Christmas 2008 to Christmas 2009 in Sri Lanka
Last Christmas, together with few friends, we prayed desperately, hoping a bloodbath would be avoided This Christmas, we prayed and lit candles for the thousands killed and missing during the war, the…
Religion and faith
The transformation of Buddhism in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, the Dhamma preached by the Buddha has gone through many transformations. First we had the Hinduization, bringing in Hindu deities into our temples, sometimes converting them to ‘Buddhism’. Next…
President’s Birthday, General’s Resignation and the Angulimala Piritha
— Dhammapada 121) — Buddha In November, 2009 I read two notable news stories in the internet. Â The first was a news story that appeared on 8 November, on a pro-JVP website:…
From Here to Hanoi
Vietnam was the first country to be informed by Sri Lanka of its victory over the Tigers. It was from the on the record remarks of a top Vietnamese leader that I…
Deepavali Dilemma: Reflections from the Diaspora
Every year, when Deepavali rolls around, I feel a twinge of sadness creeping up on me. I didn’t dwell on it because it seemed indulgent and pointless. It’s not like we celebrated…
In Defense of Buddhism
I feel that there is a pressing need to rise to the defense of Buddhism. This is because Buddhism is being degraded and exploited as a reactionary political ideology by a grade…
On women’s attire and gender equality: pondering on the long way ahead
I was strongly tempted to write this article after reading an article entitled on July 10 2009. We learn that the writer of the said article is a journalist working for a…
Interview with a leading Buddhist priest on whether the LTTE is really finished and the war over in Sri Lanka
Vikalpa Video asked Ven. Prof. Bellanvila Vimalarathana Thero for his opinion on whether the LTTE was really finished and the war over in Sri Lanka. Ven. Prof. Bellanvila Vimalarathana Thero is the…
The Hijab unveiled – a response to Nazeeya Faarooq
The Writer of Nazeeya Faarooq, in her article has seemingly probed into a billboard and attempted to develop an intellectual response to an innocent picture. It is good in one-way to develop…
Hijab whereforth dost thou commeth?
The other day I was driving outstation and saw a big bill board advertising national unity. There was a Sinhala girl wearing a lama sari, there was a Tamil girl with jasmine…
The moderate Muslim: An endangered species?
There is an endangered species out there – strangely it is not an animal, or bird or plant but is in fact a human being – it is the moderate Muslim. Many…
Bad Buddhists, Good Buddhists and True Buddhists
The purpose of this article is to discuss very briefly a few contemporary issues on preaching, interpretations and practices of the Lord Buddha’s teaching from an expatriate’s point of view. First of…
A Matter of faith
By Citizen Throughout history, there have been good men who did good things and bad men who did bad things. But it has taken an unquestioning acceptance of religious doctrines or preaching…
The Anti-Conversion Bill violates the freedom of Conscience and the freedom of expression
There is a trend to convert the triumph of the Armed Forces over the LTTE in the north into a triumphal Sinhala-Buddhist ultra nationalism. Their ideology is that the country belongs only…
