The New Terrorism
“But time is always guilty. Someone must pay for Our loss of happiness, our happiness itself.†(W.H. Auden, from ‘Detective Story’ in Collected Poems, 1991) It would be interesting to ask W.H….
Author: Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa
An infamous proposal
The proposals released by the SLFP on the 1st of May deserve mention only because they epitomise how NOT to foment a process of conflict transformation to address Sri Lanka’s violence. Rohan…
Sri Lanka’s constitutional gulag
“The SLFP, and the millions who support it, will never be a party to robbing the people of Sri Lanka of their sovereignty.†Lakshman Kadirgamar, 4 November 2003 It is only through…
Conspiracy Theories
Regrettably, the continuing tragedy of violent conflict in Sri Lanka is further compounded by the increasing emergence of all manner of conspiracy theories. Because of their risqué sensationalism with scant regard for…
Federalism in verse: An idea
A conversation with a friend over SMS when I was at a book launch recently: Sanjana: “At Sumane’s book launch. Peace and federalism are supposedly nigh” MR (Friend): “That sounds fun. So…
A Royal – Thomian Family
“A cricketing fiesta such as this is my idea of nirvana†Into the passionate Soul of sub-continental cricket, Emma Levine The setting: Big matches are as unique as they are similar. There…
Investigate us, or stop the harassment and false allegations!
Speaking at a media conference to launch “Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression in Sri Lanka: Struggle for survival“, a damning new report on the state of Sri Lankan media drafted by…
“We need a revolution in Sri Lanka!” – A brief chat with Sam de Silva
Photo credit: Nazreen Sansoni “on one level, Sri Lanka needs a revolution to really change what’s going on here. There is such a domination by the powers that be… there needs to…
Circles of Violence: A Return to Sri Lanka
CIRCLES OF VIOLENCE : A Return to Sri Lanka is film that about which Sam got in first got in touch with me around two years ago. He filmed 3 – 4…
Thoughts on Chatroom, a play by Enda Walsh directed by Tracy Holsinger
Photo credit: Christian Northeast , directed by Tracy Holsinger and produced by Mind Adventures Theatre Company, was a refreshing departure from banal productions that usually feature in Colombo. Dealing with suicide and…
Minister of Incestment Promotion?!
Passed on to me by a friend: The original webpage is, at the time of writing, available here.
Denial and polarisation
Originally published in Himal Southasian, February 2007. The undeclared Eelam War IV in Sri Lanka shows no signs of abating. The Ceasefire Agreement, whatever is left of it, is enervated and made…
Cutting off telecoms in Sri Lanka redux…
This from the FMM today: Internet facilities and 8,000 telephones cut off in Jaffna Peninsula The Free Media Movement (FMM) is deeply disturbed to learn that basic communications facilities to the Jaffna…
Crossing over into chaos
That Sri Lanka faces a serious crisis of governance is evinced by the crossing over of 16 of UNP MPs to government ranks in January 2007. Bi-partisanship, once again, fails in Sri…
Seeing mobile phones as a basic human right
News that mobile phone users in the North & East of Sri Lanka are once again cut off is a disturbing trend in the erosion of fundamental rights, including Article 19 of…