Jan 17 - 23:
Early Presidential election and unexpected developments By Dr. S. Narapalasingam The general view on the motive behind the decision to hold the Presidential election two years earlier than the scheduled end of the 6-year term of the incumbent President is to exploit the delight of the majority of the citizens over the military victory achieved in May 2009 that annihilated the ferocious Tamil Tigers. [TC] |
'Tamils have won the hearts and sympathy of Canadians for their cause'
By Siva Sivapragasam
In an emotionally inspired speech, Jack Layton, President of the National Democratic Party had nothing but full of praise to the Canadian Tamils and feelings for the Tamil cause when he addressed the International Conference for the Tamil Quest for Democracy & Peace in Sri Lanka:Problems & Prospects. [MJ]
Report on election monitors' visit to Jaffna, Kilinochchi & Vavuniya, Jan 17- 19
CMEV met with residents of the area including those who had recently returned, internally displaced person (IDPs), civil society groups, agencies and government officials. [TC]
The Two Elections in 2010: End of History for the NE Tamils or, A Fresh Beginning?
By Jolly Somasundram
"War does not determine who is right: it just determines who is left," wrote Bertrand Russel. The NE Tamils (who include those from this region living elsewhere in the island), never had it so bad. [TC]
By Somapala Gunadheera
Two news items appearing in the Island of Monday, January 11, 2010 took me by surprise. [TC]
Rajapakse and Fonseka were treated as respected guests by Tamils in Jaffna
By S.Udhaya
Mr Somapala Gunadheera raised an interesting issue in his piece titled Exclusivity of the Sri Lankan Tamil Psyche dated January 19, as to why the Tamils were "mellow, forgiving, tolerant" in their treatment of the two 'Cup' claimers. I must credit Mr Gunadheera for having asked such a fascinating question [TC]
Tamil émigrés follow the election campaign with jaundiced eyes
From the print edition of THE ECONOMIST
IN THE dingy back office of a Sri Lankan grocery shop in Harrow, north-west London, sales assistants pore over a Tamil newspaper, while a customer says he is going home to follow events on the internet. [TC]
Basil Rajapakse allows LTTE leader's mother and mother-in-law to leave the country
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
LTTE leader Prabhakaran's mother Mrs. Parvathy Veluppillai is currently warded at the Oorani hospital in her hometown of Valvettithurai. [TC]
Presidential contender put in the fray by Rajapakse regime quacks on divided loyalties
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
It's an open secret that Former UNP national list MP Sarath Kongahage was put up to contest presidential elections by the Rajapakse regime. [TC]
Fonseka has put aside the General's "Thoppiya" to assail a political Thoppigala
by Nalin Swaris
Even you Brutus? Most famous last words in history, due to its inclusion in William Shakespeare’s tragedy ‘Julius Caesar’. Before turning to Shakespeare, a few historical facts about Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BCE- 44 BCE). Julius’ surname became the title of emperors after him. [TC]
Government plot to harass Sarath Fonseka relatives continue
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Govt continues "games"with Sarath Fonseka's son in law Danuna Tillekeratne by getting Police to postpone inquiry after summoning him for one. [TC]
Rajapakse regime gets ready to derive propaganda mileage by "fixing" Sarath Fonseka & his son-in-law
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Rajapakse regime gets ready to do anti-opposition propaganda by "fixing" Sarath Fonseka & his son-in-law on charges of alleged corruption [TC]
Canadian Tamil Community Donates for Haiti Disaster Relief
By Siva Sivapragasam
The funds collected will be channeled through Global Medic, an international organization of repute and recognition for medical assistance and healthcare services. [TC]
"No Blood for Panties," Boycott Sri Lanka Releases Second Video
Boycott Sri Lanka Releases Second Video in Series "No Blood for Panties"; innovative marketing strategy proves popular, effective: [TC]
"Day after the election there will no longer be any concern for the Tamil people"
"There is really no fundamental choice between General Fonseka and Rajapakse because both were instrumental in launching this military offensive against the Tamil community," says Tasha Manoranjan in a report by Shaun Tandon of AFP datelined from Washington on Jan 17, 2010: [TC]
YATV Video: Jaffna via the A9, election and minority votes
A 7.10 minute telecast featuring A9, IDPs seeking shelter along the road and interviews with few Jaffna residents at the market. [TC]
UNP activist beaten to death by supporters of government minister in Kurunegala
According to Mr. Manjula Bandara (son of Member of Parliament and UNP Organizer for Wariyapola Ms. Amara Piyaseeli), between 12.30am and 1.00am this morning, Mr. Dhammika Herath (also known as Manju) was beaten to death by supporters of Minister of Rural Industries & Self-Employment Promotion S.B. Navinne. [TC]
Short notes on a sojourn in Sri Lanka
by R.M.M
Mahinda Rajapakse maybe corrupt but a lot of the hearsay foolish talk here in Colombo is just that. [TC]
Experiences make regime change the critical question for the minorities
An Appeal by a Collective of Tamil Professionals
The vote is a valuable right and we call upon Tamils, Muslims and all minorities to exercise it without doubt or hesitation on the 26th of January.[TC]
Both Pirapaharan and Rajapakse are propaganda masters and cardboard heroes
by Dr.Muttukrishna Sarvananthan
The 30-year battle against terrorism has turned into a vicious battle for the spoils-of-war in recent times. This post-war phenomenon does not augur well for the people of Sri Lanka.[TC]
"Keep on Moving": In Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King
Masses around the globe fighting for freedom, liberty and / or human dignity liken Dr. Martin Luther King's message to their own struggles. And Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech is looked upon by many to identify with King's fight for equality. [TC]
AlJazeera Video: Military rule not new for Tamils
As campaigning heats up ahead of Sri Lanka's presidential elections, the two main candidates are competing for support from the Tamil community. [TC]
How "exceptionalism" relates to race, racism and racists
The following is apropos an interview with Mr A. Sivanandan, published in New Left Review (London, Nov-Dec 2009 issue, pages 79-98) under the caption ‘An Island Tragedy: Buddhist ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka’. [TC]
Sri Lanka under Rajapakse regime becoming feudal kingdom with constitutional veneer
By Rohan Samarajiva Ph.D
The events of the past few months (and indeed the past few years) in Sri Lanka have puzzled me. The President and his coterie are flagrantly violating the Constitution and laws. That is shocking, but what is more shocking is the casual acceptance of this behaviour by all concerned [TC]
Did Sampanthan Tell Newspaper about Fonseka Agreeing to Re-merge North and East?
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
The credibility of the controversial story on the ‘conditional support’ extended by the TNA to common presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka quoting R. Sampanthan published in the Sunday Lankadeepa newspaper is now at stake with the sudden resignation of the journalist who wrote the story. [TC]
By ways and means of "rigging" the presidential election
by Kelley Senanayake
by Dayan Jayatilleka
Douglas Devananda once likened Tamil nationalism to cholesterol, saying just as there is good and bad cholesterol, there is good and bad Tamil nationalism, and just as you need good cholesterol, you need the good Tamil nationalism.[TC]
Ranil Wickremasinghe Speaks Out on Current Situation
An Interview by Rajpal Abeynayake
The General prepared his programmes approved by all the parties backing him at that time. Now the numbers have been added on. Subsequently General released it (the programme) in Jaffna. Then Mr. Sambanthan wanted to meet with him. [TC]
Voting for Fonseka:"When you are in the Frying Pan You have to Jump"
by Rohini Hensman
If we were to ask, ‘Is this a good time for a presidential election?’ the answer would have to be ‘No’. At a time when so many urgent tasks are pending - not least that of rebuilding the war-ravaged areas of the country and resettling lakhs of IDPs in proper homes with proper facilities - such colossal expenditure on a premature election could be seen as criminally irresponsible. [TC]
Dublin Tribunal finds against Sri Lanka on charges of War Crimes
In Dublin today, 16th January, at 2.00pm the Peoples' Tribunal Chairman Francois Houtart read the preliminary findings of the Peoples' Tribunal on the war in Sri Lanka and its aftermath. There were four findings: [TC]
Poll violence in Puttalam claims life of UPFA supporter
According to North Western Provincial Councilor Mr. Sanath Nishantha Perera (UPFA), at 3.50pm, UNP supporters had shot at UPFA supporters in front of the UNP party office located in front of the Minnas Private Hospital, Madurankuliya, Puttalam District, resulting in the death of UPFA supporter Mr. Saman Kumara of Thonigala, Anamaduwa. [TC]
The political fight between the President and the General
By Ranga Welaratne
I visited my beloved country during the recent festive season, the land of my forefathers, where due to my extended sojourn overseas, I no longer have the right to vote. [TC]
Philip Alston wants credible, independent investigation by Sri Lanka
An Interview with Namini Wijedasa
UN Special Rapporteur for Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Philip Alston raised a hornet’s nest recently by resurrecting the controversial Channel 4 ‘execution’ video and deeming it to be authentic on the basis of a report produced by three independent experts. [TC]
Election related violence in North, East and Uva provinces
According to UNP District Secretary for Polonnaruwa Mr. S.A.M. Wickramasinghe, Captain R.D.A. Ranaweera of the 8th Vijayabha Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, Palali, was arrested yesterday at 4.30pm by the Military Police (4th CCMP) for influencing voters in favour of General Sarath Fonseka. [TC]
In Pictures: Illegal cutout displays using State resources
Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), Colombo has released few pictures showing misappropriation of State resources to display cutouts and banners in the run up to the Presidential Elections. [TC]
All Citizens must vote at Presidential Elections and influence result
By Dr.A.C.Visvalingam
Our Constitution makes it clear that the People are sovereign and that their sovereignty is inalienable. However, for practical reasons, the Constitution provides for the legislative power of the People to be exercised by Parliament, consisting mostly of elected representatives, and, in respect of certain specific situations, directly by the People at a Referendum. [TC]
Presidential Election is re-shaping political forces that existed before the war
By Dayapala Thiranagama
The Presidential election battle is gathering momentum with incredible speed. Defections and pledges of support to Sarath Fonseka (SF) have injected some nervousness for the Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) campaign. [TC]
Sri Lanka east coast is best left to fishermen while the wounds of civil war heal
Gill Charlton of The Daily Telegraph UK sees that it is too soon for tourism in Sri Lanka's east coast: [TC]
Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga has given astonishing media interview
by Mangala Samaraweera
In a frankly scandalous turn of events, Secretary to the President and the country’s top public servant Lalith Weeratunge today made the astonishing proclamation in a newspaper interview that the Sri Lankan government ceased using heavy weapons against the LTTE in April 2009 at the request of the Indian government, in order to help the re-election bid of India’s ruling Congress Party. [TC]