Gaza: The Cruelty and Pain of Numbers
If a modern military combat involves a lot of high explosive such as large bombs and shells, the physical devastation of the area is profound. And the bigger the shell or bomb…
justice
Five Years On: Still Seeking Justice for Easter Sunday Bombings
The churches have been restored for congregations to worship and the luxury hotels have been repaired for the elite to dine in but the families of victims are still seeking justice for…
Protecting Protesters is the Duty of the State
During 30 protests between March 2022 and June 2023, Sri Lanka’s law enforcement personnel did not adhere to international law and standards, using excessive force against peaceful protesters in at least 17…
Hernia in Hell
The handbasket’s full. Really. There’s no room at the inn, my friend. Thirty five thousand souls blown off the Gaza Strip since October, 1500 from Port Au Prince since January.…
Women in the North Fight Against a Patriarchal Society for Survival
In all conflicts around the world, women are deeply affected. Sri Lanka’s 26 year civil war is no exception. Women in the war torn areas have faced violence, sexual abuse, displacement and…
Four Takeaways from the UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza
The recent UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza from which the US, not surprisingly, abstained marks a crossroads in the history of Israel and the future of Palestine.…
Mahara Prison Massacre: Families and Victims Await Justice
In a landmark development in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Mahara Prison riots, the Attorney General (AG), on behalf of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), informed the Court…
Identity Crisis of the Malaiyaha Thamilar Community
People of Tamil descent raised on plantations have endured a long history of discrimination, exploitation and violence tracing back to the era of colonization. The younger generation, both men and women, expresses…
Gaza in End Times
Jonathan Glazer, director of The Zone of Interest (Oscar acceptance speech) The Pali Canon has the original tale but it’s the version in the commentaries we know. In both stories, she is…
US-Israel Faustian Bargain
Silvia Federici (Counterpunch, 12 March 2024). Magen David is the Hebrew name for the Shield of David or more commonly known as the Star of David. Like the European Crusaders marching…
Conspiracy, What Conspiracy?
Former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has released a book entitled “The Conspiracy to oust me from Presidency”. Also on the cover are the words “how internationally sponsored regime change made a mockery of…
It’s A (Sur)real World
In North Gaza a food pallet is attached to a parachute that fails to open. Five people are crushed when it hurtles to earth. Besides burying the bodies, pallbearers open the…
Human Rights Council Updated on Regime’s Abuses
“Sustainable peace and reconciliation will not be achieved in Sri Lanka with regressive laws and authoritarian approaches, which will only serve to perpetuate the human rights concerns of the past,” said Volker…
Misconceptions About the 1983 Riots
Island A recent statement attributed to Prasanna Ranatunga, the Urban Development and Housing Minister of Sri Lanka, blaming the JVP for the July 1983 riots and posted on the A5 News Facebook…
An Uva Uprising: Farmers Fight for Land and Legacy
Our journey began with a seven hour drive from Colombo. As we travelled, the scenery transformed from verdant mountains to emerald plains bordering the Uva province. We reached the solitary stretch between…
