TNA MP Mr. R. Sampanthan remembers the events of July 1983
Tamil National Alliance MP Mr. R. Sampanthan speaks of the anti-Tamil riots of July 1983. Speaking of the “terrible experience for all Tamil people in Sri Lanka” he says that the riot…
Month: July 2008
AFLAME – Remembering Black July, 1983
AFLAME – Remembering Black July, 1983 What is a poem to a man hiding in the cellar of his neighbor’s house, breathing the way his hostess spices lentils and mutton, while son…
Spoil Sports, or an Oppportunity for a Dignified Exit
This morning, I woke up to the news that the LTTE had declared an unilateral ceasefire during the SAARC conference. Of course, war is not a sport – but their declaration must…
Plus 25: Things we can’t do because of “National Security” in Sri Lanka
25 years after Black July, the term “National Security” is used to thwart lot of things. V from the movie ‘V for Vendetta’ said . At least he had that. We don’t.…
Review of My Belly is White by Austin Fernando (in Sinhala)
My Belly is White – මගේ බඩවචසුදුය දුටු à·ƒà·à¶±à·’න් ඒà¶à·Šà¶à·” නොයන මà·à¶à·˜à¶šà·à·€à¶šà·Š. ඒà¶à·Š පිටු 927 ක් පුර෠දිවයන කà¶à·à·€à¶šà·Š. පසුගිය සඳුද෠දොරට à·€à·à¶©à·’ මෙම කෘà¶à·’ය ලිය෠ඇà¶à·Šà¶à·š à·à·“â€à·Šâ€à¶» ලංක෠පරිපà·à¶½à¶± සේවයේ…
The tamasha that is SAARC – Who really cares and benefits?
An interesting advertisement by a tour operator caught my eye in a daily paper last week. It said “Get away during the SAARC summit” as a part of an advertisement promoting overseas…
July: Life after 25 years
Anoma Rajakaruna shares her photos of people in black and white. Anoma has captured many expressions and many environments. Every photograph speaks differently. As a film-maker, photographer and poet ,Anoma has well…
Mobile Phones in Sri Lanka: Everyman’s new trousers?
One day a few years ago, I found my uncle in a really bad mood. Enjoying his retirement after long years as a senior civil servant, he was highly agitated about what…
A military pathway to nation building
The leaders of the Tamil community and the left movement, who had joined the governments of UNP and SLFP since independence had helped the leaders of these two parties to bring this…
Tide turning?
Gajaman Nona Ryszard Kapucinski is no armchair observer. As foreign correspondent for the Polish Press Agency, he witnessed 27 coups and was sentenced to death four times in his lifetime. In his…
On dimensions of ‘lyricality’ in times of war
Aboorvan Prabanjana takes great pains to drive home a point in a piece titled “Why does Malinda justify excesses of Government?” (Sunday Lakbima News, July 6, 2008). For the record, Malinda doesn’t.  But…
Security forces stop issuing travel permits to leave Jaffna
Security forces stop issue travel permit to leave jaffna for the security of SAARC conference. Normally if anybody wish to leave Jaffna they must be taken permission from the forces. The security…
Idols of the Market-Place
One of the well-known parts of Francis Bacon’s philosophy is his enumeration of what he calls “idols” by which he means bad habits of mind that cause people to fall into error.…
Blood is their medal
 Last weekend a friend gave me a CD of songs by Victor Jara, a Chilean teacher, theatre director, poet and political activist.  His album reflects his struggle against an American-backed coup…
Consumer protection in Sri Lanka: Seeing beyond rice, coconut and milkfood
Consumer protection! It’s of those widely desired, critically needed yet rarely found practices in Sri Lanka. When it does happen, even falteringly, the practice is largely confined to everyday consumer goods, mainly…