Sri Lanka links conflict to war on terror
by Haroon Siddiqui
Returning to Colombo after several years, one is struck by the military checkpoints at key crossings where visitors are waved on but young Tamil males are not. [TC]
Eastern Election Must Not Lead to Further Alienation
Statement by National Peace Council:
On Saturday May 10 the people of the Eastern Province will cast their vote at crucial elections that will have a bearing on the future course of politics in the country, and especially with regard to the ongoing ethnic conflict. [FI]
Pillayan’s reformation and the Eastern PC election
By M.S.M. Ayub
The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led electoral front does not seem to be united in the issue as to who should be the Chief Minister, a Tamil or a Muslim in the event it wins the Eastern Provincial Council election scheduled for Saturday. [TC]
What makes free and fair different in the East
By Kusal Perera
The east has now become a battleground for interpreting democracy. The President claims the PC elections in the east would be an ideal example for democracy in comparison to all other elections. [FI]
The regime is challenged in the Eastern polls
by Harim Peiris
The Eastern Provincial Council elections are around the corner and as Easterners and the rest of the nation await the outcome of the polls not much can be gained by speculating regarding its outcome. [FI]
Liberation Tigers at Thirty-Two: Whither the LTTE?
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Thirty-two years ago, on May 5th 1976 , around 40 - 50 Tamils met clandestinely at a secret location in the Jaffna peninsula and formed themselves into an organization called the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). [TC]
Eastern election, Northern task Force
by Dayan Jayatilleka
In his soaring ‘rap on race’– his initial response to the Jeremiah Wright controversy–a speech that should be studied by every reflective Sri Lankan (I watched it twice myself, having read the text once), Barack Obama drew his fundamental demarcation from his former pastor. [FI]
Tigers Engage in Positional Warfare, Guerrilla Attacks and Terrorism
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The Chimera in Greek mythology was a fire - breathing monster with a lion’s head,goat’s body and a serpent’s tail. According to the mythical tale, the hero Bellerophon killed it with the help of the winged horse Pegasus.
Nowadays the word chimera is used at times when referring to a thing of hybrid character.Chimerical is the adjective derived from the noun chimera. [TC]
Tamil lobby: Do Tamils lobby?
by Arvalan
The terms Tamil Diaspora, expatriates and lobby are being used by the analysts and media frequently. This creates a perception that these terms are similar and is a matter of semantics. [TC]
Report on fact finding visit to Jaffna - February 2008
A team from the Centre for Policy Alternatives and INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre visited Jaffna from 18-21st February 2008 to meet with colleagues and partners in the peninsula and to obtain a firsthand impression of the situation there. The team spoke to local civil society actors, community leaders, IDPs, and members of international humanitarian agencies in Jaffna Town and outside. [FI]
Our journey among the plantation workers is to evict the clique of reactionary ‘all-time ministers’
Remarks by Mano Ganesan MP, at Bogowantalawa May Day Rally:
Today the plantation workers vote and elect their own representatives. Beginning from the bottom, there are hundreds of local and provincial councilors. There are ten parliamentarians of recent Indian descent. Except me, nine are ministers. [FI]
All Lands Home
Fruitful legacy: Mali's mangos
Most of the 20,000 mango trees here in Sibi were planted about 100 years ago by the village's grandfathers.
Anyone in the village can apply for permission to pick the mangos in return for a contribution to the families who live in Sibi. [BBC]
Bolivian region in autonomy vote
Bolivia's eastern region of Santa Cruz is holding an unofficial referendum on plans to give it more autonomy from central government. [BBC]
Arts - Culture- Heritage
Romancing the light
As moviedom awaits the arrival of ‘Dasavathaaram,’ its cinematographer Ravivarman shares the unique experience:
How would you describe a man who has worked his way to the top as a cinematographer, is branching out as a director and has already recorded a song in his own voice for a film? [Hindu]
Blast from the Past: Utthama Puthran 1940
One of the major Hollywood hits of 1939, The Man in the Iron Mask, based on the exciting novel of the French adventure fiction maestro, Alexandre Dumas, found its way into Tamil cinema as Utthama Puthran. [Hindu]
Daler sings for Rajni
What is the connection between Hindi pop star Daler Mehndi and Superstar Rajnikant’s Kuselan? Kuselan’s music composer G.V. Prakash has confirmed that Daler will be singing for the first time in Tamil [Hindu]