by Chandi Sinnathurai, September 3, 2005 THE LATE Mr. Kadirgamar prided himself solely as a Sri Lankan while distancing himself as a Tamil. The harsh reality of it all is that the Tamils around the world have refused to mourn the death of this prodigal son who with style and finesse betrayed his own roots. Many… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Diaspora
Sangam: US Must Stand by the Peace Process in Sri Lanka
Sangam Press Release The US must stand by the peace process in Sri Lanka On August 31, 2005 the Ilankai Tamil Sangam sent out a press release concerning the peace process in Sri Lanka and responding to a recent press release from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington, DC. The press release can be read… Read more »
Negotiating with ‘Illiberal’ Forces
by A.R.M. Imtiyaz, Ph.D., August 26, 2005 The assassination of Foreign Minister Mr. Kadirgamar not only deeply shocked many Sinhalese, but also vigorously spurred Southern nationalists who oppose power-sharing arrangements with the LTTE. Literally, an absence of social peace with justice in ethnically divided societies will engender social disharmony between the different ethnic groups. It… Read more »
Sri Lanka in Crisis Again
by M. Thiru, August 26, 2005 Mr. Venkatesh, Re: ‘Sri Lanka in crisis again’ in the Asian Tribune As an observer, I wonder why the Sri Lankan Police declined the help offered by the UK and US police authorities in solving the murder of Laxman Kadirgamar? This international help the Sri Lankan police do not want. … Read more »
Comment on Kadirgamar
by Brian Senewiratne, Brisbane, Australia, August 25, 2005 I note that the Editor of Sangam adds what amounts to an apology for publishing the poem by Rajendra and the well-researched article by Satchi Sri Kantha on Sri Lanka’s worst ever Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar. I think the apology is misplaced. I am aware of the… Read more »
Burgher Emigration – a Clarification
by J. B. Muller, Daily News, Colombo, August 24, 2005 The person who referred to the Burghers as “so-called Burghers’ is still with us and he has a theory why the Burghers emigrated from as far back as 1942. Adverting to the reason for the mass emigration of the Burghers to other parts of the world… Read more »
Reply to an Offensive Tribute
by Roy Ratnavel, August 25, 2005 Mr. Gunaratne, No doubt, to lose a friend in this manner is a tragic event. I never met Mr. Kadirgamar. However, reading all the tributes tells me, despite my opposing views about him, that he was an intellect, splendid orator and would have been an interesting person to sit-down… Read more »
TG: Fresh Promise
by Tamil Guardian editorial, London, August 24, 2005 The welcome decision last week by the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan government to hold direct talks on the implementation of the February 2002 ceasefire has given a desperately needed boost to the Norwegian peace process. The talks are to centre on the implementation of the truce. There… Read more »
Letter to the ‘National Post’ 2
by Mak. S. Makenthiran, Vice-President, Senior Tamils Society of Peel, Canada Re: ‘Why does Ottawa turn a blind eye to Tamil terrorists?’ An article entitled as above in your issue of August 15, 2005 was brought to my notice. The above title is very misleading and racist as it gives the idea that Tamils are terrorists. … Read more »
Letter to Hindustan Times
about Assassination by M. Thiru, August 16, 2005 Dear Mr. Balachandran, Please refer to your article ‘ Sombre mood in Lanka augurs well for peace.’ In that article you have not mentioned about the upcoming Presidential elections, the pending court case on when the current presidential term ends, what will be the effect of FM… Read more »
Kadirgamar and the Tamils
by Rajendra, August 15, 2005 Many readers will consider this poem and its sentiments in somewhat bad taste because they do not speak well of someone who has passed on. The editor is of the opinion that one must look at a life honestly and acknowledge the good and the bad. The feelings expressed in… Read more »
The Fate of Sri Lanka
by Wakeley Paul, Esq., August 15, 2005 A few teasing and troublesome questions arise from the assassination of the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister. One first wonders how a Tamil Tiger could have penetrated the highly secured area where the Foreign Minister lived, which was further secured because of the presence of a foreign embassy in… Read more »
Sri Lanka Tense After Sniper Kills Kadirgamar
by Tamil Guardian, London, August 13, 2005 Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was shot by a sniper outside his home in Colombo on Friday and died in hospital after emergency surgery, raising fears for the island’s increasingly shaky ceasefire. Kadirgamar, 73, died at the National Hospital in Colombo where he had been admitted in serious… Read more »
Behind the Headlines
by V Gunaratnam, August 12, 2005 These are my comments on the news behind the headlines quoted below from various Sri Lankan sources. Less than ten percent of Sinhalese want Norway to continue as the key facilitator of Sri Lanka peace process – survey – July 22 According to the “Social Indicator” published by the… Read more »
Sangam Members Get the Word Out
National Public Radio I listened to your coverage on Tsunami in Asia (On All Things Considered Dec 27, 2004), and about the country that was most affected by it – Sri Lanka. However, there is one big piece of the tragedy was missed by NPR. Large part of the affected are from Sri Lanka’s Tamil… Read more »
Prof. Sundaralingam Killed by Tsunami
OSU Professor, Wife Reportedly Killed By Tsunami Professor Sundaralingam received the Sangam’s Honorary Award at our Annual General Meeting this past November. — Editor Massive Waves Hit Sri Lanka’s Coast COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio State University professor and his wife were reportedly among those who died after a tsunami crashed into the coast of… Read more »
NorthEast Needs Urgent Aid
8000 Dead and 500,000 Displaced in NorthEast of the Island of Sri Lanka [TRO appeal posted on TamilNet] The Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation is engaged in rendering urgent humanitarian assistance to all those in the coastal areas of the northeast of Sri Lanka who have borne the brunt of the ‘tidal’ waves (tsunamis) caused by the strongest… Read more »
Relief Funds: Where to Contribute
All funds sent to these organizations will be used for emergency assistance for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami in the NorthEast of Sri Lanka. Please mark your checks ‘NE Tsunami Relief.’ All are staffed by volunteers so there is no overhead taken out of the donations. All organizations are 501 (c) (3) charities registered… Read more »
FeTNA Convention in Dallas in July
The Annual Tamil Convention 2005 of the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America Tamil Nadu Foundation North America Tamil Youth Organization will take place July 2, 3, & 4, 2005 in Dallas, Texas at the Eisemann Center Hosted by the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Tamil Sangam Paddi Mandram, Kavi Arangam, Tamil Cinema Actors & Actresses,… Read more »
Stranglehold on Peace
Kumaratunga will not sacrifice power for peace by Tamil Guardian editorial, December 22, 2004 Fear of a renewed war has become all pervasive. Tamils, both in the homelands and the diaspora are closely following developments in the Norwegian peace process, albeit with deepening pessimism. Even the usually upbeat Norwegian Special Envoy, Erik Solheim, could not conceal… Read more »