Thirty years ago, today
Thirty years ago today, my parents were heroes. Until yesterday, I didn’t even know this. My mother who worked in Fort back then, saw buildings going up in smoke, tyres burning and…
Identity
Much left to untangle yet
I took this photo 4 years ago, on the 18th of May 2009. On a day when I was out of words and could just about manage to write on my blog, much…
Home
This is the view from my home. 30 years ago, I was not even alive but if I had stood in this same place, looking in this same direction, I would have…
On Black July, I was 3 years old
Thirty years ago today, on Black July, I was 3 years old. I doubt I even knew what the difference between Sinhalese or Tamil or Muslim meant at the time. I am…
A point of departure
July 1983 was a turning point for many Sri Lankan Tamils to leave the motherland, and seek refuge in various countries including India, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, France,…
‘Flying Fish’ and the Constriction of the Arts in Sri Lanka
I met Sanjeeva Pushpakumara last year in a little art cinema off the Champs Elysees at the showing of Ashoka Handagama’s Ini Avan. It seemed he knew me from his days as…
Cargills Food City and ‘Humber’ dates
On its website, Cargills Food City (one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and largest supermarket chains) notes, that it “has been recognized for its innovation in taking super marketing to the masses”. We…
Sri Lankan exiles and emigrants: Some thoughts
Still from the movie Silenced Voices (Cavafy. Translated from the Greek) By way of a preface, I mention the perception in some religions that we all are exiles, sojourning through a foreign…
30 Years Ago: An unprecedented look at Black July
In August this year, will launch a compelling collection of content to commemorate 30 years since Black July. The content will feature original podcasts, photography and writing on a dedicated website. Building…
Waiting for my own Mandela…
Editors note: Through Nelson Mandela International Day, the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/13 of 2009 recognizes Nelson Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity, in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, the…
Prince Salie: A story of sapphires and steamships
Mohammed Usuff Mohammed Salie was born in 1877. He was the grandson of Mohamed Usuff, the Alim of the Kandawatte mosque in Galle, who was responsible for handwriting a Quran he knew…
Blocking inconvenient truths: Time magazine and Sri Lanka
Image courtesy Al Jazeera (AFP/Christophe Archambault) magazine, is banned in Burma. Even though the lead article is primarily on U Wirathu, the leader of the 969 Buddhist Nationalist movement and only has passing…
From Merchant Prince to Akbar Brothers: Inayat Akbarally and the Bohras of Sri Lanka
Inayet Akbarally tells the remarkable story of his great grandfather Careemjee Jafferjee and how he became the first member of the Dawoodi Bohra community to set foot in Ceylon believed to be around 1830. A…
Interview with MIXED RICE: Standing up for a diverse Sri Lanka
The people behind MIXED RICE are a collection of Sri Lankans from various backgrounds who are scattered across the globe from Sri Lanka to Australia, Japan, the US and UK. There are…
‘Rally for Unity’, a March towards Reconciliation
Photo by Anushan Selvarajah, from Flickr photo set on rally It is often the case that a nation which experienced a protracted war will tend to look forward rather than backward. For Sri…
