Author: Harendra Alwis

Colombo, Features, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics and Governance, Post-War, Reconciliation, Vavuniya

Sri Lanka’s War Burden: Two years on

Photo credit Eranga Jayawardena/AP, Encyclopædia Britannica Online During the last couple of months, the former UN spokesperson in Sri Lanka – Mr Gordon Weiss has been promoting his book titled “The Cage”…

Harendra Alwis on 07/10/201107/13/2011

Colombo, Peace and Conflict, Politics and Governance, Post-War

Living in a very small world: and dying to have a piece of it

Part 4 I was the last person in our group to come out of the railway station after divulging the intricacies of my visit to the somnolent policeman and the Civil Defence…

Harendra Alwis on 09/06/200909/04/2009

Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics and Governance, Post-War

Crossing over to the other side of a unitary state

Part 3 The refurbished metal â€œQueen of Jaffna” gracefully strode up to the platform in Medawachchiya by 10.30 am – the time I usually start to begin to consider the prospect of…

Harendra Alwis on 09/05/200909/05/2009

IDPs and Refugees, Peace and Conflict, Post-War, Vavuniya

Linking North and South: What trains cannot do

Part 2 Weeks before coming to Sri Lanka, I shared with some friends; a desire to help war affected Sri Lankans in whatever capacity possible while I am home. I had a…

Harendra Alwis on 09/04/2009

IDPs and Refugees, Kurunegala, Peace and Conflict, Post-War, Vavuniya

End of a conflict: An ideal time to bear witness to a brutal war

Part 1 The strap of my bag unbuckled under the strain as I squeezed out of the bus in Kurunegala. The clock tower read an unrushed 6.40 am on its weary face.…

Harendra Alwis on 09/04/2009