Mobiles Working Again
After the tension situation (aug 11th) all the mobile phone connections cut by security forces in Jaffna for security reasons. From 25th the mobile phones working again in Jaffna. The mobile phone…
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Curfew Relaxed In Jaffna
The curfews which were imposed in the Jaffna peninsula have been relaxed this week from 11.p.m to 4.a.m unlike last month when it was declared between 6.pm and 5.am and the 18…
Maps of shame
Every time I look at an OCHA map of Sri Lanka, the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis is made really clear. For here, we have entire regions, districts of Sri Lanka suffering…
The Best and Worst Tea in Sri Lanka
While Sri Lankan tea is considered one of the best teas in the world, people of Jaffna get to taste the worst tea. The reason is a shortage of tea in Jaffna.…
Human Shields In The Battle Of Sri Lanka
The SLMM in a statement on Dec 12 said they are concerned over the alarming situation in Vakarai. They pointed to the LTTE failing to protect civilians by restricting their movement, and…
Chikenguniya Spreads In Jaffna
More than hundred thousand people have been affected by Chikenguniya in the Jaffna District. Some students sitting for the Ordinary Level examinations were reported to have fainted in examination halls. Deputy director…
Friday thoughts on the JVP and the LTTE
A few days ago I was looking through old newspapers – clippings from the late 80s. Back then, the JVP were referred to ‘subversives’ and the terrorists were – um – I…
LOOKING INTO THE ABYSS
The unsurprising minority report of the APRC Experts Panel is a lawyerly representation of 1956-style Sinhala Buddhist nationalism. It is the legal prototype of the JVP/JHU political rhetoric. As such, it is…
QUO VADIS, MAJORITY REPORT?
Dayan Jayatilleke in the Lanka Academic has attempted a rather more refined apologia for the discordant cacophony that passes for government in respect of conflict resolution and peace nowadays, than the government…
The Storyteller
I first met him in 2004 and liked him immediately. His storytelling was a joy to experience. On our journeys up to Jaffna, the 10 hours would fly as he shared his…
Conflict Situation in Trinco
From my visit to Kantale I can say that Sinhalese people from Seru Nuwara Division are facing human security problems due to artillery and motor strikes from LTTE-controlled Vaharai area. Also over…
The Lessons We Never Learn
 The second commemoration of the tsunami disaster is around the corner. In the past month or so, I have come to know of many organizations and collectives scrambling to put together…
Tsunami and asbestos
I have NGO contacts in Sri Lanka and I understand that the advice from the World Health Organisation http://w3.whosea.org/EN/Section23/Section1108/Section1835/Section1864_8658.htm is not being followed. This includes teams coordinated by USAid. (Further reference to…
Thoughts from India…
A few days before I arrived, friends told me the roads of New Delhi were blocked. No, it wasn’t a parade for Mahinda or Chandrika or Ranil. It was a a rally…
Situation in Vakarai
About 25,000 refugees in the Vakarai region of Batticaloa need assistance urgently in terms of food, medicines, shelter, water and sanitation. They have been facing shortages for over a month, and I…