Mar 14-20:
Hon Stephen Smith, MP, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs has said the importance of “Proper, transparent and compassionate treatment of those citizens of the north and east” while emphasizing that “it will be important for post conflict reconciliation in Sri Lanka."
He also added that, “It is for this reason that Australia continues to advocate resettlement of all remaining displaced persons in safe and dignified conditions as soon as possible.” [TC]
The Tamil National Alliance must demonstrate its "firebreak" between federalism and separatism
by Dayan Jayatilleka
The sin of the Tamil National Alliance in the post-war period and the current electoral context is that of omission rather than commission. It has failed to qualify and de-limit its use of the concept of ‘self determination’ and thereby signal its full separation from separatism. [TC]
Is there discrimination against Sri Lankan Muslims in the field of cricket?
by Izeth Hussain
The focus of this article is on what looks like discrimination against Sri Lankan Muslims in the field of cricket. [TC]
In Pictures: They came to India in boats. And now?
by Malini Morzaria
"I want to go home," Nisha tells me. She is one of the 100,000 Sri Lankan refugees who fled the 26-year-long civil war and are scattered across India's vast Tamil Nadu state. [TC]
Gen. Sarath Fonseka Calls Charges Against Him 'Bogus'
by Robert Mackey
Four months ago, Gen. Sarath Fonseka was the commander of Sri Lanka’s army, hailed as a national hero by the country’s Sinhalese majority for putting an end to the long, bloody rebellion by Tamil separatists. [TC]
Tamil Representation in the North and East and fearmongering by organizations like the SPUR
By Kath Noble
Having lived through so many years of conflict, you’d have thought everybody in Sri Lanka would be extra careful about suggesting policies Tamils might consider discriminatory. After all, that’s how it started. [TC]
War Crimes,Genocide,Crimes Against Humanity and the principle of Individual Criminal Responsibility
by Nirmala Chandrahasan [TC]
The 2010 General Elections and rise of ethno-nationalist politics in the East
by Jehan Perera
The ethnic divide in the country is not only manifested politically but also socially in the lack of positive integration in which members of the different ethnic communities keep to themselves.[TC]
Set record straight on list of civil society activists issue -National Peace Council [TC]
They came….. Enjoyed….. Saw….. Made an impact in our hearts
by Lasantha De Abrew
The North- South Dialogue Desk of Lanka Centre for Social Concern co-sponsored the much awaited educational tour of the Arippu school children to Colombo and Kandy [TC]
A leaked list – believed to be compiled by the Sri Lankan intelligence unit – has revealed the names of 35 leading journalists and NGO officers of interest to the country’s secret services [TC]
Journalists close to Gen. Sarath Fonseka threatened with arrest
Reporters Without Borders is very worried by attempts to intimidate at least four journalists linked to jailed opposition leader Sarath Fonseka, who are being threatened with prosecution. [TC]
Will there be any “justice” in this court-martial for my father?
By Apsara Fonseka
To request that anyone with any love for his/her nation try even in a small way to defend the supreme interests of this nation and not the petty interests of a small group. [TC]
Mrs. Gnanie Nalliah: A lady with a passion for teaching
An appreciation by Ms. RanjanaThambirajah (Nee Sabaratnam)
March 21st 2010 marks the first death anniversary of Mrs Gnanie Nalliah who passed away in Vancouver, Canada at the age of 91. The nonagenarian was a well known mathematician in the Jaffna circle and taught at Chundikuli Girls College Jaffna for more than 25 years. [TC]
On ‘The End Justifies the Means’ and other damaging beliefs
By Dr. S. Narapalasingam
Having read the comments on my previous article, – ‘Whither the new Sri Lanka proclaimed by the triumphant Head of State?’ – posted by transCurrents on 26 February 2010, the need has arisen to clear the misconceptions and misunderstandings of some Sri Lankans, which reinforce the concern for the future of the island nation [TC]
Hybrid Histories of South India and Sri Lanka
by Rajan Philips
(A modified version of a Review Article originally published in the Sri Lanka Journal of the Humanities, University of Peradeniya) [TC]
Exit the "old" western masters: Enter the "new" eastern mandarins
by Dushy Ranetunge in London
An article published last week by Gomin Dayasri commences with the three following paragraphs, which represent a populist view of apologists of the present regime. [TC]
Cardinal John Henry Newman: His Great Mind was Felt Even in Sri Lanka
By Professor S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
Three Sundays ago (February. 21), a kindly retired priest next to me at church gently reminded me that it is Cardinal John Newman Day, in celebration of Newman’s birth in 1801.[TC]
By Namini Wijedasa
With nearly 200,000 people still displaced in the North — some living in temporary camps while others squat with host families — international agencies are running out of money to meet urgent needs like water supply and resettlement grants, according to a report released last week. [TC]
Time for Sri Lanka to stop search for external enemies and turn the searchlight inwards
by Dayan Jayatilleka
The Sri Lankan discourse on war crimes, violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in general, divide into two camps, both of which demonise the other. [TC]
How student "Mithuro" from Kollupitiya met their counterpart "Mithirar" in Kalmunai
by Capt. Elmo Jayawardena
There are three huge hundred year old ancient nuga trees growing in a sandy patch by the Wesley School in Kalmunai.[TC]
The 17th Amendment to the constitution must be amended to be implemented
by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha
One of the more frequent critiques of the government with regard to what is characterized as Human Rights relates to the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.[TC]
The Rajapaksa regime and the role of Basil the presidential sibling
Basil Rajapaksa Talks to C.R.Chandraprema
"Come Mr Chandraprema" says the usher. I follow him into the smallish modestly furnished office in the presidential secretariat. [TC]
Sarath Fonseka refuses to appear before military tribunal [TC]
True democracy means much more than holding free and fair elections at periodic intervals
by Carlo Fonseka
Socrates (469 – 399 BC) taught that the most important thing for us to learn in life is how to live in harmony with others. To live in harmony with others we have to do things that are helpful to others and avoid doing things that are harmful to them. [TC]
Purported Arrest and Continued Detention of Sarath Fonseka is entirely Contrary to Law and Justice
By Sarath Nanda Silva
Every living being by nature cherishes liberty, security and freedom of movement. Law evolved as an instrument of regulation of human conduct and recognized from the earliest times that certain rights pertain by nature to all members of the human family. [TC]
CNN: Sri Lanka war survivor: The future holds 'nothing' [TC]