By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

The first part of this article published last week delved into the election campaign conducted by Anura Kumara Dissanayake when he contested the September 2024 presidential elections. The second part was to scrutinise , President Dissanayake’s post-election performance in fulfilling those promises during the past year. However this week’s article will focus -with the aid of earlier writings – on AKD’s rapid rise in politics and the winning strategies adopted by him. President Dissanayake’s post-election performance will be analysed in a future article.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) suffered two major splits in 2008 and 2012. In 2008 many of the Sinhala ultra-nationalists within the JVP led by Wimal Weerawansa broke away and formed the National Freedom Front(NFF). In 2012 most of the revolutionary socialists in the JVP under Kumar Gunaratnam’s leadership left the JVP and formed the Frontline Socialist Party(FSP). After these splits what was mainly left behind was a “residual middle” somewhat in between Sinhala nationalism and revolutionary socialism.

The JVP began losing its vigour and vitality in the post-war years and began turning into a caricature of its former self. It was becoming increasingly clear that the JVP required a new sense of direction under a fresh leader if it were to survive as a political force.

The veteran JVP leader Somawansa Amersinghe realised that he needed to step down and began dropping hints that he would retire soon. The question was who would succeed him. There were many potential successors. K.D. Lalkantha, Tilvin Silva, Vijitha Herath, Sunil Handunneththi, Bimal Rathnayake and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Among these stalwarts the General Secretary Tilvin Silva was tipped to be the new leader.

JVP’s Fifth Leader

The JVP’s 17th national convention was held on 2 February 2014. Somawansa stepped down as leader and proposed that Anura Kumara Dissanayake replace him. Somawansa had appreciated the potential in Anura years ago and had groomed him as his successor. It was approved unanimously, Anura Kumara Dissanayake became the JVP’s fifth leader eleven years ago.

Continue reading ‘How the JVP -led NPP Projected Anura Kumara Dissanayake in 2024 as both a Champion for Change and an Agent of Change.’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Anura Kumara Dissanayake known popularly as Anura and “AKD” , won the Presidential election of 21 September 2024 in what was described as a gigantic leap. From 418,553 (3.16%) votes in the 2019 Presidential election, AKD increased his vote tally to 5,634,915 (42.31%) in the 2024 Presidential poll. In the second count of votes with Sajith Premadasa, AKD obtained 5,740,179 (55.89%) votes

Dissanayake was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s ninth executive president on 23 September 2024 in a simple ceremony at the Presidential secretariat in Colombo.
Speaking at his swearing in event, Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated as follows – .

“Democracy helped me win. Some voted for me, and others didn’t. But my pledge is to work hard to win the trust of those who didn’t vote for me as well. This is an important part of my Presidency.”

“I am not a magician; I am not a miracle-worker. There are things I know and don’t know. But I will commit myself to doing the right thing at all times, and lead a collective effort to rebuild our nation”

It is against this backdrop of President AKD’s statement after being sworn in as president that this column focuses on the first year progress of the AKD presidency this week. Campaigning for votes is often compared to flowery verse and the knitty-gritty of governance to dull prose. In that context this two-part article will delve into the pre-election pledges made by AKD and his post-election performance in fulfilling those promises during the past year. The first part will focus on AKD’s pre-election propaganda and the second part on his post election performance.

After becoming the ninth Executive President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake led the National People’s Power(NPP) to a glorious triumph at the November 2024 Parliamentary elections. From 445,958 (3.28%) at the 2020 Parliamentary poll, the NPP increased its vote tally to 6,863,186 (61.6%). The party got 159 seats. This was more impressive than even AKD’s Presidential poll success.

Continue reading ‘President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s U-turn : Pre-poll Propaganda and Post-Election Performance.’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

September 26th is of particular significance to a substantial number of Sri Lankan Tamils . For it was on this day in 1987 that a senior member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thileepan died in Nallu after undertaking a fast unto death.

Although the LTTE lost thousands of cadres during the many years it waged war against the Sri Lankan State, the death of Thileepan was different from the deaths of other LTTE fighters. Thileepan’s demise was not due to direct violence but due to non-violent direct action.

He engaged in a fast unto death protest on 15 September 1987 and died after 12 days of fasting without even drinking water. This was after the Indo-Lanka accord of 29 July 1987. The Indian army referred to as the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was stationed in Jaffna then.

Thileepan’s fast and death has been etched into the collective memory of Tamils over the years. His death is commemorated on a wide scale every year. Thileepan’s 38th death anniversary falls on 26 September 2025. It is against this backdrop that this column focuses on “Thiyagi Thileepan” relying on earlier writings.

Continue reading ‘Tiger Leader “Thiyagi” Thileepan Weaponised Non-Violence Through his Fast Unto Death in September 1987.’ »

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By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

The on going problem of illegal fishing and bottom trawling in Sri Lanka’s northern territorial waters by Indian fishers from Tamil Nadu state was described in detail in the first part of this article published last week.Particular attention was devoted to the bogey of Katchatheevu being raised by the Indian side to sidetrack the issue. As emphasised previously the fundamental problem is illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters and not the question of Katchatheevu islet ownership. Certain salient points regarding the illegal fishing by Tamil Naqdu fishers will be realeted in this second and final part of this article.

An extremely troubling factor in this issue is the attitude and conduct of Tamil Nadu fishers towards their northern Sri Lankan counterparts. The Tamil Nadu fishers have displayed unbelievable hostility and animus towards their Tamil speaking counterparts in Sri Lanka. If Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen get caught to the invading marauders, they are severely assaulted and their boats and equipment damaged or destroyed. Fishing nets owned by Sri Lankan fishermen have been deliberately damaged or destroyed by Indian fishers.

In one instance some Indian boats ventured very close to the Maadagal-Chuzhipuram coast and destroyed fishing nets. In a rare occurrence, compensation was paid by the Indian diplomatic mission in Sri Lanka.

Thus it could be seen that Tamil Nadu fishermen are ruthlessly and rapaciously exploiting the marine resources of Northern Sri Lanka and causing irredeemable harm in the process. There is no concern about preserving marine resources for sustainable fishing. There is also no sympathy or empathy for their war -ravaged Sri Lankan Tamil “Brethren”struggling to eke out a living and re-build their shattered lives.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu fishers must stop their illegal fishing and Bottom Trawling in Sri Lankan Northern Waters. Long suffering Tamil fishermen should be able to rebuild their lives and resurrect their livelihood’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake(AKD) made history when he became the first Sri Lankan head of state to set foot on Katchatheevu (spelled as Kachchatheevu also) soil on 1st September 2025. Among those who accompanied the president on his maiden voyage to the northern off-shore Islet in the naval speedboat P 211 were Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala and Northern Navy Commander Rear Admiral Buddhika Liyanagamage.

Though called theevu or Island, Katchatheevu is actually an Islet in terms of size. Katchatheevu with a land area of 285 acres is 1.6 km long and 300 metres wide. It is an uninhabited place except for a Catholic Shrine dedicated to St.Anthony and a small detachment of the Sri Lankan navy stationed there. Apart from an old brackish water well ,there is no source of freshwater on the Islet’s sandy soil.

President Dissanayake’s short symbolic trip described as an “inspection visit” conveyed a two-fold message in the current political context. Firstly it demonstrated clearly that the once-disputed islet is part of Sri Lanka. Secondly it subtly indicated that Sri Lanka was not prepared to part with what was part of it’s territory.

The unannounced trip was a surprise visit. There was no reference to it in the official itinerary of President AKD’s two day visit to the northern province. The first inkling of the trip to the Islet came at the ceremonial event inaugurating the third phase of the expansion of the Myliddy Fisheries Harbour.

President Dissanayake speaking at the event, said: “The government is committed to safeguarding the surrounding seas, islands, and landmass of the country for the benefit of the people and will not allow any external force to exert influence in this regard.”. He then said he intended visiting Katchatheevu soon and followed suit thereafter.

Katchatheevu is located 14.5 km to the south of Sri Lanka’s northern Island Neduntheevu or Delft and 16 km to the northeast of Rameswaram on India’s southern Pamban Island. Due to its geographical location between India’s Rameshwaram and Sri Lanka’s Delft, the ownership of Katchatheevu has been a disputed issue between the governments of India and Sri Lanka known as Ceylon during British Colonial rule.

Continue reading ‘The Katchatheevu Ownership Controversy is Diverting Attention away from the Real Problem of Indian Illegal Fishers Bottom Trawling in Sri Lanka’s Northern Territorial Waters.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

ஐக்கிய தேசிய கட்சியின் தலைவர் ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க ஐந்து தசாப்தங்களுக்கும் அதிகமான காலமாக அரசியலில் இருக்கிறார். பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினராக, பிரதி அமைச்சராக, கபினெட் அமைச்சராக, எதிர்க்கட்சி தலைவராக, பிரதமராக, ஜனாதிபதியாக பதவிகளை வகித்த விக்கிரமசிங்க அரசியலில் ‘ பயனிழந்துபோன ஒரு சக்தி ‘ என்று அடிக்கடி வர்ணிக்கப்பட்டு வந்திருக்கிறார். உறுதிவாய்ந்த ரணில் அரசியல் களத்தில் வலிமையுடன் திரும்பவும் குதித்து எப்போதுமே தனது எதிரிகளை தவறு என்று நிரூபித்து வந்திருக்கிறார். அண்மைய நிகழ்வுகள் மன எழுச்சிமிக்க ரணில் தன்னை எளிதில் தள்ளுபடி செய்துவிடக்கூடிய ஒரு ஆள் அல்ல என்று மீண்டும் நிரூபிக்கக்கூடும் என்பதற்கான அறிகுறியாக தோன்றுகின்றன.

ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க 2025 ஆகஸ்ட் 22 ஆம் திகதி குற்றப்புலனாய்வு பொலிசாரினால் (சி.ஐ.டி. ) கைதுசெய்யப்பட்டு பொதுச் சொத்துக்கள் சட்டத்தின் 5 (1) பிரிவு மற்றும் தண்டனைச் சட்டக்கோவையின் 386 &388 பிரிவுகளின் கீழ் நீதிமன்றத்தில் குற்றஞ்சாட்டப்பட்டார். அவர் ஆகஸ்ட் 26 ஆம் திகதி வரை நான்கு நாட்களுக்கு கொழும்பு கோட்டை மாஜிஸ்திரேட் நிலுப்புலி லங்காபுரவினால் விளக்கமறியலில் வைக்கப்பட்டார். அதன் மூலமாக விக்கிரமசிங்க இலங்கையின் வரலாற்றில் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு விளக்கமறியலில் வைக்கப்பட்ட முதலாவது முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதியாகவும் முன்னாள் பிரதமராகவும் விளங்குகிறார்.

கைவிலங்கிடப்பட்ட நிலையில் அவர் சிறைச்சாலை வாகனத்தில் மகசீன் சிறைச்சாலைக்கு கூட்டிச்செல்லப்பட்டார். அங்கு சென்ற பிறகு முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதியின் உடல்நிலை கடுமையாகப் பாதிக்கப்பட்டது. முதலில் வெலிக்கடை சிறைச்சாலை வைத்தியசாலையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட அவர் பிறகு அங்கிருந்து கொழும்பு தேசிய வைத்தியசாலைக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டு தீவிர சிகிச்சைப் பிரிவில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டார்.

விக்கிரமசிங்கவுக்கு இரத்தக்குளாய்களில் மூன்று அடைப்புகள் ஏற்பட்டிருப்பதாகவும் இதயத் தசைகள் அழுகல் நீரிழிவு மற்றும் சுவாசப்பைத் தொற்று நோய் ஆகியவற்றினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதாகவும் கண்டறியப்பட்டது. இந்த நோய்களின் விவைான பாதிப்புக்கள் வெளித்தோற்றத்தில் தெரியவராது. கடந்த ஏழு வருடங்களாக இருதயநோயினால் விக்கிரமசிங்க பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறார்.

கொழும்பு கோட்டை மாஜிஸ்திரேட் நீதிமன்றத்தில் ஆகஸ்ட் 26 ஆம் திகதி வழக்கு மீண்டும் விசாரணைக்கு எடுக்கப்பட்டபோது உடல்நிலை காரணமாக விக்கிரமசிங்கவினால் ஆஜராக இயலாமல் போய்விட்டது. தேசிய வைத்தியசாலையின் தீவிர சிகிச்சைப்பிரிவில் படுத்திருந்த வண்ணம் இணையவழியின் மூலமாக நீதிமன்றத்தில் தனது பிரசன்னத்தை உறுதிசெய்துகொண்டார் .

விக்கிரமசிங்வுக்காக முன்னாள் சட்டமா அதிபரும் அமைச்சருமான திலக் மாரப்பன, ஜனாதிபதி சட்டத்தரணி அனுஜா பிரேமரத்ன ஆகியோர் தலைமையில் ஆஜரான சட்டத்தரணிகள் குழு உடல்நிலையை கருத்திற்கொண்டு அவருக்கு பிணை வழங்குமாறு கோரியது. விக்கிரமசிங்கவின் அன்றைய உடல்நிலை தெடர்பான விரிவான மருத்துவ அறிக்கைகள் நீதிமன்றத்தில் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டன. அவற்றில் தேசிய வைத்தியசாலையைச் சேரந்த ஆறு விசேட வைத்திய நிபுணர்களின் அறிக்கைகளும் அடங்கும்.

சட்டத்தரணிகளின் வாதங்களை கேட்டதுடன் மருத்துவ அறிக்கைகளையும் பரிசீலனை செய்த கொழும்பு கோட்டை மாஜிஸ்திரேட் நிலுப்புலி லங்காபுர முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதி, பொதுச் சொத்து சட்டத்தின் கீழ் குற்றஞ்சாட்டப்பட்டிருக்கின்ற போதிலும் பிணையில் செல்ல அனுமதித்தார். தலா ஐந்து மில்லியன் ரூபா மூன்று சரீரப்பிணையில் விக்கிரமசிங்க விடுவிக்கப்பட்டார். இந்த வழக்கு மீண்டும் 2025 அக்டோபர் 29 ஆம் திகதி விசாரணைக்கு எடுக்கப்படும்.

Continue reading ‘ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்கவை இலக்குவைக்க தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி அரசாங்கம் சட்டத்தை ஆயுதமாகப் பயன்படுத்துகிறதா?’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

2025 செப்டெம்பர் முதலாம் திகதி கச்சதீவுக்கு சென்றதன் மூலம் ஜனாதிபதி அநுரா குமார திசநாயக்க அந்த மண்ணில் காலடி வைத்த இலங்கையின் முதலாவது அரச தலைவர் என்று வரலாறு படைத்திருக்கிறார். வடபகுதி கடலோரத்துக்கு அப்பால் இருக்கும் அந்த சின்னஞ்சிறிய தீவுக்கு கடற்படையின் பி.211 அதிவேகப்படகில் ஜனாதிபதி செய்த கன்னிப்பயணத்தில் கடற்தொழில் அமைச்சர் இராமலிங்கம் சந்திரசேகர், பொதுப் பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சர் ஆனந்த விஜேபால, கடற்படையின் வடக்கு தளபதி றியர் அட்மிறல் புத்திக்க லியனகமகே ஆகியோரும் கூடச் சென்றனர்.

தீவு என்று அழைக்கப்பட்டாலும், அளவில் கச்சதீவு உண்மையில் ஒரு குட்டித்தீவேயாகும். 285 ஏக்கர் பரப்பளவைக் கொண்ட கச்சதீவு 1.6 கிலோமீட்டர் நீளத்தையும் 300 மீட்டர் அகலத்தையும் உடையதாகும். மக்கள் வாழாத அதில் புனித அந்தோனியார் கத்தோலிக்க தேவாலயமும் இலங்கை கடற்படையின் சிறியதொரு பிரிவுமே இருக்கின்றன. பழைய உப்புத்தண்ணீர் கிணறு ஒன்றைத் தவிர, கச்சதீவின் மணல் பாங்கான நிலத்தில் நன்னீருக்கான வளம் எதுவும் கிடையாது.

” கண்காணிப்பு விஜயம் ” என்று வர்ணிக்கப்பட்ட ஜனாதிபதி திசாநாயக்கவின் குறுகிய அடையாள பூர்வமான விஜயம் தற்போதைய அரசியல் பின்புலத்தில் இரட்டைச் செய்தியொன்றை கூறியது. முதலாவதாக, ஒரு காலத்தில் சரச்சைக்குரியதாக இருந்த அந்த தீவு இப்போது இலங்கையின் ஒரு பகுதி என்பது தெளிவாக வெளிப்படுத்தப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. இரண்டாவதாக, இலங்கைப் பிராந்தியத்தின் ஒரு பகுதியான அந்த தீவை கைவிடுவதற்கு இலங்கை தயாராக இல்லை என்பது நுட்பமான முறையில் கூறப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

முன்கூட்டியே அறிவிக்கப்படாத விஜயம் ஆச்சரியத்தை தந்தது. ஜனாதிபதி திசநாயக்கவின் வட மாகாணத்துக்கான இரு நாள் விஜயத்தின் உத்தியோகபூர்வ நிகழ்ச்சி நிரலில் கச்சதீவு விஜயம் பற்றி எந்த குறிப்பும் இல்லை. மயிலிட்டி மீன்பிடித் துறைமுகத்தின் விரிவாக்கத்தின் மூன்றாம் கட்ட அங்குரார்ப்பண சமாபிரதாயபூர்வ நிகழ்விலேயே கச்சதீவு விஜயத்துக்கான முதலாவது அறிகுறி வந்தது.

அந்த நிகழ்வில் உரையாற்றிய ஜனாதிபதி திசநாயக்க,” மக்களின் நன்மைக்காக சுறிறியுள்ள கடல் பிராந்தியத்தையும் தீவுகளையும நிலப்பரப்புகளையும் பாதுகாப்பதில் அரசாங்கம் பற்றுறுதி கொண்டிருக்கிறது. இது விடயத்தில் எந்த வெளிச் சக்தியும் செல்வாக்குச் செலுத்த அனுமதிக்கப் போவதில்லை” என்று கூறினார். பிறகு கச்சதீவுக்கு விஜயம் செய்ய உத்தேசித்திருப்பதாக கூறிய அவர் அதன் பிரகாரம் அங்கு சென்றார்.

இலங்கையின் வடபகுதி நெடுந்தீவில் இருந்து தெற்கே 14.5 கிலோமீட்டர் தொலைவிலும் இந்தியாவின் தென்பகுதி பாம்பன் தீவில் இராமேஸ்வரத்தில் இருந்து வடகிழக்கே 16 கிலோமீட்டர் தொலைவிலும் கச்சதீவு அமைந்திருக்கிறது. இந்தியாவின் இராமேஸ்வரத்துக்கும் இலங்கையின் நெடுந்தீவுக்கும் இடையில் அதன் புவியியல் அமைவிடத்தைக் கொண்டிருப்பதன் விளைவாக கச்சதீவின் உடைமை குறித்து பிரிட்டிஷ் காலனித்துவ ஆட்சிக்காலத்தில் இந்திய அரசாங்கத்துக்கும் இலங்கை அரசாங்கத்துக்கும் இடையில் தகராறு நிலவிவந்தது.

Continue reading ‘கச்சதீவை உடைமையாக்குவது அல்ல, இந்திய மீனவர்கள் சட்டவிரோதமாக மீன்பிடிப்பதே பிரதான பிரச்சினை’ »

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By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Commemorative Article Denoting 25th death anniversary of Muslim Congress leader MHM Ashraff on 16 September.

Mohammad Hussein Muhammad Ashraff, known to all MHM Ashraff was one of the brightest stars to shine in the Sri Lankan political firmament. Ashraff’s charisma, political acumen, dedication and sterling qualities of leadership enabled the Eastern province lawyer to be the legendary leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress(SLMC).

Sadly Ashraff’s life ended tragically when he along with 14 others, was killed in an air crash on 16 September 2000. He was the Cabinet Minister in charge of Shipping, Ports, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation in the Government of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the time of his death. This week’s column with the aid of earlier writings focuses on MHM Ashraff in commemoration of his 25th death anniversary.

Ashraff was born on 23 October 1948 in the Muslim village of Sammanthurai in Amparai District. His parents were Mohammed Meera Lebbe Hussain and Matheena Ummah. He grew up in Kalmunaikkudi, in the same region.

After schooling at the Wesley High school in Kalmunai town , Ashraff entered Law College where he passed the examination with first class honours. He worked briefly as a State Counsel at the Attorney General’s Department but resigned and reverted to the unofficial bar. Ashraff went on to acquire a Bachelor’s and later a Master’s degree in Law from Colombo University. The latter feat was achieved in 1995 when he was a Cabinet Minister. He took silk in 1997 as President’s Counsel.

Ashraff married Ferial Ismail, hailing from Gampola. They first met on a train in Kurunegala where Cupid’s arrows found their mark.. After marriage , Ferial was a tower of strength to her husband in his political career. She entered active politics after his death and made history as the first Muslim woman to be a Cabinet Minister. Ferial also served as High Commissioner to Singapore. Ashraff and Ferial’s only son Aman runs his own advertising agency in Colombo.

Continue reading ‘Legendary Muslim Congress Leader MHM Ashraff and the Course of Muslim Politics.’ »

தமிழ்த் தேசியவாத அரசியலின் எதிர்காலம் ‘ நூல்வெளியீடு
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பத்திரிகையாளர் வீரகத்தி தனபாலசிங்கம் எழுதிய ‘ தமிழ்த் தேசியவாத அரசியலின் எதிர்காலம் ‘ நூல் வெளியீட்டு நிகழ்வு கொழும்பு தமிழ்ச் சங்கத்தின் விநோதன் மண்டபத்தில் எதிர்வரும் வெள்ளிக்கிழமை (19/9) மாலை 5 மணிக்கு நடைபெறவிருக்கிறது.
எழுத்தாளர் வசந்தி தயாபரன் தலைமையில் நடைபெறும் இந்த நிகழ்வில் வெளியீட்டுரையை எழுத்தாளர் வி.ரி. இளங்கோவனும் கருத்துரைகளை தகவல் அறியும் உரிமை ஆணைக்குழு உறுப்பினர் ஏ.எம். ந.ஹியா, கிழக்கு பல்கலைக்கழக நுண்கலைத்துறை பேராசிரியர் எஸ்.ஜெய்சங்கர், சமூக அரசியல் செயற்பாடடாளர்கள் தெ..மதுசூதனன், யதீந்திரா ஆகியோரும் நிகழ்ந்துவர். இந்த நூல் மார்க்சிய கற்கைகளுக்கான சண்முகதாசன் நிலையத்தின் வெளியீடாகும்.
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By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has been in politics for more than five decades. Wickremesinghe who has served as Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister, Cabinet Minister, leader of the Opposition, Prime Minister and President has often been described as a “spent force” in politics. The resilient Ranil has always proved his detractors wrong by bouncing back into the ring spiritedly. Recent events seem to indicate that the irrepressible Ranil Wickremesinghe may yet again demonstrate that he is a person who cannot be written off easily.

On 22 August 2025, Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the CID and charged in court under Section 5(1) of the Public Property Act and Sections 386 and 388 of the Penal Code. He was remanded for four days until 26 August by the Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura. Ranil Wickremesinghe thus became the first Sri Lankan ex-President and former Prime Minister to be arrested and remanded in the history of Sri Lanka. He was manacled and taken to Magazine Prison in a Black Maria.

The former President’s health condition worsened after being taken to the Magazine Prison. He was moved to the Welikade prison hospital and transferred from there to the Colombo National Hospital. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit there.

Subsequently it was diagnosed in hospital that Wickremesinghe was suffering from three blocked arteries, necrosis of heart tissues, diabetes, and a lung infection. These conditions were not outwardly visible. He had been afflicted by heart ailments for the past seven years.

When the case was taken up again on 26 August at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s court, Ranil Wickremesinghe was unable to attend court due to his health condition. The former President marked his presence in court through Zoom via Internet from his hospital bed at the National Hospital ICU.

A panel of lawyers led by former Attorney-General and ex-Minister Tilak Marapana and senior President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared on behalf of Ranil and sought bail for the former President on health grounds. Medical reports pertaining to Wickremesinghe’s current health condition were submitted in detail to court. This included a report by six specialist doctors at the National Hospital.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura after hearing the arguments and examining the medical records granted bail to ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe, despite being charged under the Public Property Act. Wickremesinghe was released on three surety bails of five million rupees each. The case will be heard next on 29 October 2025.

“Unleashed”

Ranil remained in hospital for a few more days. He was discharged on 29 August. A picture being widely circulated shows Ranil leaving the hospital with a book in his hand. The book is a memoir authored by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson titled “Unleashed”. The book with its explosive title has given rise to much excitement and speculation about the future politics of Wickremesinghe. It appeared that the spent force was once again going to be in the political centre stage despite health issues.

The arrest and remanding of Ranil Wickremesinghe has resulted in an unexpected display of solidarity and unity by Opposition parties and political leaders. Press conferences were held by Opposition party leaders condemning the arrest of the former president. Many of these leaders were heavily critical of Ranil in the past.

The most noteworthy aspect of this change in the political environment is the seeming thaw in the frosty relationship between Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa. There is optimism now in political circles that there may be a re-alignment between the UNP and its breakaway Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). It is too early to assess the course of politics at this juncture but it does seem clear that Ranil is likely to play a leading role in the unfolding new political drama. Ranil’s future politics will depend on his health.

After returning home where he will be under strict medical care and supervision, Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude to all those who supported him from the time of his arrest. In a special video message released to the media, Wickremesinghe conveyed appreciation to the many individuals and groups who had expressed solidarity, both online and offline, during his arrest. “I am thankful to everyone who stood by me from the moment I was taken into custody. I intend to meet with all those who supported me soon. Thank you all again,” he said.

Ranil bashing

Meanwhile leading Government personalities, hurrah boys and girls of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP) Government and the anti-Wickremesinghe elements of different hues persist with their favourite pastime of Ranil bashing. There is disappointment in some corridors of power that Ranil could not be locked up in a remand cell as was perhaps intended.

The best laid plans of men and mice often go awry, wrote Robert Burns. The plot to humiliate and penalise ex-President Wickremesinghe also seems to have gone awry, at least for the present.

The first part of this article published last week focused mainly on the background of the circumstances that led to the arrest and remanding of Ranil Wickremesinghe and raised the question as to whether the former President was the target of a political witch hunt. These aspects would be further elaborated upon in this second and final part.

Spent force

As stated in this article earlier, Ranil Wickremesinghe has in the past been lightly “dismissed” by his detractors and critics as a serial loser and spent force. Nevertheless this supposedly spent force of no consequence is viciously vilified constantly.

Many of those who were delighted at the sight of a handcuffed Ranil being transported in a Black Maria seem dismayed at the sight of a cheerful Wickremesinghe leaving hospital with the book “Unleashed” in his hand.

Perhaps due to this, the attacks against Ranil have escalated. It is indeed strange and somewhat amusing that a person described as a spent force and serial loser should be at the receiving end of such attacks. It is said that no one flogs a dead horse and none kicks a dead dog. If Ranil is indeed “finished” then why is he being flogged and kicked constantly? Is it because of the constant trepidation and insecurity among political opponents of what Wickremesinghe is capable of unleashing?

Batalanda

The first part of this article dealt at length about the Batalanda detention centre and Ranil Wickremesinghe. After tabling the Batalanda commission report in Parliament JVP-NPP Cabinet minister and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake stated Ranil Wickremesinghe would face legal action soon. However when legal action did take place, it was not over Batalanda. It was for Wolverhampton.

Three reasons

There were three possible reasons for this. Firstly the JVP realised that re-opening the wounds of Batalanda could harm the JVP also. Memories of the JVP’s atrocities and horrible conduct during the 1987 to 1990 years have faded to a considerable extent. The JVP has re-positioned itself as a new entity by donning the NPP garb and convinced the people to vote for the compass. But going ahead with the Batalanda probe could revive those dark memories. The question that could rise in the minds of the people is what necessitated the Batalanda torture camp in the first place? The JVP realised the value of the adage ‘seek justice with clean hands’.

Secondly there was the question of who was directly responsible for the illegal confinement, torture and executions. The orders may have come from the top but the actual “hands on” perpetrators were sections of the Police, STF, armed forces and para-military outfits. An intensive probe with the aim of incriminating Ranil may have the unintended consequence of incriminating members of the Police and armed forces too. The JVP has from 1994 onwards tried to cultivate the armed forces. The Tri-forces collective “Aditana” has been formed. Hence pursuing the Batalanda inquiry could result in adversely affecting and alienating the armed forces.

Thirdly there is the question of Ranil’s actual involvement in the horrors of Batalanda. As stated in the first part of this article, Ranil had reportedly played a part in acquiring buildings from the Batalanda housing complex to set up the Batalanda detention centre. Wickremesinghe however had no involvement in what happened at the detention centre though his political opponents of different hues have in the past tried to portray Ranil as being directly involved in the torture.

When Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga became President in 1994, she set up a number of commissions of inquiry. One of these was on the Batalanda detention centre. There was much speculation then that President Kumaratunga had appointed the Batalanda commission of inquiry to “fix” her chief political rival Wickremesinghe. The Commission however could not find any valid evidence incriminating Wickremesinghe as having engaged in torture activity at Batalanda.

Central Bank

Under these circumstances the JVP had no choice other than to abandon the option of prosecuting Ranil over Batalanda. Another option was to charge Wickremesinghe regarding the Central Bank Treasury bonds issue. Ranil had been quizzed on the matter by authorities but nothing substantially detrimental was proved against him. His detractors and political rivals continue to fling mud at him over this issue. It has to be admitted that Ranil’s clean image has been somewhat dented in public perception due to the treasury bond scandal. This does not mean that Ranil was found guilty of any wrong doing.

Sep. 2023 UK trip

It is against this backdrop that the September 2023 UK trip matter was raked up. An internal audit was done in the Presidential secretariat by an official who had been recently transferred to the secretariat. An alleged “fraud” on the part of Wickremesinghe in 2023 when he served as president was discovered or uncovered.

The alleged fraud was that Ranil had siphoned off state funds to defray the expenses of a private trip to the UK covering it up as part of an official tour. It was alleged that Wickremesinghe travelled to Britain on 22-23 September, 2023, to attend an event involving his wife Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe at the University of Wolverhampton.

It was further alleged that the UK visit was not official and was incorporated as part of then president Wickremesinghe’s official visit to Cuba and the USA. It was alleged that the London leg of Wickremesinghe’s 2023 trip was of a personal nature and that charging the personal visit to official expenditure amounted to an abuse of presidential powers for private benefit.

JVP-NPP tensions

Meanwhile internal tensions began to simmer between the “old” hardcore Marxist members of the JVP and the “new” liberal members of the NPP. There was suspicion that a bloc of 40 to 50 NPP parliamentarians may break away from the JVP-led Government. It was also suspected that the master strategist Ranil Wickremesinghe was involved in the exercise to split Government ranks. The resentment against Ranil within the JVP old guard increased.

There was another complicating factor also. Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the JVP-led NPP had come to power by making several promises and pledges. They had also been severely critical of Ranil Wickremesinghe and blamed his economic policies especially the agreement entered into with the IMF.

Yet after gaining power, the new President and Government had not honoured any of their major electoral pledges. Furthermore President AKD and his Government began following the same policies of Wickremesinghe especially the IMF agreement. Ranil’s stock was rising with disappointed sections of the people who had voted for the compass earlier.

The Ranil factor was looming large as a potential threat to the JVP on the political horizon. Something had to be done to counter this political threat. Despite “pooh poohing” Wickremesinghe as a spent force whose political shelf life was over, the JVP upper echelons were well aware of the potential of Wickremesinghe. Something had to be done soon, it was felt.

Alleged fraud

On 23 May 2025 a complaint regarding Wickremesinghe’s alleged fraud was lodged with the Police by an official from the Presidential secretariat on behalf of President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. Thereafter the CID began probing the matter. A “B-report” was compiled by the CID in June 2025.

The Police continued with the inquiry into Wickremesinghe’s alleged fraud. The matter was of a politically sensitive nature as it concerned a former head of state. It was also a complex legal issue as it entailed the rights and privileges of a President while undertaking an overseas trip. What are the state resources a Head of State is entitled to utilise on an official or private visit? Such a complex issue requires advice from the Attorney-General. However there is no indication from available media reports about the A-G being consulted prior to the investigation being undertaken.

The CID went ahead with its investigation and interviewed 38 persons. These included officials and security personnel who had accompanied Wickremesinghe on the UK trip. Officials attached to the Presidential secretariat as well as his secretaries were also interviewed and had their statements recorded.

Friday 22 Aug.

Finally Ranil Wickremesinghe was summoned on 19 August for an inquiry on 22 August. It is learnt that Ranil’s lawyers had advised him that he may be arrested after his statement was recorded. A pattern has been established in recent times where former ministers and ex-MPs are summoned to the CID headquarters, statements recorded, produced in courts and remanded. 22 August was a Friday and if Wickremesinghe was arrested, there was the possibility of him being remanded over the week-end without getting bail.

Ranil Wickremesinghe however was confident that he would not be arrested or remanded. He opined that only his statement would be recorded. Being a lawyer himself and also being well-versed in matters of official protocol, Ranil’s position was that he was not guilty of any offence. As such the former President and ex-Prime Minister thought, the Police would accept his statement and be satisfied. But that is not what happened on that fateful Friday.

According to media reports, after Ranil Wickremesinghe’s statement was recorded, the ex-president was arrested and taken to court by current director of the CID Shani Abeysekara and a team of CID officials. Wickremesinghe was charged under Section 5(1) of the Public Property Act and Sections 386 and 388 of the Penal Code. An alleged offence coming under the PPA is non-bailable.

Additional Solicitor-General Dileepa Peiris PC presented a 30 page B-report to court and asked that the suspect be remanded. Wickremesinghe’s lawyers sought bail on medical grounds. The magistrate remanded Ranil Wickremesinghe for four days until 26 August.

The reaction to the arrest and remanding of Ranil was unexpectedly strong. A wide section of Opposition leaders including Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sajith Premadasa condemned it strongly. Many lawyers, academics and media analysts also criticised it. UNP stalwarts accused the Government of conducting a political witch hunt targeting Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Government is accused of weaponising the law to target Wickremesinghe. The legality of the process passes muster but the question of legitimacy remains.

YouTuber Sudaa

Adding credence to the belief that the action against Wickremesinghe was vindictive and politically motivated was the curious case of the YouTuber prediction. YouTuber Sudantha Thilakasiri, popularly known as “Sudaa” is regarded as being close to the ruling JVP-led NPP Government upper echelons.

Thilakasiri had in a recent social media post, declared that if former President Wickremesinghe appeared before the CID on Friday (22) to give a statement, it would be “mandatory” for authorities to arrest him, produce him before court, and remand him for 14 days. He further claimed that if this did not happen, he would cease producing YouTube programs.

This YouTube episode has strengthened suspicion that the decision to arrest and remand Ranil had been taken earlier by the powers that be and that an insider like the you tuber had advance knowledge of it.

Political greenlight

The JVP-led NPP Government has adopted the stance that the law was taking its own course regarding Ranil Wickremesinghe and that the Police were acting independently. This position is viewed with scepticism by most people. It is hard to believe that officials would act against a person of Wickremesinghe’s stature without a political greenlight being given. There is perceptible, a deliberate move to humiliate Ranil and create a political spectacle. Besides some ministers and deputy ministers have gloated and boasted that the hunt has begun and that Wickremesinghe is likely to face more charges.

It has also been pointed out by non-partisan observers that if indeed Government funds had been wrongfully utilised for private purposes, the former President could have been given the option of reimbursing the sum. A former president should have been extended that courtesy. Had Wickremesinghe refused to pay back, the option of charging him in courts could have been considered.

It also appears that the JVP-led NPP Government has misjudged the impact of the action against Ranil. Wickremesinghe may have been singled out to be the first target because it was felt the action would not impact greatly on the public. When it comes to charges of abuse and misuse of power, there are many allegations against Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

It is well-known that whenever Mahinda Rajapaksa was accompanied by scores of relatives, hangers on and sycophants when he embarked on a foreign trip. Another allegation about Gotabaya is that he used his authority as Defence Secretary to divert a plane to Colombo to transport a pet dog. Yet the top two Rajapaksas have not been touched presumably because the JVP is wary of the political fall-out. Initially there were no such concerns about a public backlash Ranil. Hence the action against him.

Rubicon crossed

Ranil has been charged under the Public Property Law which denies bail except under exceptional circumstances. What the JVP seems to have forgotten is the extent to which it has destroyed public property in the past. It appears therefore that the crimson comrades impelled by their hatred of Ranil Wickremesinghe have rushed into an area that was unwise to tread. “The Rubicon has been crossed” as former BASL president Saliya Pieris PC observed after the arrest and remand of Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Real face uncovered

However much the Government protests and denies, it is becoming increasingly unbelievable that Ranil Wickremesinghe is not the victim of a political witch hunt. There are valid doubts as to whether the law is being weaponised to target him. As Ranil himself reportedly said when being taken to prison, “The real face of the present administration has been uncovered.”

D.B.S.Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com

This article appears in the “Political Pulse”Column of the “Daily Financial Times”dated 5th September 2025.It can be accessed here –

https://www.ft.lk/d-b-s-jeyaraj/Is-JVP-led-NPP-Govt-weaponising-the-law-to-target-Wickremesinghe/10496-781301#

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டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

தமிழ் திரைப்படங்களை பார்த்து வளர்ந்த இந்த கட்டுரையாளரைப் போன்ற தமிழ்ச்சினிமா ரசிகர்களுக்கு தென்னிந்தியாவின் பழம்பெரும் நடிகை பி.சரோஜாதேவியின் மரணம் பெரும் கவலையைத் தந்தது. 2025 ஜூலை 14 ஆம் காலையில் திகதி தனது தினசரி 30 நிமிட பூஜை வழிபாட்டைச் செய்து முடித்துவிட்டு சோபாவில் இருந்து தொலைக்காட்சி பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்த வேளையில் திடீரென்று ஒரு முனகலுடன் மயங்கி விழுந்த அவரை வைத்தியசாலைக்கு கொண்டு சென்றபோது அவர் மரணமடைந்து விட்டதாக அங்கு அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது. அவருக்கு 87 வயது.

எனது சிறுவயதில் இருந்தே நான் தமிழ்த் திரையுலகின் நடிகைகள் மத்தியில் சரோஜாதேவியின் ஒரு பெரிய ரசிகன். ஐந்து தசாப்தங்களுக்கும் அதிகமான கால திரையுலக வாழ்வைக் கொண்ட அவர் 209 படங்களில் நடித்திருக்கிறார். இவற்றில் 161 படங்களில் அவர் கதாநாயகியாக அல்லது முன்னணி பாத்திரங்களில் நடித்திருக்கிறார். மற்றைய படங்களில் அவர் துணைப் பாத்திரங்களில் அல்லது குணசித்திர பாத்திரங்களில் நடித்தார். திரையுலக வாழ்வின் ஆரம்பக் கட்டங்களில் சரோஜாதேவி நாட்டியக்காரியாகவும் தோன்றினார்.

அந்த நாட்களில் ஒரு திரைப்படம் இடைவிடாமல் தொடர்ச்சியாக திரையிடப்படுகின்ற வாரங்களின் எண்ணிக்கையை பொறுத்தே அதன் வெற்றி தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டது. சரோஜாதேவி கதாநாயகியாக நடித்தவற்றில் 103 படங்கள் நூறுக்கும் அதிகமான நாட்கள் ஓடின. சில படங்கள் 25 வாரங்களுக்கும் அதிகமாக தொடர்ச்சியாக ஓடி வெள்ளி விழாவை கண்டன. அவரின் ஒருசில படங்கள் 50 வாரங்களுக்கும் அதிகமாகவும் ஓடின.

Continue reading ‘‘அபிநய சரஸ்வதி’ என்று மெச்சப்பட்ட கன்னடத்துப் பைங்கிளியாக கொஞ்சும் மொழியில் இனிமையாக பேசிய சரோஜாதேவி தென்னிந்திய நடிகைகளில் திரையில் கவர்ந்திழுக்கும் “கஜ காமினி” யின் நடையைக் காண்பித்தவர்’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

History was made when 76 year old Ranil Sriyan Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police Criminal Investigation Department(CID) on charges of alleged corruption and misappropriation of public funds amounting to a little over Rupees 16.6 million.He was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate on 22 August 2025. Ranil was charged under Section 5(1) of the Public Property Act and Sections 386 and 388 of the Penal Code.

Six times prime minister Wickremesinghe who served as the eighth executive president of Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2024 was remanded for four days until 26 August by the magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura. A manacled Ranil was taken away from court precincts in a Black Maria. Ranil Wickremesinghe thus became the first Sri Lankan ex-president and former Prime minister to be arrested and remanded in the history of Sri Lanka.

Twists of Fate

The arrest and remand of Ranil Wickremesinghe made this writer ponder a while on the bizarre twists of fate.Ranil Wickremesinghe is a person who was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. His paternal grandfather C.L. Wickremesinghe belonged to the prestigious Ceylon Civil service. His maternal grandfather D.R. Wijewardene was a powerful press baron and land owner. Ranil’s father Esmond Wickremesinghe, a lawyer by profession, married D.R.Wijewardene’s daughter Nalini .He was for many years the Managing Director of the “Lake House”group of newspapers.

Unlike many politicians who enriched themselves through dubious means after entering politics, Ranil is one who was never corrupt personally. Wickremesinghe has many faults and flaws but was never perceived as a person lacking financial integrity.

This image has been dented in recent times. He has been accused of “crony capitalism” and of turning a blind eye at times to party members and friends minting money through shady deals. Ranil has been severely criticized for that tendency. Despite this criticism , no credible allegation of Ranil being personally corrupt has ever been proved or validated. This is because it simply was not true.

Continue reading ‘Has the JVP led NPP Launched a Political Witch Hunt Targeting Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe ?’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Let’s learn from Israel how to create a Sinhala-Buddhist state” – National Organiser, Sinhala Ravaya (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb3x0M7AgKw)

Angunugalle Sri Jinananda thero is yet to achieve the notoriety of a Galagoda-Atte Gnanasara or an Akmeemana Dayaratane. He deserves to. To him belongs the distinction of turning the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) from a law aimed at safeguarding individual rights to an instrument of persecution.

In February 2019, the monk wrote a letter to the IGP urging him to use the ICCPR to incarcerate a young Lankan (Sinhala-Buddhist) writer, Shakthika Sathkumara for penning a short story ‘defaming Buddhism’. Previously the same monk had lodged a complaint – unsuccessfully – against director Malaka Dewapriya and his radio drama series ‘Kanata Parak’. This time, the IGP paid heed. Sathkumara was summoned to the Polgahawela police on 1 April 2019, arrested, and held in the Kegalle prison for 130 days. No preliminary inquiry was carried out and the B Report just contained the complaint by the monk, the writer claimed.

Other arrests under the ICCPR followed, the most infamous being the incarceration of comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya for remarks considered “lese majesté” towards King Suddodana (father of Prince Siddhartha). Akmeemana Dayaratane thero of Sinhala Ravaya and other monks who lodged the complaint against Edirisooriya went so far as to demand that audience members who laughed at her ‘blasphemous’ jokes should also be arrested.

That particular spate of witch-hunting ended with the landmark bail order in Edirisooriya’s case by Colombo high court judge Aditya Patabendi. He pointed out the illegality of using Section 3 of the ICCPR Act against individuals for making statements considered hurtful to a racial or religious group. “Especially, just because a complaint is made by a Buddhist monk or another religious leader or an influential person in society, it is not the task of an investigator to arrest a person based on that alone,” he emphasised.

The monk who pioneered the abusive use of the ICCPR Act as an anti-blasphemy law now has a new cause – promoting Israel in Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘Buddhist Extremist Monks and Organizations Cultivating Links with Israel want to Turn Sri Lanka into a Buddhist State like how Israel is a 100% Jewish State while Israel wants Sri Lanka to Provide Cheap Manual Labour and a Welcoming Recipient of Israeli Tourists’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

முன்னாள் இலங்கை ஜனாதிபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க 2025 ஆகஸ்ட் 22 ஆம் திகதி வெள்ளிக்கிழமை இலங்கை பொலிஸின் குற்றவியல் புலனாய்வு திணைக்களத்தினால் (சி.ஐ.டி.) கைது செய்யப்பட்டார். அதை அடுத்து அவர் கொழும்பு கோட்டை மாஜிஸ்திரேட் முன்னிலையில் ஆஜர் செய்யப்பட்டதை தொடர்ந்து 2025 ஆகஸ்ட் 26 ஆம் திகதி வரை விளக்கமறியில் வைக்கப்பட்டார். கடந்த காலத்தில் ஆறு தடவைகள் பிரதமராக பதவி வகித்த 76 வயதான விக்கிரமசிங்க இலங்கையின் வரலாற்றில் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு விளக்கமறியலில் வைக்கப்பட்ட முதலாவது முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதியாவார்.

மகசீன் சிறைச்சாலைக்கு கூட்டிச் செல்லப்பட்ட பிறகு முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதியின் உடல்நிலை மோசமடைந்தது. அங்கிருந்து வெலிக்கடைச் சிசை்சாலை வைத்தியசாலைக்கு மாற்றப்பட்ட அவர் பிறகு கொழும்பு தேசிய வைத்தியசாலையின் தீவிர சிகிச்சைப் பிரிவில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டார். அவருக்கு இரத்தக் குழாய்களில் மூன்று அடைப்புகள் ஏற்பட்டிருப்பதாகவும் இருதய தசைகள் அழுகல், நீரிழிவு மற்றும் சுவாசப்பையில் தொற்றுநோயினால் பீடிக்கப்பட்டிருபாத்கவும் கண்டறியப்பட்டது. இந்த நோய் நிலைமைகள் அவரின் வெளித் தோற்றத்தில் தெரிவதில்லை. அவர் இருதய நோயினால் கடந்த ஏழு வருடங்களாக பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருநதார்.

கொழும்பு கோட்டை மாஜிஸ்திரேட் நீதிமன்றத்தில் அவரது வழக்கு 2025 ஆகஸ்ட் 26 ஆம் திகதி விசாரணைக்கு எடுக்கப்பட்டபோது உடல்நிலை காரணமாக விக்கிரமசிங்கவினால் நீதிமன்றத்துக்கு வரமுடியாமல் போய்விட்டது. தேசிய வைத்தியசாலையின் தீவிர சிகிச்சைப் பிரிவில் படுக்கையில் இருந்த வண்ணமே இணையத்தின் ஊடாக தனது பிரசன்னத்தை அவர் பதிவு செய்தார்.

முன்னாள் சட்டமா அதிபரும் அமைச்சருமான திலக் மாரப்பன மற்றும் சிரேஷ்ட ஜனாதிபதி சட்டத்தரணி அனுஜா பிரேமரத்ன தலைமையிலான சட்டத்தரணிகள் குழுவொன்று ரணிலின் சார்பில் ஆஜராகி அவரது உடல்நிலையை காரணமாகக்கொண்டு பிணையில் விடுதலை செய்யுமாறு கோரியது. அவரின் நிலைமை தொடர்பான விரிவான மருத்துவ அறிக்கைகள் நீதிமன்றத்தில் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டன.

விக்கிரமசிங்கவுக்கு பிணை வழங்குவதை சட்டமா அதிபர் திணைக்களம் கடுமையாக எதிர்த்தது. ” சந்தேகநபர் மீது ” பொதுச் சொத்துக்கள் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் குற்றம் சுமத்தப்பட்டிருக்கிறது என்றும் அதனால் பிரத்தியேகமான சூழ்நிலைகளை தவிர மற்றும்படி அவரை பிணையில் விடுதலை செய்யமுடியாது என்றும மேலதிக சொலிசிட்டர் ஜெனரல் திலீபா பீரிஸ் நீதிமன்றத்தில் வலியுறுத்திக் கூறினார்.

இரு தரப்புகளினதும் வாதங்களை கேட்டதுடன் மருத்துவ அறிக்கைகளையும் பரிசீலனை செய்த பிறகு கொழும்பு கோட்டை மாஜிஸ்திரேட் நிலுப்புலி லங்காபுர விக்கிரமசிங்கவை தலா ஐம்பது இலட்சம் ரூபா மூன்று ஆளுறுதிப் பிணையில் விடுதலை செய்தார். வழக்கு விசாரணை 2025 அக்டோபர் 29 ஆம் திகதிக்கு ஒத்திவைக்கப்பட்டது. பிணை வழங்கப்பட்டதை விக்கிரமசிங்கவின் நலன்விரும்பிகளும் ஆதரவாளர்களும் குதூகலத்துடன் வரவேற்றனர்.

Continue reading ‘முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதி ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்கவின் சர்ச்சைக்குரிய கைது, குற்றச்சாட்டு, விளக்கமறியல், பிணையில் விடுதலை’ »

By

Rico Franco

There is something to be said about individuals who ensure that people get only the best, because it is what they deserve. Ruwan Jayakody is one such individual, as he stands in his Grand Cinnamon Banquet and Convention Centre, watching servers prepare for another sold-out event. The premiere venue represents just one facet of a major business built from flour, sugar, and driven ambition.

Born in rural Ruwanwella, Sri Lanka, among generations of farmers, Jayakody has taken the path from cowboy to world-renowned celebrity chef, accumulating 42 years of hospitality expertise across four continents.

Originally pursuing a high school to university path in engineering, journalism, and as a cartoonist in both broadcasting and major newspaper companies in Sri Lanka, Jayakody decided in the early 1980s instead to become an apprentice cook. Within just a decade, he had graduated from Ceylon Hotel School and trained under masters Gaston Le Notre in France and Willy Pfund in Zurich, collecting diplomas in French and German languages along the way.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka born Ruwan Jayakody: Culinary Excellence and Entrepreneurial Vision from Toronto to the World’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake — who was on Monday (September 1, 2025) in the northern Jaffna district to launch development projects — made a quick, unannounced visit to Katchatheevu, after vowing to safeguard “seas and islands” around the country and resist any “external pressure”.

Jaffna media was caught by surprise as the President’s trip to the island, by a naval speed boat according to local news reports, was not mentioned in his official itinerary.

The visit followed a ceremony to begin the expansion of the Myliddy Fisheries Harbour in Jaffna, a project aimed at boosting livelihoods of war-affected fishermen. Speaking at the event, Mr. Dissanayake said: “The government is committed to safeguarding the surrounding seas, islands, and landmass of the country for the benefit of the people and will not allow any external force to exert influence in this regard.”

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake makes a quick, unannounced visit to Katchatheevu, after vowing to safeguard “seas and islands” around the country and resist any “external pressure”.’ »

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By

Meera Srinivasan

For six months now, a team of archaeologists and forensic experts has been unearthing human remains from a mass grave in Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka. The number of skeletons retrieved has now crossed 200, including some of children.

The grave site and the mounting toll of human remains found in it dominate daily headlines in the country’s Tamil media, while receiving little attention in the country’s mainstream English and Sinhala media. In response to this gnawing gap, three young journalists decided they must tell the story to the majority community, Sinhala-speakers. Wasting no time, they pooled resources and made multiple reporting trips and conducted several interviews with locals and experts over the last few months to write Chemmani, a Sinhala-language book on the mass grave site in the locality, believed to contain the remains of Tamil civilians, and dating back to the mid-1990s, shortly after the Sri Lanka military captured Jaffna.

Authored by independent journalists Tharindu Jayawardhana, M.F.M. Fazeer, and Tharindu Uduwaragedara, who are members of the Young Journalists’ Association, the slim book was recently launched at the packed auditorium of the National Library in Colombo. It is a bold attempt by the writers — two Sinhalese and one Muslim [Sri Lanka’s Muslims are Tamil-speaking, but identify as a distinct ethno-religious group] — to uncover a troubling wartime episode for Sinhalese readers, who emphatically reject allegations of atrocities by state forces against Tamils.

Continue reading ‘“CHEMMANI” ; Journalist Trio Comprising Two Sinhala and One Muslim Publishes Book in Sinhala Revealing the History of the Discovery of Mass Graves in Chemmani,Jaffna’ »

By

Kishali Pinto- Jayawardene

The announcement by Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs late last week, that a new law to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) would be published in the gazette ‘by the beginning of September 2025,’ is akin to a bolt of lightning from sunny blue skies.

Dazzled by a ‘false dawn’?

The month of September is notable, among other things, for the trek to Geneva where the Government periodically defends itself against probing questions on the State’s human rights record stemming from various resolutions on the status of ‘truth, reconciliation and accountability’ that have become trite catchwords.

This time around, that uncomfortable trek to expostulate, explain and elucidate the Government’s stand comes in the wake of a ‘democratic dawn’ for the country as promised by the National Peoples’ Power (NPP.

Relevantly, this is in the context of the UN High Commissioner submitting an update to the Human Rights Council that was, much like the curate’s egg, soft in parts and hard in other parts if I am to twist that popular idiom.

The update observed that the combination of the Online Safety Act (OSA) and the PTA comprises a ‘powerfully constricting legal framework’ for Sri Lankan citizens. That led to an ‘undue restriction of the right to freedom of opinion and expression,’ the High Commissioner said.

Continue reading ‘Why is the NPP Govt in a hurry to Replace the PTA Within a Short Period? Will the Counter Terrorism Act Draft and Anti -Terror Bill be the Blueprints for the NPP Govt’s new Counter Terror or Anti-Terror Legislation?’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department(CID) of the Sri Lankan Police on Friday 22nd August 2025. Subsequently he was produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate and remanded until 26 August 2025. 76 year old Wickremesinghe who has also been sworn in as Prime Minister six times in the past became the first Sri Lankan ex-president to be arrested and remanded in the Island’s history.

The former President’s health condition worsened after being taken to the Magazine prison.He was moved to the Welikade prison hosotal and transferred from there to the Colombo National Hospital and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit there. Consequently it was diagnosed that Wickremesinghe was suffering from three blocked arteries, necrosis of heart tissues, diabetes, and a lung infection. These conditions were not outwardly visible. He had been afflicted by heart ailments for the past seven years.

When the case was taken up again at the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s court, Ranil Wickremesinghe was unable to attend court due to his health condition. The former President marked his presence in court through Zoom via Internet from his hospital bed at the National Hospital ICU.

A panel of lawyers led by Former Attorney-General and EX-Minister Tilak Marapana and senior President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appeared for Wickremesinghe appeared on behalf of Ranil and sought bail for the former President on health grounds. Medical reports pertaining to Wickremesinghe were submitted in detail to court.

The Attorney-General’s Department opposed the granting of bail to Wickremesinghe. Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris reiterated in court that the “suspect”had been charged under the Public Property Act and therefore bail could not be granted except under exceptional circumstances.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Nilupuli Lankapura after hearing both sides and examining the medical records granted bail to ex-president Ranil Wickremesinghe on three surety bails of Five million rupees each. The case will be heard next on 29 October 2025. The granting of bail was hailed with great joy by well-wishers and supporters of Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The interrogation, arrest,remanding and release on bail of former President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has caused much co excitement of a controversial nature.

Continue reading ‘The Controversial Arrest, Remand and Release on Bail of Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

” ஹர்த்தால் “என்பது பிரிட்டிஷ் ஆட்சிக்காலத்தில் இந்தியா, இலங்கை மற்றும் மலேசியா போன்ற நாடுகளில் அரசியல் உரையாடல்களில் பிரவேசித்த ஒரு சொல். இந்த குஜராத்திச் சொல் இருபதாம் நூற்றாண்டில் இந்திய சுதந்திரப் போராட்டத்தின்போது மகாத்மா காந்தியினால் பிரபல்யப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. வேலைத்தலங்கள், கடைகள், பாடசாலைகள், போக்குவரத்துச் சேவைகள் மற்றும் நீதிமன்றங்களை முற்றாக மூடுவதையே ஹர்த்தால் என்ற ஹர்த்தால் குறித்து நிற்கிறது.

காந்தி தலைமையிலான இந்திய தேசிய காங்கிரஸ் பிரிட்டனிடமிருந்து சுதந்திரம் பெறுவதற்கான அதன் போராட்டத்தில் அடிக்கடி சிவில் ஒத்துழையாமை இயக்கத்தை முன்னெடுத்தது. மகாத்மா குஜராத்தி என்பதால் வேலைநிறுத்தங்கள் மற்றும் கடையடைப்புக்களுக்கு வழிவகுத்த மக்கள் போராட்டங்களை வர்ணிப்பதற்கு ஹர்த்தால் என்ற சொல்லைப் பயன்படுத்தினார்.

மலையகப் பகுதிகளில் இந்திய வம்சாவளி தோட்டத் தொழிலாளர்களை பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்திய அமைப்புக்கள் மற்றும் தொழிற்சங்கங்களினாலேயே இலங்கைக்கு ஹர்த்தால் என்ற சொல் முதன்முதலாக அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. வேலைநிறுத்தப் போராட்டங்களுடன் சேர்ந்து ‘ ஹர்த்தால் ‘ கடையடைப்பும் அடிக்கடி இடம்பெற்றது.

சுதந்திரத்துக்கு பின்னரான காலப்பகுதியில் சிங்களவர்களின் ஆதிக்கத்திலான அரசை அரசியல் ரீதியில் இலங்கைத் தமிழர்கள் எதிர்க்கத் தொடங்கியபோது இலங்கை தமிழரசு கட்சியினால் பல்வேறு ஹர்த்தால்கள் நடத்தப்பட்டன. தமிழ்ப் போராளி இயக்கங்களும் கடந்த காலத்தில் ஹர்த்தால்களை அனுஷ்டித்தன.

ஆனால், 1953 ஆம் ஆண்டில் ஐக்கிய தேசிய கட்சி அரசாங்கத்துக்கு எதிராக வேலை நிறுத்தத்துடன் கூடிய மக்கள் போராட்டம் முன்னெடுக்கப்பட்ட வேளையிலேயே ஹர்த்தால் என்ற சொல் பிரபலமானதாக வந்தது. பிரதமர் டட்லி சேனநாயக்க தலைமையிலான அன்றைய ஐக்கிய தேசிய கட்சி அரிசி மானியத்தை அகற்றியதை அடுத்து அரிசியின் விலை 180 சதவீதத்தால் அதிகரித்தது. வேறு பொரூட்களின் விலைகளும் அதிகரித்தன. 1953 ஆகஸ்ட் 12 ஹர்த்தாலுக்கான அறைகூவல் லங்கா சமசமாஜ கட்சி, இலங்கை கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி, புரட்சிகர லங்கா சமசமாஜ கட்சி மற்றும் தமிழரசு கட்சியினால் விடுக்கப்பட்டது. ஹர்த்தால் போராட்டத்தின்போது பொலிசாரின் துப்பாக்கிப் பிரயோகத்தில் பத்துப் பேர் கொல்லப்பட்டனர். இறுதியில் டட்லி சேனநாயக்க பதவியில் இருந்து விலகினார். சேர் ஜோன் கொத்தலாவல புதிய பிரதமராகப் பதவிக்கு வந்தார்.

தமிழரசு கட்சி

ஆகஸ்ட் 18 திங்கட்கிழமை தமிழரசு கட்சி ஹர்த்தால் ஒன்றை நடத்தியபோது ஹர்த்தால் என்ற சொல் செய்திகளில் பெருமளவுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் பெற்றது. தமிழரசு கட்சி இலங்கையின் வடக்கு, கிழக்கு மாகாணங்களில் பிரதான அரசியல் கட்சி. வடக்கு, கிழக்கில் சகல மாவட்டங்களிலும் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களைக் கொண்ட அந்த கட்சி பாராளுமன்றத்தில் மூனாறாவது பெரிய கட்சியாகவும் விளங்குகிறது. இரு மாகாணஙாகளிலும் 35 உள்ளூராட்சி சபைகளின் நிருவாகங்களும் தமிழரசு கட்சியின் கட்டுபாட்டில் உள்ளன.

இரண்டு காரணங்களுக்காக தமிழரசு கட்சி வடக்கு, கிழக்கில் ஹர்த்தாலுக்கு அழைப்பு விடுத்தது. முல்லைத்தீவு மாவட்டத்தில் இராணுவத்தினரின் தாக்குதலில் குடிமகன் ஒருவர் கொல்லப்பட்டதாக சந்தேகிக்கப்படும் சம்பவத்தை கண்டனம் செய்வது முதலாவது காரணம். வடக்கு, கிழக்கில் குடிமக்கள் மத்தியில் பெருமளவு இராணுவத்தினர் இருப்பதனால் ஏற்படுகின்ற பிரச்சினைகளை கவனத்துக்கு கொண்டுவந்து இரு மாகாணங்களிலும் இராணுவத்தின் பலத்தை குறைக்க வேண்டும் என்று கோருவது இரண்டாவது காரணம்.

Continue reading ‘இரண்டு நோக்கங்களுக்காக வடக்கு, கிழக்கில் அரைநாள் ஹர்த்தால் நடத்திய தமிழரசு கட்சி : முதலாவது முல்லைத்தீவு மாவட்டத்தில் இராணுவத்தினரின் தாக்குதலில் குடிமகன் ஒருவர் கொல்லப்பட்டது; இரண்டாவது வடக்கு, கிழக்கில் குடிமக்கள் மத்தியில் பெருமளவு இராணுவத்தினர் இருப்பதனால் ஏற்படுகின்ற பிரச்சினைகளை கவனத்துக்கு கொண்டுவருவது.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

The Colombo Fort Magistrate Court on Tuesday (August 26, 2025) granted bail to Sri Lanka’s ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was arrested on August 22, 2025, for allegedly misusing state funds.

The bail was granted on health grounds following the hearing on Tuesday (August 26, 2025) afternoon, amid tight security around the court, where Mr. Wickremesinghe’s supporters had gathered.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s former President Ranil Wickremesinghe ,arrested on charges of misuse of state funds, granted bail: has been in hospital since he was remanded on August 22’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

“Hartal” is a word that entered the political discourse of countries like India , Sri Lanka and Malaysia during British rule. The Gujarati word was popularised by Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian freedom struggle in the 20th century. A Hartal denotes a total shutdown of workplaces, offices, shops, schools,transport services and courts of law. The Gandhi-led Indian National Congress often resorted to such civil disobedience protests in their campaign for independence from Britain. The Mahatma being a Gujarati himself used the Gujarati word Hartal to describe the mass protests resulting in stoppages of work and shutting down of business activity.

The term Hartal was first introduced to Sri Lanka known formerly as Ceylon by organizations and Trade unions representing the Plantation workers of Indian descent in the hill country areas. Strike action was often coupled with a “Hartal”shutdown.

When the Sri Lankan Tamils began politically opposing the Sinhala dominated State in the post Independence period, several Hartals were conducted by the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party(FP). Even Tamil militant organizations have observed Hartals in the past.

However the word Hartal became famous in 1953 when an Island-wide mass protest cum strike action was launched against the United National Party(UNP)Government in power then.The UNP Govt led by PM Dudley Senanayake had removed the rice subsidy thereby increasing the price of rice by 180 % .There were other price increases also.The call for the 1953 August Hartal was made by the Lanka Sama Samaja Party(LSSP, Communist Party(CP), Viplavakari Lanka Sama Samaja Party(VLSSP) and the ITAK/FP. The Hartal protest resulted in the Police shooting dead 10 persons.Eventually Dudley Senanayake resigned and Sir John Kotelawela became Premier.

Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi

The term Hartal was very much in the news this week when the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi launched a Hartal on Monday August 18th . The ITAK is the premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamils of the Northern and Eastern provinces. Incidently the ITAK is the third largest party in Parliament with MPs representing all electoral districts in the North and East. The ITAK also heads 35 Local authorities in the N-E .

The ITAK declared a Hartal in the north and east for two related reasons The first was to condemn and protest the suspected killing of a Tamil civilian by the military in the Mullaitheevu district. The second was to draw attention to the problem of large numbers of the Sri Lankan armed forces being stationed amidst civilians in the North and east and renew the demand to reduce and relocate military personnel in the two provinces.

Continue reading ‘ITAK Launches Half-day Hartal in North-East Over Alleged Killing of Tamil Youth by Army and Excessive Military Presence Amidst Civilian Habitats.’ »

By

Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene

The National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Government may well have achieved the impossible by a clumsily handled arrest and remanding of former Executive President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe this Friday (August 22nd 2025) over alleged misuse of public property in expending LKR 16.6 million on a ‘diversionary’ transit in the United Kingdom while returning from state visits to the United States and Cuba as a sitting President at the time.

Speaking to the public gallery

That diversion was to attend the conferral of an honorary professorship on the former President’s spouse by a (somewhat less distinguished) British university with some of the expended costs during this one and a half day transit reportedly going towards supporting security and personal staff. Some have yawned that this is a meaningless controversy when measured against grand political corruption in Sri Lanka.

On the other hand, others expound in stupefied tones on the ‘incredible’ wastage of funds on a passing transit. That includes the state law officer tasked with handling the case against Mr Wickremesinghe who reportedly held forth to the public gallery in the Fort Magistrate’s Court to the effect that such sums had been expended by the former President while Sri Lanka was undergoing a foreign exchange crisis after declaring bankruptcy in 2022.

These sentiments cannily evoke all the inflammatory trigger points of the ‘elites against the rest’ which is the NPP’s rallying cry. But the legal point in question is hardly that. It matters not that LKR 16.6 million, LKR 6.6 million or LKR 66 was allegedly spent by the former President. Billions, multi millions or millions as the case may be, even if a single rupee was spent out of state funds for purposes ‘not authorized by law’, the offence is the same in regard to ‘dishonest misappropriation of property.’

Continue reading ‘When a President travels whether to Anuradhapura to see his mother , or to London to accompany his spouse , does the law expect the head of state to discard the security trappings of that office?’ »

A coalition of Opposition party leaders yesterday held a press briefing in Colombo to denounce the arrest of ex-President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Gathering under the banner “Let’s Defeat the Constitutional Dictatorship,” the speakers accused the administration of weaponising the legal system against political rivals. Party leaders argued that Wickremesinghe’s detention was part of a wider attempt to erode democratic institutions and suppress dissent.

Ex-President Maithripala Sirisena said he was disappointed and distressed by the arrest and called on all political parties and civil society organisations to condemn the arrest and defend democracy. Former MP Patali Champika Ranawaka speaking at the press conference said the arrest of Wickremesinghe was the Government’s attempt to squash dissent towards establishing a single-party State.

Separately, Sri Lanka’s main Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), denounced the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, calling it a politically motivated move aimed at silencing dissent.

Continue reading ‘Coalition of Opposition Party Leaders Mobilise Under Slogan “Let’s Defeat the Constitutional Dictatorship ” and Denounce Arrest of Ex- president Ranil Wickremesinghe; Accuse JVP-led NPP Govt of weaponising the legal system against political rivals’ »

Cabinet Minister Bimal Ratnayake stated that while the charges for which former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was recently arrested may seem trivial, he

Ratnayake cited several incidents, including the post-election violence of 1977, the burning of the Jaffna library in 1981, and the 1983 riots, as reasons for which Wickremesinghe should have been held accountable during his time in Government.

Continue reading ‘Bimal Ratnayake says Charges on which Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested May seem Trivial and that the Former President should have been brought to justice decades ago for “far more serious allegations.”’ »

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) Government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake known as AKD , has been in the saddle for close upon a year now. Given the JVP-NPP’s 159 members of Parliament and the victories registered in the local authority polls, the chances of being dislodged from that saddle soon seem remote.

Yet many opposition leaders seem to think otherwise. These hopes are hinged around two possibilities.Some are hopeful that the economy will eventually deteriorate, resulting in a crisis situation of availability and affordability along with shortages of fuel,electricity, gas and essential food items. This in turn would cause an “Aragalaya” type of situation that would topple the AKD regime.

The other line of thought is about internal dissension within the ruling party. There are tensions between the hardcore JVP old guard and the new reformist NPP. Many of the NPP parliamentarians resent the JVP domination and would break away is a fond belief. Furthermore there is personal rivalry among some top JVP’ers. This too may lead to a split in the party hopes the opposition.

Rumour mills work overtime in this regard. It is being said that two senior ministers are eying the Prime minister post. Hence there is a cold war being fought against Prime minister Harini Amarasuriya. According to the rumour mongers, Harini may have been compelled to quit as PM by the internal forces arrayed against her, but for the solidarity and support extended by President AKD.

It is not the intention of this column to probe the real or imaginary power play within Govt upper echelons at this juncture. However this column focuses this week on a bizarre turn of events concerning Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Trade, Cmmerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development minister Wasantha Samarasinghe and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna(SLPP) Hambantota district Parliamentarian D.V. Chanaka. Their three way exchange has created a controversy fuelling many conspiracy theories. Also it has strengthened the opinion that there is serious dissension within the Govt.

Continue reading ‘Premier Harini’s Blunder about Chichi’s Rocket and Minister Wasantha’s Damage Control Statement.’ »

By

Lihini Fernando

(The writer is an Attorney-at-Law and member of the Moratuwa Municipal Council)

A President of a country cannot separate his private life from public life. The moment one assumes the office of Head of State, he ceases to be a private individual. His security, movements, and even his day-to-day engagements are under the control of the State.

The Presidential Security Division (PSD) is duty-bound to accompany him at all times, whether he is attending a state meeting, a private function, or even traveling abroad. A specific budget is allocated for this purpose, and his security detail has no discretion to abandon him simply because he is engaged in a personal activity.

Even if a President attends a private wedding, funeral, or visits a sick relative, the PSD must accompany him. His official vehicle too is part of the security protocol. Therefore, in practice, there is no clear distinction between public and private life for a sitting President.

This brings us to the case of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Arrest: “Sri Lanka’s Presidency at Risk: The Blurred Line Between Public Duty and Private Life”’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

ஜனாதிபதி அநுர குமார திசநாயக்கவின் ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுன (ஜே.வி.பி.) தலைமையிலான தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி அரசாங்கம் பதவியில் இப்போது ஒரு வருடத்தை நெருங்குகிறது. ஜே.வி.பி. — தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தியின் 159 பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களையும் உள்ளூராட்சி தேர்தல்களில் தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி பெற்ற வெற்றிகளையும் அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டு நோக்கும் போது விரைவாக அவர்களின் அரசாங்கத்தை பதவியில் இருந்து அகற்றுவதற்கு அண்மைய எதிர்காலத்தில் சாத்தியமில்லை என்றே தோன்றுகிறது.

இருந்தாலும், பல எதிர்க்கட்சிகளின் தலைவர்கள் வேறு விதமாக நினைக்கிறார்கள் போன்று தெரிகிறது. இந்த எதிர்பார்ப்புகள் இரு சாத்தியப்பாடுகளில் தங்கியிருக்கின்றன. நாளடைவில் பொருளாதாரம் சீர்குலைந்து எரிபொருள், மின்சாரம், எரிவாயு மற்றும் அத்தியாவசிய உணவு வகைகளுக்கு தட்டுப்பாடும் மக்களினால் அவற்றை கொள்வனவு செய்வது கட்டுப்படியாகாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டு நெருக்கடி நிலைவரமும் தோன்றும் என்று சிலர் எதிர்பார்க்கிறார்கள். அநுரவின் அரசாங்கத்தைக் கவிழ்த்துவிடக்கூடிய ” அறகலய ” போன்ற கொந்தளிப்பான நிலைவரம் ஏற்படும் என்பது இவர்களின் நம்பிக்கை.

ஆளும் கட்சிக்குள் உட்பிளவுகள் ஏற்படும் என்பது இன்னொரு வகையான சிந்தனை. கடும்போக்குடைய பழைய ஜே.வி.பி. தலைவர்களுக்கும் புதிய சீர்திருத்தவாத தேசிய மக்கள் சக்திக்கும் இடையில் பதற்றம் ஏற்பட்டிருக்கிறது.தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தயின் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்களில் பலர் ஜே.வி.பி.யின் மேலாதிக்கத்தை எதிர்த்து பிரிந்து போவார்கள் என்பது விருப்பமான ஒரு நம்பிக்கை. மேலும், ஜே.வி.பி.யின் உயர்மட்ட தலைவர்கள் சிலருக்கிடயிலான தனிப்பட்ட போட்டி மனப்பான்மையும் கூட கட்சியின் பிளவுக்கு வழிவகுக்கலாம் என்பது எதிர்க்கட்சிகளின் எதிர்பார்ப்பு.

இது தொடர்பில் வதந்திகள் வேகமாகப் பரவிவருகின்றன. இரு சிரேஷ்ட அமைச்சர்கள் பிரதமர் பதவியில் கண் வைத்திருப்பதாகவும் கூறப்படுகின்றது. அதனால், பிரதமர் ஹரிணி அமரசூரியவுக்கு எதிராக பனிப்போர் ஒன்று மூண்டிருக்கிறது. வதந்திகளைப் பரப்புபவர்கள் கூறுகின்றவற்றின் பிரகாரம் பார்த்தால் ஜனாதிபதி அநுரவின் ஆதரவும் ஒருமைப்பாடும் இல்லாமல் இருந்திருந்தால், தனக்கு எதிராக அணிதிரண்ட உட்சக்திகளினால் ஹரிணி பதவிவிலக நிர்ப்பந்திக்கப்பட்டிருக்கக்கூடும்.

அரசாங்கத்தின் உயர் மட்டத்திற்குள் மூண்டிருப்பதாக கூறப்படுகின்ற மெய்யான அல்லது கற்பனையான அதிகாரப் போட்டியை ஆராய்வது இந்த பத்தியின் நோக்கமல்ல. ஆனால், பிரதமர் ஹரிணி அமரசூரிய, வர்த்தக, வாணிப, உணவுப் பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் கூட்டுறவு அபிவிருத்தி அமைச்சர் வசந்த சமரசிங்க, ஸ்ரீலங்கா பொதுஜன பெரமுனவின் அம்பாந்தோட்டை மாவட்ட பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் டி.வி. சானக்க ஆகியோரை மையப்படுத்திய நிகழ்வுகளின் விசித்திரமான திருப்பம் ஒன்று குறித்து பத்தி கவனம் செலுத்துகிறது. அவர்கள் மூவருக்கும் இடையிலான கருத்துப் பரிமாற்றங்கள் பல சதிக்கோட்பாடுகளை மூளவைத்த ஒரு சர்ச்சையை தோற்றுவித்திருக்கின்றன. அத்துடன் அரசாங்கத்துக்குள் பாரதூரமான கருத்து முரண்பாடுகள் ஏற்பட்டிருக்கிறது என்ற அபிப்பிராயத்தையும் அது பலப்படுத்தியிருக்கிறது.

Continue reading ‘சுப்றீம்சற் ( SupremeSAT) ‘சிச்சீ’ யின் ரொக்கெட் :அறியாமையால் பிரதமர் ஹரிணி செய்த தவறும் சேதத்தை சீர்செய்த அமைச்சர் வசந்தவின் அறிக்கையும்’ »

The medical condition of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was admitted to the prison hospital on the night of 22 August 2025 following a remand order, is reported to he unstable.

A prison official said Wickremesinghe was first brought to the Magazine Prison, where doctors who examined him recommended a transfer to the Welikada Prison Hospital after his blood pressure and sugar levels were found to be elevated.
However, it was reported that his blood pressure further increased by this afternoon.

The Former President was transferred to the National Hospital in Colombo due to health concerns.

Continue reading ‘Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe Transferred to National Hospital from Prison Hospital due to Unstable Health Condition. Intensive Specialist care provided after steeo rise in Blood Pressure and Blood sugar levels’ »

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was yesterday ( Aug 22 ) remanded by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court for four days until 26 August.

Wickremesinghe was arrested earlier in the day by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after appearing before the sleuths to record a statement.

The arrest follows an investigation into allegations that Wickremesinghe used State funds for a private visit to London in September 2023 to attend a university ceremony with his wife, Prof. Maithree Wickremesinghe.
The trip coincided with his return from the Group of 77 (G77) Summit in Havana, but was not classified as an official engagement. Investigators allege that Government resources, including security, were misused.

Continue reading ‘Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe Arrested on August 22 by CID for alleged misuse of State funds for personal UK trip in 2023 and Remanded by Colombo Fort Magistrate Until Aug 26’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

A symbolic hartal was observed on Monday [August 18, 2025] across Sri Lanka’s north and east, where a majority of the island’s Tamil-speaking people live, against militarisation that continues 16 years after the civil war ended.

Many commercial and trading establishments in the Northern Province and Eastern Province remained closed during the morning hours, protesting the recent killing of 32-year-old Ethirmanasingham Kapilraj of Mullaitivu district, allegedly by military men. Sri Lanka police arrested three soldiers in connection with the incident last week.

Soon after, prominent Tamil party Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) called for a hartal and wrote to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, demanding an “unhindered, thorough investigation” and justice for Mr. Kapilraj’s death. In the letter dated August 10, 2025, the party also sought to highlight the “oppressive conduct and excessive presence of the military” in the north and east.

Continue reading ‘Hartal Called by prominent Tamil party Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi held in Sri Lanka’s north and east in protest of the recent killing of a Tamil youth, allegedly by the military, and the continuing military presence in Tamil-majority areas’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“The question’s what happened to Israeli people. How they allowed themselves to be so debased. How they become so inured to pain and suffering. How they have become oblivious to their own horrific past. And these images which remind you of their own horrific past… for Israeli people to let this happen in this name is despicable… The shame of this for Israel, the shame… What are we living in?”
Bob Geldof (Interview with Irish national news – 24.7.2005)

On 15 July 2025, a group of Jewish Israeli teens gathered in Tel Aviv to burn their draft papers. Israel has a conscript army and every Israeli Jewish citizen over 18 years has to undergo fixed-term military service and remain as reservists until the age of 40. The teens burning their draft papers face imprisonment, but for them the alternative is infinitely worse. As one of them said, “There is a genocide. You don’t enlist into an army that is committing genocide” (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9zzbb_Ac-W8).

The war in which these teens are refusing to participate is killing an average of 28 Palestinian children a day (including babies and infants), according to UNICEF. It has also birthed a new acronym: WCSF – Wounded Child; no Surviving Family.

10-year-old Amir was one of the (on-average) 28 children killed on 28 May 2025. He was seeking food from an aid station run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a shadowy organisation entrusted by the US and Israel to deliver uncooked food (but no water) to starving Palestinians in Israeli-blockaded Gaza. Amir belongs in another UN statistic – the almost 1000 Palestinians killed in the vicinity of the GHF sites while seeking food aid. As Bob Geldof told the Sky News, “They are dangling food in front of starving, panicked, exhausted mothers and while they arrive for this tiny amount of foods, this pantomime outfit the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Humanitarian Front I would call it, then they are shot…”

Amir’s death in this real life Hunger Game came to light thanks to an unlikely whistle-blower. Lt. Col. Anthony Aguilar is a US army retiree, a Special Forces veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. This year, he was hired by a military contractor to provide security for GHF’s aid distributing sites in Gaza. Mr. Aguilar was at Site Number 2 when Amir came seeking food. “He seems about 6 or 7… He doesn’t have a bag. He’s got some rice, some small items that he picked off the ground… He walked up to us and he just extended his hand…You see, the contractor standing next to me, and he (Amir) kissed his hand and then he kissed my hand. And then I knelt by him, put my hand on his shoulder, to comfort him… And he set down the items that he had and he placed his hands on my face, and his hands were very frail. His fingernails were dry and cracked…his skin tight and dehydrated… He then kissed me and he said Thank you in English and stepped back… He joined the rest of the group that was leaving. At that point the contractors began the inherited practice of pushing the civilians off the site with tear gas and pepper spray and stun grenades” (https://www.msnbc.com/the-weekend-primetime/watch/whistleblower-10-year-old-palestinian-boy-gunned-down-after-receiving-food-aid-244262469741).

The IDF had a position nearby. They shot at the panicked civilians fleeing the aid site. Little Amir was among the dead. His family is yet to find his body.

Continue reading ‘“If Israel gets away with this genocide, that fact will convey a sense of impunity to powerful nations, placing smaller, weaker countries, countries without super-power patrons in danger.”’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

இலங்கையின் முன்னாள் வெளியுறவு அமைச்சர் லக்ஸ்மன் கதிர்காமர் சூதறியாத அவரின் அயலவர் ஒருவரின் வீட்டுக்குள் மறைந்திருந்து விடுதலை புலிகள் நடத்திய சினைப்பர் தாக்குதலில் 2005 ஆகஸ்ட் 12 ஆம் திகதி கொல்லப்பட்டார். தனது வீட்டில் உள்ள நீச்சல் தட்கத்தில் வழமையான 1000 மீட்டர்கள் நீச்சலை அவர் முடித்துக்கொண்டு வெளியேறியபோது கொலைஞர் தாக்குதலை நடத்தினார். விதிவசமான அந்த தினத்துக்கு பிறகு இரு தசாப்தங்கள் கடந்து விட்டன. ஆனால், அவர் பற்றிய நினைவுகள் இன்னமும் நீடிக்கின்றன. இலங்கையின் தலைசிறந்த வெளியுறவு அமைச்சர் என்று பலராலும் கருதப்பட்ட அந்த மனிதரின் 20 வது நினைவு தினத்தை முன்னிட்டு இந்த கட்டுரை எழுதப்படுகிறது.

அவரது ஒரேயொரு மகள் அஜிதா தனது தந்தையாரைப் பற்றி வேறு எந்த பத்திரிகையாளரை விடவும் டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜே மிகவும் கூடுதலாக எழுதியிருக்கிறார் என்று தந்தையார் குறித்த தனது நூலில் குறிப்பிடுகின்ற அளவுக்கு லக்ஸ்மன் கதிர்காமரை பற்றி பல வருடங்களாக நான் விரிவாக எழுதியிருக்கிறேன். லக்ஸ்மன் கதிர்காமரை பற்றி சிறந்த வாசிப்புக்குரிய அஜிதா கதிர்காமரின் நூலுக்கு ” The Cake That Was Baked At Home ” என்று தலைப்பிடப்பட்டிருந்தது. அதன் புதிய பதிப்பு கதிர்காமரின் 20 வது நினைவு தினத்தை முன்னிட்டு இவ்வருடம் வெளியிடப்பட்டது.

எனது கட்டுரைகளில் இருந்து வரிகளும் பந்திகளுமாக 78 குறிப்புகளை அஜிதாவின் நூல் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. அதன் ஒரு பக்கத்தில் அவர் ‘ லக்ஸ்மன் கதிர்காமரின் உத்தியோகபூர்வமற்ற சுயசரிதையாளர் ” என்று என்னை பெரும்பாலும் குறிப்பிடலாம் என்று கூறியிருக்கிறார். அதனால், இந்த பின்புலத்தில் எனது முன்னைய எழுத்துக்களையும் அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டு உதவியுடன் லக்ஸ்மன் கதிர்காமர் என்ற பன்முக ஆளுமை பற்றி எழுதுகிறேன்.

Continue reading ‘இலங்கையின் தலைசிறந்த வெளியுறவு அமைச்சர் என்று பலராலும் கருதப்பட்ட “பன்முக ஆளுமை” லக்ஸ்மன் கதிர்காமரின் ஆன்மீகப் பரிமாணம்’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Former Sri Lankan Foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was killed on 12 August 2005 by a sniper of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) concealed in the house of an unsuspecting neighbour. Kadirgamar had just completed his customary 1000 metre swim at the pool in his residence, when the assassin struck. Two decades have passed since that fateful day but the memory of Kadirgamar lingers still in the hearts and minds of the nation. This column focuses on the man regarded by many as Sri Lanka’s finest foreign minister even as Lakshman Kadirgamar.s 20th death anniversary draws near.

I have written extensively about Lakshman Kadirgamar over the years, so much so that his only daughter Ajita has stated in her book about her father that D.B.S. Jeyaraj has written about LK possibly more than any other journalist. Ajita Kadirgamar’s eminently readable book about Lakshman Kadirgamar is titled “The Cake That Was Baked At Home.” A new edition of the book has been released this year to denote Kadirgamar’s 20 th death anniversary.

According to Ajita, the book has 78 references to lines and passages from my articles. She even says on one page that she ‘would almost term me as ‘LK’s unofficial biographer’. It is against this backdrop therefore that I write on the multi-faceted personality ,Lakshman Kadirgamar drawing on some of my earlier writings also.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Finest Foreign Minister and Multi-faceted Personality Lakshman Kadirgamar’s Spiritual Dimension.’ »

By Ranil Wickremesinghe

In Sathkunanathan v. Attorney General and related cases, the Supreme Court (Fernando CJ and Kodagoda J) held that the Proclamation of Emergency issued on July 17, 2022, by me as Acting President infringed the petitioners’ Fundamental Rights. Concurrently, Obeyesekere J held that the fundamental rights of the petitioners guaranteed by Article 12(1) of the Constitution have not been impugned by the making of the said Proclamation. This judgment raises significant questions on the relationship between emergency powers, fundamental rights and Parliament’s powers (including its privileges). Given the importance of this case and in light of certain observations made by Counsel during the proceedings, it is appropriate to clarify the rationale, context and constitutional basis for a decision taken during a grave period in post-Independent Sri Lanka.

The dealing with the important constitutional issues as well as the facts will be discussed and debated in the years to come. The case rested mainly on the argument that I, as President, failed to submit an affidavit explaining the reasons for issuing the proclamation.
Mr. Saman Ekanayake, my secretary during the presidency, has included all relevant facts and specified the reasons relating to the proclamation in his affidavit. I had no other information to be added to a sworn affidavit. Hearings are not restricted to affidavits as per Article 126 of the Constitution.

In issuing the impugned proclamation, I had taken into consideration the report submitted by the then Inspector General of Police and the advice given by the then Secretary Defence and the then Secretary of Public Security. This was attested to by Mr Saman Ekanayake. In addition, C.D. Wickramaratne, then Inspector General of Police; General Kamal Guneratne, then Secretary of Defence; and S. Hettiarachchi, then Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, were all respondents in the cases. The documents filed in court by these parties also contained some of the requisite information. Furthermore, all the facts relating to these incidents were highlighted during the parliamentary debate on the Proclamation and are contained in the Hansard of July 27, 2022, which is a public document. The said proclamation was approved by the Parliament of Sri Lanka in accordance with Article 155 of the Constitution. In view of the importance of the case and the allegations made against me by some counsel, I wish to place the following facts on record in addition to what has been stated above.

The incidents at Polduwa Junction have been aptly described in the judgement. The march to Parliament on July 13, 2022, took place while party leaders were meeting in Parliament to discuss the crisis and the next steps to be taken. Groups of people converged from different areas of Colombo. The march disrupted the meeting since the party leaders had to vacate the building. In addition, over 20 members of the Army were badly injured and had to be treated at the Army Hospital. Two Army rifles were stolen. The intense combing of the area by the Armed Forces for the snatched rifles resulted in their disposal in a canal nearby. There was intelligence that some of the protesters were actively searching for arms.

The violence that led up to the incidents of July 13 included the slaying of one MP and a brutal attack on another; the annihilation of over 90 houses throughout the country by arson on May 9; the siege on the Presidential Secretariat and President’s House; the unlawful entry into the Prime Minister’s Office and Residence; and the burning of my own personal residence on July 9. Aside from which, there were continuous agitations and threats against the democratically elected Members of Parliament during this period.

Continue reading ‘“I, as the Acting President, made the impugned proclamation to uphold the powers and privileges of Parliament to enable the Parliament to sit on July 20, 2022, to permit the election of the President. These facts were known to the entire country.”- Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

The provincial councils scheme , implemented since 1988, has seen a number of chief ministers being elected by the various provincial councils over the years. Although the norm has been for each province to have a single chief minister, there has been a notable exception in the past.

In November 1988, elections were held together for the temporarily merged Northern and Eastern Provinces. Annamalai Varatharaja Perumal of the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front(EPRLF) was elected as the first chief minister of what was then called the North -Eastern Provincial Council.

Varatharaja Perumal known generally as Perumal and Varathar, served as North -Eastern Chief minister from 10 December 1988 to 1st March 1990. It was indeed creditable that Perumal took the bold step of accepting the office of Chief Minister in the newly set-up North-Eastern Council then. The leadership qualities he displayed at the time, though controversial, were commendable. Had he not taken the plunge and become the pioneering North Eastern Chief Minister under very difficult circumstances, all the positive gains of the 1987 Indo-Sri Lanka Accord may not have accrued to Sri Lankan Tamils.

Perumal’s tenure as Chief Minister between December 1988 and March 1990 was quite unenviable. On the one hand, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) considered him a traitor to the Tamil cause and began targeting him. The Tigers also sabotaged all efforts by the North-Eastern Council to address the day-to-day problems of Tamils.

On the other hand, Sinhala hawks, including the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa, portrayed Perumal as an Indian puppet. There was marked hostility towards Perumal and the North-Eastern Council on the part of the southern political establishment and bureaucracy. All attempts at achieving meaningful devolution under the Provincial Council scheme were stymied.

Caught between the devil and the deep sea, Perumal found himself being rendered increasingly ineffective. Moreover, the continuing military conflict between the Indian Peace-Keeping Force (IPKF) and the LTTE was causing hardship to the people of the North-Eastern Province. Matters came to a head when Premadasa struck a deal of sorts with the LTTE and demanded the withdrawal of the IPKF. In a last-ditch stand, Perumal raised the Civilian Volunteer Force, also known as the Tamil National Army, to resist the LITE while the IPKF was de – inducting itself in stages. It was a futile effort.

A beleaguered Perumal called it a day in March 1990 and left Trincomalee in an Indian aircraft. Before doing so he dropped a bombshell by getting the North-Eastern Council to pass a resolution declaring unilaterally an “intention” to promulgate Tamil Eelam if certain conditions regarding devolution were not met within a year by Colombo. Premadasa depicted the resolution as a “unilateral declaration of Tamil Eelam ” by the North -Eastern Council, and used it as an excuse for its dissolution. This was at the behest of the LTTE.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s first,last and only North -Eastern Province Chief Minister A. Varatharaja Perumal Embarks on Political Project to Boost Provincial Councils.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

1988 ஆம் ஆண்டு முதல் நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட மாகாணசபைகள் முறை, பல வருடங்களாக வெவ்வேறு மாகாண சபைகளுக்கு மக்களால் தெரிவுசெயயப்பட்ட பல முதலமைச்சர்களை கண்டுவந்திருக்கிறது. ஒவ்வொரு மாகாணத்துக்கும் தனியொரு முதலமைச்சர் என்பதே நியமமாக இருந்த போதிலும், கடந்த காலத்தில் ஒரு குறிப்பிடத்தக்க விதிவிலக்கும் இருந்தது.

தற்காலிகமாக இணைக்கப்பட்ட வடக்கு, கிழக்கு மாகாணங்களுக்கு 1988 நவம்பரில் தேர்தல் நடத்தப்பட்டது. வடக்கு — கிழக்கு மாகாணசபை என்று அன்று அழைக்கப்பட்ட சபையின் முதலாவது முதலமைச்சராக ஈழமக்கள் புரட்சிகர விடுதலை முன்னணியைச் சேர்ந்த அண்ணாமலை வரதராஜப் பெருமாள் தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்டார்.

பெருமாள் அல்லது வரதர் என்று பொதுவாக அறியப்பட்ட வரதராஜப் பெருமாள் 1988 டிசம்பர் 10 ஆம் திகதி முதல் 1990 மார்ச் முதலாம் திகதி வரை வடக்கு — கிழக்கு முதலமைச்சராக பதவி வகித்தார். புதிதாக அமைக்கப்பட்ட வடக்கு — கிழக்கு மாகாணசபையின் முதலமைச்சராக அன்று பெருமாள் பதவியை ஏற்றுக்கொள்வதற்கு துணிச்சலுடன் முன்வந்தது உண்மையில் பாராட்டத்தக்கது. சர்ச்சைக்குரியதாக இருந்த போதிலும், அந்த நேரத்தில் அவர் வெளிக்காட்டிய தலைமைத்துவப் பண்புகள் மெச்சத்தக்கவை. மிகவும் நெருக்கடியான சூழ்நிலைகளின் கீழ் அவர் துணிச்சலுடன் முன்வந்து வடக்கு — கிழக்கு மாகாணத்தின் முன்னோடி முதலமைச்சராக வரவில்லை என்றால், 1987 ஜூலை இந்திய — இலங்கை சமாதான உடன்படிக்கையின் நேர்மறையான சகல பயன்களும் இலங்கை தமிழர்களுக்கு கிடைக்காமல் போயிருக்கக்கூடும்.

1988 டிசம்பர் தொடக்கம் 1990 மார்ச் வரை பெருமாளின் முதலமைச்சர் பதவிக்காலம் நெருக்கடிகள் நிறைந்ததாகவே இருந்தது. ஒரு புறத்தில், தமிழரின் இலட்சியத்துக்கு ஒரு துரோகியாக அவரைக் கருதிய தமிழீழ விடுதலை புலிகள் இலக்கு வைக்கத் தொடங்கினர். தமிழர்களின் அன்றாடப் பிரச்சினைகளை தீர்த்து வைப்பதற்கு வடக்கு — கிழக்கு மாகாணசபை எடுத்த சகல முயற்சிகளையும் விடுதலை புலிகள் குழப்பியடித்தனர்.

மறுபுறத்தில், அன்றைய ஜனாதிபதி ரணசிங்க பிரேமதாச உட்பட சிங்களக் கடும் போக்காளர்கள் பெருமாளை இந்தியாவின் கைப்பொம்மை என்று வர்ணித்தனர். பெருமாள் மீதும் வடக்கு — கிழக்கு மாகாணசபை மீதும் தென்னிலங்கை அரசியல் நிறுவனமும் உயர்மட்ட அதிகாரிகளும் கடுமையான பகைமையுணர்வைக் கொண்டிருந்தனர். மாகாணசபை முறையின் கீழ் பயனுறுதியுடைய அதிகாரப் பரவலாக்கத்தை சாதிப்பதற்கான சகல முயற்சிகளும் தடுக்கப்பட்டன.

இருதலைக் கொள்ளி எறும்பாக என்ன செய்வதென்று தெரியாமல் பெருமாள் செயற்பட முடியாத நிலை தோன்றியது. மேலும், இந்திய அமைதிகாக்கும் படைக்கும் விடுதலை புலிகளுக்கும் இடையில் தொடர்ந்துகொண்டிருந்த இராணுவ மோதலின் விளைவாக வடக்கு — கிழக்கு மாகாண மக்கள் பெரும் இடர்பாடுகளை அனுபவித்தனர். விடுதலை புலிகளுடன் உடன்பாடொன்றுக்கு வந்த ஜனாதிபதி பிரேமதாச இந்திய அமைதிகாக்கும் படை வெளியேறவேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கையை முன்வைத்ததை அடுத்து நெருக்கடி ஒரு உச்சநிலைக்கு வந்தது. இறுதி முயற்சியாக பெருமாள் விடுதலை புலிகளை எதிர்த்து நிற்பதற்காக தமிழ் தேசிய இராணுவம் என்றும் அறியப்பட்ட சிவில் தொண்டர்கள் படைக்கு ஆட்திரட்டல் செய்தார். அதேவேளை, இந்தியப் படைகள் கட்டங்கட்டமாக வெளியேறத் தொடங்கின. அதனால் பெருமாளின் முயற்சி பயனற்றதாகிப் போனது.

முற்றுகை நிலைக்குள்ளான பெருமாள் இறுதியில் 1990 மார்ச்சில் இந்திய விமானத்தில் திருகோணமலையை விட்டுக் கிளம்பினார். அவ்வாறு வெளியேறுவதற்கு முன்னதாக, அதிகாரப் பரவலாக்கல் தொடர்பாக குறிப்பிட்ட சில நிமந்தனைகளை கொழும்பு ஒரு வருட காலத்திற்குள் நிறைவேற்றாவிட்டால் தமிழீழத்தை ஒருதலைப்பட்சமாக பிரகடனம் செய்யும் ‘ நோக்கத்தைக் ‘ தெரிவிக்கும் தீர்மானம் ஒன்றை வடக்கு — கிழக்கு மாகாணசபையை நிறைவேற்றச் செய்து பெருமாள் ஒரு ‘ குண்டைப் ‘ போட்டார். அந்த தீர்மானத்தை பிரேமதாச வடக்கு — கிழக்கு சபை ‘ ஒருதலைப்பட்சமாக தமிழீழத்தைப் பிரகடனம் ‘ செய்ததாக வர்ணித்து அந்த சபையை கலைப்பதற்கு ஒரு சாட்டாக பயன்படுத்தினார். இதை விடுதலை புலாகளின் வேண்டுகோளின் பேரிலேயே செய்தார்.

Continue reading ‘மாகாண சபைகளை மேம்படுத்தும் அரசியல் செயற்திட்டத்தில் இறங்கியிருக்கும் இணைந்த வடக்கு — கிழக்கு மாகாணசபையின் முதலும் கடைசியுமான ஒரேயொரு முதலமைச்சர் ஏ. வரதராஜப் பெருமாள்.’ »

By

Bishop Duleep de Chickera

When Trump arrogantly suggested that the neighbouring Arab States should absorb the Gaza population as a solution to Israel’s decimation of Gaza, he announced what discerning persons the world over, had already perceived. The earliest Zionist Israeli arrivals, courtesy Lord Balfour, had come to take it all.

From a toehold then, to a freehold today, Israel has turned international law, UN mechanisms for a safer world and street ethics, on its head. It demolishes Palestinian homes and occupies their lands, detains and kills, as it pleases; and then along with its allies, accuses those who object, of anti-Semitism.

Terror reinvented

The multiple, horrific acts of humiliation and cold blooded murder of children, women and men, wallowing in the Gaza dust for scraps of food, have played and replayed before a stunned world today; and predictably tomorrow.

Beyond Palestine, picking and choosing independent sovereign nations to bomb and assassinate at will, Israel warns its neighbours and others to keep off, while it perfects the art of genocide on dying humans half buried in the rubble.

There is no need for covert crime as Israel goes about its deadly mission of ‘all of Palestine, for Israel only.’ Big brother US, ensures her impunity through a fine-tuned scheme of rewards and punishments, while British and EU ‘leaders,’ cringing before Trump, expertly reconcile their vacant, performative ‘expressions of public concern’ with a resolute defence of these same atrocities at global assemblies.

Continue reading ‘From a toehold then, to a freehold today, Israel has turned international law, UN mechanisms for a safer world and street ethics, on its head.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“The story you tell eventually, as a professional historian, is not just what you find in the documents. It is not just the facts. It has a lot to do with your moral positions, your ideological orientation, the time in which you write, and your personality. They are all factors that influence the story you finally tell.” – Ilan Pappé (History is relevant: The Israeli New History and its legacy)

It took almost four decades and tens of thousands of deaths for Sri Lanka to adopt a language policy matching national and international realities. Sinhala and Tamil are official languages, English the link language. There’s political and societal consensus that the Sinhala Only policy of 1956, which relegated Tamil to secondary status and turned English into the preserve of a privileged few, was a pivotal error.

Only a miniscule minority on the Sinhala-Buddhist extremist fringe oppose this broad consensus. Yet it is their version of history that is being taught to Lankan students as History in the Grade 11 textbook.

Take the section dealing with the Government of SWRD Bandaranaike, titled 1956 Election and the Social Change: “It is believed that a social revolution was made by that government because several new forces were rallied round Mr Bandaranaike to follow a policy of valuing the native language, religion, and culture… Even after obtaining independence, English language held a special position and it became problematic for the vernacular scholars. Because of that, those who rallied round the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna had already accepted Sinhala naming (sic) as the state language as a policy (sic)… During his administration, the policy that valued the nationality (sic) and the attempt to solve the unsolved problems of the general public were significant landmarks” (https://govdoc.lk/view?id=7119&fid=6417fc32c433c – emphasis mine).

In this version of history, native (desheeya in the original Sinhala text) is a synonym for Sinhala; native language is Sinhala, native religion is Buddhism, and native culture is Sinhala-Buddhist culture. Vernacular (swabhasha) is also Sinhala, so is nationality (desheeyatvaya). Since Sinhala is the only native language, Sinhala Only was the right policy. Tamil, like English, is non-native and thus deserving of secondary status or none.

Continue reading ‘It is the Sinhala-Buddhist extremist fringe oversion of history that is being taught to Lankan students as History in the Grade 11 textbook. A history textbook which validates Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Tamil cinema fans like this writer who grew up on a diet of Tamil movies were deeply saddened when veteran South Indian actress B. Saroja Devi passed away some days ago on 14 July 2025. The octogenarian Saroja Devi after performing her daily 30 minute pooja in the mornings was seated on a sofa watching TV when she collapsed suddenly with a groan.The unconscious Saroja Devi was taken by ambulance to hospital where she was pronounced dead upon arrival. She was 87 years old.

Among actresses in Tamil movies , Saroja Devi has been a favourite of mine since boyhood. In a screen career spanning more than five decades, Saroja Devi has acted in 209 films. Of these she played the heroine or leading lady in 161 films. She was cast in supportive actress roles or character actor roles in the other movies. In the early stages of her career, Saroja made brief appearances as a dancer too.

In those days the success of a film was judged by the number of weeks it was screened uninterruptedly in a cinema theatre. Out of the 161 films in which Saroja Devi acted as the heroine, 103 ran for more than a hundred days .Some celebrated silver jubilees running for more than 25 weeks at a stretch. A few were Golden jubilee hits running for more than 50 weeks.

Sivaji Ganesan, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Gemini Ganesan comprised the triumvirate that dominated Tamil movies from the fifties to the seventies of the 20th century.The top thespian trinity of that vintage in Tamil cinema were Sivaji, MGR and Gemini. They ruled the roost in ‘Kollywood’ as the Tamil Nadu film industry is referred to in lighter vein.

Tamil Cinema “Moovaenthar”

The triple dynasties in Tamil history are the Cheras, Chozhas and Pandyas. They were known as the “Moovaenthar” or three Kings. Sivaji, MGR and Gemini were often referred to as the Moovaenthar of Tamil cinema. Several actresses like Bhanumathy, Anjali Devi, Padmini, Savithri , Devika, Jamuna Sowcar Janaki, K.R.Vijaya, Jayalalithaa and Vaanishree have acted opposite them as their leading ladies.

However it is only Saroja Devi who has paired with the trio in near equal number of films.She has acted in 26 films with MGR, 22 with Sivaji and 17 with Gemini. Furthermore she has also acted in many films with SS Rajendran a contemporary of MGR,Sivaji and Gemini.In that context , it could be said that Saroja Devi reigned as the uncrowned queen of Tamil cinema in the early and mid-sixties of the last century .

Saroja Devi was hugely popular with Sri Lankan movie audiences too. Apart from Tamil and Muslim Film fans, the actress had many Sinhala fans too especially women. This became widely known when Saroja Devi accompanied MG Ramachandran (MGR) on a tour of the Island in 1965. Both were mobbed by fans wherever they went. It was obvious that the chief magnet attracting the fans was MGR. However Saroja Devi herself drew crowds in her own right. When Tamil newspapers interviewed these fans,it was found that many were Sinhalese fans rooting for Saroja Devi.

Continue reading ‘B.Saroja Devi: Sparkling Actress Hailed as the “Kannadathup Painkili” (Kannada Parrot) was also Praised as the “Abhinaya Saraswathi” (Goddess of Expression)’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

History was made 65 years ago in July 1960 when 44 year old Sirimavo Bandaranaike assumed office as the prime minister of Sri Lanka known then as Ceylon. Sirimavo shattered a glass ceiling by becoming the world’s first elected woman Prime minister. It is said that the British press coined a new word “stateswoman” after Sirimavo became PM.

The first paragraph of a news report in the prestigious British newspaper ‘Guardian’ dated 22 July 1960 stated as follows: “Mrs. Sirima Bandaranaike, Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, made history today when she became the world’s only woman Prime Minister. She is the sixth Prime Minister of Ceylon since independence in 1947. Her party secured 75 of the 151 elected seats and will be supported by eight other elected members and six appointed members. This will give her an absolute majority in the House of Representatives.”

When Sirimavo assumed office on 22 July 1960, large crowds lined up along the streets of Colombo to cheer the smiling lady as she was driven from her residence Tintagel at Rosemead place to the then Governor-General’s mansion Queen’s House in Fort. After being sworn in by the Governor -General, Sir Oliver Goonetiilake, she was driven to Temple Trees, the prime minister’s official residence in Kollupitiya.

There was no TV then but the newspapers were full of details and pictures about the historic event. Everyone seemed to be thrilled that the country had produced the world’s first woman prime minister. There was a festive air all over. It is in this context therefore that I recount – with the aid of earlier writings – the unique Sri Lankan story of Sirimavo Bandaranaike becoming the world’s first woman premier 65 years ago.

Continue reading ‘Sirimavo Bandaranaike: The “Weeping Widow” who Became the World’s First Woman Prime Minister 65 Years ago.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

” சேர் டொனால்ட் ஜோர்ஜ் பிரட்மன் கிரிக்கெட் வரலாற்றில், உண்மையில் சகல பந்து விளயாட்டுக்களின் வரலாற்றில் எந்த கேள்விக்கும் இடமின்றிய மகத்தான ஒரு ஆளுமை.” இவ்வாறுதான் பிரபல்யமான பத்திரிகையாளரும் ஒக்ஸ்போர்ட் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் வருகைப் பேராசிரியருமான மத்தியூ ஏஞ்செல் , விஸ்டென் கிரிக்கெட் நாட்காட்டியில் ( Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack ) பிரபல அவுஸ்திரேலிய கிரிக்கெட் வீரர் டொன் பிரட்மனை பற்ற குறிப்பிட்டார். ‘கிரிக்கெட்இன்ஃபோ’ வின் (Cricketinfo ) பிரகாரம் “அவுஸ்திரேலியாவின் சேர் டொனால்ட் பிரட்மன் எந்த வாதத்துக்கும் அப்பால், இதுகாலவரையில் உலகம் கண்ட தலைசிறந்த துடுப்பாட்டவீரரும் இருபதாம் நூற்றாண்டின் மகத்தான கிரிக்கெட் வீரருமாவார்.”

டொன் பிரட்மன் இருபதாம் நூற்றாண்டின் நடுப்பகுதியில் கிரிக்கெட் உலகில் ஒரு பிரமாண்டமான ஆளுமையாக உலாவந்தவர். 1930 ஜனவரியில் குயின்ஸ்லாந்துக்கு எதிராக நியூசவுத் வேல்ஸுக்காக விளையாடியபோது எவராலும் முறியடிக்க முடியாத 452 ஓட்டங்களைப் பெற்ற பிறகு அவர் அன்றைய பிரிட்டிஷ் சாம்ராச்சியத்தில் கிரிக்கெட் இரசிகர்களின் ‘ வாழ்த்துப் பானத்துக்கு ‘ ( Toast of cricket lovers) உரியவராக மாறினார். முதல்தரமான கிரிக்கெட்டில் ஒரு இனிங்ஸில் மிகவும் அதிகமான ஓட்டங்களாக அன்று ஒரு உலக சாதனையாக அந்த ஓட்டங்கள் விளங்கின.

பிரட்மன் கிரிக்கெட் விளையாட்டில் தனது முத்திரையைப் பதித்தபோது இலங்கை பிரிட்டிஷ் ஆட்சியின் கீழ் இருந்தது. இங்கிலாந்துக்கு சுற்றுலா சென்ற அவுஸ்திரேலிய கிரிக்கெட் அணியை ஏற்றிக்கொண்டு ” ஒக்ஸ்போர்ட் ” கப்பல் 1930 ஏப்ரில் 2 ஆம் திகதி கொழும்பு துறைமுகத்துக்கு வந்த போது இலங்கையில் பெரும் பரபரப்பு. உண்மையில், டொன் பிரட்மனே நட்சத்திரக் கவர்ச்சிக்குரியவராக விளங்கினார். 1930 ஏப்ரில் 3 ஆம் திகதி மெயிற்லண்ட் பிளேஸில் கொழும்பு கிரிக்கெட் கழகத்தின் ( Colombo Cricket Club — CCC) மைதானத்தில் அவுஸ்திரேலிய அணி இலங்கைக்கு எதிராக விளையாடியது.

அதுவே 22 வயதான டொன் பிரட்மன் அவுஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கு வெளியே விளையாடிய முதலாவது கிரிக்கெட் போட்டியாகும். மிகவும் திறமையாக விளையாடி ஓட்டங்களை குவித்து அவர் பார்வையாளர்களை சிலிர்க்க வைத்தார். நீல் ஜோசப் பந்து வீச அழைக்கப்பட்டபோது பிரட்மன் 40 ஓட்டங்களை எடுத்திருந்தார். பழைய றோயல் கல்லூரி கிரிக்கெட் வீரரான ஜோசப் சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட்டில் தனது முதலாவது பந்து வீச்சில் பிரட்மனை ( Hit wicket ) ஆட்டமிழக்கச் செய்தார்.

இங்கிலாந்தில் அவுஸ்திரேலிய அணி குறிப்பிடத்தக்க ஒரு வெற்றியை பெற்றது. ஆஷஸ் என்று அழைக்கப்படும் அவுஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கும் இங்கிலாந்துக்கும் இடையிலான போட்டியில் ஐந்து டெஸ்ட் தொடர்களில் 2/1 வெற்றியை அவுஸ்திரேலியா பெற்றது. அந்த கிரிக்கெட் சுற்றுலாவில் டொன் பிரட்மன் கிரிக்கெட்டில் வரலாறு படைத்தார். டெஸ்ட் தொடரில் அவர் 974 ஓட்டங்களை குவித்தார். 8, 131, 254, 1, 334, 14 , 232 என்று அவரின் ஓட்ட எண்ணிக்கை அமைந்திருந்தது.

மூன்றாவது டெஸ்ட் போட்டியில் முதல்நாள் ஹெடிங்லே பிரட்மன் 309 ஓட்டங்களை பெற்றார். அவரது இறுதி ஓட்ட எண்ணிக்கை 334 ஆகும். அதன் மூலம் முன்னைய டெஸ்ட் சாதனையை (287) அவர் முறியடித்தார். அந்த சுற்றுலாவில் டொன் பிரட்மனும் 2960 ஓட்டங்களை குவித்தார்.

டொன் பிரட்மனின் இந்த சாதனைகள் எல்லாம் பத்திரிகைகளில் வெளியாகின. இலங்கையில் கிரிக்கெட் இரசிகர்கள் அவற்றை மிகுந்த ஆர்வத்துடன் வாசித்தார்கள். ஆஸி. கிரிக்கெட் வீரர்கள் 1930 அக்டோபர் 28 ” ஒறொன்சே” கப்பல் மூலமாக அவுஸ்திரேலியா திரும்பினர். மேற்கு அவுஸ்திரேலியாவின் ஃபிறெமென்ரல் துறைமுகத்துக்கு செல்லும் வழியில் அந்த கப்பல் 1930 அக்டோபர் 20 ஆம் திகதி கொழும்பில் தரித்து நின்றது. பிரட்மனை பாராட்டவும் சாத்தியமானால் அவரை பார்ப்பதற்கும் துறைமுகத்தில் மக்கள் பெரும் எண்ணிக்கையில் கூடினர். பிரட்மன் கொழும்புக்கு வருகை தந்தது பற்றிய செய்திகள் பத்திரிகைகளில் விபரமாக வெளியாகின.

” பிரட்மன்மேனியா ” சூழ்நிலை

இத்தகைய ” பிரட்மன்மேனியா” சூழ்நிலையில் பிரட்மனையும் அவுஸ்திரேலிய கிரிக்கெட் வீரர்களையும் ஏற்றிக்கொண்டு ” ஒறொன்சே ” கொழும்பு துறைமுகத்துக்கு வந்த அதே தினமே (அக்டாபர் 20 ) கொழும்பில் ஒரு ஆண்குழந்தை பிறந்தது.அதன் பெற்றோர் டொன் பிரட்மனின் தீவிர இரசிகர்கள். அதனால் அவர்கள் புதிதாக பிறந்த தங்கள் மகனுக்கு புகழ்பெற்ற அந்த கிரிக்கெட் ஜாம்பவானின் பெயரைச் சூட்டினர்.

பிரட்மனின் பெயரைக் கொண்ட அந்த பையன் தனது பாடசாலை நாட்களில் ‘ ஃபெஸ்ட் லெவினுக்காக ‘ விளையாடிய போதிலும், கிரிக்கெட்டில் சர்வதேசப் புகழைப் பெறவில்லை. ஆனால் , அவன் வளர்ந்து இலங்கையின் ஒன்பது பிரதமர்கள், ஜனாதிபதிகளின் கீழ் பணியாற்றிய தலைசிறந்த சிவில் சேவை அதிகாரியாக பிரபலமானான்.

Continue reading ‘ஒன்பது பிரதமர்கள், ஜனாதிபதிகளுடன் பணியாற்றிய தலைசிறந்த சிவில் சேவை அதிகாரி பிரட்மன் வீரக்கோன்’ »

By

Krishantha Prasad Cooray

Donald Trump’s tariffs shook the world. Financial markets around the world plunged. The US stock market registered its largest two-day loss in history. Businesses and politicians were in panic.

No one could understand what was happening or why.

Sri Lanka was one of the worst affected. The Trump tariffs would have increased the cost of Sri Lankan exports to the US by 44% overnight. Equally catastrophically, the tariffs imposed on other countries were lower. Our exports would have faced the sixth highest tariff in the world. India was at 27%, Bangladesh 37% and Pakistan 30%. Sri Lanka’s hard earned recovery was about to be reversed. Tens of thousands of jobs were in jeopardy.

Sri Lanka’s cards were weak, very weak. We export far more to the US than we import. We have some of the highest effective tariff rates in the world. Unlike China we do not have rare earths. Unlike the EU we do not have a large market to threaten retaliation.

And the poker table was a complex one, where players’ chips were not only the standard currency of trade deals. This negotiation encompassed all aspects of high politics and high economics. It was fast paced, personal and transactional. There was no rule book to follow.

Enter the man from Thambuttegama. He had never negotiated a trade-deal before. He had never handled a global crisis. His cabinet was the least experienced in Sri Lankan history. But the man knew how to play as well as any of the masters. Instead of a 44% tariff, Sri Lanka today faces a 20% tariff. This makes Sri Lanka’s exports no less competitive than its peers and is actually better than India’s.

Continue reading ‘Instead of 44% , Sri Lanka today faces a US 20% tariff! President Disanayake has proved that he can actually get into the ring and win!’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

The first part of this article titled “Black July; Anatomy of an Anti-Tamil Pogrom” was a brief overview of the horrific anti-Tamil violence that engulfed the Sri Lankan nation in July 1983. The second part of this article focuses primarily on how “Black July”began in 1983. This detailed article is written with the aid of earlier writings to denote the 42bd anniversary of the 1983 July anti-Tamil pogrom.

As stated earlier the anti-Tamil violence of July 1983 was not a spontaneous mass uprising of the Sinhala people against the Tamil people. Prior to the outbreak of violence, there existed a pre-planned conspiracy to launch a widespread attack against Tamil life, limb and property on a massive scale. All it required was a powerful incident to be the provocative pretext to justify such an attack.

The ambush of an Army patrol in the north on the night of Saturday 23 July by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) resulting in the killing of 13 soldiers by the Tigers provided the excuse to trigger off the violence , beginning from Sunday 24 July. The LTTE’s attack itself had been in the pipeline and was expedited due to a successful Army attack on 15 July that resulted in the death of a key Tiger operative. The violence in July 1983 was in a sense a tale of an attack on the LTTE by the army and an ambush of the army by the tigers followed by an Anti-Tamil pogrom.

Continue reading ‘Beginning of “Black July “; 15 July Meesalai Army Attack and 23 July Thinnavely LTTE Ambush.’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

“All changed, changed utterly” is a powerful line from ‘Easter, 1916’, the famous poem of William Butler Yeats. The poem by W.B. Yeats was about the Irish Easter uprising in 1916, its cruel suppression and how all changed utterly in Ireland. In Sri Lanka “all changed” and “changed utterly” for the Tamil people 40 years ago.The catastrophic events of July 1983 drastically altered the lives of large numbers of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

As is well-known , widespread anti-Tamil violence erupted forty -two years ago during the fourth week of July in 1983.Although the tragic history of post-independence Sri Lanka records that the Tamils of Sri Lanka were subjected to mass –scale mob violence in the years 1956, 1958, 1977, 1981 and 1983, the anti-Tamil violence of July 1983 was the most horrible of them all.

Around 3500-4000 Tamils and some Muslims -mistaken for Tamils- were killed. Thousands were injured. Some of the injured were killed in hospitals. There were over 200,000 displaced persons as a result. 130,000 were housed in makeshift refugee camps. More than 2500 business enterprises ranging from huge factories to petty boutiques were damaged or destroyed. The number of houses and dwellings damaged or destroyed has not been fully estimated yet.

The mass scale deaths, destruction, displacement, deprivation and despair suffered by the Tamils both Sri Lankan and Indian made them characterise those days in July as a dark period in their lives.The extent to which the Tamils were diminished in that month made them call it “Black July”.

The tragic happenings remain vividly etched in memory even after 40 years as the “Black July” of 1983. I have written about the dark events of July 1983 extensively in the past. However, I intend re-visiting the events of that cruel month with the aid of such writings in these columns to denote the 42nd anniversary of the”Black July” terrible pogrom.

Continue reading ‘“Black July”: Anatomy of the July 1983 Anti-Tamil Pogrom.’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Chemmani, a sparsely populated area in the northern peninsula of Jaffna has in recent times acquired a somewhat dubious image. Just as Nallur in Jaffna is associated positively in public perception with the famous Kandasamy temple, Chemmani is associated negatively with mass graves. The long war between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) has resulted in innumerable instances of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings. The mass graves uncovered in Chemmani are symbolic proof of those disappearances and killings.

In July 1998, Corporal Somaratne Rajapaksa and some other soldiers were convicted for the rape and murder of a Jaffna schoolgirl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy and the killing of her family. Rajapaksa revealed at his sentencing that between 300 and 400 Tamil civilians killed in 1996 were buried in the Chemmani area.

This disclosure resulted in excavations in 1999 that yielded fifteen skeletons, two of which were identified as of youths made to disappear in 1996. Despite forensic confirmation of assault and execution, there was no follow up prosecution.Justice was not meted out. The uncovered human remains taken to the University of Glascow for analysis are still in Scotland.

On February 13 this year, construction workers uncovered human skeletal remains at the Sithuppaathi Hindu cemetery in the Chemmani area. They were engaged in a project to re-develop the Cemetery. The Jaffna Magistrate’s Court formally declare the site a mass grave and ordered a court-supervised excavation under judicial scrutiny.

67 skeletons including those of infants and children have been exhumed so far. Several personal artefacts such as a schoolbag, a toy doll, bangles, sandals and fragments of clothing have also been discovered. Currently excavation has ceased but will be resumed from 21st July.

The discovery of skeletal remains of over 60 people including infants and children along with the discovery of artefacts like a school bag and toy doll have made a profound impact on the Tamil people. It appears that the skeletal remains are those of Tamil civilians. Many Sinhalese too have expressed their horror over the discoveries. It is believed that the human remains being uncovered at Chemmani belong to the hundreds of civilians made to disappear in 1996. The Chemmani earth is speaking out again after so many years!

Continue reading ‘The Krishanthi Kumaraswamy Tragedy and the Chemmani Mass Graves Phenomenon.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

யாழ்ப்பாணக் குடாநாட்டில் மக்கள் செறிந்து வாழாத செம்மணி அண்மைய நாட்களாக ஐயத்துக்குரிய ஒரு பிரபல்யத்தை பெற்றிருக்கிறது. மக்களின் எண்ணத்தில் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் நல்லூர் பிரபல்யம் வாய்ந்த நல்லூர் கந்தசாமி கோவிலுடன் நேர்மறையாக நோக்கப்படுகின்ற அதேவேளை, செம்மணி மனிதப் புதைகுழிகளுடன் எதிர்மறையான எண்ணத்தில் நோக்கப்படுகின்றது.

இலங்கை ஆயுதப் படைகளுக்கும் விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்துக்கும் இடையிலான நீண்ட போரின் விளைவாக ஆட்கள் காணாமல் போன சம்பவங்களும் சட்டத்துக்கு புறம்பான கொலைகளும் பெருமளவில் இடம்பெற்றன. அந்த கொடூர சம்பவங்களின் அடையாளபூர்வமான சான்றாக செம்மணியில் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்ட மனிதப் புதைகுழிகள் விளங்குகின்றன.

1998 ஜூலையில் யாழ்ப்பாண மாணவி கிருசாந்தி குமாரசவாமியை பாலியல் வல்லுறவுக்கு உட்படுத்தி கொலை செய்தமைக்காகவும் அவளது குடும்பத்தினரை கொலை செய்தமைக்காகவும் கோர்பரல் சோமரத்ன ராஜபக்சவும் ஏனைய சில படை வீரர்களும் குற்றவாளிகளாக காணப்பட்டனர். 1996 ஆம் ஆண்டில் கொல்லப்பட்ட 300 — 400 தமிழ்க் குடிமக்கள் செம்மணி பகுதியில் புதைக்கப்பட்டதாக ராஜபக்ச தனக்கு தீர்ப்பு வழங்கப்பட்ட தினத்தன்று நீதிமன்றத்தில் கூறினார்.

அவர் வெளியிட்ட தகவலைத் தொடர்ந்து 1999 ஆம் ஆண்டில் அந்த பகுதி தோண்டப்பட்டபோது 15 மனித எலும்புக்கூடுகள் கண்டெடுக்கப்பட்டன. அவற்றில் இரு எலும்புக்கூடுகள் 1996 ஆம் ஆணடில் காணாமல் போகச் செய்யப்பட்ட இளைஞர்களினுடயவை என்று அடையாளமும் காணப்பட்டது. அவர்கள் இருவரும் தாக்ககுதலுக்கு உள்ளாக்கப்பட்டு கொல்லப்பட்டார்கள் என்று தடயவியல் விசாரணைகளில் உறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட்ட போதிலும், வழக்கு தொடுப்பதற்கு மேற்கொண்டு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படவில்லை. நீதி வழங்கப்படவில்லை. கண்டெடுக்கப்பட்ட மனித எச்சங்கள் பகுப்பாய்வுக்காக கிளாஸ்கோ பல்கலைக்கழகத்துக்கு கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டன. அவை இன்னமும் ஸ்கொட்லாந்திலேயே வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன.

இவ்வருடம் பெப்ரவரி 13 ஆம் திகதி செம்மணி பகுதியில் சித்துப்பாத்தி இந்து மயானத்தில் நிர்மாணப் பணியாளர்கள் மனித எலும்புகளை கண்டெடுத்தனர். மயானத்தை புனர் நிர்மாணம் செய்யும் பணிகளில் அவர்கள் ஈடுபட்டிருந்தனர். அந்த பகுதியை ஒரு மனிதப் புதைகுழி என்று முறைப்படி பிரகடனம் செய்த யாழ்ப்பாணம் மாஜிஸ்திரேட் நீதிமன்றம் அதன் மேற்பார்வையில் அகழ்வுப்பணிகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட வேண்டும் என்று உத்தரவிட்டது.

இதுவரையில் குழந்தைகள், சிறுவர்கள் உட்பட 67 பேரின் எலும்புக்கூடுகள் மீட்கப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. புத்தகப் பை, விளையாட்டுப் பொம்மை, வளையல்கள், செருப்புக்கள் மற்றம் உடைகளின் துண்டுகள் என்று பல்வேறு தனிப்பட்ட பொருட்களும் புதைகுழிகளில் இருந்து கண்டெடுக்கப்பட்டன. இரு வாரங்களுக்கு முன்னர் தற்காலிகமாக இடைநிறுத்தப்பட்ட அகழ்வுப் பணிகள் மீண்டும் ஜூலை 21 திங்கட்கிழமை முதல் தொடங்கப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. மேலும் எலுப்புக் கூடுகள் மீட்கப்படுகின்றன.

புத்தகப் பை, விளையாட்டுப் பொம்மை போன்ற பொருட்களுடன் குழந்தைகள், சிறுவர்கள் உட்பட 60 க்கும் அதிகமான எலும்புக் கூடுகள் கண்டெடுக்கப்பட்டிருப்பது தமிழ் மக்கள் மத்தியில் பாரிய தாக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியிருக்கிறது. எலும்புக்கூடுகள் தமிழ்க்குடி மக்களினுடையவை என்று தோன்றுகிறது. கண்டெடுக்கப்படுபவை தொடர்பாக பல சிங்களவர்களும் அதிர்ச்சியும் கவலையும் வெளியிட்டிருக்கின்றனர். செம்மணியில் கண்டெடுக்கப்படும் மனித எச்சங்கள் 1996 ஆம் ஆண்டில் காணாமல் போகச்செய்யப்பட்ட நூற்றுக்கணக்கான குடிமக்களினுடையவை என்று நம்பப்படுகிறது. பல வருடங்களுக்கு பிறகு செம்மணி மண் பேசத் தொடங்கியிருக்கிறது.

Continue reading ‘சுண்டிக்குளி மகளிர் உயர்பாடசாலையின் 18 வயது மாணவி கிருசாந்தி குமாரசுவாமியின் துன்பக் கதையும் செம்மணி மனிதப் புதைகுழிகளும்’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“We seek to make Sri Lanka a loyal supporter of Israel in International Fora. We also champion the cause of recognising the inalienable right of Israel and the Jewish people to her Ancient Indivisible Capital of Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria.” Israel Sri Lanka Solidarity Movement

Place: Egypt. Time: Summer of 1954. Targets: British and American civilian assets. Perpetrators: Islamists, Communists or Nationalists.

On July 2, action began. Over the next several days, targets in Cairo and Alexandria were bombed, including the libraries of the American Information Centre and a British owned theatre. None of the bombers were Islamists, Communists or Nationalists. They were Israeli intelligence agents and a handful of Egyptian Jews.

The plan was hatched in Israel by the head of Aman, Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, with the blessings of Defence Minister Pinhas Lavon. Named Operation Susannah (after an Old Testament character), it entered history under another name: Lavon affair. Its purpose was to prevent Egypt from gaining control of Suez Canal by persuading the British not to cede control and the Americans to back Britain’s continued colonising.

The bombing was supposed to “make it clear to the whole world that Egypt’s new rulers were nothing but a group of foolhardy extremists, unreliable and unworthy of taking charge of an asset as important as the Suez Canal”.

When the real perpetrators were caught and the whole affair blew up, Israel did what it does whenever it’s caught breaking laws and norms: denied (like when the IDF bombed the last standing Catholic church in Gaza this week). It didn’t work. Defence minister Lavon was forced to design, probably to assuage American and British anger at being made fools by their supposed ally. Israel accepted the truth only in 2005 when the country’s president presented certificates of appreciation to surviving agents of the Lavon affair.

False flag operations are not uncommon. Israeli ones are in a class of their own because of their propensity to betray allies and patrons including the US. For example in 2007 and 2008 Mossad operatives met up with members of an anti-Iranian and hardline Sunni-Salafi armed group called Jundallah based in Balochistan, an organisation on the US’s terrorism list.

Using US passports and pretending to be CIA officials, Mossad operatives recruited Jundallah members to carry out terrorist operations within and outside Iran. According to an expose in the Foreign Policy magazine, US officials were ‘stunned by the brazenness of the Mossad’s efforts.’ An American intelligence official interviewed on the matter said, “It’s amazing what the Israelis thought they could get away with… Their recruitment activities were nearly in the open. They apparently didn’t give a damn what we thought”.

None of this should interest us Sri Lankans except at a purely academic level had it not been for the rapid growth of Israel’s footprint Sri Lanka.

Continue reading ‘If we fail to disentangle ourselves from Israel’s toxic web, a new round of ethno-religious strife might be our unavoidable future. And for the Rajapaksas, the resurgence of Muslim Enemy will be an unmixed blessing, a straight path to power’ »

By

Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

There is a widespread perception that the Government is in no hurry to hold the Provincial Council Elections following a significant drop in the votes of the National People’s Power (NPP) at the recent Local Government Elections.

The Government leaders, who claim that the system of Provincial Councils will remain in place until a new constitution is brought in, are not interested in ensuring that the Provincial Councils are administered by representatives elected by the people at least till then.

It has been the position of the southern polity and the people in general and the Sinhalese nationalist forces in particular that the Provincial Council system was imposed on Sri Lanka by our big neighbour India.

The Provincial Council system introduced by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution following the signing of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord of July 1987 should have been implemented by the then Government only in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. But the then Government set up Provincial Councils across the country to show the Sinhalese people that it was not giving anything exclusively to the Tamils in the two provinces.

The Provincial Councils system should have been introduced in the north and east where the devolution of power was demanded, and given to the people of the north and east who demanded a political solution to the national question, but by implementing the system in southern Sri Lanka, the then President forced the Sinhalese people to accept it.

Continue reading ‘Former Chief Minister of merged North Eastern Province Annamalai Varadaraja Perumal says he will tryto create awareness among Tamils about the need to protect the provincial governance system’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“Not only our actions, but also our inactions, become our destiny.”
Heinrich Zimmer (The King and the Corpse)

Mohamad Suhail was arrested twice in one day, first under normal law, then under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The first ‘crime’ of this 21-year-old student was walking down the road outside the Chabad House in Dehiwala. The Chabad House (a religio-political-social institution belonging to the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement, a Jewish-fundamentalist sect – think of Bodu Bala Sena with way more brains and cash), reportedly an illegal construction, continues to thrive under the benign gaze of law enforcement officers. Yet the same law enforcement officers arrested Mr. Suhail, a Lankan citizen, for being near a structure built to serve Israeli tourists.

Since Mr. Suhail’s real ‘crime’ would have earned them a magisterial reprimand, Dehiwala police accused him of not having an identity card. The magistrate refused to remand him and released him, pointing out that being in a public space without an identity card was no crime. Case closed. Or so it seemed.

Mr. Sohaila went home to Mawanella with his father that evening. In the night, a team from the Dehiwala police went to his home and arrested him again under the PTA, effectively preventing the magistrate from giving him bail. His ‘crime’ this time was having anti-Israel posts on his social media.

That was 24 October 2024. He spent the next 8 months and 3 weeks in remand prison. He would have vegetated behind bars for many more months, or even years, had not his incarceration made it to the news in June 2025, resulting in an outcry.

This week, the police informed the court that Mr. Sohaila can be released on bail since he had committed no wrongdoing under the PTA. Incomprehensibly, despite this total lack of evidence, the case against him is to continue. Even harder to comprehend is the reason for his arrest. After all, being critical of Israel (or of any other country including Sri Lanka) is not a crime even under normal law let alone the PTA.

Continue reading ‘It is not hard to envisage NPP/JVP leaders being detained under the PTA by a future Namal Rajapaksa dispensation, maybe for the crime of threatening the president’s second cousin! After all, the NPP/JVP in government has set a new record in abusing the PTA.’ »

By

B. Kolappan

Mu. Ka. Muthu, the eldest son of the late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and half-brother of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, died in Chennai on Saturday (July 19, 2025). He had been ailing for a long time. He was 77 and is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Mr. Muthu was born to Karunanidhi’s first wife Padmavathi, daughter of Chidambaram Padagasundaram Pillai, a renowned musician and composer. His maternal uncle, C.S. Jayaraman — a playback singer — rendered many songs for Sivaji Ganesan-starrers, including his debut film Parasakthi.

The way Mr. Muthu styled himself after MGR, even affecting a physical resemblance, was a source of some discomfort for his family. Mr. Muthu was promoted as an actor by Karunanidhi’s family to produce a home-grown hero, as there was always tension between the DMK and film stars associated with the party. Actors like Sivaji Ganesan, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), and poet Kannadasan were all once close to Karunanidhi.

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin’s Brother Mu.Ka. Muthu Passes Away in Chennai at the age of 77; DMK leader Kalaigner Karunanidhi’s eldest son Muthu was a Singer and Film Actor Who Tried to Emulate ADMK Leader M.G.Ramachandran.’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

A mass grave site in Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna district,which has drawn domestic and international attention, is putting to test the Anura Kumara Dissanayake government’s pledge to address Tamil people’s grievances.

The site was discovered by accident in February this year when workers, who were readying land in Chemmani — located in the outskirts of Jaffna, a former war zone — to build a Hindu crematorium, stumbled upon what appeared to be human bones. They immediately alerted authorities, prompting the Jaffna Magistrate Court to order excavation and further investigation.

A team of experts, comprising a senior archaeologist, assisted by students at the University of Jaffna, and Judicial Medical Officers (JMOs, including forensic pathologists and those specialising in forensic anthropology), has since been excavating the site that is now protected with restricted access. According to official sources familiar with the excavation, about 65 skeletons, including some believed to be children, have been found so far, at times with what appeared to be school bags and other personal belongings.

The growing count, amid recurring headlines of more bones being unearthed every day, is agonising for locals, especially families of disappeared persons, who have been chasing the truth about their missing loved ones for years. Their resolve continues till date, 16 years after the bloody civil war ended with the state armed forces crushing the LTTE, while tens of thousands of civilians were massacred.

Continue reading ‘The Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna district,which has drawn domestic and international attention, is putting to test the Anura Kumara Dissanayake government’s pledge to address Tamil people’s grievances.’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

“Sir Donald George Bradman was, without any question, the greatest phenomenon in the history of cricket, indeed in the history of all ball games”. This was how well-known journalist and visiting professor at Oxford University Mathew Engel referred to Don Bradman in an essay about the famous Australian cricketer in the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. According to “Cricketinfo”, “ Sir Donald Bradman of Australia was, beyond any argument, the greatest batsman who ever lived and the greatest cricketer of the 20th century”.

Don Bradman bestrode the world of cricket like a Colossus in the mid-twentieth Century. He became the toast of Cricket lovers in the then British Empire after he scored an unbeaten 452 for New South Wales against Queensland in January 1930.This was a world record then for scoring the highest number of runs in an innings in First-Class cricket.

Sri Lanka known earlier as Ceylon was under British rule when Bradman made his mark in Cricket.. There was much excitement when the “Orford”sailed into Colombo harbour on 2 April 1930 with the Australian cricket team touring England. Don Bradman was of course the star attraction .On 3 April 1930, Australia played a one day match against Ceylon at the Colombo Cricket Club (CCC) grounds in Maitland Crescent.

This was the first match played by 22 year old Don Bradman outside Australia. Bradman thrilled the spectators with sizzling strokeplay as he piled up the runs. Bradman was on 40 when 24 year old Neil Joseph was called to bowl. The old Royalist with his first ball in International cricket got Bradman out -hit wicket!

The Australian team had a remarkable season in England, regaining the Ashes 2/1 in a 5 Test series. Don Bradman made Cricket history in that tour. Don Bradman scored 974 runs in the Test series. His scores were 8, 131, 254, 1, 334, 14 and 232. In the 3rd Test match at Headingley Bradman scored 309 n.o. on the first day. His final tally of 334 runs beat the previous highest Test record score of 287.Don Bradman also scored 2960 runs on the tour at an average of 98.86.

All these feats of Don Bradman published in newspapers were eagerly lapped up by cricket fans in Ceylon. The Ausiie cricketers returned to Australia by the “ Oronsay” on 28 October 1930. Enroute to Fremantle,the ship docked in Colombo on 20 October 1930. Huge crowds gathered at the harbour to cheer Bradman and get a glimpse of him if possible. News of Bradman sailing into Colombo was published in detail in the newspapers.

Continue reading ‘Bradman Weerakoon : The Man for all Seasons who Served Nine Sri Lankan Premiers and Presidents with Dedication.’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

The first major assassination of a prominent political leader in Sri Lanka known formerly as Ceylon was in September 1959. The Country was shocked when the serving Prime minister SWRD Bandaranaike was shot dead by a Buddhist monk Talduwe Somarama Thera. In later years there were many more assassinations of political leaders on either side of the ethnic divide. The political violence unleashed by various Tamil militant groups including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE), the Janatha Vikumthi Peramuna(JVP)’s political violence and the counter violence of the state and its organs has resulted an a very large number of political leaders being killed over the years.

An important chapter in the saga of political assassinations in Sri Lanka is the killing of well-kown Tamil political leader Appapillai Amirthalingam on 13 July 1989. Hailing from Pannaaham in Jaffna, Appapillai Amirthalingam was born on August 26, 1927. He was a charismatic and dynamic politician who served for many years as the chief lieutenant of the respected Tamil leader S.J.V. Chelvanayagam known as the Gandhi of Eelam.

Amirthalingam was a lawyer by profession and had been the Illankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) MP for Vaddukoddai from 1956 to 1970 and the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) MP for Kankesanthurai from 1977 to 1983. He held office as opposition leader from 1977 to 1983. In 1989, he was appointed MP on the TULF National List.

Continue reading ‘The Abominable Assassination of Tamil Political Leader Appapillai Amirthalingam on 13 July 1989.’ »

By

P.M.Amza

(The writer is former Sri Lanka Ambassador to EU, Belgium, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and former Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai.)

For successive Sri Lankan Governments and the people of Sri Lanka, the subject of Katchatheevu has long been viewed as conclusively resolved through two bilateral agreements signed with India in 1974 and 1976. However, the issue continues to resonate in Tamil Nadu, where political and emotional sensitivities remain.

As someone who served as Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai from 2006 to 2009, a period that coincided with the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka, I witnessed firsthand the heightened sentiments in Tamil Nadu. The military offensive in the North of Sri Lanka provoked strong reactions, including nearly a dozen incidents of self-immolation in protest. The Katchatheevu issue, often confined to Tamil Nadu’s political discourse, resurfaced as opposition parties such as the AIADMK and its allies blamed the DMK for “handing over” (tharaivarthal) the island to Sri Lanka.

During my tenure, I observed very limited discussions on the issue beyond Tamil Nadu. In my understanding, those in New Delhi had viewed the Katchatheevu matter as settled, much like the view held in Colombo.

Against this backdrop, it was surprising—both to me and many others familiar with Indian politics—when, during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders reignited the issue. They even released archival documents to support their claim that the Congress government had acted against national interests in “ceding” the island.

Continue reading ‘Is the BJP Govt in India Re-opening the Katchatheevu Issue to Undermine its Political Rivals the Congress and DMK or to Pressure or Checkmate Sri Lanka and Increase Leverage Over the Colombo Govt?’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

இலங்கையில் முக்கியமான அரசியல் தலைவர் ஒருவர் கொலை செய்யப்பட்ட முதல் சம்பவம் 1959 செப்டெம்பரில் இடம்பெற்றது. பதவியில் இருந்த பிரதமர் எஸ்.டபிள்யூ. ஆர்.டி. பண்டாரநாயக்க, தல்துவ சோமராம தேரோ என்ற பௌத்த பிக்குவினால் சுட்டுக்கொலை செய்யப்பட்டபோது நாடு அதிர்ச்சியில் உறைந்தது. அதையடுத்து வந்த வருடங்களில் இனப்பிளவின் இருமருங்கிலும் மேலும் பல அரசியல் படுகொலைகள் இடம்பெற்றதை காணக்கூடியதாக இருந்தது. தமிழீழ விடுதலை புலிகள் உட்பட பல்வேறு தமிழப் போராளிக் குழுக்களினால் கட்டவிழ்த்துவிடப்பட்ட அரசியல் வன்முறை, ஜனதா விமுக்தி பெரமுனவின் ( ஜே.வி.பி.) வன்முறை மற்றும் அரசினாலும் அதன் அமைப்புக்களினாலும் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட எதிர் வன்முறைகளில் பல வருடங்களாக பெரும் எண்ணிக்கையான அரசியல் தலைவர்கள் படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்டார்கள்.

தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவர் அப்பாபிள்ளை அமிர்தலிங்கம் 1989 ஜூலை 13 ஆம் திகதி கொல்லப்பட்ட சம்பவம் இலங்கையின் அரசியல் படுகொலைகளின் வரலாற்றில் முக்கியமான ஒரு அத்தியாயமாகும்.

யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் பண்ணாகத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவரான அமிர்தலிங்கம் 1927 ஆகஸ்ட் 26 ஆம் திகதி பிறந்தார். ஈழத்துக்காந்தி என்று அறியப்பட்ட — பெருமதிப்புக்குரிய தமிழ்த் தலைவரான எஸ்.ஜே.வி. செல்வநாயகத்தின் பிரதம ‘ தளபதியாக ‘ பல வருடங்கள் செயற்பட்ட அமிர்தலிங்கம் மக்கள் வசீகரமும் ஆற்றலும் கொண்ட ஒரு அரசியல்வாதியாவார்.

சட்டத்தரணியான அமிர்தலிங்கம் 1956 ஆம் ஆண்டு தொடக்கம் 1970 ஆம் ஆண்டு வரை இலங்கை தமிழரசு கட்சியின் வட்டுக்கோட்டை தொகுதி பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினராகவும் 1977 ஆம் ஆண்டு தொடக்கம் 1973 ஆம் ஆண்டுவரை தமிழர் ஐக்கிய விடுதலை கூட்டணியின் காங்கேசன்துறை தொகுதி பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினராகவும் பதவி வகித்தவர். 1977 ஆம் ஆண்டு தொடக்கம் 1983 ஆம் ஆண்டு வரை எதிர்க்கட்சி தலைவராகவும் பதிவி வகித்த அவர், 1989 ஆம் ஆண்டில் தமிழர் ஐக்கிய விடுதலை கூட்டணியின் தேசியப்பட்டியல் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினராகவும் நியமிக்கப்பட்டார்.

Continue reading ‘தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவர் அப்பாபிள்ளை அமிர்தலிங்கம் 1989 ஜூலை 13 ஆம் திகதி கொல்லப்பட்ட சம்பவம்’ »

Veteran actor B Saroja Devi, known for her work in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu cinema, breathed her last at the age of 87 on Monday (July 14) in Bengaluru.. The actor was reportedly suffering from age-related illness.

An actor who starred in many memorable films alongside veteran southern Indian superstars such as MG Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, and NT Rama Rao, Saroja Devi also shared screen space with Hindi stars such as Dilip Kumar (Paigham, 1959), Rajendra Kumar (Sasural, 1961) and Sunil Dutt (Beti Bete, 1964). The news about her death has sent shockwaves across Indian cinema, drawing reactions from members of the film fraternity and fans.

Continue reading ‘Legendary Actress B. Saroja Devi Passes away in Bengaluru at the age og 87. Tributes Pour in for the Star known as “Abhinaya Saraswathie” and “Kannadathup Paingkili”’ »

The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK)known in English as the Federal Party(FP) has in a letter sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed profound concern regarding the on-going exhumation of human remains at Chemmani in Jaffna. The premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamils of the northern and eastern provinces has called upon the President Anura Kumara Dissanayak to take urgent and decisive action to uncover the truth, ensure forensic protocols meet internationally recognized standards, and bring perpetrators to justice. The Letter dated 11 July 2025 has been jointly signed by the ITAK president CVK Sivagnanam and Secretary MA Sumanthiran. The full text of the letter is as follows –

11th July 2025

His Excellency
Anura Kumara Dissanayake
President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Colombo

The Imperative of Truth Seeking, International Collaboration, and Justice in the Chemmani Mass Grave Investigation

Your Excellency,

We write on behalf of Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi to express profound concern regarding the on-going exhumation at Chemmani. We urge urgent and decisive action to uncover the truth, ensure forensic protocols meet internationally recognized standards, and bring perpetrators to justice.

Chemmani has come to represent Sri Lanka’s unresolved legacy of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings extending into the mid-1990s.

In 1998, Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse convicted for the rape and murder of Tamil schoolgirl Krishanthi Kumaraswamy and family members, revealed at his sentencing hearing that between 300 and 400 Tamil civilians had been buried there.

This disclosure prompted excavations in 1999 that yielded fifteen skeletons, two of which were identified as disappearances from 1996. Despite forensic confirmation of assault and execution, prosecutions stagnated and no meaningful justice was delivered to this day.

Continue reading ‘The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK)wants President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take urgent and decisive action regarding the exhumation of human remains at Chemmani in Jaffna.’ »

To

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Retiring Supreme Court Judge Gamini Amarasekara made several important observations while addressing court recently. According to newspaper reports, Justice Amarasekara emphasised that while external threats to judicial independence could be collectively resisted, internal challenges posed a far more insidious danger. The eminent judge reportedly stated “A judge with the right convictions can resist external pressure, but when the threats come from within the system, they are harder to confront.”

The pertinent point made by Justice Amarasekara about an internal threat being more dangerous than an external challenge is widely applicable . There are many such instances. Currently in Sri Lanka the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK)known in English as the Federal party is experiencing the wisdom ingrained in Justice Amarasekara’s words. The premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamil people is currently facing challenges from within and without. While the party has withstood external challenges, threats of a more dangerous nature seem to be emerging internally.

The ITAK has in recent times fared well in elections despite facing formidable political odds. In the presidential elections of September 2024, the ITAK threw its weight behind Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB) in spite of a common Tamil presidential candidate being fielded by a number of Tamil political parties and civil society organizations. Sajith Premadasa came second to Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the national level. However on a regional level , It was Sajith Premadasa strongly backed by the ITAK who topped in the Northern and Eastern districts.

The Parliamentary elections of November 2024 saw the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) winning 159 seats in a Parliament of 225 members. Of these seven were Tamil MPs from the North and East. Again the ITAK was the only Sri Lankan Tamil political party to effectively combat the “compass”party in the North and East .The ITAK tally of seven elected MPs equalled the number of Tamil MPs from NPP elected from the North and East. The ITAK got an additional seat on the national list and became the third largest party in Parliament with eight MPs.

In the recently concluded Local Authority elections of May 2025, the ITAK came first in 35 of the councils (municipal,urban &divisional) it contested in the North and East. The ITAK came second in about a dozen Tamil majority councils and also won wards in ten more Muslim and Sinhala dominated councils. Moreover the ITAK was able to form viable administrations in 34 councils with the aid of some Tamil and Muslim parties and independent groups.

Despite these commendable successes in the electoral sphere against rival Tamil political parties, the ITAK is in bad shape as far as the party’s internal political situation is concerned. The prime cause for this is the controversial conduct of the ITAK Jaffna district MP and leader of the party’s parliamentary group ,Sivagnanam Shritharan. This former school principal has been conducting an insidious campaign -overtly and covertly-against the ITAK central working committee in general and leading office-bearers in particular.

Continue reading ‘“Thamizh Arasuk Katchi” in Trouble : Jaffna MP Sivagnanam Shritharan’s Insidious Campaign Against his own party ITAK.’ »

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By Sakuna M. Gamage

Chemmani is Speaking Again !

“At the foot of the Kaneru flower tree
You fell down and bled from your chest
You were lost to me
Not to this country

Where indeed can people go when justice itself has been buried? Who will speak for them?

These lines, written by Rathna Sri Wijesinghe in a sinhala poem during a time of unspeakable war, return today with even more disturbing resonance. On the seventh day of the second phase of re-excavations at Chemmani in July 2025, I stood before a shallow grave where skeletal remains of a child were found, still carrying a UNICEF school bag, and within it, a tiny doll. This is not merely a memory of war. It is the brutal continuity of impunity. What we hear from Chemmani is not the echo of the past, it is the present breaking open. It is the soil itself rejecting silence.

What emerges from Chemmani is more than evidence; it is indictment. It is the collapse of conscience. It is a searing reminder that beneath this island’s surface lies not just bones, but stories systematically silenced, voices smothered by a state that built its post-war peace on amnesia.The return to Chemmani is a confrontation with memory. It is reckoning with silence. It is an accusation against a justice system constructed not to remember, but to forget.

In 1996, the gang rape and murder of Krishanthi Kumaraswamy led to the uncovering of the Chemmani mass graves. Now, nearly three decades later, her story and the countless unnamed who disappeared into these soils, resurfaces to haunt a nation that has mastered the art of erasure. Because the silence is not accidental. It is orchestrated. Deliberate. Loud in its denial. And still unbroken.

Continue reading ‘Chemmani is more than a grave. It is a mirror. It reflects not just the brutality of a past war, but the moral decay of the present. The bones beneath Jaffna’s soil are not bones of the enemy. They are citizens. Children. Loved ones. They are the responsibility of a state that promised to protect all’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

It is no secret that US president Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are both members of an exclusive mutual admiration society. Posting recently on his Truth Social platform,Trump praised Netanyahu lavishly saying there was “no one that I know who could have worked in better harmony” with him. Netanyahu responded “We will continue to work together to defeat our common enemies, free our hostages, and quickly expand the circle of peace.”

Trump also waded into a controversial area to take up cudgels on behalf of Netanyahu. Referring to the on going cases of corruption in Israeli courts against the Israeli premier, Trump demanded that Netanyahu be let off the hook. According to news reports,Trump wanted the cases against Netanyahu to be “cancelled immediately” or he should be given a pardon, adding that he learned Netanyahu was due to appear in court on Monday. Trump described the case against Netanyahu as a “witch hunt”. Trump described his long-time ally as a “great hero, who has done so much” for Israel, and a “warrior”.

Another western media analyst observed thus –“Netanyahu’s trials have been taking place against the backdrop of the conflicts Israel has been engaged in since the deadly and unprecedented 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, leading to delays in the legal proceedings.In particular, the length of the war against Hamas in Gaza has led to claims by some that Netanyahu wants to prolong the fighting to delay elections and the conclusion of his trials.”

Cruel Genocidal War.

It is against this backdrop that this column focuses this week on the court cases concerning corruption charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Even as Netanyahu continues to unleash a cruel genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, The Damoclean sword of legal proceedings hangs above him. Legal circles opine that if convicted Netanyahu could face imprisonment up to ten years. Netanyahu has denied any wrong doing and emphasised his innocence.

Continue reading ‘Will Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be Convicted on Corruption Charges of Bribery,Fraud and Breach of Trust or Simply be let off the Hook?’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Captain Miller” is the name of an Indian film released on 12 January 2024. The blockbuster Tamil movie had popular actor Dhanush acting in the lead titular role of Captain Miller. The film was a fictional tale about a heroic rebel who fought against British colonial rule. Reports state that the film is the highest ever grossing film starring Dhanush.

One reason for the film’s success was its title which evoked much interest and curiosity. “Captain Miller” was the nom de guerre of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber who drove an explosive laden truck into an army camp in the north on 5 July 1987. This was the first time the LTTE had deployed a suicide bomber called “Black Tiger” or “Karumpuli” in a military attack. The name of Capt. Miller the first “Black Tiger” strikes a responsive chord among many Tamils. 5 July was annually observed as Black Tigers Day by the LTTE till May 2009.

It is against this backdrop that this column focuses on the first ever Black Tiger attack launched by the LTTE. The LTTE is no more and Black Tigers Day fades into memory nowadays. Nevertheless the birth and growth of the Black Tigers is an important element in the military annals of guerrilla warfare in general and the military campaign history of the LTTE in particular. I shall begin with a brief outline of the first Black Tiger operation.

Continue reading ‘“Capt. Miller” the LTTE’s first Black Tiger suicide bomber: 5 July 1987 Nelliaddy attack gave birth to the Black Tigers’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga – who celebrates her 80th birthday on 29 June 2025 – made history in November 1994 when she was elected as Sri Lanka’s first female executive president. Kumaratunga known popularly as Chandrika and CBK, won the 1994 election with 62% of the votes polled.Subsequently she was re-elected President in December 1999 with 51% of the votes. Chandrika Lumaratunga has served for eleven years as Sri Lanka’s president from 1994 November to 2005 November .

Prior to being elected President, Chandrika served as Prime Minister for three months. Her election as Prime Minister in August 1994 was another significant world record. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was the first ever prime minister whose parents were also prime ministers. Her father SWRD Bandaranaike was prime minister of Sri Lanka then known as Ceylon from 1956 to 1959 .Her mother Sirimavo Bandaranaike was Prime Minister from 1960 to 1965 and 1970 to 1977.

Chandrika Kumaratunga is a colourful yet controversial political personality who evoked mixed reactions in people. She was admired and loved by some.She was despised and hated by others. There is no denying that Chandrika was guilty of several negative acts of omission and commission. This is true of almost every political leader who assumes office after a popular election. Campaigning is in verse but governance is in prose!

Chandrika was hailed as an angel of peace when she was elected to power in 1994. She had campaigned on a platform of peace and reconciliation. President Kumaratunga was expected to end the cruel war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) and usher in lasting peace through a negotiated settlement. Sadly war erupted again after a brief respite. This phase of the long war dubbed as a “war for peace” brought in its wake many deaths and much destruction. Chandrika was criticized as a peace dove turned battle hawk. I too have critizised her on those lines in the past.

Despite this past criticism , I have always regarded Chandrika favourably and positively. I was one of her ardent admirers in the years before she was elected president and strongly supported her peace endeavours. I was extremely critical of the LTTE for violating the ceasefire and resuming war in April 1995. I paid a price for this as the LTTE camp followers and fellow travellers in Canada conducted a hostile campaign against me and the Tamil weekly owned and edited by me in Toronto As a result I had to shut down the paper in April 1996.

Things however changed as the war escalated. War has a cruel logic and deadly momentum of its own. The war fought in the pre-dominantly Tamil speaking regions of the north and east brought about much suffering to ordinary Tamil civilians. As such I became very critical of the then President Kumaratunga.

Continue reading ‘Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga: Sri Lanka’s Daughter of Destiny, Celebrates her 80th Birthday on June 29th.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“While Sri Lanka’s economy is bouncing back stronger than expected, a significant portion of the population—about a third—remains in poverty or is at risk of falling back into poverty. To ensure this recovery works for everyone, especially those who have been hit hardest, Sri Lanka can focus on policies that create jobs and support the poor.”
The World Bank – Sri Lanka Development Update April 2025

It is known as the Axiom of Aristotle, though Parmenides might have been the actual discoverer: nature abhors a vacuum.

So does politics.

In 2024, the NPP/JVP filled the vacuum in the Lankan oppositional space, and won the presidential and parliamentary elections, bypassing Sajith Premadasa and the SJB. Less than a year later, the NPP/JVP Government is haemorrhaging support. Between November 2024 and May 2025, the Government lost 2.3 million votes, as much of a Lankan record as the NPP’s vaulting from 3% to power in five years.

2024 was characterised by twin crises – a crisis in Government and a crisis in Opposition. The crisis in Government ebbed after Presidential election and began to re-flow in 2025. The crisis in the Opposition never ended.

In general, voters unhappy with the Government move over to the Opposition. That didn’t happen at the Local Government election of 2025. Most of the 2.3 million voters who opted not to vote for the Government also opted not to vote for the Opposition. Their abstention signified a lack of confidence in the Government and the Opposition.

If the Government manages to contain its tendency for self-harm and improve its performance, many of these disgruntled voters are likely to return to the NPP fold. But what if the Government’s failures continue to be matched by the inadequacies of the Opposition?

In a recent piece in The Atlantic, columnist David Graham observed that President Trump’s growing unpopularity and the incompetence of his administration have created a favourable terrain for the opposition Democratic Party and added a rider – “But if anyone can figure out how to fumble the situation, it’s the Democratic Party.” He asked the question, “Why aren’t these boom times for America’s opposition party,” and answered by pointing out the blue party’s state of unpreparedness, its uninspiring politics, and its lacklustre leaders (The Democratic Party slides into irrelevance).

All of these ills assails Lanka’s Opposition as well, especially the democratic opposition – from which the Rajapaksa-owned SLPP is excluded by its anti-democratic nature.

Continue reading ‘If the SJB continues to blunder and dither, come 2029, it will find itself outsmarted again, this time by a rejuvenated SLPP and a Candidate Namal who appeals to the primordial fears of a disenchanted electorate.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

தமிழீழ விடுதலை புலிகளுக்கும் 2025 ஜூன் 9 ஆம் திகதி காலமான பிரபல ஆங்கில நாவலாசிரியர் ஃபிரெடரிக் ஃபோசைத்துக்கும் ஒரு தொடர்பு இருக்கிறதா? இந்த கேள்விக்கான எளிதான பதில் ‘இல்லை ‘ என்பதேயாகும். ஆனால், ஃபோசைத்தினால் எழுதப்பட்ட நாவல் ஒன்றில் விபரிக்கப்பட்ட.உபாயம் ஒன்றை விடுதலை புலிகள் ஆட்களை கொலைசெய்வதற்கு பிரதிபண்ணினார்கள் என்று கொஞ்சக்காலம் ஊகங்கள் நிலவியது என்பதை நிச்சயம் சொல்லத்தான் வேண்டும்.

அதுவெல்லாம் இந்தியாவின் தமிழ்நாடு மாநிலத்தில் ஸ்ரீபெரும்புதூரில் 1991 மே 21 ஆம் திகதி முன்னாள் இந்திய பிரதமர் ராஜீவ் காந்தியை விடுதலை புலிகள் கொலை செய்வதுடன் தொடங்கியது. காங்கிரஸ் கட்சியின் தலைவரான ராஜீவ் காந்தி கட்சியின் வேட்பாளர் மரகதம் சந்திரசேகருக்கு ஆதரவாக நடைபெற்ற தேர்தல் பிரசாரக் கூட்டத்தில் உரையாற்றுவதற்காக ஸ்ரீபெரும்புதூருக்கு வருகை தந்தார்.

அப்போதுதான் ‘ தனு ‘ என்ற பெயரால் அறியப்பட்ட இலங்கை தமிழ் யுவதி ராஜீவ் காந்திக்கு நெருக்கமாக சென்றார். செம்மஞ்சள் மற்றும் பச்சை நிறத்திலான சுறிதார் அணிந்திருந்த — மூக்குக்கண்ணாடி போட்ட அவள் ராஜீவ் காந்தியின் பாதங்களை தொடுவதற்காக மரியாதையுடன்குனிந்தாள். தனது உடம்பைச் சுற்றிக் கட்டியிருந்த பட்டிக்குள் மறைத்து வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த குண்டை அவள் வெடிக்க வைத்தாள். ராஜீவ் காந்தியும் கொலையாளி தனுவும் குறைந்தது வேறு 18 பேரும் அந்த குண்டுவெடிப்பில் கொல்லப்பட்டனர். 42 பேர் படுகாயமடைந்தனர்.

இந்தியாவை உலுக்கிய அந்த கொலை உலகம் பூராவும் அதிர்ச்சி அலைகளை ஏற்படுத்தியது. அதுவே வெடிபொருட்கள் நிரப்பப்பட்ட ஒரு ‘ தற்கொலைப்பட்டி ‘ கொலைமுயற்சி ஒன்றுக்கு பயன்படுத்தப்பட்ட முதல் சந்தர்ப்பமாகும். வெடிபொருட்கள் நிரப்பப்பட்ட வாகனங்கள் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன, ஆனால், தற்கொலைப்பட்டி பயன்படுத்தப்பட்ட முதல் சம்பவமாக இது பதிவாகியது. அடுத்து வந்த வருடங்களில் விடுதலை புலிகள் ‘ கரும்புலிகள் ‘ என்று அறியப்பட்ட தற்கொலைக்குண்டு போராளிகளை பல தாக்குதல்களில் பயன்படுத்தினர். அது விடுதலை புலிகளின் முத்திரையாக மாறியது.

Continue reading ‘பிரெடரிக் ஃபோசைத் (Frederick Forsyth) ஒருவரில் நால்வர் ; விமானி, பத்திரிகையாளர், உளவாளி, எழுத்தாளர். அவருக்கும் விடுதலை புலிகளுக்கும் இடையில் என்ன தொடர்பு?’ »

ITAK MP for Batticaloa Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam recently called on the international community to pressure the Government to give serious attention to protecting the Chemmani mass grave site with 33 skeletons.

He said if the Government fails to give any importance to protecting the site from rain, which is expected within the next few days, providing proper security, and installing CCTV cameras, vital evidence regarding missing persons would be destroyed.

“We have been receiving a large number of telephone calls and messages by citizens and concerned parties raising concern regarding the current situation of the Chemmani mass grave site,” Rasamanickam said addressing the media at the Batticaloa Press Club.

Explaining the protection given to the Kokkuththoduvai site, where temporary structures were erected to shield the graves from direct rainfall and water runoff, he said the Chemmani site only has a basic shelter providing shade.

“If this continues, these skeletons will be further deteriorated,” he said, urging the Government to take immediate steps to put up temporary structures at the site.

Continue reading ‘Shanakiyan Rasamanickam MP Wants international community to pressure Govt to give more protection to Chemmani mass grave site; Reveals suspected move about attempts to remove some skeletons from site.’ »

The main Opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman yesterday alleged the Government was concealing the findings of a critical Customs inquiry, warning that failures to follow mandatory scanning procedures for high-risk cargo could have jeopardised the country’s security, revenue, and public health.

Speaking in Parliament, he charged that the administration had deliberately withheld the Inquiry Committee’s report from the legislators, prompting him to formally table it on the House floor.

The said committee was appointed based on the comments made by the Sri Lanka Customs Department to the media on 18 January 2025 regarding the release of 323 high-risk customs containers identified as ‘red’ by the Risk Management System from the Customs premises without physical inspection. Thereafter, a four-member committee, headed by a Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, was appointed by the Secretary to the Treasury dated 30 January 2025 to examine the process of releasing the said containers and submit a report.

The report details serious lapses in the handling of 309 ‘red-labelled’ containers identified as high-risk under the Customs Risk Management System, which, according to Rahman, were released without mandatory inspection.

“Of the 151 red-labelled containers that were required to undergo scanning, 37 were released without any scan whatsoever,” he told Parliament.

He added that another 103 containers subject to scanning requirements were also released without following proper procedures.

Continue reading ‘Customs Inquiry Report Reveals that 999 red-classified containers were released on 13 occasions without proper screening or follow-up since July 2024 says Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman in Parliament.’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Jeyaraj’s Jottings.

My close friend and journalistic colleague Sinnathurai Thillainathan celebrates his 75th Birthday on 29 June 2025. Thillainathan known popularly as “Thillai” has devoted 57 years of his life to journalism as a career. Journalism to Thillai is not merely a profession but a dedicated vocation.

To many Tamil newspaper readers in the Vadamaratchy sector of the Jaffna peninsula, the term “Reporter” is synonymous with that of S.Thillainathan. He has received many awards and accolades over the years for his journalistic achievements.

Thillai born in Manthigai in Point Pedro completed his secondary education at the Puloly Methodist Mission Tamil Mixed School. After winning an essay prize in a competition held by the “Seithy” newspaper published in Kandy, Thillai became the Pt. Pedro correspondent of the same newspaper in 1968. He was 18 years old when he entered the field of journalism as a correspondent.

In 1969 ,Thillainathan was appointed as the Nelliaddy Correspondent of the Jaffna based newspaper “Eezha Naadu”. K.Sivapragasam the then editor of the Colombo based Tamil daily “Virakesari” recruited Thillai as the newspaper’s Puloly Correspobdent in 1972.

The Vadamaratchy area of Jaffna peninsula gained national and international importance after “Operation Liberation”was conducted by the armed forces in 1987. The “Virakesari” too acknowledged these changed circumstances by upgrading Thillainathan as the Vadamaratchy correspondent. After the Armed forces re-captured Jaffna through “Operation Riviresa” in 1996, Thillainathan was made Jaffna Correspondent in 1997 by the “Virakesari” .

Continue reading ‘Veteran Tamil Journalist Sinnathurai “Thillai” Thillainathan Celebrates his 75th Biirthday on 29 June 2025.’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Is there a connection between popular English novelist Frederick Forsyth who breathed his last on 9 June 2025 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) that was militarily defeated by the Sri Lankan armed forces in May 2009? The answer to this question would be a simple “no”. However It must be said that for a while there was intense speculation that a device featured in a novel written by Frederick Forsyth had been copied by the LTTE known as the tigers to assassinate people!

It all began with the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE on 21 May 1991 at Sriperumbudhoor in the Tamil Nadu state of India. Rajiv Gandhi the leader of India’s Congress party was in Sriperumpudhoor to address an election propaganda meeting in support of Congress party candidate Maragatham Chandrasekhar.

It was then that a Sri Lankan Tamil girl known by the name of “Dhanu” got close to Rajiv Gandhi and gave him a sandalwood garland. The be-spectacled girl in an orange and green churidar then bent down respectfully to touch Rajiv’s feet. She set off an explosive device concealed in a belt that was strapped to her body. Rajiv Gandhi, the assailant Dhanu and at least 18 others were killed in the blast. 42 were seriously injured.

The assassination rocked India and caused shock waves around the world. This was the first instance of an explosive-packed “suicide belt” being used in an assassination attempt.Explosive-laden vehicles had been used but the Rajiv assassination was the first recorded incident where a suicide belt was used. In later years the LTTE was to use suicide bombers known as “Black Tigers” in many attacks .It became a hallmark of the LTTE.

“The Negotiator”

It was but natural for the Rajiv Gandhi assassination to become a hot topic of media discussion in India. Many theories were floated. One such theory which caused much excitement was that the tigers had got the idea of an explosive-laden suicide belt from the Frederick Forsyth best-seller “The Negotiator”published in 1989. In that fictitious novel the bad guys use a bomb belt to kill the son of a US president.

Continue reading ‘Did the LTTE get the Idea of Suicide Bombers Using an Explosive Packed Belt from Author Frederick Forsyth’s Novel ” The Negotiator”?’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Shanmuganathan Sivashankar alias “Pottu Ammaan”, the former intelligence chief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is a keen topic of discussion these days within a Europe based segment of the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora. Although the much feared head of the tiger intelligence division died during the final phase of the war in May 2009, there is a clique of ex-LTTE members based in Europe spreading “fake news” that Pottu Ammaan is yet alive and that he would emerge soon and revive the LTTE and continue with the armed struggle against the Sri Lankan state.

It is learnt that the group behind this “Pottu Ammaan is alive” myth is the same one that earlier engaged in the fake news campaign about LTTE leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran’s daughter Duvaraka being alive. The group also propagated the myth that Prabhakaran and wife Madhivadhani were also alive. Several persons including Madhivadhani’s siblings in Europe and prominent supporters of the LTTE in Tamil Nadu like P. Nedumaran and Kasi Anandan lent support to this ‘being alive”canard.

The move to conjure up a counterfeit Duvaraka, Prabhakaran and Madhivadhani was part of a deceptive exercise engineered by Europe based ex-tigers to collect funds from gullible tiger supporters for “Thalaiver”’s family. I have written about this in detail in the “Daily Mirror” of 04 March 2023 (“Fake news fraud using Prabha and family”).This fraudulent exercise that began with a powerful bang has now petered out into a pathetic whimper. The “Duvaraga”pretender -having got cold feet perhaps- has reportedly fallen out of the public eye.

Having duped a number of foolish feline fellow travellers into parting with their euros, francs,kroners and sterling pounds, the fraudsters are unwilling to let go of the golden egg laying goose. They have now latched on to Pottu Ammaan who they say is holed up in Ukraine. The stage is being set for a Pottu Ammaan “return” and consequent fund raising. However some intelligent , concerned members of the Tamil Diaspora are trying to debunk this charade in their own way.

Continue reading ‘How Tiger Intelligence Chief “Pottu Ammaan” , His Wife and their Three Sons Died in the Final Phase of the War.’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“A war on Iraq is a good choice, the right choice…” Benyamin Netanyahu (Testimony before the US Congress, 12.9.2002)

“A forever war is beneficial to Netanyahu. People feel like they are always in danger like they always need him. There’s always some huge threat. I think that helps him remain prime minister.” Gili Schwartz, 20 year-old resident of Kibbutz Be’eri (The Bibi Files)

An American president becomes embroiled in a sex scandal. To divert public attention, his advisors recruit a Hollywood producer to invent a war against Albania.

That was the plot of the US feature film Wag the Dog, released in December 1997.

Reality caught up a month later. In January 1998, Bill Clinton-Monika Lewinski scandal exploded. On the day Ms Lewinski was to testify before the grand jury investigating the affair, President Clinton ordered a missile attack on the al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan. He claimed it was an Al Qaida facility manufacturing chemical weapons.

In actuality, it produced medicines for humans and animals. Due to its destruction, tens of thousands of poor Sudanese might have died from lack of basic medicine, Werner Daum, German ambassador in Sudan, wrote.

The Bibi Files is an American documentary. Produced by Jewish-South African filmmaker, Alexis Bloom, it is about the real life investigation of three corruption allegations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu. The film’s opening shot shows Mr. Netanyahu sitting at his desk facing police interrogators. One official asks from a colleague, “Is it working?” referring to the video camera. It was. Those tapes, leaked by an unknown source via Signal, constitute the meat of the documentary.

Continue reading ‘Netanyahu can hypnotise Israelis for the same reason Adolf Hitler could hypnotise Germans, Trump Americans, Modi Hindus and the Rajapaksas Sinhalese. A process of “making the community more fanatical and exploiting the resulting fanaticism”’ »

By

Sonia Gandhi

(Sonia Gandhi is the Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party)

On June 13, 2025, the world has, once again, witnessed the dangerous consequences of unilateral militarism when Israel launched a deeply troubling and unlawful strike against Iran and its sovereignty.

The Indian National Congress has condemned these bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil, which represent a dangerous escalation with grave regional and global consequences. As with so many of Israel’s recent actions, including its brutal and disproportionate campaign in Gaza, this operation was executed with utter disregard for civilian lives and regional stability. These actions will only deepen instability and sow the seeds of further conflict.

That such an attack should come at a time when diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States were showing signs of promise makes it all the more distressing. Five rounds of negotiations had already taken place this year, with a sixth that was scheduled for June. And, as recently as in March 2025, the Director of National Intelligence of the United States, Tulsi Gabbard, clearly testified to Congress that Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapons programme, and that its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had not authorised its resumption since its suspension in 2003.

Continue reading ‘New Delhi’s silence on the devastation in Gaza and now on the unprovoked escalation against Iran reflects a disturbing departure from our moral and diplomatic traditions. This represents not just a loss of voice but also a surrender of values. It is still not too late. India must speak clearly, act responsibly.’ »

By Bhadri Durghabakshi

Would you believe that a humble lumpy brown bulb could transform into one of the world’s most photographed wonders? In the Netherlands every spring millions of tulips burst into bloom turning vast farmlands into living art and attracting travelers from all over the world. While Amsterdam’s canals, art museums, and stroopwafels are legendary, it’s the tulip that steals the spotlight from March to May—painting the city in vibrant hues. This humble tulip bulb has not only changed the Dutch landscape, but it has reshaped its economy, culture and identity over the years.

Having grown up watching Bollywood films, the iconic scene from Silsila, of lovers dancing through endless tulip fields, is etched in my memory. So, visiting the Keukenhof Gardens in April, felt like stepping into that dream.

Tulip Season

Keukenhof Gardens is the ideal place to immerse yourself in the beauty of the tulip season, where every turn unveils a new explosion of breathtaking color. Covering 79 acres, this floral paradise is also referred to as the ‘Garden of Europe.’ Walking through its meticulously manicured gardens, you will encounter not just tulips, but a dazzling array of flowers in every shade imaginable. Hyacinths, daffodils, and lilies blend together in a symphony of color and fragrances.

Whether you are strolling through the carefully curated gardens or stopping to admire the panoramic views, you feel like you are part of a living painting.Be prepared to pause in awe, marveling at the wonders of nature and the artistry with which it has been thoughtfully arranged.

While Keukenhof is not the only breathtaking garden in Holland, it remains the most famous. To make these gardens come alive in all its spectacular glory, many Dutch flower farmers and researchers come together to plan and plant the gardens a full year in advance.Their collective effort ensures that the gardens bloom in perfect harmony each spring.

Continue reading ‘The tulip steals the spotlight from March to May, painting Amsterdam city in vibrant hues. This humble tulip has not only changed the Dutch landscape, but it has reshaped its economy, culture and identity over the years.’ »

By Sunela Jayewardene

(The writer is an Environmental Architect, Regenerative Land-use Specialist & Author)

On the avenues of Colombo, an intricate pattern of flickering shade has dappled her road surfaces, for almost two centuries. You don’t have to look up to know of leaves dancing in a wind in the high canopies. On roads that stretch east -west, evenings promise a spectacular kaleidoscope in a west-facing Gothic arch; an arch of old amazon trees, with their boughs meeting over roadways to frame sunsets, fading from gold and garnet to amethyst and sapphire blue.

Colombo’s avenue system is the modern city’s only saving environmental grace. What remains, is a vital green lung and aerial highway for urban wildlife. When Colombo became the capital of the new British colony of Ceylon and commerce grew, the elite moved out of the congested real estate that clustered around the harbour. To create new neighbourhoods for the gentry, native forests were felled and the extensive wetlands of the Kelani River delta, were filled.

Though urban tree planting was initiated by Dutch colonists, the British, after a few attempts at erasing their predecessors presence, eventually, seeing the value of shading the city, stopped felling. Large plots of real estate were laid out along avenues.

By the end of the 19th century, mansions were built for the new lords of Lanka: British corporate management and government administrators along with local land proprietors and the occasional, successful local professional.

The avenues of the new neighbourhoods were lined with the finest trees, from across the global sweep of European Empires. Most commonly, the avenues were planted with South American species of, Brazilian Rain Trees, rows of Tabebuia with their seasonal floral extravaganzas of sherbet pink and Jacaranda with clusters of tight purple buds, which us children of Colombo, popped on our forehead, with the same joy that children of today burst plastic bubble wrap…. Yellow poinciana from Indo-China and Andaman redwoods, with showers of bright yellow flowers and sturdy African Spathodea with fleshy orange florescence, which has now disappeared from even from the road named in its honour.

These natural air filters, noise barriers and oxygen suppliers, remain a rare treasure, amidst the environmental degradation that our British colonisers left behind.

Continue reading ‘The Garden City of Colombo is gasping its last breath, but what remains, is still, a capital city with more charm and character than many. All it needs to revive, is a cocktail of vision and sincerity.’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

Interestingly, there were three similarities between the Opposition political parties in southern Sri Lanka and the Tamil political parties in the north and east at last month’s Local Government (LG) Elections.

The first similarity is that the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) is considered the common political enemy by both sides. The second is the inability of the parties in both regions to come together to take on the ruling party. Thirdly, more than one month after the elections were concluded, these parties are still holding talks and trying to jointly form administrations in the local bodies.

The NPP also continues to face problems in the formation of administrations in most of the local councils, except for the ones where it has an absolute majority. The NPP has a problem in forming administrations jointly with parties it accused of misrule and corruption in the past. But it has no problem seeking the support of elected members from independent groups even if they are former members of the same corrupt parties.

The leaders of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will, in due course, be compelled to understand the practical difficulty of continuing the old practice of projecting themselves as an ‘exclusive’ party in electoral politics.

Some members of the Opposition parties are said to have supported the NPP in the secret vote to elect chairpersons in some local councils and Opposition parties have accused the Government of trying to lure their members with money. The accusation comes in the backdrop of the ruling party’s insistence on holding a secret ballot to elect chairpersons in the disputed local bodies.

Continue reading ‘Tamil parties have started a give-and-take approach in the formation of local authorities, keeping in mind their individual interests.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

இலங்கை அரசினாலும் அதன் நிறுவனங்களினாலும் தனியாருக்கு சொந்தமான நிலங்கள் கையகப்படுத்தப்பட்டு வருவது அண்மைக்காலமாக வடக்கு, கிழக்கு மாகாணங்களில் தமிழ் மக்களின் ஆழ்ந்த விசனத்துக்குரிய ஒரு சர்ச்சையாக இருக்கிறது. இராணுவம், கடற்படை, விமானப்படை, பொலிஸ் ஆகியவற்றினாலும்் தொல்லியல், வனப்பாதுகாப்பு, கரையோரப் பாதுகாப்பு , கரையோரப் பாதுகாப்பு முகாமை திணைக்களங்கள் போன்ற அரச நிறுவனங்களினாலும் பல்வேறு காரணங்களின் கீழ் ஆயிரக்கணக்கான ஏக்கர்கள் நிலங்கள் கையகப்படுத்தப்பட்டிருக்கின்றன.

இது விடயத்தில் காணி நிர்ணய கட்டளைச் சட்டத்தின் ( Land Settlement Ordinance ) 4 வது பிரிவின் கீழ் 2025 மார்ச் 28 ஆம் திகதி வெளியிடப்பட்ட 2430/25 ஆம் இலக்க வர்த்தமானி அறிவித்தல் பிந்திய அதிர்ச்சியாக வந்திருக்கிறது. இந்த காணி நிர்ணய அறிவித்தலின் பட்டியலில் இலக்கங்கள் இலக்கங்கள் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருக்கும் — 5617 (யாழ்ப்பாணம் ), 5618 ( யாழ்ப்பாணம் ), 5619 (கிளிநொச்சி), 5620 (முல்லைத்தீவு ), 5621 (முல்லைத்தீவு), 5622 ( முல்லைத்தீவு), 5623 ( மன்னார் ) காணிகளில் எந்த ஒன்றுக்கும் 2025 மாரச் 28 ஆம் திகதியில் இருந்து மூன்று மாதங்களுக்குள் உரிமை கோரப்படாத பட்சத்தில் அவை காணி நிர்ணய கட்டளைச் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் அரசுடைமையாக்கப்படும் என்று பிரகடனம் செய்யப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

ஏழு பட்டியல்களிலும் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருக்கும் காணிகளின் மொத்த பரப்பளவு 5941ஏக்கர்களாகும். இவற்றில் 3668 ஏக்கர்கள் யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்டத்திலும் 1703 ஏக்கர்கள் முல்லைத்தீவு மாவட்டத்திலும் 515 ஏக்கர்கள் கிளிநொச்சி மாவட்டத்திலும் 54 ஏக்கர்கள் மன்னார் மாவட்டத்திலும் இருக்கின்றன. வடமாகாணத்தில் நிலத்தால் சூழப்பட்டிருக்கும் ஒரே மாவட்டமான வவுனியாவுக்கு வர்த்தமானி அறிவித்தலில் விலக்கு அளிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

வர்த்தமானி பட்டியலில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருக்கும் பெரும்பாலான காணிகள் இந்த மாவட்டங்களின கரையோரப் பகுதிகளில் இருப்பவையாகும் என்பது முக்கியமாக கவனிக்கப்பட வேண்டியதாகும். நாட்டின் வடமேற்கில் மன்னார் மாவட்டத்தில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருக்கும் காணிகள் முசலி உதவி அரசாங்க அதிபர் பிரிவில் உள்ளதாகும். வடக்கிலும் வடகிழக்கிலும் யாழ்ப்பாணம், கிளிநொச்சி, முல்லைத்தீவு மாவட்டங்களில் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டிருக்கும் காணிகளை ஒன்றாக எடுத்துப்பார்த்தால் புவியியல் ரீதியில் அவை வடமராட்சி கிழக்கு உதவி அரசாங்க அதிபர் பிரிவில் இருந்து கரைதுறைப்பற்று உதவி அரசாங்க அதிபர் பிரிவு வரை கரையோரமாக வியாபித்திருக்கின்றன.

இதனால் இந்த காணிகள் வடக்கில் தமிழர்கள் வாழும் பகுதிகளில் காலூன்றுவதற்கு விரும்பும் வல்லமை பொருந்திய ஏதாவது ஒரு அமைப்புடன் தொடர்புடைய எதிர்கால திட்டங்களுக்காக வஞ்சகத்தனமான முறையில் அடையாளம் காணப்பட்டிருக்கின்றனவா என்ற சந்தேகம் எழுகிறது.

Continue reading ‘வடக்கில் 5941 ஏக்கர்கள் நிலப்பிரச்சினை வர்த்தமானி தொடர்பாக நீதிமன்றத்தை நாடிய தமிழரசு கட்சியின் பொதுச்செயலாளர் சுமந்திரன்’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Leading Tamil film actor Kamal Haasan -who is no stranger to Sri Lankan film fans – is very much in the news lately, for three reasons. Firstly the actor-politico will be elected in July to the Indian “Rajya Sabha”or upper house from Tamil Nadu state. Secondly the eagerly awaited film “Thug Life” directed by ace film maker Mani Ratnam has been released worldwide Kamal is the lead actor and co-producer and co- script writer for the film . Thirdly the film “Thug Life” is caught up in a controversy due to views expressed publicly by Kamal Haasan .A battle between the Tamil and Kannada languages has been ignited and the film has not been screened in India’s Karnataka state. In short Kamal Haasan is in the eye of a politico-cinematic storm!

It is against this backdrop therefore that this column focuses on the actor turned politician this week . Kamal Haasan known popularly as Kamal , is arguably the finest actor in Tamil cinema today. He is also acknowledged as one of India’s foremost thespians.The multi-faceted artiste is a film director, producer, screenwriter, film lyricist, poet, dancer, choreographer and playback singer. The 70 year old actor whose screen debut was in 1960 as a child artiste has acted in 234 films and won many awards and laurels. His adulatory fans hail their idol as “Ulaga Naayagan” or global hero.

The actor -politico’s latest film “Thug Life” was released on Thursday June 5th 2025. The film is directed by renowned film director Mani Ratnam who is married to Kamal’s niece, Suhaasini Haasan. She is an award -winning actress herself . In 1987 ,Kamal Haasan had acted in the lead role of Mani Ratnam’s milestone movie”Naayakan”. The artistically acclaimed epic film was a commercial success earning laurels for the actor and director .The film was adjudged by the prestigious “TIME”magazine as one of the 100 best films ever made.

“Thug Life”

After a lengthy gap of 38 years , Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam were associated in a film together with the making of Thug Life . The film was expected to create new box-office records. This however did not happen .

There are many who opine that Kamal Haasan has a penchant for saying or doing something that creates a stir around his newly released film .Kamal’s latest “Thug Life”seems to be no exception .The film tipped to be a pan – India box – office hit is mired in controversy in the South Indian state of Karnataka. The film was not released in Karnataka state on June 5 th because of the controversy.

Continue reading ‘Actor – Politico Kamal Haasan in the eye of a Tamil -Kannada “Thug Life” Storm.’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

The evolution and growth of the armed struggle for the goal of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka saw many Tamil militant groups emerge across the politico-military horizon. There was a time when 34 known outfits – big and small – existed. Among all these, the single organization that kept the Tamil armed struggle alive for many years was none other than the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) led by Velupillai Prabhakaran from Valvettithurai in the Jaffna peninsula. The LTTE under Prabhakaran fought on relentlessly towards its avowed objective of a separate Tamil State until the very end.

The month of May is significant in the history of the Tamil secessionist armed struggle in Sri Lanka. It was on May 5, 1976, that a section of militant Sri Lankan Tamil youths re-organized themselves into the LTTE with the goal of establishing a separate Tamil State on the Island through an armed struggle. It was on May 14, 1976, that the chief political configuration of the Sri Lankan Tamils re-named itself as the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and adopted a resolution demanding the creation of a Tamil State called “Tamil Eelam”comprising the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the Island.

Decades later in May 2009, the LTTE suffered a total military defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankan armed forces in the Mullaitheevu district of Sri Lanka’s northern province. Four days in May from May 15 to May 18 were of crucial importance in this regard. On May 19, 2009, South Asia’s longest war came to an end with the official announcement that the LTTE leader Thiruvengadam Veluppillai Prabhakaran was dead. His body was recovered on the banks of the Mullaitheevu lagoon known as “Nandhikkadal”. The LTTE formed in May 1976 was militarily annihilated after 33 years in May 2009.

It can be seen therefore, that the month of May has proved to be of great significance in the Tamil armed struggle for Tamil Eelam spearheaded by the LTTE known as the Tigers. It is against this backdrop that this column , in this third week of May , focuses on Prabhakaran and the rise and fall of the LTTE with the aid of earlier writings.

Continue reading ‘From Valvettithurai to Nandhikkadal ; The Rise and Fall of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’ »

by

Meera Srinivasan

Sri Lanka and China have signed two Memorandae of Understanding to set up a working group on trade facilitation, and on industrial and supply chain cooperation, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said

“China and Sri Lanka have taken steps to deepen economic and trade cooperation, signing key agreements and exploring additional investment opportunities during the eighth meeting of the China-Sri Lanka Joint Trade and Economic Commission held on May 29th in Colombo,” the Embassy said on social media platform ‘X’ on Sunday.

The meeting was jointly chaired by China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Sri Lankan Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe. “Both sides exchanged in-depth views on advancing high-quality Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, expanding trade and investment, and safeguarding the multilateral trading system,” the Chinese Embassy’s post said.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka and China sign two Memorandae of Understanding to set up a working group on trade facilitation, and on industrial and supply chain cooperation, says the Chinese Embassy in Colombo meeting was jointly chaired by China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Sri Lankan Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe.’ »

By

Chandani Kirinde

(Chandani Kirinde traces the close friendship between Emperor Asoka and King Devanampiyatissa that led to the introduction of Buddhism to this land)

India’s Emperor Asoka and King Devanampiyatissa of Lanka never met in person, but their long-distance friendship paved the way for the introduction of the teachings of Lord Buddha to this island nearly 2,000 years ago.

Their friendship had begun many years before Arahant Mahinda stepped on Mihintale rock and delivered the first Buddhist sermon to King Devanampiyatissa, the epoch-making event in the country’s history which is commemorated on Poson Poya day each year.

Much of what we know of the connection between the Emperor Asoka who ruled from Pataliputra (present day Patna in the state of Bihar in India) and King Devanampiyatissa who ruled from Anuradhapura is derived mainly from the two ancient Lankan chronicles, the Dipavamsa and the Mahavamsa, the same sources that many historians turn to for clues on their relationship.

Some writers have compared them to pen pals, others describe them as allies brought together by common strategic interests while others call it a predestined friendship that would make them the greatest patrons of Buddhism in the world.

‘These two monarchs, Dewananpiatisso and Dammasoko, though they were not personally known to each other, were united by the ties of friendship, from a long period,” according to the Mahavamsa. However, there is no clarity on when this friendship started.

Given the growing influence of Emperor Asoka particularly after his conquest of Kalinga after a protracted war, it is likely the word of his prowess on the battlefield had reached far and wide beyond the region of his conquests.

Continue reading ‘The Long Distance Friendship Between Emperor Asoka of Pataliputra (Patna) and King Devanambiyatissa of Anuradhapura Began Many Years Before the Arrival of Mahinda on Mihintale on Poson Poya’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

Even though a month has passed since the Local Government (LG) Elections, political parties have been unable to form administrations in the majority of local councils. The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) and the Opposition parties, particularly the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, are busy trying to attract members of other parties and independent groups to their side.

Government leaders have rejected the Opposition’s accusation that the NPP, like previous governments, is engaged in ‘horse-trading.’ As a political analyst put it last week, one wonders whether the NPP Government is changing the system or vice versa.

Changing stances

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK ), which came first in the majority of the councils in the predominantly Tamil areas of the north and east, is also facing problems in the formation of local councils, just as the NPP is in southern Sri Lanka.

This is mainly due to the fact that many Tamil political leaders, who had promised the people before the elections that their parties would cooperate in the formation of administrations in councils in the Tamil areas, have now taken a different stance to suit political expediency.

Fearing that the unprecedented victory of the NPP at the Parliamentary Elections would pose a great danger to their political future, the Tamil politicians asked the Tamil people to vote only for Tamil parties at the local elections to ensure the existence of Tamil nationalism and to prove that their people had not lost the spirit of nationalism. They insisted that Tamils should not vote for any national (Sinhalese) party from the south.

Continue reading ‘The anti-Sumanthiran hysteria that has prevailed in northern politics for many years is an impediment to unity among the Tamil polity.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

“பிரிகேடியர்” பால்ராஜ் என்ற தமிழீழ விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்தின் பிரதி இராணுவத் தளபதி கந்தையா பாலசேகரன் அந்த இயக்கத்திடம் இருந்த மிகவும் சிறந்த இராணுவ தளபதியாக கருதப்பட்டவர். பால்ராஜ் போர்க்களத்தின முன்னரங்கத்தில் நின்று தலைமைதாங்குவதில் புகழ்பெற்ற, மிகவும் மெச்சப்பட்ட இராணுவ மதியூகி.

1965 ஆம் ஆண்டில் பிறந்த பால்ராஜ் 17 வருடங்களுக்கு 2008 மே 20 ஆம் திகதி மாரடைப்பால் காலமானார். அவரது 60 வது பிறந்ததினம் இவ்வருடம் நவம்பர் 20 ஆம் திகதி நினைவு கூரப்படும். இந்த கட்டுரை எனது முன்னைய எழுத்துக்களின் அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டு பால்ராஜையும் அவரது போராட்ட வரலாற்றின் பக்கங்கள் மீதும் கவனம் செலுத்துகிறது.

இராணுவக் களத்தில் விடுதலை புலிகளின் தலைவர் வேலுப்பிள்ளை பிரபாகரனுக்கு அடுத்ததாக இரண்டாவது தளபதியாக விளங்கிய பால்ராஜ் வலிந்து தாக்கும் போர்முறையிலும் தற்காப்பு போர்முறையிலும் அபார திறமையை வெளிக்காட்டியவர். பால்ராஜின் இராணுவ ஆற்றலை இலங்கை ஆயுதப்படைகளில் உள்ள அவரது எதிராளிகள் கூட மெச்சினார்கள். ஆயுதப்படைகள் பால்ராஜை விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்தில் மிகவும் சிறந்த மதியூகிப் போராளியாக (தலைவர் பிரபாகரனுக்கு மேலாகக்கூட ) கருதியதாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

ஒரு சந்தர்ப்பத்தில், முன்னரங்க நிலையில் இருந்து தலைமையகத்துக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்ட ” பால்ராஜ் களத்தில் நிறக்கிறார்” என்ற இராணுவச் செய்தியை விடுதலை புலிகள் இடைமறித்துக் கேட்டனர். அதற்கு தலைமையகத்தில் இருந்து ” மிகவும் எச்சரிக்கையாக இருங்கள்.பால்ராஜ் பிரபாகரனை விடவும் மிகவும் ஆபத்தானவர் ” என்றே பதில் அனுப்பப்பட்டது. இடைமறித்துக் கேட்கப்பட்ட அந்த செய்தியை அறிந்தபோது பிரபாகரன் மகிழ்ச்சியடைந்தார். கூச்ச சுபாவமுடைய பால்ராஜிடம் பிறகு பிரபாகரன் ” இப்போது உன்னை முதல் எதிரியாக இராணுவம் கருதுகிறது. அதனால் எனக்கு ஆபத்தில்லை” என்று கூறிக் குறும்பு செய்தாராம்.

பால்ராஜ் தொடர்பில் பெரிதாக தெரியவராத இன்னொரு சம்பவம் 2003 ஆம் ஆண்டில் இடம்பெற்றது. இலங்கை அரசாங்கத்துக்கும் விடுதலை புலிகளுக்கும் இடையில் நோர்வே அனுசரணையுடன் சமாதான முயற்சி முன்னெடுக்கப்பட்டுக் கொண்டிந்த நாட்கள் அவை. இருதய நோயினால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பால்ராஜுக்கு சிங்கப்பூரில் அவசர சத்திரசிகிச்சை செய்ய வேண்டியிருந்தது.

Continue reading ‘” பிரிகேடியர் ” பால்ராஜ் ; விடுதலை புலிகள் இயக்கத்தில் மிகவும் சிறந்த மதியூகிப் போராளி- இராணுவத்தினரும் கூட மெச்சிய மிகவும் சிறந்த தளபதி’ »

By
D.B.S. Jeyaraj

The first Sinhala language feature film “Kadawunu Poronduwa”(Broken Promise) premiered on 21 January 1947 at the Kingsley theatre in Colombo. Four months after that historic event ,on 30 April 1947, a baby girl was born in a Sinhala speaking family living in the Colombo suburb Peliyagoda. A few weeks later the parents went to an astrologer to cast a horoscope for the new arrival. They were astounded when the astrologer said their daughter would be a queen someday according to the planet configuration at the time of her birth.

Sri Lanka known as Ceylon became free of colonial rule under the British monarchy on 4 February 1948. There were no Kings or Queens in Independent Ceylon/Sri Lanka. Yet the astrologer’s prediction did come true. The little girl did become a queen – a moviedom Queen! She took to acting and reigned for many years as the Queen of Sinhala cinema.

The Sinhala cinema queen I am referring to is oof course Malini Fonseka who breathed her last on 24 May 2025 at the age of 78. In an illustrious career spanning six decades, Malini acted in many stage plays,films and teledramas. The multi-faceted Malini has even produced and directed films and teledramas. Her remarkable achievements led to her innumerable admirers and aficionados dubbing Malini as the Queen of Sinhala cinema.

Lester James Peries

The doyen of Sri Lankan filmmakers and the director who pioneered authentic Sinhala cinema Lester James Peries was foremost among those who acknowledged her as queen. On 30 April 2003,her birthday, a felicitation ceremony named “Maliniye”was held at the BMICH to mark four decades of Malini’s thespian contribution. On that occasion Lester stated “you are called the Queen of the silver screen by the masses and I too accept that fact. If I had a crown, I would have surely crowned you here”.

Continue reading ‘Malini Fonseka : Why the “Queen of Sinhala Cinema” Became a UPFA National List Parliamentarian.’ »

By
D.B.S. Jeyaraj

The Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP) led National People’s Power(NPP) recorded a landslide victory at the Parliamentary elections held in November 2024. The personal popularity of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake embodied in the form of an electoral wave described as the “Anura Ralla” was deemed responsible for the JVP led NPP winning 159 seats in a 225 member Parliament.

Island wide Local Government elections held on May 6th was perceived as a twin test to gauge whether the NPP/JVP Govt still retained it’s popularity and whether the Anura wave had lost its vigour or not. The results showed that the Anura wave was somewhat ebbing while the NPP was losing its sheen. Nevertheless the Local authority elections proved clearly that the JVP led NPP was still the top political party in Sri Lanka and that the Anura wave had not receded completely yet.

The NPP polled 4 ,503,930(43.26%)votes in the Local authority polls and finished on top in 265 local councils. 3,926 councillors were elected from the NPP to the Municipal,urban and Divisional councils. When contrasted with the 2024 parliamentary poll in which the JVP led NPP polled 6,863,186(61.56%0 votes, the Local poll result shows a huge vote drop in just 6 months.

However when compared with the JVP performance in the 2018 local poll results, the 2025 local govt election results are a gigantic leap for the party. In 2018 the JVP polled only 710,932(5.75%) votes obtaining 434 councillors. It failed to capture a single council.

Continue reading ‘Success of Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) at the North-Eastern Local Govt Elections Vindicates Party Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran.’ »

By

Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

While addressing the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo on 14 May, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) spoke highly of the conscience that guided their movement. He said that throughout history, their conscience had shown them the right path and had given them the courage to face future challenges as well, adding that they were dedicated to protecting that conscience.

One wonders whether the strain of conscience was the reason for President Dissanayake’s hesitation in taking a firm decision in advance regarding his participation in the 16th National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony held in Battaramulla five days later on 19 May. It cannot be said that he would have taken a principled decision to avoid the annual event to honour war heroes.

However, one does not know how many people believed the Government, which first announced that President Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya would not attend the commemoration event and that it would be led by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara representing them, when it later denied that the announcement had been a result of miscommunication in the face of severe criticism from the Opposition and social media.

In the end, the President could not avoid attending the commemoration. The JVP has always boasted that it encouraged and supported the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to wage war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in full swing. As such, it is difficult to understand the reason for the initial reluctance of the present Leader of the JVP who is the Executive President of the country and the Commander-in-Chief of the three armed forces to participate in the event honouring soldiers.

Why the dilemma?

Although the late Somawansa Amarasinghe was the Leader of the JVP when it supported the war, there is no record that Dissanayake had a different view of the war’s escalation. It must be remembered that it was under his leadership that organisations of retired soldiers and Police officers were formed in the National People’s Power (NPP).

At the same time, given the approach and actions of the JVP-led NPP Government in handling the problems of the minority communities during the last six months after it came to power, it is difficult to believe that the President would have shown any reluctance to participate in the War Heroes’ Commemoration in order to avoid hurting the sentiments of the Tamil people, who have suffered more than any other community as a result of the three-decade war.

In any case, there is no doubt that the President changed his mind in the face of criticism from nationalist forces. The events of the past week are the latest evidence of the extent to which the President will be forced to bow to the opposition of nationalist forces in dealing with the problems of minority communities, including the possible attempts at a political solution to the national ethnic problem in the future.

Against a backdrop where Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism has become intertwined with triumphalism after the end of the civil war, it is politically untenable for either the President or the Government to do anything that might appear to insult the memory of the war heroes, whom the people of the majority community revere as those who sacrificed their lives to protect the country’s unity and territorial integrity. It is, therefore, a matter of great mystery as to why the President has subjected himself to such impropriety in attending the war heroes’ commemoration.

Strong opposition

Last year, the 15th National War Heroes’ Commemoration was held under the patronage of then Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. President Ranil Wickremesinghe was not present, but his absence created not even a ripple. President Dissanayake’s reluctance, however, has provoked strong opposition from nationalist forces.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader and former Minister Udaya Gammanpila even claimed that it was because of pressure from the Tamil diaspora and communal political forces that the President had first decided to refrain from participating in the war heroes’ commemoration.
Rajapaksas grab the opportunity

The Rajapaksas, for the first time since stepping down from power, held a separate commemoration of the war heroes on behalf of their Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) titled ‘True Independence of the Motherland’.

The Rajapaksas during their rule first engaged in majoritarian mobilisation using war, and after the end of the war, they did the same using war triumphalism. They will not miss out on any opportunity to whip up communalism that comes their way as they have no option but to resort to majoritarian mobilisation to return to power.

The Rajapaksas are entertaining a belief that the Sinhalese people are indebted to them because the war was brought to an end during their rule. They also believe that no one has the ‘legitimate right’ to war victory except their family and the party. Despite losing popular support due to their misrule, the Rajapaksas still enjoy the confidence of Sinhalese nationalist forces.

Alienating minorities

Although Government leaders have been declaring that they will never allow racism and religious extremism to take hold again, it is obvious that their actions are beginning to alienate them from minority communities.

The Tamil nationalist parties in the north and east campaigned with the message that there was no difference between previous governments and the NPP Government in dealing with problems of minority communities, and the changed situation allowed them to win back support of the Tamil people at the local elections.

However, while the NPP Government is facing popular discontent considerably over its inability to deliver on its election-time promises, it is careful not to alienate nationalist forces in southern Sri Lanka when dealing with minority issues.

It is possible that Opposition parties and nationalist forces, unable to mobilise the masses against the Government on issues affecting all communities, including the economic crisis, may seek to embark on strategies against the NPP on the basis of communal politics. The criticism of the President in connection with the commemoration of the war heroes is proof of this.

Dissecting Dissanayake’s speech

In any case, President Dissanayake’s speech at the National War Heroes’ Commemoration Ceremony is certainly to be commended. It seems that he is of the view that the event should not be treated as a celebration of war victory like the Rajapaksas did. But the nationalist Opposition and social media have been harsh on him in their criticism, the claim being that President Dissanayake has reduced war heroes to ordinary soldiers.

The President eloquently spoke on the tragedy of the war and stressed that the highest form of justice the country could provide for those who gave their lives was to create enduring peace in this nation.
“This commemoration is not merely a remembrance of the war’s conclusion but also a pledge to unite all communities in building a nation rooted in brotherhood and harmony, rather than allowing divisions to reignite.

“War is a tragedy. As a nation that has endured this immense sorrow, it is our duty to ensure that such a conflict does nor arise again. We must strive to build a society characterised by peace, unity, and compassion, replacing suspicion, anger, and hatred with brotherhood and love.

“Not only in the south, but also in the north, people hold up photographs of their husbands and children on the streets and mourn their deaths. To every parent, their child is precious. So, as a country that has faced such a massive tragedy, our responsibility is to prevent such a war from happening again.

“This memorial reminds us that true homage lies in forging unity. Let us vow never to permit division again. Instead, let us build a society where brotherhood triumphs over enmity. True freedom of our homeland remains elusive; even after ending the war, we have yet to fully secure the complete liberation of our motherland.

“We must build a society where our children will no longer live in fear of war. This is an incredibly difficult task, yet it is one we must successfully accomplish. Although this may not be the ideal moment, I feel compelled to say that in both the north and the south, the flames of ethnic conflict have been rekindled, fuelled not by any cause other than the struggle for power,” the President stated.
While honouring and remembering the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to end the war, the President’s avoidance of mention of the war victory sets last week’s event apart from other memorial events so far. While Sinhalese nationalist forces have strongly condemned his speech, it is unfortunate that Tamil political forces did not welcome it. The President’s message must be properly understood: 19 May is not a day to celebrate war. It comes from a Sri Lankan President for the first time.’

Courtesy:Sunday Morning

By

Kishali Pinto- Jayawardene

A measure of unholy joy is exhibited by Sri Lankans following a dissolute duo of Rajapaksa Ministers being handed down long term rigorous imprisonment sentences by the Colombo High Court for causing a gigantic loss of more than 53 million rupees to the State in a politically motivated purchase of carrom and draught boards for distribution to sports clubs in the runup to the 2015 Presidential Elections.

Former Ministers in the crosshairs of anti-corruption investigators

There is wild public exultation about the two corrupt former Ministers, one a former Minister of Sports (seemingly) not being given special treatment inside the prisons; both were allocated a mat and a pillow along with standard issue jumpers as per gleeful media reportage. This is in contrast to the privileged treatment of Sri Lanka’s politically powerful crooks whose arrest and detention are generally for the benefit of television cameras.

Once the fuss dies down, the privileges quietly return. It remains to be seen if this will be the case this time around as well. Some of us who have unpleasantly long if not jaded memories may be forgiven therefore for abstaining from this unseasonable excitement that seems to have gripped the public in one way or another.

That said, the sight of the former Ministers escorted and shackled by officers from the court premises before being carted off to the prison, was undoubtedly pleasing.

Supposedly, a long line of former Ministers are in the crosshairs of the national anti-corruption body, awaiting indictments to be served against them in the coming days. Certainly, the closure of this particular prosecution by Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) has resulted in well-deserved penal punishments of those accused. That must go to the credit of the prosecutors.

Continue reading ‘SrI Lankans Dislay Public Exultation about the Long Term Rigorous Imprisonment Terms of Two Corrupt Ministers of the Rajapaksa Regime Over the Purchasing of Carrom and Draughts Boards’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

A 75-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, who returned from India after decades of displacement during the civil war, was on Thursday (May 29, 2025) detained by Sri Lankan authorities at the Palaly airport in the northern Jaffna district, on charges of having left the country without a valid passport.

Subsequently, a magistrate court in Mallakam town remanded him to custody for a week, despite him obtaining necessary clearance from relevant agencies and being certified a “refugee” by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), according to a social media post by senior lawyer and former Jaffna MP M.A. Sumanthiran, who appeared for the man. “Is this a move by the government to frighten 10k others who’ve registered to return?” he asked on X.

Continue reading ‘75 Year old Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee in Tamil Nadu who Returned to Jaffna After Obtaining Necessary Clearances is Arrested and Remanded’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated 34 years ago by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) on May 21st 1991. The date of Rajiv Gandhi’s death has poignant significance for me personally. May 21st is the date of my birth. Rajiv’s death occurred 37 years after I was born. My birth and his death are intertwined in my consciousness. Rajiv’s memory looms large as each birthday approaches. It is against this backdrop that I re-visit Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination with the aid of my earlier writings.

Rajiv Ratna Gandhi who was India’s Prime minister from 31st October 1984 to December 2nd 1989 was not serving as premier at the time of his demise.. An election campaign was underway then to elect a new Lok Sabha or Parliament. The Congress led by Rajiv was the front runner in that race then.

Rajiv as he was generally known was at a place called Sriperumbudur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu to address a propaganda meeting in support of Congress party candidate Ms. Maragatham Chandrasekhar. The 47 year old Indian ex –premier was then immersed in a hectic political campaign to win the Indian Parliamentary elections.

It was then that a Sri lankan Tamil girl known by the name of “Dhanu” got close to Rajiv Gandhi and gave him a sandalwood garland. The be – spectacled girl in an orange and green churidar then bent down respectfully to touch Rajiv’s feet. She set off a concealed explosive device that was strapped to her body. Rajiv Gandhi, the assailant Dhanu and at least 18 others were killed in the blast instantly. 42 were seriously injured.

A few of the injured also succumbed to their wounds in hospital later on.The “human bomb” assassination that was soon to become a hallmark of the tiger organization rocked India and shocked the world.

The politico-military chutzpah of the LTTE in deploying an assassination squad across the seas to eliminate a former and potential future prime minister of the regional super power on his home turf, raised many an eyebrow after Rajiv Gandhi was murdered. The Rajiv Gandhi assassination committed on Indian soil was an act of international terrorism that placed the LTTE on the index of global terrorists.

Many security affairs analysts have in the past evinced great interest in how this assassination was executed. The decision to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi was taken by LTTE leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran and tiger intelligence chief Shanmugalingam Sivashankar alias “Pottu Ammaan”..

Continue reading ‘Rajiv Gandhi, the Indo-Lanka Accord and the Sriperumbhudur Assassination.’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“What sheer unfeeling idiocy”. Rolf Hochhuth (The Deputy)

May 2024 marked the 15th anniversary of the ending of the long Eelam War. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardana presided over the annual “war heroes” commemoration. Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was among the attendees.

Not President Ranil Wickremesinghe though. He wasn’t present. His absence created not even a ripple.

One year later, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seemed to have decided to follow his predecessor’s example and stay away from an event which is “national” only if nation is Sinhala. It was a sensible decision but, as usual, the government bungled it.

The news of President Dissanayake’s non-attendance created a media/social-media backlash. Within days, the government walked back its own decision, declaring that President Dissanayake always meant to attend the event. It was all a matter of miscommunication.

A sorry excuse no one believed.

The government’s inability to stand its ground on President Dissanayake’s non-attendance is comprehensible given the seminal role retired military personnel played in the NPP/JVP’s path to power. The Rajapaksas had set the trend of politicising the military, soon after the war.

The NPP/JVP took this to a dangerous new level through Aditana. For the first time, retired military personnel were organised as ex-military with a separate identity, leaders and an organisational structure spread across the island except the North. A new pressure group was thus created, a mono-ethnic, largely mono-religious entity that could be especially vulnerable to extremist appeals by politicians, monks and men in uniform.

In 1956, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike made the cardinal error of bringing monks into politics as an organised entity. Mr. Bandaranaike, that arch opportunist, clearly had no intention of allowing monks to dictate policy to him. He merely planned to win the election with their help, then side-line them with a bagful of honours. Reality worked differently; the tail wagged the dog, the abrogation of the B-C Pact being the best case in point. In less than four years, Prime Minister Bandaranaike would be killed by a monk in a conspiracy masterminded by another monk.

Almost seven decades later, another Sri Lankan leader too became a victim of his own opportunism. Having won elections by using retired “war heroes” as a force multiplier, President Dissanayake couldn’t resist the pressure to attend the May 19 commemoration. In his speech, he made a praiseworthy effort not to valorise war and to focus on common losses and the need for healing. But the speech failed to have much of an effect; it was upstaged by the drama surrounding his attendance.

Mr. Dissanayake’s flip-flopping gave an opportunity for the Rajapaksas to hype up their public adoration of “war heroes”. In another first, the SLPP held its own separate commemoration titled The True Freedom of the Motherland attended by Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The message was obvious. Under Rajapaksa rule “war heroes” reigned supreme. They would do so again, once the Rajapaksas return to power.

The Rajapaksas feted and honoured, invoked and venerated the “war hero” in the abstract. Flesh and blood soldiers were quite another matter. From 2010 to 2015, “war heroes” planting grass, pulling weeds, sweeping sidewalks and carrying garbage were common sights.

Continue reading ‘The Rajapaksas Publicly Praised the “War heroes” While Utilising Army and Navy Personnel as Drivers, Domestic Aides and Personal maids Serving them and Family Members.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde

In her last appearance a couple of weeks ago, Malini Fonseka, arguably the queen of Sinhala cinema echoed the words of one of her most famous films ‘awa soya adare’. “I have come looking for love,” she said. She spoke a few words, faltering at times, but they were emotionally charged that it moved many in the audience to tears.

When she passed away early Saturday at the age of 78, Malini Fonseka did so, having won the love and adulation of millions of her fans which helped her remain the most beloved actress in the country, in a career spanning nearly six decades.

Born on April 30, 1947, Malini Senehelatha Fonseka’s beginnings were humble but earlier on there were indications that she was born for great things. A few days after her birth, her parents had visited an astrologer to have her horoscope cast only to have him predict that she was destined to be a queen one day, according to her official website. It might have sounded whimsical for her parents at the time, but an early talent for acting put her on her way to stardom.

Continue reading ‘Queen of Sinhala cinema Malini Fonseka :The face on the silver screen that captured hearts’ »

By Meera Srinivasan

Renowned Sri Lankan actor Malini Fonseka — who played the female lead in the Tamil film ‘Pilot Premnath’ [1978] starring Sivaji Ganesan — passed away in Colombo on Saturday (May 24, 2025). She was 78.
Having begun her acting career in the early 1960s in Sinhala theatre, Ms. Fonseka went on to become a sought-after artiste and film star, winning several awards.

She became familiar to Indian audiences with her role in ‘Pilot Premnath’, a joint Indo-Sri Lankan production directed by A.C. Trilokachander, which was filmed across many scenic locations on the island. In a 2023 piece on actor Sivaji Ganesan, senior journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj pointed to the lively song ‘Udarata Menike’ in the film, sung by L.R. Easwari and A.E. Manoharan, based on Sri Lanka’s popular musical form ‘Baila’. The film was a hit in both countries.

Continue reading ‘Renowned Sri Lankan actress Malini Fonseka who played the female lead in the Tamil film ‘Pilot Premnath’ starring Sivaji Ganesan passes away in Colombo on Saturday (May 24, 2025) at the age of 78.’ »

By

Tisaranee Gunasekara

“…if this isn’t happening, what is?”
Carolina De Robertis (The President and the Frog)

José Mujica, the poorest president in the world, died this week. As a young activist he had joined the Marxist Tupamaros guerrilla movement and was imprisoned for 14 years, most of it in a hole in a ground where he befriended ants and a frog to stay sane. During his five years as Uruguay’s president, he continued to live in his ramshackle farmhouse-home with his wife and three-legged dog Manuela, went about driving his old Volkswagen car, and donated most of his salary to charities.

Since Uruguayan constitution does not permit consecutive presidential terms, Mr. Mujica bowed out in 2015. Despite a 70% popularity rate, he didn’t consider another presidential run. In one of his final interviews, he criticised left-wing presidents of Nicaragua and Venezuela for clinging to power and wondered at comeback attempts by Cristian Kirchner of Argentina and Evo Morales of Bolivia. “How hard it is for them to let go of the cake,” he marvelled (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241129-we-re-messing-up-uruguay-icon-mujica-on-strongman-rule-in-latin-america).

Not wanting to ‘let go of the cake,’ is a political norm in today’s Sri Lanka. “Politicians never retire from politics,” Mahinda Rajapaksa said in 2024 (https://www.instagram.com/dailymirrorlk/reel/DBLMDBtsP82/). He had done more than most to set that trend in motion. Up until 2005, presidents retired after completing their two terms. President Rajapaksa removed the two-term provision in 2010, contested for a third term in 2015, lost, and, instead of retiring, contested the general election becoming an ordinary parliamentarian.

Continue reading ‘Will the ineptitude of the Anura Kumara Dissanayake administration open the door to a Future Namal Rajapaksa presidency?’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) deputy military chief Kandiah Balasegaran alias ‘Brigadier’ Balraj is regarded as the finest military commander the tigers ever had. Balraj was a much admired military tactician, reputed for leading from the front. Born in 1965, Balraj died of a heart attack 17 years ago on 20 May 2008. Balraj’s 60th Birthday will be commemorated on 27 November this year. This article based on previous writings focuses on Balasegaran alias “Brigadier” Balraj and facets of his fighting history.

Balraj, regarded as second in command to LTTE leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran in the military sphere, excelled in both offensive and defensive positional warfare. The military capability of Balraj was appreciated even by his opponents in the Sri Lankan armed forces. It is said that the armed forces regarded Balraj as the finest tactician-fighter in the LTTE and ranked him above his leader Prabhakaran in that respect.

On one occasion, the LTTE intercepted an army message from the frontline to headquarters saying that Balraj was in the field. The response was “Be careful. Balraj is more dangerous than Prabhakaran”. Later when Prabhakaran heard about this intercept, the LTTE chief was amused. He reportedly teased the shy Balraj about it saying, “The Army regards you as the No. 1 enemy now. So I am safe.”

Continue reading ‘“Brigadier” Balraj was the finest military commander the tigers ever had. Balraj’s military skills were appreciated even by his opponents in the Sri Lankan Army..’ »

டி.பி.எஸ் ஜெயராஜ்

சாமுவேல் ஜேம்ஸ் வேலுப்பிள்ளை (எஸ். ஜே.வி.) செல்வநாயகத்தின் 48 வது நினைவுதினம் ஏப்ரில் 26 ஆம் திகதி வந்துபோனது. தந்தை செல்வா என்று அறியப்பட்ட செல்வநாயகம் இலங்கை தமிழரசு கட்சியை 1949 டிசம்பரில் வேறு தலைவர்களுடன் சேர்ந்து ஆரம்பித்தார். இலங்கையின் வடக்கு, கிழக்கு மாகாணங்களின் தமிழர்களின் பிரதான அரசியல் கடசி என்று கருதப்படும் தமிழரசு கட்சி தற்போது அதன் வைரவிழாவைக் கண்டிருக்கிறது.

செல்வநாயகம் சிங்கள பெரும்பான்மையின மேலாதிக்கத்துக்கு எதிரான தமிழ் அரசியல் எதிர்ப்பியக்கத்தை பல வருடங்களாக முன்னெடுத்தார். அவர் தனது அரசியல் அணுகுமுறையில் போராட்டமும் பேச்சுவார்த்தையும் கலந்த தந்திரோபாயத்தைக் கடைப்பிடித்தார். தமிழரசு கட்சி ஒருபுறத்தில், பல்வேறு அகிம்சைப் போராட்டங்களை முன்னெடுத்த அதேவேளை, மறுபுறத்தில் சந்தர்ப்பம் வாய்க்கின்ற வேளைகளில் எல்லாம் அரசாங்கங்களுடன் பேச்சுவார்த்தைகளிலும் ஈடுபட்டார்.

பண்டா — செல்வா ஒப்பந்தம் என்று பொதுவாக அறியப்பட்ட இணக்கப்பாட்டில் கைச்சாத்திட்டது செல்வநாயகம் தலைமையிலான தமிழரசு கட்சியினால் தமிழ் தேசியப் பிரச்சினைக்கு தீர்வைக் காண்பதற்கு மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட பல முயற்சிகளில் ஒன்று. அது அதிகாரப்பகிர்வு கோட்பாட்டின் அடிப்படையில் அன்றைய பிரதமர் சொலமன் வெஸ்ற் றிட்ஜ்வே டயஸ் பண்டாரநாயக்கவுக்கும் செல்வநாயகத்துக்கும் இடையிலான ஒரு ஒப்பந்தமாகும். பாரிய ஆற்றலைக் கொண்டிருந்த வரலாற்று முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த ஒப்பந்தம் நடைமுறைப் படுத்தப்படுவதற்கு அனுமதிக்கப்படாதது துரதிர்ஷ்டவசமானது. அதன் ஆயுள் மிகவும் குறுகியதாகவே இருந்தது. இந்த பின்புலத்தில், இந்த கட்டுரை எனது முன்னைய எழுத்துக்களின் உதவியுடன் பண்டா — செல்வா ஒப்பந்தம் 68 வருடங்களுக்கு முன்னர் ஏன், எவ்வாறே கைச்சாத்திடப்பட்டது என்பதில் கவனம் செலுத்துகிறது.

Continue reading ‘எஸ். டபிள்யூ. ஆர்.டி பண்டாரநாயக்கவும் எஸ். ஜே.வி செல்வநாயகமும் 1957 ஆம் ஆண்டில் பண்டா — செல்வா ஒப்பந்தத்தில் ஏன், எவ்வாறு கைச்சாத்திட்டார்கள் ?’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

This article is the third and final of a trilogy about the coordinated attacks by suicide bombers on the Easter Sunday of 21 April 2019. Young men with explosives targeted three Churches and three Luxury hotels in what has come to be known as Sri Lanka’s easter bombings .The explosive attacks in Colombo,Negombo and Batticaloa resulted in 269 persons including 45 foreign nationals being killed and over 500 sustaining injuries.

Various conspiracy theories have been in circulation for many years about the Easter bombings. Chief among these is the one which alleges that an official or officials of Sri Lanka’s intelligence services had manipulated the misguided Muslim youths into launching the attacks with the ulterior objective of facilitating the return to power of former defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President.

This conspiracy theory received a tremendous boost in 2023 when Britain’s Channel 4 TV aired the documentary “Sri Lanka’s Easter bombings” in its “Dispatches” program on Tuesday 5 September 2023. Tamil Makkal Viduthalaip Puligal (TMVP) leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyaan’s former secretary and ex-TMVP spokesperson Mohammed Milhilar Mohammed Hanzeer alias Azad Maulana was the whistleblower who made the controversial disclosures about his erstwhile boss

The Oxford dictionary defines a whistleblower as a “source who makes public information about alleged wrongdoing, typically by or within the organisation in which they are employed. A person blowing the whistle to journalists”. The Cambridge dictionary describes a whistleblower as “a person who tells someone in authority about something illegal that is happening, especially in a government department or a company.”

Whistleblower Azad Maulana (spelled as Mowlana and Moulana also) hailing from Maruthamunai in the Eastern province had reportedly fled to Europe and sought political asylum in Switzerland.

Appearing on TV in 2023 , Azad Maulana made some startling disclosures against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, State Intelligence Service head Maj-Gen Suresh Sallay and Rural Road Development State Minister Chanthrakanthan known widely as Pillaiyaan. Several allegation were levelled s in the documentary concerning the April 2019 Easter bombings and the murders allegedly committed by the Govt sanctioned killer squad “Tripoly Platoon”. Gotabaya, Suresh and Pillaiyaan have all denied the allegations. Furthermore Maulana has been accused of concocting a false story to help him gain political asylum abroad.

In recent times there has been a lot of interest in the man known as Azad Maulana . There is much speculation in the media that Azad Maulana is being interviewed by Sri Lankan officials regarding the Easter bombings. It is also being suggested that he would soon give evidence in Sri Lanka regarding the Easter bombings.

It is against this backdrop that this column -with the aid of earlier writings – has been focusing on Azad Maulana in this trilogy.The first article was published on 18 April 2025 under the heading “ TMVP leader Pillaiyaan’s arrest, 2019 Easter bombings and Azad Maulana’s revelations”. The second article was published under the heading “Easter bombings conspiracy theories and importance of Azad Maulana’s testimony”. In this third article the focus would be on on how and why Azad Maulana allegedly left Sri Lanka and became a refugee in the West.

Continue reading ‘Why Channel 4 TV Whistleblower Azad Maulana Fled from Sri Lanka Via India to Seek Asylum in Switzerland.’ »

By

D.B.S.Jeyaraj

The co-ordinated suicide bomber attacks by a group of misguided Muslim zealots against three Churches and four Luxury hotels in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa on Easter Sunday (21st April) in 2019 brought in its wake several conspiracy theories. Chief among these was the one which suspected that an official or officials of Sri Lanka’s intelligence services had manipulated the Muslim youths into launching the attacks with the objective of facilitating the return to power of former defence seceratary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President. 269 persons including 45 foreigners were killed and over 500 injured in the attack.

This conspiracy theory received a tremendous boost in 2023 when Britain’s Channel 4 TV aired the documentary “Sri Lanka’s Easter bombings” in its “Dispatches” program on Tuesday 5 September 2023. Tamil Makkal Viduthalaip Puligal(TMVP)leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillaiyaan’s former secretary and ex-TMVP spokesperson Mohammed Milhilar Mohammed Hanzeer alias Azad Maulana was the whistleblower who made the controversial disclosures about his erstwhile boss.

The Oxford dictionary defines a Whistleblower as a “source who makes public information about alleged wrongdoing, typically by or within the organization in which they are employed. A person blowing the whistle to journalists”.The Cambridge dictionary describes a whistleblower as “a person who tells someone in authority about something illegal that is happening, especially in a government department or a company.”

Whistleblower Azad Maulana (spelled as Mowlana and Moulana also) hailing from Maruthamunai in the Eastern Province, fled to Europe and sought political asylum in Switzerland. Azad Maulana alleged that Pillaiyaan and former State Intelligence Service chief Maj-Gen Suresh Sallay had links with the Easter bombers and were involved in the conspiracy. Both Pillaiyaan and Sallay immediately denied the allegations.

Continue reading ‘Easter Bombings Conspiracy Theories and the Importance of Azad Maulana’s Testimony.’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

இலங்கை தமிழ் அரசியல் களத்தில் தலைமைத்துவம் தொடர்பான அக்கறைகள் அண்மைக்காலமாக உத்வேகம் பெறும் முக்கியமான ஒரு பிரச்சினையாக இருக்கிறது. தற்போதைய தமிழ் அரசியல்வாதிகள் மத்தியில் யார் எதிர்கால தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவராக மேன்மைப்படுத்தக்கூடியவராக இருப்பார் என்பது உள்ளூராட்சி தேர்தல்களுக்கு பிறகு விவாதத்துக்குரிய ஒரு விடயமாக இருக்கும்.

வெவ்வேறு காலப்பகுதிகளில் வெவ்வேறு கட்டங்களில் செல்வாக்குமிக்க தலைவர்கள் வெளிக்கிளம்பி ஆதிக்கம் செய்த தோற்றப்பாடு இலங்கை தமிழ் அரசியல் வரலாற்றின் எடுத்துக்காட்டான ஒரு அம்சமாகும். பொன்னம்பலம் சகோதரர்கள் இராமநாதனும் அருணாச்சலமும், அருணாச்சலம் மகாதேவா , ஜீ.ஜீ. பொன்னம்பலம், எஸ்.ஜே.வி. செல்வநாயகம், அப்பாபிள்ளை அமிர்தலிங்கம் ஆகியோர் வெவ்வேறு காலப்பகுதிகளில் செல்வாக்குச் செலுத்திய ஜனநாயக தலைவர்களாக விளங்கினர். தமிழ் ஆயுதப் போராளிகளின் எழுச்சி மற்றும் வேலுப்பிள்ளை பிரபாகரனின் தலைமைத்துவ தோற்றப்பாடு இவற்றில் இருந்து முற்றிலும் வேறுபட்ட நிகழ்வுப் போக்குகளாகும்.

மேற்குறிப்பிட்ட அளவுகோலின்படி உள்நாட்டுப் போரின் முடிவுக்குப் பின்னர் 2010 ஆம் ஆண்டு தொடக்கி 2024 ஆம் ஆண்டுவரை இராஜவரோதயம் சம்பந்தனின் தலைமைத்துவக் காலப்பகுதி என்று கருதப்படுகிறது. இறுதி ஒரு சில வருடங்களில் அவரின் பிடி தளர்ந்துவிட்ட போதிலும், சம்பந்தன் உயர்த்தியிலும் அடையாள அடிப்படையிலும் கேள்விக்கு இடமின்றிய இலங்கை தமிழ் தலைவராக விளங்கினார். அவரது வாழ்வின் அந்திமக் காலத்தில் சம்பந்தன் ” பெருந்தலைவர் ” என்று அழைக்கப்பட்டார்.

கடந்த வருடம் சம்பந்தனின் மறைவுக்கு பிறகு தமிழ்த் தேசியவாத அரசியலில் தலைமைத்துவ வெற்றிடம் மிகவும் முனைப்பாக தெரிந்தது. மதுபான அனுமதிப் பத்திர சர்ச்சைக்கு பிறகு கடந்த வருடம் சி.வி. விக்னேஸ்வரனின் அரசியல் ஓய்வு மற்றும் இவ்வருட தொடக்கத்தில் சோமசுந்தரம் மாவை சேனாதிராஜாவின் மறைவு ஆகிய காரணிகள் தலைமைத்துவ வெற்றிடம் மேலும் விரிவடைவதற்கு பங்களிப்புச் செய்தன.

இத்தகைய சூழ்நிலையில், தமிழ்த் தேசியவாத தலைமைத்துவ ” சம்மாசனத்துக்கு ஆர்வப்படும் ஒருவரை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கு தன்னல அக்கறைச் சக்திகளும் கட்சிகளும் ஒன்றுபட்டுத் திட்டமிட்டு தீவிர முயற்சிகளை முன்னெடுப்பதை காணக்கூடியதாக இருக்கிறது. அது வேறு எவருமல்ல, சட்டத்தரணியும் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினருமான கஜேந்திரகுமார் பொன்னம்பலமேயாவார். கஜன் என்று பொதுவாக அறியப்படும் அவர் அகில இலங்கை தமிழ் காங்கிரஸின் பொதுச் செயலாளராகவும் தமிழ் தேசிய மக்கள் முன்னணியின் தலைவராகவும் இருக்கிறார். முதலில் 2001 ஆம் ஆண்டு தொடக்கம் 2010 ஆம் ஆண்டுவரையும் யாழ்ப்பாணம் மாவட்ட பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினராக இருந்த கஜேந்திரகுமார் பொன்னம்பலம் 2020 ஆம் ஆண்டில் மீண்டும் பாராளுமன்றத்துக்கு தெரிவாக தற்போதும் தொடருகிறார்.

Continue reading ‘கஜேந்திரகுமார் பொன்னம்பலம் இலங்கை தமிழர்களின் எதிர்கால அரசியல் தலைவராக வருவாரா?’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Island-wide local authority elections are scheduled for 6th May 2025. At the national level ,the local authority polls will provide the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna(JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) Government an opportunity to prove it is as popular as it was at the time of the Parliamentary elections in November 2024. It will also be a test to gauge whether the Anura “Ralla”oe wave has receded or not.

On another level, the local poll results will demonstrate clearly the standing of the Anura Kumara -led Government vis a vis the ethnic minority communities of Sri Lanka. At the 2024 Parliamentary elections, the JVP-led NPP was the Party that elected the most number of Muslim and “Malaiyagath Thamizhar”(Hill Country Tamils). The NPP also tied with the Ilankiai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) in electing the highest number of Sri Lankan Tamil MPs from the northern and eastern provinces.Both parties elected seven Tamil MPs each from the north and east.

Under these circumstances the north -eastern local polls in Tamil areas will be the determining factor in three important issues. Firstly the results will show whether the Tamils of the north and east are still supportive of the JVP led NPP or not. After the 2024 Parliamentary poll, the JVP has been triumphantly proclaiming that the North -eastern Tamils have rejected the traditional Tamil nationalist parties and opted for the “Thisaikaatty” or compass. The may 6th poll can either prove or disprove this claim.

Secondly the local polls will also provide the Tamil nationalist parties another chance to deny the JVPled NPP claim. Even though the JVP-NPP won several seats in Tamil areas, the Tamil parties were deeply divided.Their votes were fragmented. Tamil parties have explained that their comparatively poor showing at the 2024 parliamentary poll was due to this disunity in Tamil ranks. Arithmetical arguments have been propounded that if the Votes polled by different Tamil parties&independent groups were heaped together, they would be double the number of JVP/NPP votes in the north and east They even say that Tamil voters punished them for their lack of unity by voting for the compass.

In spite of their assertion that disunity was the cause of their decline in 2024, the Tamil parties have not been able to form a singular,united front. The premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamils is the ITAK known in English as the Federal Party(FP). The ITAK is facing the local polls alone under its House symbol. The ITAK/FP position is that given the voting system of 60% directly elected Ward members and 40% members based on Proportional representation, it would be better for political parties to contest separately. The Tamil parties could unite after polls to either form a stable administration or prevent the JVP/NPP from forming an administration. The ITAK/FP claims that it is not being too critical of rival political parties during the election campaign to keep options for inter-party unity open in a post-election scenario.

Of the other Tamil nationalist parties there are two broad alliances. One is the Democratic Tamil National Alliance(DTNA) contesting under the Sangu or conch symbol. The other is the Thamil Theseeya Paeravai contesting under the Ahila Ilankai Tamil Congress Symbol of Cycle. The DTNA consists of parties like the EPRLF, TELO,PLOTE, Crusaders for Democracy and Samathuvak Katchi. The Tamil National People’s Front -led Thamil Theseeyap Peravai has parties like the Thamil Theseeyak Katchi, Pasumaith Thaayaga Iyakkam and Jananaayagath Thamil Arasuk Katchi in their ranks.

In addition to the ITAK and the two broad alliances, several other smaller political parties and independent groups are also in the electoral fray. Among these are the Thamil Makkal Koottamaippu, Kizhakku Thamizhar Koottamaippu and Independent groups backed by maverick Tamil MP Dr. Ramanathan Aruchchuna.

It could be seen therefore that the local authority polls in the Tamil areas of the North and East are an arena where two sets of electoral battles are being fought. In one the JVP led NPP is pitted against Tamil nationalist parties and groups. In the other, Tamil political parties are competing among themselves to be recognized as the numero uno among Tamil nationalist parties.

Continue reading ‘The 2025 Local Authority Poll and the Attempt to Project Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam as the Future Tamil Political Leader.’ »

The National People’s Power led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) emerged as the largest party in 265 out of 339 local municipal councils across Sri Lanka.However, the National People’s Power (NPP) party’s ability to form administrations in those 265 bodies is in doubt as the combined Opposition groups have more members than NPP in multiple councils, official results issued by the independent election commission has shown.

The election commission data showed that the ruling NPP garnered over 4.5 million votes or 43% of the votes, drastically down from the 68% polled at the parliamentary election held in November last year. It also had a thumping win in the presidential polls prior to that.

The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) won just 14 of the 339 councils earning 21% vote.
More than 70% of the registered voters exercised their franchise on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) in the local council polls, which were postponed in 2023 following the economic crisis in the island nation.
In the battle for the coveted Colombo local body, the NPP won just 48 out of the 117 seats with the opposition parties combined having more.

Continue reading ‘President Anura Ku7mara Dissanayake led National People’s Power (NPP) Garnering 4.5 Million ($3%)Votes leads in 265 out of 339 Local Authorities in Election. Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) Coms First in 43 of 58 Councils Contested in North and East’ »

By

Meera Srinivasan

Over 17 million Sri Lankan voters will on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) get to vote in the local government elections — the island nation’s third election in seven months — to elect representatives to as many as 336 local bodies.

The voters will choose members and chairs of Municipal Councils, Urban Councils, and Pradeshiya (rural) Sabhas in the first electoral contest after a popular wave propelled President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his National People’s Power (NPP) coalition to power last year.

With successive wins in Sri Lanka’s crucial presidential and parliamentary polls in 2024, the leftist NPP consolidated power, securing a two-thirds majority in the legislature. The local government elections assume significance also because the former Ranil Wickremesinghe administration postponed holding them in 2023, citing “lack of funds” for polls owing to the economic crisis.

Over the past few weeks, the ruling NPP has been campaigning hard, with President Dissanayake addressing public rallies across the country, including in the Tamil-majority Jaffna district where the NPP outdid traditional Tamil nationalist parties in the general elections.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Local Govt Elections : Ruling NPP is looking to gain control of local bodies to deliver on pledges at the local level; while opposition parties are trying to regain lost political capital’ »

The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party(FP) has expressed strong opposition to recent moves by the National People’s Power (NPP) Govt of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to acquire extensive tracts of land belonging to the Tamil people of the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Former Kaffna district MP and ITAK General -Secretary MA Sumanthiran PC has in a letter written to President Dissanayake ,Urged him to revoke the Gazette No: 2,430 in which a notice dated 28 03 2025 has been under section 4 of the Land Settlement Ordinance.

The letter to President Dissanayake by the ITAK Gen Secy Sumanthiran states as follows –

Continue reading ‘NPP Govt Attempt to Grab Tamil Owned Lands in North-East under Section 4 of Land Settlement Ordinance; President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urged by ITAK Gen Secy MA Sumanthiran to revoke Gazette no 2430 Immediately’ »

By Bhadri Durghabakshi

Some kinds of magic never leave us. As a child I chased fireflies – fleeting flickers of light darting through the warm night. Now, I chase sunsets with the same awe and feeling of magic.
I still remember the first time I saw the Maldives in a travel magazine with its image of a sunset spilling gold into the ocean. That image stayed with me and it wasn’t long before my sister and I decided to experience it for ourselves.

Just a short plane ride from Colombo, both Sri Lanka and the Maldives have been trending on travel feeds, showcasing the natural beauty of these locations.

Landing in Malé, is unlike any other airport experience. You feel like James Bond arriving on a mission — except instead of spies and gadgets, you’re dodging sea planes and hovering over boats and yachts. The airport is on its own island called Hulhule, surrounded by an expansive stretch of clear turquoisewater.

Once you retrieve your luggage and wander to your resort’s check-in desk, the realization hits that the ocean engulfs you with its endless blue. The speedboat transfer was smooth in stark contrast to the choppy waters we navigated during our 30-minute ride to Centara Ras Fushi, located on the island Giravaru.

The Maldives has about 1,200 islands, out of which around 160 are resorts. These resorts range from ultra-luxurious overwater bungalows to more budget-friendly options, offering a wide variety of experiences for all types of travellers. We decided to stay in an overwater bungalow. The villa blended in perfectly with its surroundings – weathered wood, soft linen and the soothing rhythm of the waves tapping against the stilts beneath. Occasionally, you can feel your bed rocking when the winds are strong, adding an unexpected twist to the otherwise tranquil experience.

Continue reading ‘Maldives: an escape from the daily grind, a serene space to unplug, breathe deeply, and simply ‘be.’’ »

By

Kishali into-Jayawardene

President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka’s ringing claim during the National People’s Power (NPP) May Day rally at the Galle Face Green this Thursday that his Government had ‘established the Rule of Law in Sri Lanka’ would be exceedingly funny if it was not so bizarre.

Positively primitive scenes

That claim is refuted particularly by the uncouth sight of NPP party cadre, ferried in by buses to Colombo for the May Day rally, parking on the Southern Expressway and having their lunches with gusto while camping on the side of the expressway lane.

These surreal visual images with law enforcement officers standing idly by, could not have contrasted more strongly with the President’s lofty sentiments.

Basic law and order seems to be disregarded in the NPP’s brave new world of a ‘thriving nation and a beautiful life,’ forget about the Rule of Law.

Where did the party cadre summon up the chutzpah to do this if not from the protective cover that the President, the Prime Minister and all their merry ministers afford them?

Up to now, it is not reported that NPP party men and women who violated highway laws with impunity, have been disciplined. If the Rajapaksas had allowed the Medamulana rabble to run riot in this same way, the same voices who shrug their shoulders at ‘minor infractions’ would have said, ‘well, the Rajapaksas built the Expressway, what is the harm in letting them do what they like?’

This slavish mentality, this forsaking of critical judgment, this typically easy excusing of inexcusable political behavior, characterises our polity.

Perhaps this is due to the boasted (why this boast, pray?) origins of the Sinhalese from some stray troublesome Aryan prince banished from India with his ruffian followers. Or perhaps it emanates from decades of kingly and then colonial rule where serfdom was baked into the genes of the subjects.

Whatever the reasons, national slavishness combined with racism and communalism has marked most of Sri Lanka’s post-independence history.

Continue reading ‘President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) Govt survives and is sustained only by the weakness of the collective Opposition.’ »

By

D.B.S. Jeyaraj

April 26th is the 48th death anniversary of res[pected Tamil political leader Samuel James Veluppillai (SJV)Chelvanayagam. Chelvanayagam known as SJV and Chelva was the co founder and long time leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi(ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party (FP). The ITAK/FP launched in December 1949 is currently celebrating its diamond jubilee year. The ITAK/FP is regarded as the premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamils in the Northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka.

SJV Chelvanayagam spearheaded Tamil political resistance to perceived Sinhala majoritarian hegemony for many years. He adopted an agitation cum negotiation strategy in his political approach. The ITAK/FP engaged in several non -Violent protest campaigns on the one hand while opting to negotiate with the Governments in power whenever the time was opportune.

Among the many attempts by the Chelvanayagam -led ITAK to resolve the prickly Tamil national question was the signing of an agreement known generally as the Banda -Chelva pact or B-C pact. This was an agreement based on power sharing principles between the then Prime minister Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike and Chelvanayagam. It was a historic pact possessing great potential.Unfortunately The B-C pact was Not allowed to work and was short-lived. It is against this backdrop that this column -with the aid of previous writings – focuses this week on how and why the Banda- Chelva pact was signed 68 years ago.

Continue reading ‘How and Why the Banda – Chelva Pact was Signed by SLFP Leader SWRD Bandaranaike and FP Leader SJV Chelvanayagam.’ »

By

M.A.Sumanthiran

(M.A. Sumanthiran is a President’s Counsel practising at Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, a former Member of Parliament of Jaffna, and the General Secretary of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi)

In the many cycles of violence in Sri Lanka’s troubled history, “terror” has been a running theme. While the state — that has repeatedly demonstrated a majoritarian tendency — has never held a mirror to itself to acknowledge the violence that it has unleashed on civilians, it has often sought to justify using draconian measures to “counter” or “crush” anything that it deems “terror”.

If there is one law in Sri Lanka that has received constant attention over the last half century in this regard, it is the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) passed in 1979, during the presidency of J.R. Jayawardene. It was modelled on South African legislation from the Apartheid era and British laws against Irish militancy, and replaced another law titled Proscribing of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Other Similar Organizations Law of 1978.

The intention was very clear: to eradicate the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and other organisations that sought to create a separate Tamil state on the island. Originally envisaged as a temporary provisions law for a period of three years, it became a permanent fixture in Sri Lanka’s statute books in 1982.

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s NPP Govt Must Implement Its Pre-election Promise of Repealing the Draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act(PTA)’ »

டி.பி.எஸ். ஜெயராஜ்

” நான் நல்ல போராட்டத்தை போராடினேன். ஓட்டத்தை முடித்தேன். விசுவாசத்தை காத்துக் கொண்டேன்.”( I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”) – அப்போஸ்தலர் புனித பவுல் ( Apostle St.Paul ) தீமோத்தேயுவுக்கு‌ எழுதிய இரண்டாவது கடிதத்தில் (2 Timothy 4.7) உள்ள இந்த வாசகங்கள், முன்னாள் மன்னார் கத்தோலிக்க ஆயர் அதிவண. இராயப்பு யோசப்பின் வாழ்வுக்கும் சேவைக்கும் மிகவும் பொருத்தமான புகழாஞ்சலியாகும். ஏப்ரில் 16 அவரது 85 வது பிறந்த தினமாகும். தனது 81 வது பிறந்த தினத்துக்கு 15 தினங்கள் முன்னதாக 2021 ஏப்ரில் முதலாம் திகதி அவர் காலமானார்.

ஆயர் இராயப்பு யோசப் ஆண்டகையை நினைவுகூரும் இந்த கட்டுரை பாதகமான சூழ்நிலைக்கு மத்தியிலும் விளைவுகளைப் பொருட்படுத்தாமல் அதிகாரத்துக்கு உண்மையை உரைத்து தனது மக்களுக்காக உறுதிகுலையாமல் நின்ற ஒரு கத்தோலிக்க மதகுருவுக்கான அஞ்சலியாக அமைகிறது.

ஆயர் இராயப்பு யோசப் 1992 ஆம் ஆண்டு தொடக்கம் 2016 ஆம் ஆண்டு வரை 23 வருடங்களுக்கும் அதிகமான காலமாக மன்னார் ஆயராக சேவை செய்தவர். அவரது சேவைக்காலத்தில் இலங்கை ஆயுதப் படைகளுக்கும் விடுதலை புலிகளுக்கும் பயங்கரமான போர் 17 வருடங்கள் நீடித்தது. அந்த போர் வடக்கு, கிழக்கில் தமிழர்கள் பெரும்பான்மையாக வாழும் பிராந்தியங்களை மூன்று தசாப்தங்களுக்கும் அதிகமான காலமாக நிர்மூலம் செய்தது.

மன்னார் கத்தோலிக்க மறைமாவட்டம் வட மாகாணத்தின் வவுனியா, மன்னார் நிருவாக மாவட்டங்களை உள்ளடக்கியது. போர்க் காலத்தில் மன்னார் மறை மாவட்டத்தின் கீழ் வரும் பகுதிகள் படுமோசமாக பாதிக்கப்பட்டன.பல தேவாலயங்கள் சேதமடைந்தன. மக்கள் கொல்லப்பட்டார்கள், காணாமல் போனார்கள் ஆயிரக் கணக்கானவர்கள் தங்கள் வீடுவாசல்களை இழந்து இடம்பெயர்ந்தார்கள். கத்தோலிக்க மதகுருமார் சிலரும் பாதிக்கப்பட்டார்கள். மடுமாதாவின் திருவுருவச்சிலை கூட ஒரு தடவை பாதுகாப்பாக வைத்திருப்பதற்காக தேவாலயத்தில் இருந்து வேறு இடத்துக்கு எடுத்துச் செல்லப்பட்டது.

அத்தகையதொரு சூழ்நிலையில், பாதிக்கப்பட்ட அந்த மறைமாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் நிவாரணத்துக்காக, மன ஆறுதலுக்காக , வழிகாட்டலுக்காக தங்களது ஆயரை நாடுவது இயல்பானதே. அந்த நிலைவரத்தை மெச்சத்தக்க துணிச்சலுடன் ஆயர் இராயப்பு யோசப் எதிர்கொண்டார். மன்னார் மக்களின் பிரதான மேய்ப்பராக அவர் வலிமையான தைரியத்துடன் அதிகாரத்தில் இருந்தவர்களுக்கு உண்மையை உரைத்தார். அதனால், அவர்களுக்கு ஆத்திரத்தை ஏற்படுத்தினார்.

உண்மையை பேசியதன் மூலமாக ஆயர் ‘ அதிகாரத்தின்’ சீற்றத்துக்கு ஆளானார். ஒரு ‘ புலி ஆயராக’ அவர் செயற்படுவதாக குற்றஞ்சாட்டி ஊடகங்களில் திட்டமிட்ட முறையில் பிரசாரங்கள் செய்யப்பட்டன. இராயப்பு யோசப் சர்ச்சைக்குரிய ஒரு ஆயராக அடிக்கடி வர்ணிக்கப்பட்டார். புலிகளின் ஒரு ஆதரவாளராகவும் மதகுருவின் ஆடை அணிந்த ஒரு புலி என்றும் நேய்மையற்ற முறையில் அடிக்கடி அவர் குற்றஞ்சாட்டப்பட்டார். இந்த த்க்குதல்களுக்கு மத்தியிலும் அவர் குரலற்றவர்களின் குரலாக விளங்கினார்.

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