you have got. Not for kudos and not for cash. Your picture in the paper nor money in the bank, neither. Just refuse to bear them.”

~ William Faulkner quotes

When paranoia, takes hold of a mindset of a majority which is already in the grips of a ‘minority complex’, the consequential stream of thinking in that mindset tends to produce and manufacture deceptive and illusory nightmares that continue to haunt the entity, whether it’s a person or a society, to such a frightening degree that the dividing line between illusion and reality becomes blurry and invisible. In such a situation, dreams become nightmares; hunter becomes the hunted, perpetrator becomes the victim and an illusion becomes reality.

Police powers granted to the Northern Provincial Council under the auspices of the Thirteenth Amendment of our Constitution would eventually lead to the establishment of a parallel army within Sri Lanka is such a frightening nightmare born out of that warped mindset trapped in its own creation of suspicion, fear and incompetence. Yet it serves the purpose of local politics and plays right into the psyche of the majority that is increasingly becoming intolerant, irrational and unaccommodating.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa has opened his mouth- though very rarely does he express his views on the ethnic issue- of all places to the Hindu newspaper in an exclusive interview. He is reported to have said that Sri Lanka would never risk a provincial government forming its own “army” through devolved police powers. The fear factor is distinct and as clear as crystal. Maybe, once bitten, twice shy.

Continue reading ‘Basil Rajapaksa’s Baseless “fear” about a Parallel Tamil Army Through Police Powers to Provincial Council’ »

by

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“…..he who erected
His own gallows was the one who least expected
To end up dead.”

La Fontaine (Selected Fables)

Vellupillai Pirapaharan could have been the saviour of his people. He could have won for the Tamils a federal solution, perhaps even a con-federacy. He could have, but didn’t, because that was not his goal. His goal was His own state; the Eelam he worked towards was not Tamil-speaking Eelam, Tamil Eelam or even Tiger Eelam; his goal was a Pirapaharan Eelam, a country where he was the state, the law and the religion.

That megalomanic quest ended in an apocalyptic devastation which consumed the Tamil people, the LTTE and, ultimately, Vellupillai Pirapaharan.

Post-victory, the Rajapaksas could have chartered a different path for Sri Lanka, towards democratic peace and humane development. They could have resolved the Tamil issue, strengthened religious-amity and created the political and socio-economic foundations of truly Lankan nation. They could have, but didn’t, because that is not what they want. They used the enormous political capital they gained by defeating the LTTE to transform Sri Lanka into a familial oligarchy, because that was what they wanted.

Democracy is a shell, the judiciary and the bureaucracy subjugated, minorities disempowered and majority addicted to ethno-religious extremism because these are essential steps in the road towards Familial Rule and Dynastic Succession.

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksas are Incensed and Worried About the TNA’s Chief Ministerial Choice’ »

by

Dr.Kumar David

Everybody has an opinion about which way the ship is listing, and I have mine, but the answer to the question in my caption is important; it will set the national course for the coming months. Let me add that I take no side in this purported sibling row as I am implacably opposed to both.

Rather, my effort is to read the signs, summarise arguments of pundits and punters, and to think through what either the great deception, or a parting of ways will mean in the medium term – say next 12 months.

If Lanka was a normal political dispensation, where what leaders say could be taken as frank, and not as deception and sham calculated to deceive, then there is a searing deadlock in government.

Continue reading ‘Is There a “Real” Split Between Brothers Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa?’ »

by

Capt Elmo Jayawardena

Jagath Chamila

The show was a class act, organized by the 19-year old Moratuwa Arts Forum. I sat and watched the passed years come alive when they all strutted on stage – the old, the young and the new and took the audience back on ‘Memory Lane.’ Who sang? Man! They were all there, one song each as the performers’ list was so long. Don’t forget this is Moratuwa, out here they jump out of the cradle strumming guitars and dancing the Baila. I have never heard of a town anywhere in the world having an Arts Forum of this sort and a website too. Whoever the ‘live wires’ are behind the Arts Forum, they’ve moulded musicians together from 18 hamlets and done something fantastic in ‘show-casing’ them, promoting art and music in an entire town.

Jagath Chamila was the Chief Guest. We all know he sky-rocketed from Moratumulla to the Big Apple as Sammy in the silver screen. Biscuits and tea at Temple Trees and gifted houses and Jagath became an instant celebrity lauded by all. But out here he was among the ‘people next door.’ The best actor in New York got on the ‘Pun Sanda Paya’ stage and sang. He was a national hero and a common ‘home town man’ rolled into one and that song and performance he gave certainly was not acting, but came from the depth of his very Moratuwa heart.

Continue reading ‘“Pun Sanda Paya”- Marvellous Display of Moratuwa’s Musical Spirit and Artistic Talent’ »

By

Steve A. Morrell

The remote possibility that ‘Fifty fifty’, ‘Well Mudaliyar’ and Jith Peiri’s current offering He comes from Jaffna’ superimposed to the ‘50s, then the’ 70s could be viewed in concurrence will not be quite a just evaluation of what we saw last week – end. ‘He comes from Jaffna’ this time around was in context of the times, and cleverly interspersed with current day histrionics to give it that nippy fast paced dialog the that had the audience eagerly looking forward to what would come next.

English theatre; in its current form, notwithstanding the senior audiences who view these stage offerings attend just as a selected diversion. More factual would be that young theatre goers, if at all, would come only if ‘their’ crowd will be there. That too a remote possibility. Pity, really, in these days of some sort of English revival.

Naturally there are exceptions who have made an impact.

Within this somewhat limited medium, ‘He comes from Jaffna’, and Jith Perris’s newest interpretation, was a breath of fresh air infused in to the realm of theatre. In this instance, audiences in Colombo.

Continue reading ‘Contemporary Interpretation of “He Comes from Jaffna” by Jith Peiris Infuses Breath of Fresh Air to the Realm of Theatre’ »

By

C.A.Chandraprema

Last week, there was a mighty furore over the screening of an anti-war film Igillena Maaluwo (Flying Fish) at a French Film Festival held in Colombo.

The festival itself was halted, probably the first time that such a thing happened in Sri Lanka. This has led to cries that the freedom of expression was being stifled. Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, a veteran film maker has said that ‘regimented jackboots’ were ‘crushing artistic expression’. Rajpal Abeynayake, editor of the government owned Daily News countered by pointing out that in almost all Western countries, it is still a punishable offence to deny that the Holocaust took place and that for many years after the Second World War, it was illegal to paint the victorious allied armies in a bad light and that the West was now trying to deny the same right to Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Ban on Producing Films Depicting the Armed Forces will Prevent Sri Lanka from Becoming an International Joke’ »

By

Malathi Rangarajan

Vaali (born T. S. Rangarajan; 29 October 1931 – 18 July 2013)

Rangarajan of Srirangam may have become the popular poet, dramatist, novelist, painter, lyricist, actor and even director Vaalee, but at heart this theist was a simple man. Besides being an ardent admirer of his prodigious talent, I have been in awe of the genuineness of the multi-faceted personality who treated all those who came his way with respect.

I attended his functions because of the urge to listen to the litterateur and master orator. Casual and friendly, yet poignant and philosophical, his speeches were akin to taking a walk down literary lane. As I run the recording of my last interaction with him, I realise the void his passing away has created, both in cinema and the world of Tamil literature.

Continue reading ‘Poet Vaalee Whose Staying Power was due to his Astounding ability to Evolve with the Times’ »

Helen Thomas, the irrepressible White House correspondent who used her seat in the front row of history to grill 10 Presidents — often to their discomfort — died here on Saturday. She was 92.

Helen Thomas

She was persistent to the point of badgering. One White House press secretary described her questioning as “torture” and he was one of her fans.

In 2010, that tendency finally ended a career which had started in 1943 and made her one of the best known journalists.

Continue reading ‘Pioneering White House Woman Correspondent Helen Thomas who Grilled 10 US Presidents Dies at 92’ »

by

Meera Srinivasan

For those in Jaffna who have, for long, felt the need for a space that allows dialogue and discussion, this weekend has been promising.

The 41st edition of ‘ Ilakkiya Sandippu ’ (literary meet), which began here on Saturday, saw people from varied fields articulate their views on topics ranging from omissions in history and caste politics to gender biases and educational needs. This is the first time that the event, organised by Sri Lankan Tamils living abroad, is being held in Sri Lanka.

It took over two decades for the literary meeting to travel all the way from Europe to the northern province of Sri Lanka, which will soon have its first ever provincial council election.

Continue reading ‘41st “Ilakkiya Sandippu” (Literary Meet) Gets Underway in Jaffna with over 200 Participants’ »

By

N. Sathiya Moorthy

Independent of whoever is the chief ministerial nominee of the ruling UPFA coalition, and those of other electoral players like the estranged Government partner SLMC and the Opposition UNP, it looks as if the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) stands more than a fair chance in the first-ever elections to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).

Justice Wigneswaran ~ pic: AdaDerana.lk

Favourable results for the Government in the North-Western and Central Provinces, where too elections have been ordered for September, could lead to a toughening of political positions on the vexatious ethnic issue if the TNA in particular did not handle the situation with clarity, maturity and sagacity that it expects from the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The ‘unanimous choice’ of retired Supreme Court Justice C. V. Wigneswaran as the TNA’s chief minister candidate for the North may not have been all that unanimous. Yet, it’s only a reflection on the reality of the political situation, which is not peculiar to the Tamil polity or Sri Lanka. The final declaration showed that the TNA, like many other political parties have ‘arrived’, has acknowledged internal differences matter-of-factly, and is capable of accepting larger realities, going beyond the narrow strand of ‘Tamil nationalism’ and through internal discussions.

Continue reading ‘Champika Ranawaka Comparing TNA’s Justice Wigneswaran to Anton Balasingham of LTTE is “Mischievous, Improper, Uncharitable and Untenuous”’ »

by

Namini Wijedasa

Canagasabapathy Viswalingam Wigneswaran

He might have made a career out of music, had his mother not pushed him to study Law.

Canagasabapathy Viswalingam Wigneswaran is still an accomplished sitar player. The retired Supreme Court Judge was last week named as the Tamil National Alliance’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the Northern Provincial Council election.

“My mother was the one important cause for me to take up Law because that was such a passion on her part,” smiled Justice Wigneswaran, at his residence in Cambridge Terrace, Colombo 7. “But there is another interesting story.”

Continue reading ‘TNA Northern Poll Chief Candidate Canagasabapathy Viswalingam Wigneswaran Feels at Home in the Whole of Sri Lanka’ »

By

Latheef Farook

Organized attacks on Muslims which began almost two years ago continue unabated while the government remains indifferent, impatient Muslims thinking of turning to streets to highlight their grievance and Muslims worldwide closely monitoring developments here.

Growing feeling within the Muslim community is that though these attacks look isolated, but they are well organized and coordinated with ulterior motive .The deliberate employment of few Buddhist monks in the forefront in these attacks is dangerous as, at some point that some Muslims may be provoked to react and trigger a calamity leading to unpredictable consequences.

However the country which has just emerged after a thirty year ethnic war cannot afford another catastrophe. Muslims suspect that this is what the racist provocateurs wanted, to implement their design to attack, loot, plunder and kill Muslims least bothered about the impact on the country.

Continue reading ‘Organized Attacks on Muslim Continue Unabated for Almost Two Years While Govt Remains Indifferent’ »

Uva Province Minister, Anura Vithanagamage, has allegedly threatened the trustee of the Mahiyangana Mosque against holding Jumma prayers, Minister Rauff Hakeeem, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) said in a statement issued to the media.

The Masjidul Arafa Mosque in Mahiyangana was closed…….yesterday, subsequent to the threats.

Continue reading ‘Mosque in Mahiyangana Closed for Prayers After Uva Provincial Minister Anura Vithanagamage of UPFA Threatens Trustee’ »

Naam Thamizhar (We Tamils), a Tamil activist group, has sought a ban on John Abraham-starrer Madras Café for reportedly portraying members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as terrorists.

“We have requested the Government of Tamil Nadu to intervene and stop the film from releasing,” Tamil filmmaker Seeman, who heads the group, told IANS after seeing the movie’s trailer.

Continue reading ‘“We Tamils” Leader Sebastian Seeman Wants Hindi Film “Madras Cafe” Release Stopped for Portraying LTTE Negatively’ »

By Bianca Hall and Jonathan Swan with Daniel Hurst and Tom Allard

No asylum seeker who comes by boat will ever be resettled in Australia under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s dramatic and ”hardline” new refugee laws.

They will instead be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing and, if found to be refugees, will be resettled there.

In the strongest line a modern Labor prime minister has taken against asylum seekers, Mr Rudd said: ”As of today, asylum seekers who come here by boat without a visa will never be settled in Australia”.

Continue reading ‘Australia will send Asylum Seekers Arriving by Boat to Papua New Guinea For Processing and Resettle Those Accepted as Refugees There’ »

By
Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka will not need the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India any longer, as both countries had moved on, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

According to him, the Sri Lankan business community felt it did not need CEPA as they had found good markets. In any case, he said, India did not make things easy for Sri Lanka, as, on the one hand, while it seemed like India was opening up its market, there were new barriers [non-tariff], on the other.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Does Not Need the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) With India any Longer says Basil Rajapaksa’ »

By

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

I met Sanjeeva Pushpakumara last year in a little art cinema off the Champs Elysees at the showing of Ashoka Handagama’s Ini Avan. It seemed he knew me from his days as a student or a journalist.

A pleasant, articulate yet understated young man, of less taciturn intensity than Handagama, he debated Ini Avan with me. He introduced me to his Professor who was a member of the Jury at Cannes. Sanjeewa also turned up at a reception we hosted at the Embassy. Sanjeewa now owes a great debt to the officials of the Sri Lankan state, who in their generosity have given him and his movie global publicity. Next stop Cannes and then Hollywood perhaps?

Continue reading ‘Hysterical Reaction to the Movie “Flying Fish” and the French Film Festival Raises Many Disturbing Questions’ »

By

Vishnuguptha

“When you’ve told someone that you’ve left them a legacy the only decent thing to do is to die at once.”

~Samuel Butler

Politics refers to achieving and exercising positions of governance — organized control over a human community, particularly a state. Once you achieve the position of governance, how you manage it, governance, to the best of those who are governed is good governance. But when politics assumes a superior power over governance, you get something akin to what we have today in Sri Lanka- the uneducated trying to teach the educated; the incompetent dictating to the competent, the corrupt corrupting the incorruptible and the tail wagging the dog!

This all-pervasive phenomenon has seeped into every possible layer of society and in the process of that oozing, without its knowledge, each layer is being eaten into, in a manner akin to a bookworm destroying some priceless writings of a celebrated author of yesteryear.

Continue reading ‘Good Governance is Good Politics,Mr.President,Not Necessarily the Other Way Around’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

Dr. Ameer Ali, a prominent Islamic scholar and a former adviser of Muslim Affairs of Australian Prime Minister, John Howard’s Government, said Muslims in Sri Lanka are self-alienating themselves from the mainstream community. He is an academic at the Faculty of Management and Governance of Murdoch University. He spoke to Ranga Jayasuriya on the issues confronting the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.

Excerpts:

Q:

What is your take on the recent anti-Muslim propaganda? The general, rather liberal interpretation is that a peaceful Muslim minority has come under the threat of hegemonic Sinhala Buddhist nationalism. But, isn’t that a bit too simplistic?

Continue reading ‘Muslims in Sri Lanka are Self-alienating Themselves From the Mainstream Community-Dr.Ameer Ali’ »

By Omar Waraich

Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan addresses youth delegates at the Malala Day celebration and UN Youth Assembly at UNHQ, Jul 15-pic-UN Global Education First Initiative

Last Friday, Malala Yousafzai took to the podium at the U.N. It was her 16th birthday and her first major public appearance since the Taliban’s attempt to assassinate the Pakistani schoolgirl last October for her efforts to promote girls’ education. Traces of the near-fatal attack were still visible, as the disfiguring on the left side of her face showed. But as she demonstrated in a powerful and moving speech, her resolve had not dimmed.

Malala issued a simple plea: she wanted the world’s leaders to offer children free and compulsory education. She said that she wanted to wage a war against illiteracy and terrorism, but had no use for the tools of violence. “Let us pick up our books and our pens,” Malala urged. “They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” The audience, both inside the U.N. hall where she spoke and among the many who saw the speech live on television around the world, responded with tearful applause. Former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown hailed Malala as “the most courageous girl in the world.”

Continue reading ‘Pakistani Teen Activist Malala Yousafzai Hailed Abroad as Global Celebrity but Assailed at Home by Conspiracy Theorists.’ »

By Mythily Ramachandran, Special to Weekend Review, Gulf News

Callum Macrae at recent event in Toronto

Callum Macrae’s documentary “No Fire Zone” is not a story, rather several stories strung together, of people like you and me, of families and children like yours and mine, who were rendered homeless during a 26-year-long civilian war. And what you see on screen are real, gory, bloody scenes.

Macrae’s earlier film, “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields”, broadcast in June 2011 by the United Kingdom’s Channel 4, opened with the UN team leaving the island country in 2008, after the government expressed its inability to guarantee their safety while it pounded the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Kilinochchi.

Continue reading ‘Filmmaker Callum Macrae on his Documentary ‘No Fire Zone’About the Civil War in Sri Lanka’ »

By
Meera Srinivasan

Despite India’s efforts to persuade Sri Lanka to fully implement the 13th Amendment in the island’s northern province, the Rajapaksa government appears firm about not handing over some powers, including those related to police and law enforcement, to the Tamil minority.

Revealing the extent to which absence of trust remains an obstacle to ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka, Basil Rajapaksa — brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister for Economic Development — who visited New Delhi last week, told The Hindu that Sri Lanka would never risk a provincial government forming its own “army” through devolved police powers.

Referring to the Tamil National Army — a militant outfit raised by the beleaguered 1988 EPRLF government in the North-Eastern Province in a futile attempt to protect itself against the LTTE that had rejected the Amendment and boycotted the election — he said there was no ruling out that a future Northern provincial government would not do the same: “If [the NPC] form another army, can we afford another war now?”

Continue reading ‘“We Wont Risk Formation of Parallel Army by Provincial Govt Through Devolving of Police Powers”-Basil Rajapaksa’ »

by

B. Kolappan

Poet-Lyricist Vaali. File photo: K.Pichumani-via The Hindu

Lyricist and poet Vaali, who secured a place on a par with Kannadasan, at a time when the latter strode like a colossus in the Tamil film music world, died here on Thursday evening.

He was 82 and is survived by a son.

He was not well for quite some time and was in and out of hospital over the past month. The end came as one of his friends recited a few ‘pasurams’ — Ondrum marantharieyen and Oorilen kaaniyillai and Kulam tharum — from the ‘Nalayira Divyaprabandam’, a set of hymns sung by Vaishnavite minstrels.

Vaali, who had a five-decade-long association with the Tamil film industry, wrote over 15,000 songs — including 5,000 for music maestro Ilaiyaraja — for many a protagonist played by actors from M.G. Ramachandran to Dhanush.

Continue reading ‘Popular Tamil Film Lyricist and Poet “Vaali” (S.Rangarajan) Passes Away at 82 in Chennai Hospital’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“All the gang of those who rule us,
Hope our quarrels never stop.
Helping them to split and fool us,
So they can remain on top.”

Brecht (Solidarity Song)

Justice CV Wigneswaran

The practice has been around for millennia, but the term was born in 1944, out of a movie. In ‘Gaslight’ , a man uses a series of manipulative tricks to drive his wife insane. These include surreptitiously increasing and decreasing the gaslights in the house while pretending that the lighting has remained constant. As his wife moves from doubt and perplexity to terror, he cuts her off from friends/allies, so that her dependence on him becomes complete.

‘Gaslighting’ in psychology denotes a form of brainwashing, “the systemic attempt by one person to erode another’s reality” .

Rulers, who plan to take nations to places they do not intend to go, often use a form of mass-gaslighting. Threats are manufactured, enemies are created, suspicion and fear turned into emotional-constants. The people, rendered infantile, isolated and divided through pathological-mistrust, can be manipulated into embracing the abusive rulers as their sole protectors/deliverers.

That is the Rajapaksa-aim.

This is the Rajapaksa-narrative.

Continue reading ‘Can The Rajapaksas “Gaslight” the South Into Believing that Wigneswaran an Eminent Former Supreme Court Judge is a Tiger?’ »

By Harrish Thirukumaran


Nelson Mandela International Day is globally realized through its registered approval by the United Nations. It is to be celebrated every year on July 18, which is Mandela’s birthday.

The primary focus of the occasion is to commemorate Mandela’s commitment to the promotion of democracy, peace, and freedom. In addition, it calls for widespread volunteerism for the good of humanity in honour of his person.

Continue reading ‘Mandela Day-July 18: In honour of the beacon of inspiration to the world’ »

At the conclusion of the forthcoming Provincial Council elections, one fourth of the UNP Parliamentarians will cross over to the government, said Economic Development Deputy Minister S.M.Chandrasena.

He made this statement at a media conference held yesterday at his office.

Continue reading ‘All Judgements by Justice Wigneswaran and Ex-High Court Judge Warawewa Must be Reviewed by President says Deputy Minister Chandrasena’ »

By

Dilrukshi Handunnetti

A still from the film ‘Flying Fish.’

When the guns fell silent in May 2009, the people of Sri Lanka collectively breathed a sigh of relief. It didn’t matter whether they were from the North or the South, because the end of the war offered a new lease of life, the strategies and the style of battle execution notwithstanding. To the ordinary people of Sri Lanka, it signified an end to the ritual of violence, though they are still waiting for that eagerly-awaited new lease in life.

The flames of violent conflict have been fanned and sustained for nearly three decades. Four years after the war, instead of dousing those flames, hatred and bigotry are fed, with the perverse of mind still continuing to demonstrate uncanny skills in identifying other targets and using with dexterity, innovative weapons of destruction.
Continue reading ‘We Have Been Made to Sacrifice the Once Celebrated Concept of Sri Lankan Diversity on the Altar of Pseudo-Patriotism’ »

By

Hazeel Farisz and Benislos Thushan

(Velayutham Dayanithi former media coordinator of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who surrendered to the Armed Forces on April 28th 2009 is very much in the news lately as a potential chief ministerial candidate of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA)at the forthcoming Northern Provincial Council. Daya master as he is known spoke on a number of matters in an Interview with the “Daily Mirror”)

Excerpts :

Q: Are you going to be the UPFA’s Chief Ministerial candidate at NPC elections?

I haven’t received any confirmation from the party yet.

Q: On what basis are you contesting the upcoming election in the North?

I’m mainly concerned about the welfare of the people in the North. I’ve already mentioned this to the media.

Continue reading ‘Military Presence in North can be Tolerated as there is a GreatThreat Posed by Politicians in South India and Diaspora Tamils –Daya Master’ »

By

Sathya Liyanasuriya

Retired Supreme Court Judge C.V. Vigneswaran emerged from the shadow of a long and distinguished judicial career this week to be named as the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) chief ministerial candidate at the elections to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).

In a country where judges of its highest court have spent their retirement in dignified silence and away from the hurly burly of politics, Justice Vigneswaran creates history by becoming the first Supreme Court Judge to contest elections.

Continue reading ‘Justice Wigneswaran has Articulated in the Public Domain His Support for Federalism and Greater Autonomy for the Tamil People’ »

Media Statement
15 July, 2013
Colombo

Gamini Viyangoda

ITN Attacks on Gamini Viyangoda: Protest Against Intimidating Social and Cultural Activists

We the undersigned, who stand for justice and democracy, note with regret and concern the use of State media, especially the Independent Television Network (ITN) that uses its air time to stick labels on and intimidate social and cultural activists who stand for plurality and fair play and for their dissenting views.

It is almost habitual for ITN to vilify and attack dissenting voices and the most recent victim of such irrational, racist and intimidating attacks over ITN in its 07.00 pm Sinhala news bulletin on Sunday 14 July, 2013 was reputed writer, columnist and media activist Gamini Viyangoda. His name had been dragged into the controversy of the suspension of the French Film Festival on 12 Friday 2013 for screening the Sinhala film directed by Sanjeewa Pushpakuamara, “Flying Fish”, held at the BMICH. It should be clearly said, the certification for screening provided for this film by the Public Performance Board had been exclusively for this festival and Viyangoda, certainly has no role in it.

Continue reading ‘ITN Attacks on Gamini Viyangoda: Protest Against Intimidating Social and Cultural Activists’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran

Seven months after the unceremonious sacking of the country’s 43rd Chief Justice, another former Supreme Court Justice assumes political centre stage following a decision by the country’s main Tamil party to field a highly respected jurist and intellectual, native to the Jaffna District as its choice for the first-ever chief minister of the Northern Province at the forthcoming provincial poll.

Former Justice of the country’s highest court, C.V. Wigneswaran, renowned for his courageous positions both on and off the bench, enters the political fray at a crucial juncture. His candidacy will bring to the fore not only the fundamental issues pertaining to national reconciliation and the Tamil struggle for political autonomy at a decisive point in Sri Lanka’s history, it will also elevate the debate about the systematic collapse of the country’s judicial system, a deterioration Justice Wigneswaran warned of on his last day on the bench of the Supreme Court in 2004.

The impeachment drama that unfolded late last year and resulted in the removal of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake after a dubious trial by Parliament had the legal fraternity suddenly seeking out figures such as Wigneswaran and likeminded professionals, those who had issued clarion calls about the impending crisis in the judicial arm of the State almost a decade ago, when no one was listening yet.

Continue reading ‘Justice Wigneswaran as TNA Candidate Symbolises the Spirit and Resilience of the Tamil People’ »

By Lakna Paranamanna

Former Supreme Court Judge, C. V. Wigneswaran

When he decided to contest as the TNA’s Chief Ministerial candidate at the upcoming Northern provincial poll, it was not the first time that former Supreme Court Judge, C. V. Wigneswaran became a newsmaker.

A brilliant legal mind, renowned for causing ripples while he was a member of the upper Judiciary and even after retirement, for his forthright speeches and judgments dispensed in the true spirit of law, former Justice Wigneswaran in a candid interview with Daily Mirror shared his reasons for deciding to enter politics and of his views on the contending issues of 13A that has emerged before the decisive Northern election due in September. . . .

Following are the excerpts:

Q: When your name was suggested as a likely Chief Ministerial candidate for TNA at the upcoming Northern Provincial Council (PC) polls, you initially professed a disinterest in entering politics. But recently, you expressed willingness to accept the invitation if all five parties unanimously agreed to your candidature, which they did yesterday. What reasons led to this change in your position?

Continue reading ‘“How Can the TNA be Proxies of the LTTE if it has been Destroyed and is Non-existent ?-CV Wigneswaran’ »

The chief ministerial candidate of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), C.V. Vigneswaran, fired his first ‘salvo’ yesterday, urging President Mahinda Rajapaksa to remove the military officials who are functioning as Governors of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Continue reading ‘TNA Chief Ministerial Candidate CV Wignesewaran Wants President Rajapaksa to Remove Military Officials Functioning as Northern and Eastern Province Governors’ »

by

Karthik Subramanian

An angry sequence of tweets by young and popular music director G.V. Prakash on dominant music labels ripping off music directors and lyricists by forcing them to sign contracts surrendering future royalties on the music score for movies has found traction among leading artists in the Tamil film industry.

The young music director, whose songs for the upcoming Vijay-starrer Thalaivaa has become a chart-topper in recent weeks, tweeted on Monday on his Twitter account (@gvprakash): “Some audio companies are stealing from composers, lyricists and making them sign fake agreements! Not fair!” and “Royalty is the basic right of the creator and it stays with him or her. Trying to steal that from them is cheap!”

Prakash found backers in popular lyricist Madhan Karky and music director Vijay Antony, among others, and by Tuesday afternoon most of the Tamil film industry seemed to agree with him.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Film Music Composer GV Prakash Flays Audio Firms for Ripping Off Lyricists and Musicians by not Paying Proper Royalties’ »

By

Upul Joseph Fernando

“If Northern elections are held without removing police and land powers from the 13th Amendment, I will resign from my ministerial portfolio.”

– Wimal Weerawansa
01.05. 2013

As is evident now, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is planning to go ahead with the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) elections, with police and land powers intact. Yet, there is no indication of Wimal Weerawansa resigning from the Cabinet, as proclaimed by him in the above quotation.

Weerawansa’s conspicuous silence on the issue could be because of two reasons – either he doesn’t want to lose his ministerial portfolio by revisiting his promise or Mahinda Rajapaksa may have given a conspiratorial undertaking after the election, action will be taken to withdraw police and land powers from the Northern Provincial Council.

The rumour mills have churned up many a likely scenario in this matter, further compounding the 13A conundrum. Some believe India had warned the government against any pre-election change to the existing provisions of the 13th Amendment; albeit leaving the door open for such action sometime in the future, if needed. A government big wig called it a trap.

Continue reading ‘Dilution of Devolution Via Amendment to 13th Amendment May happen After Northern Provincial Elections’ »

By

Geeta Padmanabhan

(On the trail of the Olive Ridley, marine researcher S. Balasubramani talks to Geeta Padmanabhan about historical, literary and scientific evidences that point to Besant Nagar, once called Aamaiyur, as home to these endangered turtles)

“Besant Nagar was once called Aamaiyur (place of turtles)! A 895 AD relic of Nrupatunga Varman found in Ambur stands testimony to this,” said Ramjee Nagarajan of the Centre for Environment Education. This was exciting news.

The close connection between Olive Ridley turtles and the Besant Nagar beach area is well-known. But written in stone? We needed to know more.

Continue reading ‘Besant Nagar in Chennai was Known as “Aamaiyoor”(place of Turtles)in the Past Due to Abundance of Olive Ridley Turtles’ »

Ambal Ramamurti, freedom fighter and wife of late CPI (M) leader P. Ramamurti, passed away here on Tuesday.

She was 87 and is survived by daughters Dr. Ponni Ramamurti and senior advocate R. Vaigai.

True to their revolutionary beliefs, P. Ramamurti and Ambal had an inter-caste marriage in 1952.

Ramamurti was then leader of the opposition in the Madras Legislative Assembly. Their marriage was presided over by EVR Periyar, rationalist and social reformer, and it was a ritual-free wedding referred to as a ‘self-respect’ (suyamariyadai) marriage.

Continue reading ‘Indian Freedom Fighter Ambal the CPI(Marxist) Legendary Leader P.Ramamurti’s Wife Passes Away’ »

(Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu,Executive Director of the Centre for Policy alternatives has sent a letter to Mr.Rosmand Senaratne ,chairman Independent Television Network about a news telecast on July 14th 2013 which was allegedly wrong and inaccurate. Dr.saravanamuttu states that references in the ITN news cast were defamatory with intent to arouse public opinion against the CPA and himself.The letter which has been released to the media in public interest is reporoduced here in full)

Mr. Rosmand Senaratne,
Chairman,
Independent Television Network (ITN),
Wickramasinghepura,
Battaramulla.

Dear Mr. Senaratne,

I am writing with reference to the Sinhala language 7 pm news broadcast of the Independent Television Network (ITN) on Sunday 14th July 2013.

Continue reading ‘Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu May Take Legal Action Against Independent Television Network Over Allegedly Defamatory News Cast’ »

by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

In this country, it is a rarity to witness really smart politics on strategic issues. We have just done so and got two breakthrough moves on the same issue. The first was by President Rajapaksa who chose to go ahead with the election to the Northern Provincial Council and have a meeting with Mr Sampanthan, the TNA leader. The second was by Mr Sampanthan who worked hard to persuade his coalition to field Justice Wigneswaran as the Chief Ministerial candidate.

Justice Wigneswaran is a candidate that every Tamil can be proud of to have as his and her representative, and may make a Chief Minister that most Sri Lankans of whichever ethnicity or religion can be proud of. In fact he will have the salutary effect of raising the bar of performance for every chief minister and Sri Lankan politician throughout the island.

Continue reading ‘Justice Wigneswaran who is Nobody’s”Malli”Will not Bend the Knee and Tug his Forelock Before the Sinhala Establishment’ »

Retired Supreme Court Judge CV Wigneswaran has been selected as unanimously by the Tamil National Alliance to be its Chief Ministerial Candidate in the forthcoming Northern Provincial Council Elections. I am reproducing here an in depth interview of Justice Wigneswaran by Ayesha Zuhair for the “Daily Mirror” in December 2011. The Interview was posted on this blog earlier with an introduction by myself. The interview along with the introduction is posted here again to enable readers to gain an insight into CV Wigneswaran and his thoughts-DBS Jeyaraj

Justice C.V. Wigneswaran lighting the oil lamp~at Thanthai Chelvanayagam Memorial Lecture-April 2013-picture by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai ©

An In-depth Interview with former Supreme Court Judge CV Wigneswaran

By Ayesha Zuhair

Continue reading ‘Maximum Devolution to the Periphery Without a Structural Opportunity for Interference From the Centre Should Appease Tamils –CV Wigneswaran’ »

By

Dilrukshi Handunnetti -(With additional reporting by Vinoja Rajamani)

The inclusion of the five times international award-winning Sri Lankan film, Flying Fish (Igillena Maluwo) has led to the suspension of the French Film Festival, organized by the French Embassy in Colombo in association with Alliance Francaise de Kotte, for the alleged negative portrayal of the Sri Lankan Security Forces.

Directed by young film maker, Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, and produced by the director and Manohan Nanayakkara, the movie premiered in January 2011, as part of the Rotterdam Festival’s Tiger Awards Competition.

With Sri Lanka’s defence authorities poised to launch an immediate investigation against those involved in the making of the movie and the funding sources, they have raised the query as to why a film that was considered ‘offensive and unsuitable’ by the authorities, was certified as suitable for screening at an international film screening by the Public Performance Board (PPB).

Continue reading ‘Furore Over “Flying Fish”(Igillena Maluwo)Film:Artistic Expression Crushed Under Jackboots?’ »

by

Malathi Rangarajan

Friday the 12th marked the 75th birth anniversary of Jaishankar. In his heyday, Jai, as he was known, was hailed as Tamil cinema’s answer to James Bond. Action was his forte, till K. Balachander saw his potential and honed him as a performer par excellence in Nootrukku Nooru. And it was KB again who brought out Jai’s youthful enthusiasm to the fore in Poovaa Thalaiyaa. After more than a 100 films as hero, Jaishankar went on to work in several films as a character actor. Years have rolled by but even today his directors and colleagues in the film industry remember the actor’s generosity and humaneness as much as they do his friendliness and zest …

Continue reading ‘James Bond of Tamil Cinema: 75th Birth Anniversary of Actor Jaishankar.’ »

By

Siddharth Bhatia

Pran Kishan Sikand, actor, passed away in Mumbai on July 12, 2013. He was born in Delhi on February 12, 1920. He is survived by his wife, Shukla, and three children.

“And Pran.” These were the words in the opening credits of many a hit film in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s and the audience in the darkened auditorium immediately knew that the movie, however good or bad it otherwise was, would have some crackling villainy because it starred the original bad man, Pran. The “And” ensured that he was not just on equal status with the stars but a tad higher, since his presence could affect the box office fortunes of the movie. Indeed, it became so much part of his name that his biography by Bunny Reuben was titled …and Pran.

Continue reading ‘Pran:Villain of Hindi Movies with Panache and Aplomb’ »

Colombo Chief Magistrate, Gihan Pilapitiya, yesterday ordered the relevant officials to arrest Logeshwaram Manimaran and hand him over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), if he attempted to enter Sri Lanka using his British passport.

Manimaran who invaded the pitch carrying a Tiger flag during the semi-final match between Sri Lanka and India of ICC Champions Trophy at Cardiff Ground, England, will be subjected to further interrogation over an alleged multi-million rupees ATM fraud, the judge announced.

Continue reading ‘Logeshwaran Manimaran the Cardiff Pitch Invader with Tiger Flag to be Arrested if he Tries to Enter Sri Lanka on British Passport’ »

By
Dr. Vickremabahu Karunaratne

Some Tamil intellectuals believe that, rather than beat about the bush, TNA should go straight for a federal solution; as the 13th Amendment plus is extremely vague and doesn’t give much power to the Tamils. This has to be done even if some may say that TNA is asking for the moon, because that is politics. The Tamils wanted a separate state like what the South Sudanese needed, but India wouldn’t agree to that for the simple reason that it could inspire the separatist within India. That should be clear to everybody. However, they should at least agree to a federal solution, where each community can look after its own affairs. Also, these radicals say that TNA has failed in mobilising a people’s struggle, failed in politicising people on the question of rights, failed in placing a fully-fledged federal solution draft as an alternative to separate Tamil Eelam, failed in forging alliance with Muslims and Up-country Tamils, failed in addressing Sinhala people on the justice behind the Tamil struggle, failed in effectively using the post-war international situation and failed in transparency within the alliance itself.

Continue reading ‘Mass Uprising in South is Necessary for Tamil People to Move Forward in their Freedom Struggle’ »

by

N Sathiya Moorthy

The signing of the ‘Outcome Document’ on trilateral maritime security cooperation between India, Maldives and Sri Lanka in Colombo recently is significant for more reasons than one. The overlapping strategic security concerns of the three South Asian nations in the shared Indian Ocean neighbourhood apart, it may herald the shaping of the post-war India policy of Sri Lanka. To a greater or lesser extent, the same may be true of Maldives, too.

India’s National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, who was in Colombo for signing the Outcome Document, discussed Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue and proposed amendments to, and abrogation of 13-A, with President Mahinda Rajapakasa and various political party leaders, starting with the TNA and the UNP Opposition at the national-level. Before him, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other interlocutors conveyed continuing Indian concerns in this regard to Sri Lanka’s Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at New Delhi.

The Indian leadership had also met with a visiting TNA delegation a fortnight earlier, as part of the continuing engagement with stake-holders in Sri Lanka, without allowing it to be seen as interfering in the internal affairs of the island-nation. Rightly and rightfully, India, for some time, has delineated the continuing post-war concerns on the ethnic issue, from the Tamil polity in Sri Lanka, and the ‘Tamil Nadu factor’ – particularly for the benefit of Sinhala hard-liners in the island-nation.

Continue reading ‘Is Sri Lanka Evolving a Three -Track Policy Towards India?’ »

By

S.L.Gunasekara

The concept of devolution is the passing down of governmental powers in respect of the periphery – from the Centre to various organs in the periphery. The object theoretically sought to be achieved by this process is to enable the people of an area to look after their own affairs. The 13th Amendment is alleged to have been enacted to achieve this objective.

However, an examination of the manner in which the 13th Amendment ‘worked’ and/or was `put into practice’ would show beyond doubt that quite apart from giving more and more powers to political parties and giving them more opportunities of robbing the people by the expenditure of their funds on rubbish that did not in any way benefit those people, and also providing employment opportunities for the otherwise unemployable supporters of parties, the 13th Amendment never came anywhere close to achieving the purported objective of devolution.

Let us start at the beginning. If the object of the 13th Amendment was to enable the people of each province to look after their own affairs, it must follow that it is the people of each area who were the major influencing force or the major determining force in making decisions about the governance of each province.

It is more than laughable to even imagine that such a thing happened.

Continue reading ‘No Political Party has Given a Free Hand to a Chief Minister to Attend to Affairs of that Province’ »

By

Dharisha Bastians

Now retired Supreme Court Judge, C.V. Wigneswaran created waves in judicial circles on his last day on the bench when he criticised the present judicial system as being fraught with personal prejudice and subjective thinking, warning that the present conditions did not bode well for the future of the judiciary in the country. In an interview with The Sunday Leader, Justice Wigneswaran outlined about instances in his own career when he came face to face with this prejudice and gave his recommendations on how the judicial system could be reformed.

Following are excerpts:

Continue reading ‘“Justice on a Razor’s Edge”- An Interview with Retired Judge CV Wigneswaran (31 0ct.2004 The Sunday Leader)’ »

by

DR DAYAN JAYATILLEKA

Does anyone know who made the decision to dabble with nuclear power sources and if that weren’t enough, attempt a tie up with a chemical and biological research institute?

When we – or some of us – are sure that the West is out to get us, why would we provide the best of all possible sticks for them to beat us with?

Continue reading ‘Why Is Sri Lanka Complicating relations With USA and India by Entering “Nuclear,Chemical and Biological”Areas With Russia and Pakistan?’ »

By

Ranga Jayasuriya

The government’s front man in the North and Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development, Douglas Devananda, says it has been his dream for the past 20 years to be the Chief Minister of the Northern Province and warns against fielding former LTTE heavyweights in the government ticket for the forthcoming Provincial Council election.He also says the government may be scared of the prospect of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) winning the North, hence, the rush to change the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.“Even the President has said, very openly on several instances that, if Douglas Devananda comes to power in the North, he will have no issues with regard to any form of devolution of powers.”

The Leader of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) spoke to Ranga Jayasuriya of Ceylon Today on a range of issues.

Following are excerpts:

Continue reading ‘If the LTTE Could Not Kill me after Trying 13 Times How Can Daya Master and Thamilini Defeat Me? Asks Douglas Devananda’ »

by

Camelia Nathaniel

Former media spokesman of the LTTE Velayutham Dayanidhi alias Daya Master is to contest for the forthcoming Northern Provincial Council election under the UPFA banner. He said that his decision to contest is aimed at developing the Northern Province and improving the lives of the war affected people in the North.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: Do you think that the holding of the Northern Provincial Council election would help in post war reconciliation?

A: Yes, I certainly think so. My main purpose in contesting for the Northern Provincial Council elections is to develop the Northern Province and improve the lives of the war affected, including the ex-LTTE cadres.

Continue reading ‘“I Want to Develop Northern Province and Improve Lives of the War Affected Including the Ex-LTTE Cadres”-Daya Master’ »

By

N Sathiya Moorthy

Media reports have claimed or conveyed that visiting Indian National Security Advisor (NSA) met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other Sri Lankan leaders in Colombo recently, and expressed India’s views on the current islandwide discourse on 13-A and the ethnic issue. A couple of days earlier, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had conveyed such concerns to Sri Lanka’s Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa in New Delhi, personally.

During the week, the Election Commissioner (EC) also announced first-time polls to the Tamil-majority Northern Provincial Council (NPC). When elected, the NPC will be at the centre of 13-A related issues and concerns. It may be worth its while for the Government to wait until after the newly-elected NPC had settled down to work and discussed the issues at their official levels before proceeding substantially with the Parliamentary Select Committee’s (PSC) work. The temptation to do otherwise is even more – but that could hardly produce any results.

Continue reading ‘No Indication So far that Parliamentary Select Committee will deliver a Balanced Unbiased Package’ »

by

Vishnuguptha

“If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.”
~Unknown author

Pundits argue and debate. Constitutional lawyers ponder and deliberate. Newsmen report and sometimes distort beyond recognition; but the decision to implement the Thirteenth Amendment in full, both in chapter and verse and in spirit, is not a legal or a constitutional one; nor is it an academic exercise; it is fundamentally a political decision, a decision bearing such a burdensome magnitude, it comes but rarely in history and falls only on rarer leaders and the rarest have the courage, stamina and will power to withstand and endure. The courageous carry it to a finish while the weak-stomached and softies fall by the wayside. That is precisely what befell S W R D Bandaranaike in 1957 and Dudley Senanayake in 1968. Both S W R D and Dudley entered into agreements with the leaders of the major Tamil political party at the time, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), more popularly known as the Federal Party, but did not possess that quality of endurance and will power to implement the respective Pacts.

The 13th Amendment is very much akin, maybe not in legal construction and political structure, but in détente-spirit to the fundamentals of the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact and Dudley-Chelvanayagam Pact. In the fifties and sixties, when the leaders of the Sri Lankan governments were seen as more liberal-minded- both Dudley Senanayake and S W R D Bandaranaike were considered quintessential liberals- J R Jayewardene was reckoned to be a conservative in the traditional sense of the word. As a matter of fact, the then left-wing politicians used J R for their target practice, hurling many a scornful political insinuation to brand him as a regressive, anti-socialist capitalist safeguarding the interests of America and the western world rather than traditional Sri Lankan values.But fate so decreed that it was this ‘conservative’ leader who had the stomach, guts and resilience to introduce and implement an ‘action plan’ to accommodate the long-awaited demands/interests of the Tamil people. That ‘action plan’ came in the form of the thirteenth Amendment and its partial implementation has taken deep root in this country’s administrative life over the last twenty five years resulting in the emergence of regional political leaders who rendered a new dimension to local politics.

Continue reading ‘13th Amendment is very much Akin in “Detente -Spirit”to the Fundamentals of the Banda-Chelva and Dudley-Chelva Pacts’ »

By R. M. B. Senanayake

The government seems to be toying with the idea of holding a national referendum on the abolition of or changes in the 13th amendment. But can an ethno-religious majority decide against the rights of a minority by a majority vote? A certain institutional structure has been fashioned to resolve the grievances of the Tamil minority and to protect their rights with regard to their language, religion, culture, land and personal security of the minority. They have for long protested at what they called discrimination against them by the Sinhala dominated State. There is a UN Declaration called the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The Tamil minority has been complaining that they have been disadvantaged and discriminated against since 1956. They say their language and cultural rights have been denied and point to past attacks on the Hindu writers Conference. They say they have to deal with the State in Sinhala even in the areas where they are in a majority. They also say they have been deprived of personal security of life and limb and point to violence against them in 1958, 1977 and 1983. They point out that the Sinhala majority State failed to protect them from such violence. So they ask for police powers in areas where they constitute a majority. They say they cannot trust the Sinhala majority Police to act impartially.

Continue reading ‘Ethno-Religious Majority Has no Right to Deprive Minorities of their Rights Through Majority Vote at a National Referendum’ »

COLOMBO, 12 July 2013 (IRIN) – Thousands of permanent homes needed for returnees to northern Sri Lanka in the aftermath of a 26-year civil war which ended in 2009, are not being built because of a lack of donor funding.

“Although the remaining gap in the housing sector in the north keeps changing due to new returnees, there is a serious funding gap for at least another 30,000 houses immediately,” said Laxman Perera, programme manager for the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Sri Lanka.

“How we’ll finance the remaining homes remains unclear,” said Tissa Abeywickrama, director-general of the Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC).

Continue reading ‘Lack of Donor Funding Delays Construction of 30,000 Permanent Homes For Returnees in Northern Sri Lanka’ »

by

Jayanth Jacob

In an apparent tit for tat, Sri Lanka is moving in the direction of a nuclear pact with Pakistan after India voted against it at the UN this year.

At the same time, it is dragging its feet on a similar pact with India by not scheduling talks despite Delhi’s keenness to conclude the agreement soon.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Delays Responding to Indian Offer of Nuclear Pact and Moves Towards Nuclear Agreement with Pakistan’ »

By

Shamindra Ferdinando

Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Sivagnanam Sritharan has claimed that he recently thwarted an attempt by the army in the north to rape 200 Tamil speaking girls.

Addressing a group of Sri Lankans at Murugan kovil in Montreal on July 10, MP Sritharan alleged that the girls were being taken away by the army when he intervened. The MP was responding to a member of the audience who queried his motive for campaigning against the government while being a member of parliament.

Continue reading ‘TNA MP Sritharan Reportedly Claims in Montreal That he Thwarted Attempt by Lankan Army to Rape 200 Tamil speaking Girls’ »

CHENNAI: Security has been tightened at the Sri Lankan deputy high commission in Nungambakkam after the officials there complained of receiving a threat letter a couple of days ago.

The officials on Saturday submitted to police commissioner S George a post card containing a few lines warning that bombs would go off on the premises of the mission. The letter also condemned the activities of the Sri Lankan government.

Continue reading ‘Security Increased by 35 More Police Personnel for Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai Following Bomb Threat’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

““It was in the basement of the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department… we sat and listened as a group of senior police officers took us through the case. My stomach churned as we learned of the sickening and horrific details of the completely unprovoked attack that Khuram and his partner had been subjected to”
British Parliamentarian Simon Danczuk

“They started beating me. I fell to the ground….. They killed Khuram and sexually assaulted me…”

That was Victoria Tkacheva, the 24 year old Russian tourist, who, with her companion Khuram Shaikh, came to Sri Lanka to enjoy a holiday in Paradise and found, instead, Hell.

According to witnesses, Ms. Tkacheva was discovered in a room, naked and unconscious. The police subsequently confirmed that she was either raped or sexually assaulted: “She had been raped or sexually assaulted and had suffered vaginal injuries, according to a Sri Lankan police report” .

Ms. Tkacheva waived her right to anonymity as a rape-victim because she wanted justice.

Sadly, justice, in Rajapaksa Sri Lanka, is the ultimate oxymoron.

Continue reading ‘A Rajapaksa Acolyte Can Commit The Most Horrific Of Crimes Publicly And Get Away With It’ »

By

M.A.Sumanthiran M.P.

Recent debates surrounding the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution reflect the extreme polarization of Sri Lanka’s political discourse. While the issue is indeed emotive, we have nothing to gain from anything but a clinical approach to these questions. If reason is to prevail in our politics, then reason must prevail in our thinking – and our thinking about the Thirteenth Amendment is a good place to start.

The Thirteenth Amendment provides for a measure of devolution to the Provinces through Provincial Councils. The Amendment however, is applied within the super-structure of the country’s unitary constitution. The powers devolved under the Thirteenth Amendment are indeed meagre. There is provision for a measure of powers of land, law and order, education, health and similar subjects – but even in respect of these, the centre retains a great measure of control. For example, the subject of “national policy in respect of all subjects” lies with the centre, and notwithstanding some limitations imposed on the use of this ruse by the Supreme Court in times past, it has been invoked widely, illegally and most inappropriately by the centre to take back devolved powers. In fact, many of the executive and legislative powers devolved under the Amendment are virtually impossible to exercise fully and effectively if the centre chooses to impose roadblocks. This could be instanced by gubernatorial and presidential interference with the statute-making powers of the Provincial Councils, or through the Governor refusing to cooperate with an elected Board of Ministers.

Continue reading ‘“I do not Consider the 13th Amendment a Starting Point,Middle Point or End Point to a Genuine Polilitical Solution”’ »

by

Shamindra Ferdinando

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has told Indian National Security Advisor Shiv Shanker Menon that devolution of police powers under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution would be inimical to Sri Lanka’s national security interests and therefore the issue was not negotiable.

The Defence Secretary had reiterated the government’s position at a one-on-one meeting with Menon, one-time India’s High Commissioner in Colombo at the Ministry of Defence in Colombo last Monday (July 8).

Continue reading ‘“No Police Powers for Provincial Councils” – Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Tells Shiv Shankar Menon.’ »

by

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa engaged in talks regarding problems faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka with Tamil National Alliance leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan yesterday.

External Affairs minister Prof.GL Peiris and Presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga were also present at the discussion.

The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere was due to an invitation extended by President Rajapaksa.

Continue reading ‘President Mahinda Rajapaksa Meets TNA Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan For Discussions on the Tamil National Question’ »

by

Bishop Marius Peiris
– Auxiliary Bishop Archdiocese of Colombo

I wish to elaborate some of the crucial issues confronting Sri Lanka today. To undertake such a task there is a need to scrutinize the signs of the times in Sri Lanka, especially during the last decade, placing it in its historical context. I wish to state that our country is on the brink of a catastrophe. An analysis of the political, economic, religious and other factors stand testimony to this fact. Politically, we are a divided nation. The military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has not solved the ethnic problem.

We have failed to win the minds and hearts of our people. The preamble to the UNESCO Charter quite rightly says, ‘If wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be established.’ The need of the hour is to build a united Sri Lanka. A united Sri Lanka can only be built through a Sri Lankan identity, not a Sinhala Buddhist or Tamil Nationalist identity.

Sri Lanka is a plural society. There is a plurality of races, religions, regions and castes in Sri Lanka. Religion has become a divisive factor in our society. Religion has germinated an ideology among the Sinhalese, which is politically emotive and volatile. Concepts which are exclusivist like ‘Sinhala Buddhist’ and ‘Tamil Nationalist’ fanned by the DMK of Tamil Nadu are detrimental to the evolution of a unified State. There are the newest and crudest versions of Sinhala and Tamil Nationalism. These extremists and divisive forces cannot bring about a ‘United Sri Lanka.’

Continue reading ‘Reconciliation has to be Achieved Between the Two Major Races in Sri Lanka’ »

By Kumi Samuel and Chulani Kodikara

War is a gendered process. Post-war is no different. It may be a cliché to say that in Sri Lanka, as elsewhere in the world, the most visible and harmful impact of 30 years of war has been on women, but that is the reality. As men joined militant groups or the armed forces, were arrested, abducted, disappeared, or took flight to safer locations outside the community or the country, women were left behind to cope with fractured families and communities; multiple displacement, transition in alien spaces, such as camps for the displaced; or resettlement in distant and unfamiliar regions.

Untold numbers of women, mostly Tamil, (but including a significant number of Muslim and Sinhala women living in conflict affected areas) became de facto and de jure heads of household and were thrust into new roles, both within and outside the private domain. They became responsible for the physical and economic security and survival of their families and had to battle the cultural constraints that challenged this conflict-imposed transition. While the violence of war and attendant militarism also contributed to increase the nature and levels of violence against women, ranging from sexual harassment to rape and sexual torture they were never merely victims of the war and violence.

Continue reading ‘Many Women who Experienced War are Unwilling to Resume Pre-War Gender Roles in the Post-war Context’ »

by

Vishnuguptha

“Until the lion has a historian of his own, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
~African Proverb

Speaking at a ‘Vipakshaye Virodaya’ press conference in Colombo on Sunday, June 7, 2013,Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian M. Sumanthiran asserted that the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to look into any changes to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is not a “Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) at all, but actually a “President’s Select Committee.” He stated that the idea for a PSC to find a solution to the national issue was formulated in September 2011 during bilateral discussions held between the Tamil National Alliance and the Government and that it was pushed “in-between” talks.He further elaborated that the government asked the TNA to put aside the discussions and join the parliamentary committee instead, with the assurance that agreements they had already reached during the talks would be taken to the PSC.He stated that after an agreement was then reached between the President and the leader of the TNA on conditions for both to participate in the PSC, the government went back on its word, exited the bilateral discussions and asked the TNA to just attend the parliamentary committee.

Sumanthiran said that was the reason the TNA did not attend the PSC, and that this matter was even raised in parliament by the Opposition Leader. “Now after 2 years have passed they are saying the Parliamentary Select Committee is being established and are asking us to join it,” he said. “We are not that stupid to attend such a select committee just shaking our hands.” The only negative aspect of the whole press conference was the very premise on which it was held. ‘Vipakshaye Virodaya’ is a farcical front that is being utilized by its main player, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the Opposition and the United National Party for his own insular reasons. It is a platform which is being used by the UNP leader to show the country that he is not alone in his fight against the Government. But in his mad rush in search of a national stage, Ranil does not seem to care that he is being identified and teamed up with those who have been totally discarded by the electorate. Other than the UNP itself and the TNA, there is no ‘Vipakshaya’ in the truest sense of the word. Members of all other factions that gather on this platform could hardly fill two buses today.

Continue reading ‘“Superiority”of the Sinhalese Majority Both in Numbers and Self-perception is Fast Becoming an Inescapable Reality’ »

People’s Movemenmt Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE)
Idinthakarai 627 104
Tirunelveli District

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2013

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has granted clearance for “First Approach to Criticality (FAC)” of Unit-1 of KKNPP “as the next major stage of its commissioning.” It is pertinent to remember that the AERB gave this very same clearance on August 10, 2012 (No. AERB/ITSD/PRESS/2012/03). That Clearance was to be followed by compliance to various pre-requisites, review of the various commissioning procedures, results, inspection reports etc.

Continue reading ‘Nuclear Authorities Have Ignored NDMA Safety Guidelines and Supreme Court Recommendations at Koodankulam -PMANE’ »

by

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi desires that all religions should reside everywhere….”
Ashokan Rock Edict 7

The attack on Buddha Gaya is an outrage.

When the religious of the different religions refuse to coexist, when they accrue unto themselves the exclusive ownership of spiritual truths or geographic spaces, when rulers see in religions (and in the credulous religious) a means to temporal-power, societal-violence proliferates, wars ensue and tragedy strikes.

Sinhala-Buddhist supremacists proclaim Sri Lanka to be a Sinhala-Buddhist land, because a majority of its people are Sinhala-Buddhists . Based on this majoritarian-logic, they preach religious intolerance, rail against Christians, Muslims and Hindus and attack churches, mosques and kovils.

Continue reading ‘Can Bodu Bala Sena and Jathika Hela Urumaya Protect and Safeguard Sanchi,Ajanta,Kapilawastu and Lumbini in India and Nepal?’ »

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Anumeha Yadav

Sunday’s serial blasts at the Mahabodhi temple stoked differences among religious leaders in Bodh Gaya over the controversial Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) Act, 1949, which provides for a Hindu majority on the committee that looks after the complex.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa in Bodh Gaya, Feb 2013-news.lk

Following a public interest litigation petition, Bihar’s Home Department wrote to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) in June this year, proposing an amendment to the Act. But officials declined to comment on what will happen to the proposal.

Continue reading ‘Buddhist Leaders Critical of Hindu Majority Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee After Mahabodhi Bomb Blasts’ »

by N Sathiya Moorthy

The death of Dalit youth Elavarasan under controversial circumstances in western Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district, preceded by months of street-violence, media attention and court cases has brought to fore the ugly face of casteism in Dravidian Tamil Nadu, known better for the ‘social justice movement’ of the 20th century.

Coupled with another episode nearer to the State capital of Chennai in between, where the cadres of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), backed by the Vanniar community, which tops the list of ‘Most Backward Class’ (MBC) in terms of numbers in the State, they have potential for violence and voter-loyalty in an election year.
Continue reading ‘Elavarasan Episode in Tamil Nadu Shows Dravidian Social Justice has no Impact on Spectre of Casteism’ »

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Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne

Finally the President agreed to have provincial council elections, without any changes to the constitution. However, it is clear to everybody including Indian rulers that Mahinda did not try to honour his promises to India.

He showed, at least to those who are serious that he is not prepared to solve the national problem in the country. He wanted to avoid giving effect to 13A. Blame for this attitude cannot be imputed to the JHU and Weerawansa’s Party.

Continue reading ‘Did Mahinda’s Views on 13 A Plus Change Due to Gotabhaya’s Rejection of Entire Provincial Council System?’ »

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Sathya Liyanasuriya

Hot on the heels of many controversies surrounding several ministerial offspring, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons last week, when his son cricketer Ramith Rambukwella was embroiled in an unsavoury incident.

Rambukwella (Jnr) was flying to Britain as a member of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ cricket team and allegedly attempted to open the cabin door in midair, apparently mistaking it for a toilet door. The furore though was created by media reports in the British media which suggested that he was intoxicated.

Although there was general condemnation of the incident, the matter would have probably ended there as there were no casualties from the incident and no consequences as such except for some negative publicity for the Rambukwellas, the local cricket establishment and the country.

Continue reading ‘Minister Rambukwella or his Son Ramith Not Likely to Face any “Consequences” Due to Prevailing Climate of Impunity’ »

By Elizabeth Ponniah

Born in a small fishing village in the Jaffna Peninsula, Sangeetha (not her real name) and her family fled the conflict in the North in 1990, and lived as refugees in India for 23 years.

Having returned to the North, Sangeetha found employment, and now assists in the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the North, overseeing areas of adminisntration. She is an outstanding example of a Diaspora member, who, with a positive outlook, is working to make a proactive change, of
herself and her country of birth, Sri Lanka.

In an interview with Ceylon Today, Sangeetha shares her experiences of the past three decades.

Excerpts:

Continue reading ‘Renewing Life in Jaffna in Resettlement Process After Being a Refugee in India for 23 Years’ »

Dr. Colvin R de Silva

By
Dr.Selvi Thiruchandran

(Text of presentation given on 22 May 2013 by Dr. Selvi Thiruchandran at the Republic Day meeting on “For a New Constitution to Strengthen Democracy and National Unity”)

The UF Election Manifesto had a grandiose promise – of course with a conviction of purpose, i.e., to draft, adopt and operate a new constitution to make the country a free, sovereign and independent republic dedicated to the realisation of socialist democracy, guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedom for all. There are and always have been gaps between theory, aspirations and wishes and the practical realisation or implementation of these. The agents or agency of operationalisation may change and hence we will find gaps. My presentation today is not about those gaps but the gaps in the theory itself that guided the making of the constitution.

Continue reading ‘1972 Republican Constitution: How did Dr. Colvin R de Silva Slide From Statesman into Politician in Drafting it?’ »

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Champika Fernando

Sri Lanka Cricket has slapped a ten-year ban on umpire Sagara Gallage and three years on Maurice Winston for their role in a fixing scandal last year while the third accused Gamini Dissanayake will be severely warned and demoted.

The decision will effectively end the careers of the disgraced duo of Gallage and Winston.

The decision to ban them was taken at a special executive committee meeting held yesterday and based on the recommendations made by the disciplinary committee.

Continue reading ‘10 and 3 year Bans on Umpires Sagara Gallage and Maurice Winston for Roles Played in Cricket Match Fixing Scandal’ »