Posts Categorized: Biography

From Sachi’s Files – Chapter 23

Remembering my Father on his Birth Centenary Year by Sachi Sri Kantha, December 12, 2023 My father (Sivapragasam Sachithanantham, 1923-2003), whom my sister and I called Aiyah was born in Puloly West, Point Pedro, Ceylon, to Vinasithamby Sivapragasam (1882-1936) and Packiyam (1889-1945), as the sixth and youngest child. Ten years ago, I posted Aiyah’s autobiographical… Read more »

“As a Human Rights Defender, You’re Almost Expected to be Superhuman”

In the words of Anushani Alagarajah by UN Women, Asia Pacific, November 28, 2023 Anushani Alagarajah is a human rights defender who has worked closely with conflict-affected communities in the North and East of Sri Lanka. She is the Executive Director at the Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research, a non-profit research think-tank that works on… Read more »

Sabapathy Thillairajah (1928-2023)

Born in Jaffna, Irupalai Koppai on 23-02-1928 and resided in Thoppu, Achuveli and Maryland, USA. Sabapathy Thillairajah passed away on Wednesday 22-11-2023 in America. Beloved son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sabapathy. Beloved son-in-law of the late Mr. and Mrs. Vallipuram of Thoppu Achuveli,  Tamil Eelam. Beloved husband of the late Rasamma. He is… Read more »

Dr. Rajan Sriskandarajah (1943-2023)

    Dr. Sriskandarajah graduated from the University of Ceylon, Colombo with a degree in Medicine and Surgery in 1969.  After practicing in Sri Lanka he undertook post-graduate training in England, where he obtained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, England in 1977.  Upon moving to the United States Dr. Sriskandarajah… Read more »

Partheeban alias Thileepan’s Death-Fast Weaponised Non-violence

by DBS Jeyaraj, Financial Times, Colombo, September 27, 2023 Rasiah Partheeban alias Thileepan engaged in a fast unto death protest on 15 September 1987. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stalwart died after 12 days of fasting on 26 September without even drinking water. Thileepan’s 36th death anniversary was on 26 September 2023. This… Read more »

Author A. Muttulingam

by Tamil Wiki, accessed March 7, 2023 A. Muttulingam (January 19, 1937) is one of the pre-eminent writers in modern Tamil literature. His contributions, which include short stories, essays, interviews and novels, are characterized by humour, aesthetic appeal and perfection in form. Born in Sri Lanka, he is a storyteller who travelled the world on… Read more »

M K Eelaventhan, the Lifelong Activist for Eelam

Strong and Steadfast at 90  by Usha S Sri Skanda Rajah, October 2, 2022 He lives and breathes Eelam. If everyone were like him there’s every hope an independent and sovereign Thamil Eelam will surely be realized in the not so distant future. On his 90th birthday, Mr. Eelaventhan has neither deviated, even an iota… Read more »

Footprints on the Sands of Time

FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIME The visionary life and legacy of Dr. Samuel Fisk Green by Dr. Thayalan Ambalavanar, October 15, 2022 Dear friends and colleagues, October 10th 2022 marked the 200th birth anniversary of Dr.Samuel Fisk Green, the American missionary who founded the first medical school in Ceylon in 1848. A successful commemoration… Read more »

Remembering 2nd Lt. Maalathy

by Tamil Guardian, London, October 10, 2022 Today marks thirty-five years since the death of 2nd Lt. Maalathy, the first female fighter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lose her life in the Tamil armed struggle. Across the world, the day is being commemorated as Tamil Women’s Day, an opportunity to honour women’s involvement in the… Read more »

Economic Crisis and Unregulated Alcohol Collide

by Vetrichelvi Chandrakala, Global Press Journal, Washington, DC, May 25, 2022 Civil war veterans, also grappling with the country’s imploding economy, fight to break their dependency on dangerous, illegal liquor. READ THIS STORY IN English தமிழ் MANNAR, SRI LANKA — Vijayakumar Velayutham fought for more than a decade in the Sri Lankan civil war. He… Read more »

Bakeries Shutter as War in Ukraine Drives Up Wheat Prices

by Thayalini Indrakularasa, Global Press Journal, Washington, DC, May 8, 2022 The country’s tropical climate makes it dependent on wheat imports, but an economic crisis at home and conflict abroad have upended the supply. READ THIS STORY IN English தமிழ் CHEDDIKULAM, SRI LANKA — Early morning sunlight streams in the windows as Thankaiya Mageswaran divides… Read more »

Periyathamby Rajanayagam

by Tamil Information Centre, London, June 18, 2022 We are saddened by the demise of journalist and human rights advocate Periyathamby Rajanayagam, known popularly as ‘Tamil Times Rajanayagam’. He passed away at Lewisham Hospital on 17 June 2022 at the age of 84. Rajanayagam has been described as a ‘journalist with commitment and principles’ and… Read more »

ITJP: Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Role in 1989 Mass Atrocities

by International Truth & Justice Project Sri Lanka, South Africa, May 10, 2022 ITJP_1989_mass_grave_report_v6_WEB This is a joint report from the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) and Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka (JDS). As Sri Lanka is enveloped in unprecedented anger directed at the Rajapaksa family, a new report reveals that the President,… Read more »

Annaipoopathy and Mothers Fighting for the Disappeared

by Nillanthan Maha in his blog, March 30, 2022 [translated by Google Translate, with some edits] The mothers of the missing opposed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Jaffna last Sunday. They have been rudely treated by the police. Annai Bhupathi is considered to be the forerunner of Ammuthiya mothers in modern Tamil politics. Thirty-four… Read more »

Obituary: Margaret Trawick Wanted to Retire in the LTTE’s Vanni

by N. Malathy, January 7, 2022 I first heard about Margaret Trawick through the “Tamil Circle” email group during the late 1990’s. This was before internet-based news sites had become common. ‘Tamil Circle” was a way to share news about the homeland. From a university library, I borrowed Margaret’s book cum her PhD thesis, “Notes… Read more »

Mystery of the Murder of an American Priest in Batticaloa

The truth that came out 30 years later! [translated from the Tamil by Google Translate with some edits] by Niraj David, TamilWin, ~December 15, 2021 His name was Rev Fr. Eugene John Hebert. The locals affectionately call him Father Haybier. He belonged to Congregation of Jesus Christ of America and was a famous human rights… Read more »

TG: Remembering Raviraj

15 years and still no justice by Tamil Guardian, London, November 10, 2021 Today marks 15 years since Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP and human rights lawyer, Nadarajah Raviraj was assassinated in Colombo. Mr Raviraj was shot in Colombo at close range by unidentified gunmen on a motorbike at around 8:30am on November 10 2006, as… Read more »

Memoriam: Poet Pulamaipithan

A die-hard Eelam supporter dies at 86 by Sachi Sri Kantha, September 12, 2021 Renowned die-hard Eelam supporters in Tamilnadu, who could courageously express their views in public platforms, are not that many now. In these days of political sycophancy to rulers in power at the New Delhi for personal gains, it is not so… Read more »

TG: Obituary – Mangala Samaraweera

by Tamil Guardian View, London, August 26, 2021 Mangala Samaraweera, a formidable figure in Sri Lankan politics who previously held several ministerial posts, passed away from COVID-19 at a private hospital in Colombo this week. News of his death was met with international tributes from senior political figures worldwide, including the United States, UK, Europe and… Read more »

Robert Knox Was Held Captive in Kandy

For nineteen and a half years King Rajasinghe II held him in captivity in the Kandyan Kingdom from 1660 till he escaped through Vanni in 1679 by R Shanmugananthan, August 10, 2021 Robert Knox held captive in Kandy