Asylum Seeking Downunder…
The 82 Sri Lankan asylum seekers are making news in Australia. They haven’t been sent to Indonesia to be ‘processed’ and it’s unlikely they’ll be handed back to the Sri Lankan Government.…
Issues
Federalism: Some debates never die
Today, in the wake of recent crossovers by the UNP reformists and the presentation of reports from APRC process, the federal debate has once again taken centre. For many years Federalism has…
When Buddha met the Demons of Lanka
This time around, I examine the manner in which Buddha first came to Sri Lanka and encountered the non-Aryan Tamilian inhabitants. Called demons in Dharmapala‘s description of them in 1908, they were…
Theeban’s murder: An epitaph in Sinhala
In my recent contribution in Sinhala to Mawbima, I explore the murder of Thillainayagam Theeban as first reported by Nalaka Gunawardene in this forum. An interesting footnote is that not a single…
The Rise of “Peace†Professionals in Sri Lanka: Rent-Seeking in the Peace Sector
Writing on the political economy of war, David Keen has written the following words: “[T]he study of war has been characterized by a kind of mental block. Sometimes war appears as a…
Multiculturalism? Hmm . . .
The JVP and the UNP are making angry rumblings and, accusations of LTTE-Mahinda pacts and US-Gotabaya Pacts are doing the rounds. Amidst the turmoil the APRC is making feeble attempts to ‘put…
Significant Other
I read the Daily News cause it’s in the office in the morning. The headline is generally ‘EVERYTHING IS FINE’, but there are some new additions. Lately the paper and Mahinda have…
Whiter justice? – The killing of Thillainayagam Theeban
Photo credit: Video Image, Sri Lanka Media Helping Media features a poignant submission by Nalaka Gunawardene on the murder of Thillainayagam Theeban. As noted in the article: Theeban, 16 at the time…
Security Forces North & East Operations
Civilians are returning to government-controlled areas on a mass scale and are fleeing LTTE territory, while the main goal of the government is to wipe out LTTE from the eastern area. This…
Like Slaves In Jaffna
I feel like security forces treat us like slaves, one Jaffna journalist said. Some roads are banned in Jaffna for public transport, only people living in that area can use that road.…
Ravaya, the LTTE and the Keheliya Chintanaya
Amidst shackles – Notes of a citizen journalist My article, in Sinhala, explores the allegations made against Ravaya, The Nation and the Mawbima newspapers recently that they were supporting the LTTE. I…
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…
The world in your Inbox – The Groundviews e-newspaper
The improved Groundviews e-newspaper now features: Top stories from Christian Science Monitor Top stories from New York Times International Edition Daily Dilbert Comic This Day in History in addition to top stories…
Crossover and Mixed Public Reaction
The latest survey conducted by the Social Indicator, the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives reveals that Sri Lankans express mixed opinion on the recent crossover by the 18…
Peace in the playground
In many countries across the world, peace education is part of the school curriculum. Through this, people are able to acquire an understanding from an early age about the root causes of…