Egoists, fanatics, terrorists, ‘patriots’ and ‘traitors’ in turbulent Sri Lanka

By Dr. S. Narapalasingam

With the resumption of the war early 2006, the twists and turns in the political process with a military component have exposed the confusing and contradictory roles of the egoists, fanatics, terrorists and pseudo patriots in turbulent Sri Lanka. [FI]

Anura Bandaranaike: The Crown Prince who was never Crowned King

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

The saying "Always the bride'smaid never the bride" applied appropriately to Anura Priyadarshi Solomon Dias Bandaranaike who passed away on Sunday March 16th at the age of fifty - nine.
Anura as he was popularly known, was always the "Crown Prince" waiting to be crowned. But coronation never came and now he has departed uncrowned as the prince who never became King. [TC]

Assassinating Tamil Parliamentarians: The Unceasing Waves

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Fifty-one year old Kiddinan Sivanesan was the latest in the long line of Tamil Parliamentarians and ex - Parliamentarians to suffer death through assassination. Sivanesan, a former co - operative society store manager and trade unionist, was returning home to Mallavi after attending Parliament when a claymore mine exploded . Both theTamil National Alliance MP and his vehicle driver were killed. [TC]

Antiquity, languages and politics of Sri Lanka

by Dr. Rajasingham Narendran

Sri Lanka, as we call her today, is an ancient land with an unfathomable history stretching into the mists of time. The attempt to understand her history, beyond the past few centuries, would be akin to the efforts of the proverbial five blind men to figure out an elephant. [FI]

Sri Lanka set to play another time buying exercise, Mano Ganesan tells visiting EU officials

Western Peoples Front Leader and Civil Monitoring Commission Convener Mano Ganesan MP met with visiting officials of the European Commission’s office of the external relations Director-General, Ms. Helen Campbell and Andrea Nicolaj yesterday (14th March) at the EU premises in Colombo. [FI]

Boston Globe Editorial: Sri Lanka's recurring fever

The government, under pressure from Sinhalese hard-liners, has opted to end the conflict by winning the war. Political and military leaders speak of crushing the Tigers by the end of the year. They insist the Tigers are nothing but terrorists and that once their funding from abroad is cut off, the army will solve the conflict over Tamil minority rights by wiping out the Tigers. [BG]

Election begins to solidify government control in the East

The overwhelming success of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), a breakaway faction of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), in the 10 March local government elections in the eastern Batticaloa District has prompted the group, backed by the Sri Lankan government, to seek additional victories at provincial level. [TC]

Flash floods displace thousands in Sri Lanka North-East

More than 50,000 people have been hit by flooding in northwestern Mannar District in Sri Lanka since 12 March, the government said. The area has witnessed intense clashes between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) during the last six months, restricting access to relief agencies. [TC]

Basic Democratic Rights for Media Personnel

A Statement by the Rt Revd Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo

Recent news reports about the continuing harassment and arrests of media persons are both disturbing and frustrating. Today the focus of the whole Nation is on the brazen and systematic violence against several Rupavahini media persons, and the recent arrest and indefinite detention without access to lawyers of a group of journalists associated with a news web site and printing press. [TC]

US State Dept. Report is an Extraordinary Rendition of events in Sri Lanka!

A panel discussion titled ‘War, Peace and Human Rights: Sri Lanka after the Eastern Elections’, was held on Friday, March 14th, on the sidelines of the Seventh Session of the Human Rights Council in Room XXIV of the Palais des Nations from 13:20 to 15:05. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Nalaka Mendis, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colombo. [FI]

Arts - Culture - Heritage

Why have the Windies Humiliated Sri Lanka?

by Nirgunan Tiruchelvam

Sri Lanka’s encounter with the West Indies is that of a rejected lover. For years, Sri Lankan fans have venerated the West Indian legends ranging from Constantine to Lara. In the pre-test years, cameo appearances in Ceylon by the West Indies were an integral part of the folklore. [TC]

In Pictures: Kokkattichcholai Sivan Temple

by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

The temple in Kokkattichcholai is a “Thaanthondreeswarar”. It means a Sivalingam ’sprung up by itself’ and a temple was built later by the villagers in the vicinity over the course of time. The Sivalingam which sprung up by itself is called “Suyambulingam” as well. The Hindus believe that the Sivalingam is more than 10,000 years old. Devotees from various parts of the country travel to to the renowned Kokkattichcholai temple, during special holy days. They join devotees of lord Muruguan pilgrimaging to Kathirgamam during the season by foot, taking jungle paths, crossing rivers and mountains. [HA]

Ganesalingan presented with literary award

Says literature must help in ushering in a new society

Art and literature should have a scientific orientation, reflect reality and should not be based solely in imagination, Sri Lankan Tamil writer Se. Ganesalingan has said.

Delivering the acceptance speech at a function held here on Saturday to receive the SKM Ilakkiya Virudhu from Erode Tamil Ilakkiya Peravai Arakkattalai, the author of over 60 books, said literature should have a scientific temper. [Hindu]

Blast From the Past-Marmayogi 1951

M. G. Ramachandran, Serukalthur Sama, ‘Javert’ Seetharaman, M. N. Nambiar, Anjali Devi, Madhuri Devi, Pandari Bai and M. S. S. Bhagyam

Perhaps the most historically significant film of 1951 was K. Ramnoth’s Marmayogi, a Jupiter Pictures’ production made at Central Studios in Coimbatore. This film, a folkloric tale of kings, royal mistresses and rebellious princes was written by A. S. A. Sami who had planned it specially for M. G. Ramachandran. [Hindu]

All Lands Home

Tibetan Agitation: Some Larger Issues

By Col R Hariharan (retd.)

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s statement about the willingness of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao “to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama” in the light of the Tibetan leader’s assurance that he did not support total independence for Tibet and that he renounced violence, adds a new dimension to the agitation of Tibetans world over against Chinese rule in Tibet. [FI]

Pictorial: Holi, Celebrating everlasting love, life and joy in colours

by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

Holi-the Festival of Colours, is one of the major festivals in India. It signifies the end of winter and welcoming the spring. People smear each other with coloured powder and splash with water. The colours are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi and Bilva and various other medicinal herbs. It is believed that, smearing with coloured powder has medicinal significance. People also believe that the bright colours represent energy, life and joy. It is originally known as “Holika”, an ancient festival of India. This is a festival that is as much a gateway to celebrate the arrival of spring as much as it is a way to celebrate the season of love.

Violence in Tibet as Monks Clash With the Police

Violence erupted Friday morning in a busy market area of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, as Buddhist monks and other ethnic Tibetans brawled with Chinese security forces in bloody clashes. Witnesses said angry Tibetan crowds burned shops, cars, military vehicles and at least one tourist bus. State media said at least 10 people died. [NY Times]