by Alex Russell, Financial Times, London, August 21, 2023 This is the first in a series on how the stand-off between America and China has ushered in a new era of opportunity for countries across the world Part II tomorrow: Beijing’s blueprint for an alternative world order For a telling insight into the seismic changes reshaping… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Politics
Indian Ocean Basing and Access
How Smaller States Navigate Major Power Competition A new policy in Sri Lanka shows how smaller states play a crucial role in deciding major powers’ military access to the region. by Nilanthi Samaranayake, US Institute for Peace, Washington, DC, August 10, 2023 In late July, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe traveled to New Delhi to… Read more »
Dispersed Tamil Attention
by Nillanthan Maha, August 19, 2023 [translated from the Tamil by Google Translate with some improvements by the Editor] Kurundur Hill; Vedukunari Hill; Paralai Murugan Temple; Taitti; Thirukonamalai, Periyakulam, Uchippillaiyar hill; Madhavanai Peacock grazing land; Is Ravana Tamil or not? Mervin de Silva will behead Tamils…. In recent times the attention of Tamil parties, activists,… Read more »
Why the Orkney Islands are Considering Joining Norway
by The Economist, London, July 13, 2023 They are unlikely to succeed at seceding from Scotland. But that was never really the point KIRKWALL, ORKNEY Thorfinn skull-splitter is, as usual, a problem. The Orkney Islands off north-east Scotland are currently keen to highlight their long and fruitful relationship with Norway. But if you read the… Read more »
Mass Graves & Failed Exhumations in Sri Lanka
by Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka, Families of the Disappeared, Centre for Human Rights & Development and International Truth & Justice Project, June 13, 2023 ITJP Mass Graves and Failed Exhumations June 2023 This joint report examines Sri Lanka’s record of dealing with mass graves from multiple periods of conflict. All over the island,… Read more »
Israeli Complicity in Sri Lanka War Crimes
Must be investigated by Eitay Mack, Al Jazeera, June 27, 2023 It has been more than 14 years since the civil war in Sri Lanka came to an end. Although a semblance of peace has returned to the parts of the country devastated by the 29-year conflict, its victims are yet to see justice delivered…. Read more »
UN HRC53: Core Group Statement on Sri Lanka
Delivered by Rita French, UK Human Rights Ambassador, UN Human Rights Council, Geneva, June 20, 2023 Thank you, Mr President, This statement is by the Sri Lanka Core Group comprising Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the UK and the United States. We welcome Sri Lanka’s initial steps towards addressing concerns around land returns, long-term detentions… Read more »
UNHCHR Oral Update on Sri Lanka
by United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif, UN Human Rights Council, Geneva, June 21, 2023 Sri Lanka: promoting reconciliation, accountability and rights 53rd session of the Human Rights Council Oral update on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka Statement by Nada Al-Nashif United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for… Read more »
Kurundi: A Runway To ’56?
by Tissaranee Gunaratne, Colombo Telegraph, June 18, 2023 “Already the snow falls…” ~ Karl Kraus words in verses III In his fifth labour, Heracles cleans the Augean Stables by rerouting the rivers Alpheus and Peneus through the filthy abode of King Augeas’ divine cattle. Many believed that the Aragalaya would have a similarly cleansing effect on… Read more »
The Politics of Archaeology Spreads Discord in the North and East
by Maatram, courtesy Groundviews, Colombo, May 23, 2023 Media personnel and activists are reporting several cases of Hindu religious sites being damaged, relics removed and Buddhist statues erected in their place with the collaboration of the Department of Archaeology. Hindu kovils are being re-named as Buddhist temples. There are reports of land grabs from Tamil villagers by the military and monks… Read more »
Batalanda Commission Report
by Commission of Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Places of Unlawful Detention and Torture Chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme, Colombo, 2000 Batalanda Commission Report – Book English From an introduction written by Nandana Weerarathne in March 2023 During the 1988/89 era, government forces and police were running torture camps. Also, there were… Read more »
What Happened at Maruthangeni and Its Consequences
by A. Nillanthan, June 13, 2023 [translated from the original Tamil by Google Translate with minor changes by the Editor.] The fact that the intelligence department is monitoring the political activities of the Tamil people has been a reality for the past several decades. Especially for the last 14 years, the intelligence department has been… Read more »
UNP Leaders Who Set Jaffna on Fire in 1981
by Nandana Weerarathne, Facebook& Substack May 27, 2023 Why is it important for the present and future generations to know what happened in Jaffna from the end of May to June 8th, 1981? That is the question we asked ourselves prior to writing this book. The concealment of these atrocities from history is a significant… Read more »
Amirthalingam Speech in Parliament re 1981 Burning of Jaffna Library
by Sri Lanka Parliamentary Debates, June 9, 1981, vol.15, no.1, columns 67-92, posted on Facebook by Sivakumar Subramaniam, May 30, 2023 The speech made by then Leader of the opposition Mr A. Amirthalingam in Parliament. A verbatim transcript is provided below. Honorifics of participants have been omitted for convenience. A.Amirthalingam: Sir, I wish to place… Read more »
Sri Lanka Police Arrest Tamil Legislator Ponnambalam
by Meera Srinivasan, The Hindu, Chennai, June 7, 2023 The development comes days after two men dressed in plain clothes turned up at a meeting of Mr. Ponnambalam and members of a local sports club in Jaffna Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam being released on bail. Photo: Twitter/@TnpfOrg Sri Lanka police arrested Tamil legislator and Tamil National People’s… Read more »
Police Threaten & Assault TNPF Leader at Meeting in Maruthankerny
Sri Lankan police intelligence officer wields gun at TNPF leader following commotion at meeting in Maruthankerny by Tamil Guardian, London, June 2, 2023 A Sri Lankan police intelligence officer pointed his gun to Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam after he was attacked during a meeting in Maruthankerny. Ponnambalam was at a meeting… Read more »
Defence Sector Claims Nearly Half of State Salaries
by PublicFinance.lk, June 2, 2023 According to the 2023 Budget Estimates, 15% of total recurrent expenditure of the government will be spent on salaries for government employees for the year 2023. As of 2023, the defence sector is estimated to claim nearly half (48%) of state salaries. Here is a breakdown of the estimated sector-wise… Read more »
Deja Vu ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ in Sri Lanka?
by Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene, Sunday Times, Colombo, June 3, 2023 Truth and Reconciliation is now again in the air, we are sublimely told by the Government of Sri Lanka. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with his merry men and women in Parliament in the Pohottuwa ranks are singing to the eminently hypocritical refrain of truth and reconciliation commissions… Read more »
‘Politics of Hate’ Review
Two thoughtful contributions by Sri Lankan academics Neil DeVotta and Gehan Gunatilleke show how majoritarianism’s relentless othering is less about the majority’s imagined ideal minority-free state, and more about the satisfaction derived from blaming, punishing and depriving the “others” — the Sinhala Buddhist majority’s first target was the Indian Tamils. by Nirupama Subramaniam, Indian Express,… Read more »
Kilinochchi Maveerar Thuyilum Illum, February 2023
by N. Ethirveerasingam, May 17, 2023 I took these pictures in Kilinochchi Maveerar Thuyilum Illum during a visit in February 2023. * When Kilinochchi fell in 2008 the army bulldozed about 4 acres of gravestones – a war crime. Other LTTE graveyards in the North met the same fate. * I was there at the… Read more »