March 4, 2005
Don' tell anything that hurts one " - Avvaiyar
all humanity is my
fraternity”
by Philip Reeves
Many Sri Lankans Still Distraught over Tsunami:
International tsunami relief efforts have helped supply the material needs of
residents of Sri Lanka's east coast. Two American men, in the region to
help, say the biggest problems they are finding among Sri Lankans are
psychological: [NPR Morning Edition]
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On the kitchen wall of his apartment in Scarborough, there is a
calendar that shows the smiling leader of the Tamil Tigers. To
western governments, Pirabakaran is the leader of a terrorist
organization. To Father Francis Xavier, Pirabakaran is a hero, and
he's proud to count himself as a follower.
Political expediency 101 [Sunday Observer]
by Ananth Palakidnar
February 20 was a red-letter day for the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Spruced to perfection, its officials were on maximum alert, keeping a
close vigil on their entire operations in Colombo and other vital air
bases down South. Their task: to ferry two important visitors from the
United States of America and ensure that no harm comes their way.
not for not-so-honest lips and tongues [Northeastern Monthly]
By: Professor Karthigesu Sivathamby
On 23 February Sri Lanka celebrated the third birthday of a truce
that is yet to prove its efficacy and genuineness. The MOU has not
opened the doors to a stable and lasting peace to ensure to each of
the historic communities of this country its rightful place.
Press release [LTTEPS]
On February 23rd at 4.15pm, LTTE took defensive action against Sri
Lankan security forces who were attempting to move into LTTE
controlled area. Security forces with weapons and telescopes were
moving towards the front line of female LTTE cadres near Kilali Lake.
due to heavy duties [Asian Human Rights Commission]
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has come to know that
more than 100 container loads of relief aid for tsunami victims are
lying idle at the Colombo port, as the local NGOs, to which they were
consigned, cannot pay heavy duties imposed by Sri Lanka Customs
Department.
We are deeply disturbed by these latest developments. Not only will
local people in need be denied these goods, but they were donated
in good faith by people around the world in the belief that poor
tsunami victims would receive them.
By S. Selvakumar
The Thinakaran on Monday quoting Norwegian sources said the JVP
refused to meet with special envoy Erik Solheim despite the latter's
request for a meeting. President Kumaratunga directed officials to
expedite the process to establish a common structure with the LTTE
to distribute tsunami relief in the Northeast.
According to the Virakesari, the TNA regretted that former US
Presidents Bush and Clinton had no plans to visit Northeast. The
UNP called upon the JVP to bring pressure on the President to scrap
the emergency regulations and charged that she was persuing a
dictatorial administration.
Prince Charles, according to the Thinakkural wished to travel to
Batticaloa when he visits Sri Lanka and this had been conveyed to
the Foreign Ministry by the British High Commission. However, the
Foreign Ministry has told the High Commission that he could visit
Trincomalee instead.
lost her two houses. Her husband went missing in 1990 military
operation in this area. [Photo by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai]
but left humanity ashore, its
time now to show humanity"
natural tsunami. Now they are in for a third tsunami of intra - tiger
violence," - Liberation Tigers and the Karuna Phenomenon - By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
certain in Sri Lanka as rice is at every meal,"
in Wake of Tsunami [Reporter's Note Book - NPR]
I stepped off the plane in Sri Lanka into 100-degree heat and
humidity, I was prepared to be shocked by the destruction, and in
truth, I was. The scoured, vacant coastline, the rows of tents
where villages once stood and the posters of lost children, were
overpowering. But I was even more struck by the resilience of
those who lived through the tsunami.
Mile after mile, it became hard to look at the splintered boats at
rest in fields, the shreds of clothing hanging from trees, the shoes
and wallets floating in puddles of stagnant water. And yet in the
midst of it all, there was always life.
1447, Gerrard Street,
Toronto
Tel: 416-778-4542
aftermath
in quotes “ ”
[Click] - updated daily........
In the two months since the earthquake and tsunami, millions of
dollars and tons of supplies have been contributed to the relief
effort. And many, many people have volunteered to help. Dr. Vaji
Dharmasena and Dr. Sarah Beekley, talk about their trips, a first
time for both in doing disaster relief work.
Monsoon
But Declining [VOA News]
The undersecretary-general says he received a note this week
from a Sri Lankan rebel group known for using children as
soldiers and suicide bombers. He says the group, known as the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, is offering to negotiate
an end to the practice.
"While I welcome this message from the LTTE I call on their
leadership to embark immediately on tangible actions, leading to a
time-bound action plan to end, once and for all, the practices of
recruitment, abductions, and use of children as soldiers," he said.
Family [ABC News]
After devastating tsunamis struck South Asia, Christian Pilet and
his wife, both Baptist missionaries from Washington state, traveled
to the region on behalf of their church to offer help.
Produced by JS Films and presented by Sri Surya Movies,
"Sukran," (A) is more an image boosting exercise for Vijay —
Project Vijay all the way from the halfway point. Even films that
have had him as the sole hero cannot claim to have given such
punch in the dialogue he utters. Yet young Ravikrishna also has a
solid part to play from start to finish. Producer, writer and director
S. A. Chandrasekaran returns after a hiatus, youthful in
imagination and agile in execution — at times too much so.
To deny me for simplicity.
Yes, you have gone for so long
With your love for vanity now.
Yes, you have got the wrong interpretation
Mixed up with vain imagination.
The lips of the righteous teach many,
But fools die for want of wisdom.
The rich man's wealth is in his city;
The righteous' wealth is in his Holy Place. - Ethiopia was
where the 60th birth anniversary of Robert Nesta Marley, better known
as Bob Marley, was celebrated recently.
On Sivarathri day, devotees go on a marathon pilgrimage from
Tirumalai to Tirunattalam, covering nearly 75 km within 24 hours, to
show the oneness of Siva and Vishnu. This rare practice is observed
in Kanyakumari district.
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darkness from earth circled by roaring waters. One is the flaming sun, single wheel bright as
lightning, the other is Tamil that has no like." — from the taNTiyalankârum [Berkeley Tamil]