Zionism Plus Impunity: The Mathematics of Israel
When the Secretary General of the UN condemned the Hamas attack of October 7 and cautioned the world to see it in context, he came under harsh criticism from Israel. But he…
Author: Bishop Duleep de Chickera
Parliamentary Democracy: Re-living a Myth
Parliamentary democracy is a system of governance through which people share resources, provide for their own needs, enhance their own interests and deal with unexpected contingencies, as far as possible on their…
The Difference We Long For
A few days ago, a Buddhist monk and two Christian priests were beaten up opposite the official residence of the prime minister of the country. They were among more than 30 peaceful…
People’s Protest, Public Space and the Public Interest
People’s protests today occupy the public space as the people clamour to create and occupy democratic space. This receives public attention and worries the oppressor. Today’s protests demand change. The sovereignty of…
COVID-19 is an Opportunity to Break Rigid Schooling Systems
Although they overlap, there are some crucial differences between rigid schooling systems and education. Rigid schooling prepares children for exams and qualifies them for employment. Education equips children with values and prepares…
The VIGED, the Vulnerable and the Wise: Thoughts on the Birth of Jesus for Our Times
At the outset In the 19th Century a French sociologist Emile Durkheim coined the acronym ‘anomie’ to describe the then growing absence of norms in society. Today, global trends of governance under…
Of False Witness and True Witnesses: Thoughts on the Mahara Prison Debacle
The Mahara prison violence has shocked the nation and stirred feelings of disbelief and indignation. A wide cross section of people and groups – class, ethnic and political – want to know…
New life amidst a threat to all life: Easter in retrospect
Image via , by AFP. Last year, suffering and death struck with the arrival of Easter, to plunge us back into Good Friday. Thousands who lost loved ones and limbs were shattered…
A Lenten Reflection
“Try again; fail again. Fail better. “- Samuel Beckett Last year at Easter, sudden acts of violence spread immense fear, injury and death, within a matter of moments. A small group of…
Be still and nourish freedom: A Reflection
With Freedom (Independence) Day in sight we should be reflecting on how best our freedom gained, is to be consolidated and what new freedoms are to be secured. As change occurs, our…
After the pause… a Song: A Christmas Reflection
Photo courtesy The run-up to the birth of Jesus was punctuated with pauses. Mary’s pause After the Angel visited her, Mary could not say what she would have liked to have said.…
A place for each within a space for all: A post-presidential election reflection
Before and after the election Concerns for physical security secured a foremost place in people’s expectations and influenced the way many voted. An ‘enemy’, among us but not us, had to be…
The probe for a prudent political order: A Reflection
Photo courtesy Iromi Perera’s Flickr album on 2018 constitutional coup The more visible euphoria that precedes the coming presidential election, is accompanied with a deeper, solemn realism that the country is unlikely…
Keep it clean: A reflection
Photo courtesy CNN. “ . “ Real stories-real racism A Colombo taxi driver informed a customer that he was a Muslim. It sounded like an apology. His two previous hires…
Sensitivity, solidarity and social stability: A post Easter-Sunday reflection
Photo courtesy The message The worship had just reached the the affirmation of God’s intervention in history, when the police arrived. The officer was courteous but firm. The service had to be…