Nobel Peace Prize Nominees and Wannabes from Sri Lanka

by Sachi Sri Kantha, February 2, 2026 In the past 125 years of its existence, unlike other countries, Sri Lanka (or it’s previous incarnation, Ceylon, until 1971) was never represented in any of the original five Nobel Prizes. But, according to the Nobel Prize nomination archives, only the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Physiology/Medicine… Read more »

Namal Rajapakse in Odisha

by Sulochana Ramiah Mohan, Daily Sun, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Januaray 28, 2026 Editorial Namal Rajapaksa in Odisha Jan 28 2026 …Against this backdrop of decline, disgrace and diminishing legitimacy, Namal Rajapaksa has emerged as the principal political inheritor of the family brand. Despite facing multiple legal cases relating to corruption and alleged money laundering, he has… Read more »

T. Kumar, Rights Activist

T Kumar memorial booklet – Kumar Mama Booklet Document For Kumar, who died on Martin Luther King Day, the struggle of one person, race, gender, caste or nation could never be viewed in isolation. He believed that a problem for one person or group, was a problem for all human beings. Kumar staked his entire professional… Read more »

HRW: Rohingya Genocide Case Moves to Judgment

World Court Concludes Hearings in Gambia’s Landmark Action Against Myanmar by David Esposito & Shayna Bauchner, Human Rights Watch, New York, January 29, 2026 On January 29, the three-week hearings on the merits of Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice came to a close. The case, filed in 2019, alleges that Myanmar’s… Read more »

OSLAP: Preserving Evidence

Advancing Accountability for Sri Lanka by OHCHR’s Sri Lanka Accountability Project, September 1, 2025 250919-infographic-oslap-s-repository-for sri lanka evidence A Snapshot of OHCHR Sri Lanka Accountability Project’s Repository Understanding OSLap’s Repository What it is • OSLap’s repository contains over 112,000 materials documenting human rights violations, abuses, and serious crimes committed in Sri Lanka over the past… Read more »

HRW: UN Finds Systemic Sexual Violence During Civil War

Impunity Prevails for Abuses Against Women, Men; Survivors Suffer for Years by Human Rights Watch, New York, January 14, 2026 (Geneva) – A new United Nations report about sexual violence related to Sri Lanka’s civil war is another step forward in the struggle for accountability for crimes under international law that were committed in Sri Lanka, Human Rights Watch… Read more »

Amnesty: OHCHR Report Must Spur Government Action

On accountability for conflict-related sexual violence by Amnesty International, London, January 13, 2026 Responding to a new report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on accountability for conflict-related sexual violence committed in the context of Sri Lanka’s internal armed conflict, Smriti Singh, Amnesty International’s South Asia Director, said: “This important report… Read more »

MGR Remembered – Part 85

Eye Health Notes from Elite Film Stars by Sachi Sri Kantha Comments from R. Kannan For Part 84, Kannan’s comments, received on Dec 9, 2025, were as follows: “Except for a few, those close to MGR hold him in very high regard as a person. Countless individuals have noted his exceptional hospitality and helpful nature…. Read more »

OHCHR Brief on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Sri Lanka

by Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, January 13, 2026 Entire report: OHCHR CRSV brief English January 2026 and 2026-crsv-brief-english.pdf Executive Summary OHCHR brief on sexual violence in Sri Lanka Executive Summary January 2026 “We Lost Everything – Even Hope For Justice” OHCHR Brief on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Sri Lanka… Read more »

Prof. Robert Sidharthan Perinbanayagam (1934-2025) – An Appreciation

by Sachi Sri Kantha, January 19, 2026 Robert Perinbanayagam was the eldest son of Handy Perinbanayagam (1899-1977), a much respected social activist, educator and journalist of the 20th century from Jaffna. I met Perinbanayagam in New York, only once, when I was a graduate student at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. My diary notes of… Read more »

Deep Learning From Operation Sindoor

Five Takeaways From a Four-Day War by Sameer Lalwani, Shailender Arya and David Brostoff, War on the Rocks, Washington, DC, January 22, 2026 Tensions between India and Pakistan — two countries that President Donald Trump claimed had been fighting for 1,500 years — escalated rapidly over a few days in May 2025. On May 7–10, the… Read more »

The Dig: Keeladi and the Politics of India’s Past

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 »

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 »