Posts Categorized: Biography

by T. Sabaratnam, May 31, 2004 Chapter 3 Original index to series The Talk In the last chapter, I referred to the information that my friend in the Jathika Seva Sangamaya (JSS) gave me about the final solution. I also said that at that time I did not realize the actual meaning of that phrase…. Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, May 20, 2004 Chapter 2 Original index to series I was upset when I saw flames leap up in the direction of Borella. I was deeply troubled when more tongues of flame rose threateningly in that vicinity. Was the information Piyadasa had given me coming true? Telephone calls further disturbed me. Tamils were… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, published April 30, 2004 Introduction to Volume 2 Original index to series The Ambush Pirapaharan and his men alighted from the minibus which Sellakili parked along the crossroad that connected Point Pedro Road with Palaly Road. They walked up to the junction, in small groups of two or three, turned towards Jaffna and… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, April 21, 2004 Volume One Index Original index to series Introduction In the first volume, I chronicled the birth, childhood, growth and the political environment which conditioned the thinking of Pirapaharan. His was a conservative family. His father, Velupillai, was a land development officer in the Sri Lankan government whose ambition was to… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam; published April 15, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 36 Original index of series Dear Readers, With this Chapter I am concluding the first of this 3-volume series. Pirapaharan has entered the scene. From the Thirunelveli ambush Pirapaharan asserts his superiority and gives a new direction to the struggle. At this stage I seek your… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, April 7, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 35 Original index of series Unguarded Remark David Selbourne was a British journalist who worked for the Manchester Guardian freelanced for many other journals. He had been at Oxford University with Lalith Athulathmudali. He visited Sri Lanka in June 1982 and was introduced to President Jayewardene, Gamini… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, March 31, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 34 Original index of series Eyewitness Account I was in Trincomalee on 27 November 1982 with Daily News presidential reporter Norton Weerasinghe and photographer Sena Vithanagama to cover the foundation-laying function of the Mitsui Cement Factory the next morning. We met Trincomalee Member of Parliament Rajavarothayam Sampanthan at… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, March 25, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 33 Original index of series Traitors The decision taken by the TULF Working Committee at its meeting on 11 May 1983 at its Nallur office to contest the local government election fixed for 18 May, despite the opposition of the militants, caused the political eclipse of… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, March 15, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 32 Original index of series Grabbing Land A joint police and army team led by police detectives raided the Pankulam settlement of Tamils of the Indian origin on the orders of Vavuniya Assistant Government Agent at 10 a.m. on 6 April 1983 and set fire to… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam; published March 3, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 31 Original index of series Filling the Vacuum Pirapaharan landed near Valvettithurai before dawn on 18 February 1983, one and a half years after he left for Tamil Nadu. When he left on midnight of 6 June 1981, six days after he witnessed the burning… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, February 25, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 30 Original index of series Shooting of Shankar Rajani, who was on the verandah of the main house, saw the army jeep entering their compound. She ran through the house to the back door and shouted, “Nirmala Akka, army jeep is coming.” She warned her elder… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, February 11, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 29 Original index of series Nelliady Ambush Pirapaharan’s wish to raise an LTTE army on the lines of Subash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army was natural because he had already gathered a group of active and committed cadres. He had trained over 25 youths and a… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, February 4, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 28 Original index of series| Trincomalee Problem The interest RAW officials showed in the Trincomalee harbour helped Pirapaharan to figure out the puzzle. He knew that New Delhi was concerned about its security and its aspiration to become the regional power. Its interest in the Sri… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, January 28, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 27 Original index of series Pondy Bazaar Shootout With unbridled power concentrated in his hands, President Jayewardene set out to stifle the fledgling Tamil militancy. But the tools he used- state terrorism and weakening of the moderate leadership – were counterproductive. Police and army atrocities, in… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, January 22, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 26 Original index of series Tamil Votes Amirthlingam was perplexed when President Jayewardene told him that he would need the Tamil votes to win the presidential election. “You have two more years. Why are you talking about the election now?” Amirthalingam queried. Jayewardene then made his… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, January 16, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 25 Original index of series Seelan’s Saga When the news of the attack on the army by a group of LTTE cadres led by Seelan reached the Jaffna University Campus its vice chancellor Prof. K. Kailasapathy remarked: “They have crossed the border.” Before that, Tamil militant… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, January 7, 2004 Volume 1, Chapter 24 Original index of series| The Unnoticed Messages Tamils, through the DDC election, gave two clear messages to the Sinhala leaders, Sinhala people and the world. The Tamils told them unambiguously, that the Tamils were for a separate state which would restore their racial rights, dignity,… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, December 31, 2003 Volume 1, Chapter 23 Original index of series| DDC Elections President Jayewardene wanted to show the world, through the District Development Council election of 4 June 1981, that the majority of the Tamils did not approve the separate state which the TULF was demanding. He succeeded in showing just… Read more »

by T. Sabaratnam, December  17, 2003 Volume 1, Chapter 22 Original index of series| Who Gave the Order? Who set the fire? Three questions arise about the burning of the Jaffna Public Library. Who burnt it? How was it burnt? Who gave the order? Pirapaharan watched with defiant, angry eyes the leaping flames that consumed… Read more »