The fabric of life
At the time of founding Selyn Handlooms in 1991, Sandra Wanduragala did not know much about the handloom industry, but this didn’t stop her. “I thrive on challenges,” she says, laughing. Despite having initial…
Gender
Sellamma & her struggle to reclaim her house and land in Puthukudiyiruppu
Sellamma is 83 years old. She has a house in Puthukudiyiruppu (PTK) East, Ward no. 7, in the Mullaitivu district in the Northern Province. It’s opposite the PTK Divisional Secretariat (DS). But…
Statement by women’s rights organisations, activists on NHRAP
We, a collective of Sri Lankan individuals and organisations working for the advancement of the human rights of women, are unanimous in our concern about the disturbing news that certain provisions in…
A decade: In Passing
Photograph courtesy My mother always used to ask me why I didn’t write more often and I always had a stock reply “Everything I write is so negative, even I can’t stand…
Forecast for 2017: Sepali Kottegoda
This is the second in a series of video interviews forecasting what 2017 will have in store across different sectors, including women’s rights, economics, and arts and culture. Sepali Kottegoda, Executive Director of Women…
Personal/Political
Photo courtesy Abdul Halik Azeez In September 2013, I lost my mother. 8 months after that, in May 2014, I lost my brother. They were significant people, in more ways than one. There…
Invictus: Stories of Resilience from Mannar and Mullaitivu
In the post-conflict narrative, there are stories that are glossed over, or never told. November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. To mark this day, travelled…
Trigger Warning
America just chose a rapist to be their president. Let that sink in. Let that properly sink in. Let’s put aside the politics, policies and international relations aside for a minute and…
Countering Sexual Harassment in the work place: Interview with Mihiri de Silva
Sexual Harassment in the work place is seen as a common occurrence. Compounding the issue is the fact that when sexual harassment victims do report such instances, they do not have a…
Sexism is on the rise
Photo courtesy the BBC Chaucer’s notorious should be safeguarded from an excessive display of sin-inducing, female flesh. It seems as if nothing has changed since the time of Adam and Eve as…
SUBMISSION ON LGBTIQ PERSONS AND TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE MECHANISMS
Photo courtesy TO THE ZONAL TASK FORCE AND THE CONSULTATION TASK FORCE FOR RECONCILIATION MECHANISMS Introduction We present this submission as individuals self-identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer (LGBTIQ),…
‘Let Her Cry’ is not a male fantasy on women
Photo via Fragments A university professor named Carmen Wickramagamage has written a long article to (Let Her Cry)”. About two weeks ago, I also wrote a small write-up after watching this movie….
A Meaningful Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination: Recognising Sexual and Gender Identities
Image from 30 Years Ago In response to the call by the Public Representations Committee (PRC) for public submissions relating to proposed constitutional reforms, the following submission was made to the PRC…
Increasing Women’s Participation in Politics: Solving the Problem or Veiling It?
Featured image courtesy CEPA Celebrating a long fought victory, the Sri Lankan women’s movement was recently able to receive assurance of an increase in women’s political participation in Local Government institutions. Sri…
Deadlier than the Male
Featured image courtesy Kentridgecommon I have just read Kishani Jayasinghe’s excellent article ‘My Experience of Independence’, published in The Sunday Times ‘Plus’ of March 6, 2016. In this, she expresses her perceptions…
