On forgiving and forgetting
Pre-Independence, our island was among most peaceful lands in Asia. For some centuries there had been no large scale ethnic riots in our Island apart from the anti-Muslim riots of 1915. Even…
Reconciliation
From Canada to Colombo, can’t stereotype my thing yo
I need a cigarette. In another impulsive moment, I had made the irresponsible decision a few months ago to become a social smoker. I do not particularly know what that means but…
Restorative Justice and the Youth Court System
Image from WS Police The idea that an offender of the law ought to be judged by a court of their peers is the idea which defines “Youth Court” a legal body…
The rule of tyranny and the Reign of God: A Christmas Reflection
Image courtesy Riversoft Partnerships in tyranny Jesus was born under the rule of tyranny. Absolute power was held by the Roman Emperor who ruled conquered regions through local agents. Herod was one…
Nelson Mandela: Terrorist turned Santa Claus or Liberator of the Oppressed?
Photo by Adrian Steirn/Nelson Mandela Foundation/Getty Images via Despite his lifelong commitment to Non-Violence (except briefly against unmanned institutions such as power stations) Mandela was proclaimed a Terrorist by President Reagan, and…
A letter to President Rajapakse from Nelson Mandela
Dear Mahinda Rajapakse, At the outset , I would like to tell you one thing. I regret very much that we have never met and not had the opportunity to share our…
Condolence Messages for Nelson Mandela
Photograph via CNN In the aftermath of the passing away of one of the world’s greatest statesmen and Nobel laureate, Nelson Mandela, it was most intriguing to read the condolence messages that…
Nelson Mandela’s Legacy to the World: Some Less Celebrated Aspects
Photograph courtesy National Geographic Give me that man That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him In my heart’s core Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2 The death of the moral…
A Northern Path to Reconciliation in Sri Lanka
Image courtesy USA Herald Northern People Humble the “People’s Dynasty” I salute the people of the Northern Province for showing the door to the self-proclaimed “People’s Dynasty”; the only province in the…
The ascendent hate speech in Sri Lanka: In conversation with Mohamed Hisham
Mohamed Hisham, Co-Spokesperson, Rally for Unity begins the interview by saying why he chose to be associated with and helped co-found a group that openly and in public stands up against hate…
Is the Tamil Diaspora Against Unity in Sri Lanka?
“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes The Tamil Diaspora is a diverse ethnic group….
Archiving ‘Her Stories’: In conversation with Radhika Hettiarachchi
Her Stories, a unique archive of oral history, was conceived of and curated by Radhika Hettiarachchi. We begin by Radhika going in to what the archive is, and how it came about….
Of Foreign Policy Failures, Geneva Resolutions, Double Standards and other excuses for Non-Reconciliation in Sri Lanka
Reminiscences of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy triumphs spearheaded by the late lamented Lakshman Kadirgamar are fresh in my mind given that it was only the other day (12 April) that we marked…
Responding to Geneva by Exemplary Restitution
Robert O. Blake has once said, “International mechanisms can become appropriate in cases where states are either unable or unwilling to meet their obligations.” After Geneva March 2013, US officials have reiterated…
#unlk: Archive and visualisation of tweets on Sri Lanka at HRC’s 22nd Session
The 22nd regular session of the Human Rights Council was held from 25 February to 22 March 2013 at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. As did with conversations on Twitter over…