Steering Sri Lanka Away from Kakistocracy
By January 2022 Sri Lanka was well on its way to becoming a failed state. Bankrupt, riddled with corruption from top to bottom and at the mercy of evil leaders, the country…
Peace and Conflict
Christmas, Palestine, Rohingyas and Sri Lanka
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Palestine, during a time of colonization and political and economic oppression by Roman imperialism. Those who dared to call for freedom and justice were brutally crushed….
They Nailed Themselves to the Cross
Christianity gained popularity in Sri Lanka following the arrival of European invaders and became a widely practiced religion over time. The Nestorian crosses discovered during archaeological excavations in Anuradhapura, which was a…
Christmas Card to a President
You ask me to sign a card to the outgoing president and his teacher spouse. Happy to do so while biting my tongue and repeating the mantra that this is a…
From Gaza to Syria Israel Runs Amok
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now an international outlaw and a fugitive under the protection of US. All international institutions including the UN General Assembly (UNGA), UN Security Council (UNSC), International…
Comrade Prins Gunasekera and the Lost Generation
Born in Kataluwa, Galle District, Comrade Prins Gunasekera was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Habaraduwa electorate in March 1960 and re-elected under the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) ticket…
Open Sesame for War Criminals?
In the second decade of the 21st Century, genocide is being televised. , the channel promises Israeli audiences “exclusive content from Gaza” – gory videos of death and destruction visited on Palestinians…
The United Nations’ Paradox: Peacekeeper or Power Puppet?
Racism has been a persistent challenge in human societies. Apart from the historical movements and the fight for justice and rights for marginalised groups, shrouded in open declarations of peace and unity,…
The Civil War Through a Bishop’s Eyes
“The need for survival slings a gun on the shoulders of those who search for bread,” writes a Bishop of the Church of Ceylon. In this reflection on his being a witness…
Bringing Perpetrators of Gross Human Rights Violations to Task
The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), an independent NGO working since 2013 to protect and promote justice and accountability in Sri Lanka, has submitted more than 60 sanctions and visa ban…
SL Barometer Explores Reconciliation Trends and Challenges
The Sri Lanka Barometer (SLB) has published the results of a three year survey on reconciliation examining eight critical dimensions: accountable governance, addressing the past, identity and belonging, trust, justice for all,…
SL Faces International Pressure to Set its Human Rights Record Straight
Kumanan Sri Lanka is wrestling with deep-rooted human rights challenges despite pledges for reform. Accountability, civil liberties and governance issues remain stubbornly unresolved, casting a long shadow over the nation’s future. The…
Nothing New Said or Done
The recital called in the name of war and peace did not finish in peace. A late reader from the world of the Open Mic rose up to question the…
Amnesty International: Israel Committing Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza
Amnesty International’s research has found sufficient basis to conclude that Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, the organization said in a landmark…
New Documentary Explores Sri Lanka’s Buddhist Supremacy and Minority Communities
In Nedunkeni, a small town outside Vavuniya, an ancient Hindu monument consecrated to Lord Siva stood on Vedukkunaari hill. The monument was reported stolen and later its destroyed remnants were found in…