Waiting for the end of the LLRC
Image courtesy LLRC Another session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva has come to an end. Sri Lanka has emerged unscathed, even though considerable pressure is being exerted on the…
Year: 2011
A-Z of Sri Lankan English: L is for link language
The A-Z of Sri Lankan English is back after a break. These short pieces focus on different aspects of the way English is used in Sri Lanka. Collectively they provide a cross-section…
A Tale of Three Telescopes and a Blind News Media
Every newshound must survive a ‘lean news’ day. Most know what to do when that happens: sniff around, or dig deeper. But like our canine friends, newshounds too occasionally bark up the…
In conversation with Joshua Roman: Videos and photos
Performing at the Lionel Wendt. Photo by Ruvin de Silva. TED Fellow and gifted cellist Joshua Roman was in Sri Lanka recently for his debut concert in Colombo. He also performed in…
Re-displacement of Menik Farm inmates to Kombavil (Mullativu)
On 20th September 2011 the Government of Sri Lanka had announced that Menik Farm, hosting 7394 persons (2097 families) will be closed down.[i] The solution imposed on these people has been to…
Grease Devils and Police and Army attacks on civilians in Mannar and Vavuniya
Police attacks on civilians in Komarasankulam (Vavuniya district) 11 men were arrested by the Vavuniya Police in Komarasankulam at 10.30 pm on 20th August 2011. The men were severely beaten…
Cheran
He is writing history, where he lives, when he travels, to Denmark, Singapore, Tamil Nadu, Toronto. Edward Said wrote about Palestinians, Rudramoorthy Cheran, Tamils. News that my friend has suffered a mild…
Ray Wijewardene: An Extraordinary Thinker and Tinkerer
Ray Wijewardene in his study at Colombo home, playing with pet squirrel. Larger photo in the background is that of Sir Charles Hayward of Firth Cleveland Group. Photo courtesy http://www.raywijewardene.net. If I…
Milinda Moragoda’s ‘Right to Information’: A sordid record of its real nature and limits
The Hansard of 20th September 2011 records a question posed by Dr. Harsha de Silva in Parliament over the campaign finances and the asset declaration of Mayoral candidate Milinda Moragoda. See high…
Fundamental questions for AJM Muzammil and the UNP
Last Friday, I was slated to interview the UNP’s Mayoral candidate AJM Muzammil on public television. After his media manager expressed a keen interest and confirmed his participation, Muzammil backed out the…
A Review of ‘The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution: Substance and Process’
Photo courtesy Vikalpa September 8, 2010 marked a watershed event in the constitutional history of Sri Lanka. The enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution on this ill-fated day brought to…
Hacking mayoral campaign promises
Photo from Asian Mirror In , an article published on the Lanka Business Online website recently, the Head of the Policy Planning Group, Milinda for Mayor Campaign and renowned policy analyst Prof. Rohan…
Authoritative Ethical Realist Reads Rajapaksa’s Role
The Pope with Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith Though my political approval of and personal liking for Mahinda Rajapaksa, (certainly in relation to his competitors and immediate predecessors) are shared by nine out of ten…
Land in the North and East of Sri Lanka: Concern and confusion over Government circular
Image credit Jeremy Suyker, via Foto8 The Government recently unveiled a policy regarding land in the North and East through the introduction of a Cabinet Memorandum (memo) titled ‘Regularize Land Management in…
An appeal against infringement of university autonomy in Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Higher Education has issued a directive that all state universities should hire the services of Rakna Lanka Ltd for provision of security services. The undersigned of the University academic…