by Imtiyaz Razak, Colombo Telegraph, September 30, 2024 Introduction Sri Lanka’s recently concluded 9th presidential elections culminated in a notable victory for the Marxist JVP, led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who secured the presidency after a second ballot count. The election results underscore a significant electoral divide: while a majority of Southern Sinhala-Buddhists rallied behind… Read more »
Monthly Archives: October 2024
From Sachi’s File – Chapter 24
A Published Note on Ptolemy’s Taprobana Map by C. Suntharalingam by Sachi Sri Kantha, October 4, 2024 Front Note by Sachi Due to my protracted literature foraging activities on missed items by eminent bibliographer Henry Ian Goonetilleke (1922-2003), on Ceyloniana, recently I was able to locate a research note by mathematician Chellappah Suntharalingam (1895-1985) that… Read more »
Stupidity, Not Corruption, Crashed Our Economy
by Daniel Alphonsus on his Substack, October 6, 2024 Jail the corrupt and bring our money back! This is the cry of our times. It rings from the four corners of the island and echoes across the usual divisions of race, religion, language and class. For our woes were caused by corruption, and redemption will… Read more »
Sri Lankan Fare Takes Center Stage Uptown
Lungi debuts on the Upper East Side this week by Caroline Shin, Eater NY, September 18, 2024 While Sri Lankan food has made a mark in Staten Island, it’s moving beyond the borough to Manhattan’s Upper East Side with Lungi. Co-owner Albin Vincent is flipping Imli, his neighborhood spot for modern Indian food, into Lungi, with a focus on… Read more »
USIP: Sri Lanka’s New President
Faces Daunting Challenges and High Hopes by United States Institute of Peace, Washington, DC, October 1, 2024 KEY TAKEAWAYS Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s election is the culmination of Sri Lanka’s 2022 protests against the status quo. Addressing Sri Lanka’s economic and financial challenges will be Dissanayake’s most difficult task. He will have to carefully balance relations… Read more »
HRW: UN Rights Council Should Extend Crucial Mandate
International Monitoring, Investigations Critical Amid Ongoing Violations, Impunity by Human Rights Watch, New York, October 2, 2024 (Geneva) – The United Nations Human Rights Council should adopt a resolution on Sri Lanka to enable continued UN monitoring, reporting, and evidence collection of rights violations for future prosecutions, Human Rights Watch said today. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was elected on September 21, 2024,… Read more »
What Bangladesh Can Do to Get Back Laundered Wealth
by Tasneem Raihan, The Daily Star, Bangladesh, October 1, 2024 Over the past 15 years, people from various sectors—including politicians, businesspeople, bureaucrats, and police officials—have reportedly laundered over $100 billion abroad. This figure is likely underestimated, but even if it’s close to the actual amount, the implications are staggering. To put this into context, $100 billion is… Read more »
Letter to the President: A Clarion Call for Fairness
by Roy Ratnavel, Canada, October 1, 2024 Ratnavel letter to new Pres. Dissanayake Oct 1 2024 October 1, 2024. His Excellency Anura Kumara Dissanayake President Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Dear Mr. President, Please accept my warmest congratulations on your election victory. As you embark upon your new responsibilities as the ninth Executive President of… Read more »
What Sri Lanka’s Election Means for India
Another political shake-up in New Delhi’s neighborhood shouldn’t have a major impact on bilateral ties. by Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Policy, Washington, DC, September 24, 2024 The economy was undoubtedly the central issue in Sri Lanka’s presidential election on Sept. 21—unlike in past votes, when ethnic divides between the Sinhala Buddhist majority and the Tamil minority… Read more »
Meet Sri Lanka’s Next President
by Michael Kugelman, Foreign Policy’s South Asia Brief, Washington, DC. September 25, 2024 Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake leaves a polling station after casting his ballot in Sri Lanka’s presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sept. 21.Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s victory in Sri Lanka’s presidential election on Saturday granted the… Read more »
Dissanayake’s Push for Sri Lanka Economic Change
Leaves IMF deal, debt rework in limbo by Uditha Jayasinghe, Sudipto Ganguly and Libby George, Reuters, London, September 24, 2024 Summary Balancing pro-poor policies with IMF deal is new president’s biggest challenge IMF says to work with him, discuss timing of third review Leader has expressed willingness to renegotiate IMF terms COLOMBO/LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters)… Read more »