by Sowmiya Ashok, December 23, 2025 Since its discovery in 2014, the Keeladi excavation has become one of India’s most contested digs – hailed by some as proof of an urban civilization in South India and dismissed by others as political mythmaking. Journalist Sowmiya Ashok traces the serendipitous discovery of this ancient settlement and the… Read more »
Monthly Archives: January 2026
Sinhalese Intelligentsia and Dimwits I Admire and Resent
by Sachi Sri Kantha, January 6, 2026 This year marks the 25th anniversary of my current status as the honorary resident columnist of Ilankai Tamil Sangam website. For awarding this opportunity to me and giving me a free hand to write what is in my mind (which is not libel inducing), I thank the late… Read more »
Felix Arulnayagam Christopher
It is with deepest regret that we inform you of the passing of Felix Arulnayagam (Aras) Christopher, beloved husband, father, engineer, and community leader, who passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, at the age of 83. . . Felix was deeply involved in cultural and community life. As an active member—and later President—of the… Read more »
The Façade of Accountability
Disappearances in Sri Lanka by Wasana Punyasena, Boston College Third World Law Journal, Vol.3, Issue 1, January 2003 The Facade of Accountability Disappearances in Sri Lanka Punyasena 2003 Abstract: The current ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam marks a watershed moment for the government to finally implement effective… Read more »
Paranagama Commission Report 2015
by Paranagama Commission, August 2015 Paranagama Commission report Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Complaints of Abductions and Disappearances 2015 Acknowledgements In presenting this Report of our Commission to His Excellency the President I, as Chairman, wish to place on record my grateful thanks to all those who played a part in making this Report possible…. Read more »
Chelliah Rajadurai: The Rajah of Batticaloa – Part 1
by Sachi Sri Kantha, January 2, 2026 Chelliah Rajadurai (1927-2025), the ‘charmer’ among Eelam Tamil politicians, bid adieu on Dec 7, 2025, after a lengthy mortal life of 98 years and 5 months. He was garlanded with quite a few sobriquets, like ‘sollin chelvar’ (Wealthy in Words) and ‘Ezhil Thamil Aalar’ (The ruler of elegant… Read more »
‘The Language of Bhakti’
Rebellion in Verse Resistance and Devotion in the Tamil Bhakti Movement | Indian Religious & Cultural History | Devotional Poetry, Faith and Social Change Raghavan Srinivasan Why chant the Vedas, follow Vedic karma? Why preach day by day the books of dharma? Why learn the six Vedangas by rote? One thing alone will to your… Read more »
BTF: Militarisation and Buddhisisation Continue in the Tamil Homeland
Exposing the Futility of Domestic Accountability in Sri Lanka by British Tamils Forum, London, January 4, 2026 BTF Militarisation and Buddhisisation Jan 2026 The British Tamils Forum (BTF) strongly denounces the Sinhala Buddhist hegemony for the illegal erection of the Tissa Vihara on privately owned land belonging to the Tamil people. Amid the systematic destruction… Read more »
‘Terrorism’ Versus Civil Liberties
The NPP’s clear betrayal of campaign promises by Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene, Sunday Times, Colombo, December 28, 2025 President Anura Kumara Dissaayake’s determination to ‘repeal and replace’ Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with a law that balances security concerns and civil liberties for ‘rights focused governance’ was explained in great detail when interviewed by Newsweek… Read more »
What is Local Governance?
[This article is interesting because it is by a Sinhalese author. Tamils have been advocating for more decentralized government since independence, to no avail. Note that in the early 1980s the Sri Lankan government proposed District Development Councils to counteract calls for more autonomy for the North and Eastern Provinces. The Tamils were not in… Read more »
Can a Corporation Be Complicit in War Crimes?
Sweden Is Trying to Find Out by M. Gessen, Opinion Columnist, The New York Times, Dec. 30, 2025 At the end of the 1990s, a Swedish company called Lundin Oil started drilling in a war-torn region of what was then Sudan. To secure the drilling sites, the company contracted with the Sudanese government. Over the… Read more »
One of America’s Most Successful Experiments Is Coming to a Shuddering Halt
by Lydia Polgreen, The New York Times, December 29, 2025 It was a joyous day, the fulfillment of a quarter-century of hard work and relentless fund-raising. Srinivasachary Tamirisa, a retired doctor living in Sugar Land, Texas, beamed with pride as his dream — to erect a statue of the Hindu deity Hanuman on the grounds… Read more »
M.S. Subbulakshmi in the ‘Meera’ Movie‘s 80th Anniversary
by Sachi Sri Kantha, December 9, 2025 Introduction This year marks the 80th anniversary of the release of the Tamil version of the Meera movie on November 3rd 1945 in Chennai. Also, December 11th marks the 21th death anniversary of Carnatic Music diva Madurai Shanmugavadivu (M.S.) Subbulakshmi (1916-2004). It also happens to be the birthday… Read more »