Reminiscing my experience in the JVP insurrection of April 1971
By 1970, SLFP leader Sirimavo Bandaranaike had decided to form a coalition with the Trostkyite LSSP and the Communist Party under the banner ‘United Front’ (UF) to contest the General Election. Their common programme featured extensive nationalisation, a pro-Soviet foreign policy, expanded social programmes, and replacement of the Soulbury Constitution with a Republican Constitution that [...]
Can non-violence bring down military thugs?
The determination and courage of the people of Myanmar since February 1 to regain their freedom lost to a military junta will indeed go down in the annals of freedom fighting as one of the greatest in recent times. People of all ages, particularly the youth, have been braving bullets, batons and the vicious kicking [...]
“The longest night for all of us”
Capt. Lalin Fernando’s platoon of the First Battalion, Gemunu Watch was rushed to Wellawaya when the JVP insurrection broke out 50 years ago. Here he recounts his experience I arrived at the Wellawaya Police Station in the afternoon of April 5, 1971 with two platoons of my Company (Bravo) of the First Battalion, Gemunu Watch [...]
The recovery of the UNP
April 12 marks the 48th Death Anniversary of Dudley Senanayake. We publish an excerpt from the book ‘Sri Lanka: Come Wind, Come Weather’ by K M de Silva. After the decisive defeat the UNP under Sir John Kotelawala had suffered in April 1956, few people in Sri Lanka’s political elite expected the UNP to make [...]
The Insurrections of the J V P 1971 and 1987 – 89
I read the interview by Sandun Jayawardana with the JVP leader in the Sunday Times last week. I was the Commanding Officer of the Air Force Station at Diyatalawa in 1971-73 and Director – Ground Operations from 1980-1988. During my tenure as a Director, I was appointed Coordinating Officer – Hambantota District. I was appointed [...]
Mother Sri Lanka aims for unity, empowerment and development
The Mother Sri Lanka (MSL) movement started in 2008 by the Mother Sri Lanka Trust is a non-profit, independent charity. The foundation and the trust carries out work under the brand name “Mother Sri Lanka” (See pic) with the logo/name written in all three languages and the tagline “My family of twenty million people” has been [...]
SLMA elects office bearers for 2021-22
Sri Lanka Malay Association has elected officials for 2021-2022 Patron: T.E.J. Cuttilan. Vice Patrons: Branu Rahim, Mashood Ahamat, Indra Saldin, Thaj Sariffo’deen, T.Y. Raheem, Uvaiz Samsudeen, Thalip F Iyne, Ramalee Adjumain, Dr Sandy Musafer, B.M.N. Jurangpathy, Rohan Musafer, Fazeela Cuttilan, Tuan Z Assen, Brig. T M Bohoran (Rtd) and Kartini Mohamed. President – Rilwan Lantra. [...]
Pakistan gifts sports goods to D.S. Senanayake College
As part of Pakistan’s sports diplomacy, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Maj Gen (Retired) Muhammad Saad Khattak presented sports goods to D.S. Senanayake College during a visit to the school on Friday. The High Commissioner was warmly welcomed at the College by the Principal, Secretary of the Parents’ Committee, representatives of the Ministries of Sports and Education [...]
Sri Lanka Press Association holds 65th AGM
The Sri Lanka Press Association conducted its 65th Annual General Meeting at the Western Province Aesthetic Resort auditorium in Colombo 07 recently. The association’s office bearers and the executive committee for 2020/2021 gathered for a group photograph following the meeting. Seated (from left): National Organiser Nimanthi Ranasinghe, Treasurer Chaminda Karunaratne, Chief Patron Muditha Kariyakarawana, Guest [...]
The mishandling of a national problem and the predicament of war heroes
A glance at the last four decades of the military history of Sri Lanka reveals an agonising period for its citizenry. From 1983 to 2009, the national question that remained unresolved in this country was separatist terrorism. In 1987, it was transformed into a hybrid threat with the emergence of the JVP insurrection which was [...]
Sri Lanka’s diplomatic synchronicity with neighbourhood
Sri Lanka’s foreign policy has mainly been characterised by synchronising its policies with the multipolar system and balancing the foreign policy manifestation with outreach to different regions and regional groupings, given the increased convergence of the strategic interests of Sri Lanka and its neighbours. The ever-changing geopolitical scope of the South Asian region has prompted [...]
Myanmar’s young demand their future
GENEVA – Half of Myanmar’s population is under the age of 30, and many of these young people have benefited from their country’s fragile, imperfect democratic transition over the past decade. They know the military’s return to power could reverse hard-won gains in human development and fundamental freedoms. Their future is at stake. So are [...]
Going collage with old mags
Thirteen-year-old Diya Ghosh launched her exclusive startup ‘SKY’at the Colombo Courtyard on Sunday, March 14. At the coffee morning, surrounded by family and close friends, Diya exhibited a range of creative collages done by recycling old magazines, some dating back 30 years. The special guest was Michelle Gunasekara, Managing Director of Chokolaate Magazine. A percentage [...]