A Tribute to Malathi de Alwis and Her Work
Malathi de Alwis, friend, mentor, teacher, feminist, anthropologist, birder, foodie and the most amazing cook, passed away on January 21. As we mourn this utterly devastating, untimely loss of one of the…
Author: Chulani Kodikara
“What is the Question?” The Matter of Surrendees and Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Response
Meera Srinivasan, the Hindu correspondent in Sri Lanka, at the first press conference with Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa asked him what happened to the LTTE cadres and others who surrendered to the…
Rokheya, Sultana and the Muslim Women Dreaming of Gender Justice in Sri Lanka
In tending to all domestic chores. However, men enter purdah voluntarily after sustaining injuries in a war. Women take over, win the war through non-violent means and continue to rule Ladyland. With…
Making Recommendations based on Revelation and Reason: The Challenge before Justice Saleem Marsoof’s Muslim Personal Law Reforms Committee
In the current debate about reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act of 1956 (MMDA), those opposed to reform are arguing that all reform must be consistent with the i school…
The Quota for Women in Local Government: A pledge for parity and a parody in parliament?
Photo courtesy Women and Media Collective The theme for International Women’s Day this year is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it up for Gender Equality”. A good day to reflect on the…
Good women and bad women of the post-war nation
Photo by Anushka Wijesinha, 2011, via IPS Since the end of war in May 2009, the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government has sought to forge a new overarching Sri Lanka identity…
The Domestic Violence Act: Seven Years On
Photo courtesy Beyond Borders blog On 9th August in 2005, the Sri Lankan parliament unanimously passed the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA). The Act does not create a new offence of…
A Commissioner’s Perspective: Citizens’ Commission on the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTE
As one of the members of the Citizens’ Commission on the Expulsion of Muslims from the Northern Province by the LTTE in October 1990 (Citizens’ Commission), it is my privilege and pleasure…
Women are not willing to go back to pre-war status quo
By Kumi Samuel and Chulani Kodikara War is a gendered process. Post war is no different.  It may be a cliché to say that in Sri Lanka as elsewhere in the world,…
Provincial Council Elections 2008/2009: Nominations for and representation of women
A number of columnists have commented on the various different aspects of the Provincial Council elections held in 2008 /2009 beginning with the Eastern PC elections in May 2008. These comments have…
Women and politics in Sri Lanka: The challenges to meaningful participation
In an earlier article on titled ‘Half a Democracy‘,  the author referred to the virtual absence of women in political institutions in Sri Lanka, and their resultant inability to define politics and…
Who is afraid of NGOs?
Thomas Carothers When governments have wanted to make peace with the LTTE, they have not been shy to mobilize the support of NGOs dealing with issues of peace and human rights. During…
Peace in Northern Ireland – Lessons for Sri Lanka?
There appears to be renewed interest in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) within policy circles here. Â The GFA is certainly unique because it fundamentally reconstituted the state and…