The RAW Truth in Sri Lanka
In 1991, she was the last Indian journalist to interview Rajiv Gandhi and a few metres away from him when a female LTTE suicide bomber blew herself up and killed the former Indian Prime Minister. Twenty-five years later, Neena Gopal, the then young journalist, returns to the picture to tell a bigger story in her [...]
The Jaffna Conspiracy
In the dense jungles of north-eastern Sri Lanka, across the Palk Strait, Prabhakaran nursed a grudge against Rajiv Gandhi which would become a full-scale obsession. It was here, deep in the forests of the Wanni, that the plot to kill the former Indian prime minister was first hatched. As the LTTE chief, solitary and furtive, [...]
Sustaining South Asia’s public health successes
In recent years, South Asian countries have beaten down infectiousdiseases like malaria, polio and lymphatic filariasis. These public health victories are the result of sustained policies, investments and hard work that are worth celebrating — and sustaining. Public health programmes need to guard against complacence and re-introduction of disease-causing microbes, which can easily happen in [...]
Pandering to western imperialists
For the past few days I have been musing about the great Anagarika Dharmapala, whose 152nd birth anniversary falls on the 17th of next month. Quite apart from the invaluable service Anagarika did with regard to reviving the place of Buddhism in this country during British colonial times and setting up the Maha Bodhi Society, [...]
Clinton-Trump battle: Lanka-linked US expert examines key issues
Joel Rubin says Hillary victory will split the Republican Party down the middle; rare window of opportunity to improve Sri Lanka-US ties By Ameen Izzadeen Joel Rubin, 46, is a peace activist, women’s rights activist, health care activist, politician and now foreign policy consultant. Mr. Rubin, who also served as a deputy assistant secretary for [...]
Ardhi Pooja ceremony
An Ardhi Pooja ceremony was recently held at Sri Dharmarama Karumaniamman Kovil. Chief guest and western province councillor Jayantha de Silva of the Pragna Pradeepa concept, is seen here making an offering during the pooja.
Etisalat links up with ‘So Others May See’ for vision care
The Vision 2020 Secretariat of the Ministry of Health recently released the National Survey of Blindness, Visual Impairment, Ocular Morbidity and Disability in Sri Lanka. According to their findings, Sri Lanka has a prevalence rate of 1.7 % in blindness. This means 1.7% of Sri Lankans aged 40 and above are blind in both eyes. [...]
International Conference on Human Rights
The ‘International Conference on Human Rights, Citizenship and Democratisation’ will be held on August 27 and 28 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights (CSHR) in the field of human rights. Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe will be the Chief Guest at the inauguration which will be held on [...]
70th Independence Day of Pakistan
Speaking on the occasion of the 70th Independence Day of Pakistan in Colombo, the High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sri Lanka, Maj Gen (R) Syed Shakeel Hussain said that economic cooperation coupled with peaceful resolution of disputes will pave the way for a promising future for not just the south Asian [...]
The Tamil Card—Strategy or Blunder?
Extract from the book At the height of the Sri Lankan crisis in the 1980s and 1990s, all the major players in that country accused India of attempting to destabilize its smaller neighbour by arming Tamil separatists. And they continued to hold on to this belief through all the finger-pointing and accusations that followed. So [...]
Mahattaya connection
Pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, the LTTE number two, Mahattaya, held extensive peace talks in Colombo. The Tiger insurgents even signalled they were committed to finding a political solution to the ethnic impasse by forming an LTTE political wing, the People’s Front of Liberation Tigers (PFLT) or Makkal Munnani, which Mahattaya was appointed to [...]