Jacqueline Fernandez; Lankan Star Shining in Indian Film Sky

Sri Lanka’s Jacqueline Fernandez who has made a name for herself in India as a successful film actress was very much in the news last week for reasons unconnected to her cinematic career.

“Shelly Aiya”: Courageous Politician with Enlightened Principles

Shelton Ranaraja known to many as “Shelly Aiya” passed away on August 11, 2011. Shelton or Shelly Aiya was a politician for whom I have the greatest respect.

Sivaji Ganesan was a World class Actor

Sivaji Ganesan, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Gemini Ganesan comprised the triumvirate that dominated Tamil cinema in India from the fifties to the seventies of the 20th century.

JR Jayewardene and the July 1983 Anti-Tamil Violence

July 24, 1983 was the day on which a destructive spree of anti-Tamil violence commenced in Jaffna in the early hours of the morning and began spreading to Colombo in the later hours of the evening on the same day.

“Medamulana Dynasty”: Four Sons and Three Grandsons of Don Alvin Rajapaksa

Basil Rohana Rajapaksa was sworn in as Finance minister in the Government of Sri Lanka by his brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on July 8, 2021.

Tony Ranasinghe: Sinhala Cinema’s Most Romantic Lover

In keeping with the practice of devoting at least one article each month to a cinema-related topic, this column focuses on the popular Sinhala film actor Tony Ranasinghe this week.

President Rajapaksa, talks with TNA and release of Tamil Prisoners

There was considerable political excitement some days ago, when a meeting was scheduled between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).

Life and Times of Dynamic “Thamby” Arumugan Thondaman

Thamby”in Tamil means younger brother. It is also used widely as a pet name for male kids in many Tamil households.

First Sinhala Talkie was made by a Tamil Film Producer

“It is with pride and pleasure, Chitrakala presents to the four million Sinhalese of Ceylon, a picture in their own language for the first time.” was the special message issued by Chitrakala Movietone Ltd.

Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE 30 years ago

Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated 30 years ago by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) at a place called Sriperumbhudur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu on May 21st 1991.

Tamil Film Hero Kamal Haasan Turning Into a Political Zero

Srinivasan Kamal Haasan known popularly as Kamal Haasan and Kamal is arguably the finest actor in Tamil cinema today.

DMK Chief M. K. Stalin Becomes Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

“Stalin Thaan Varraaru, Namakku Vidivu Tharraaru” (Stalin is only coming and will give us a Dawn) was the key slogan around which the Indian political party” Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam” (DMK) conducted its election campaign for the Tamil Nadu State Assembly polls held this year.

Lester James Peries the Emancipator of Sinhala Cinema

Renowned Sri Lankan Film Maker Lester James Peries passed away three years ago at the age of 99.

Cardinal’s Candid Comments and the Bathiudeen Brothers Brouhaha

All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and ex-Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen is a prominent Sri Lankan politician, who is very often in the news for the wrong reasons.

Security Threats Faced by TNA Jaffna District MP Sumanthiran

Two days before the advent of the “Pilava” April New Year on April 12, Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddhika Sri Ragala released 11 suspects who had been in custody for two years since early 2019.

Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph was the Voice of the Voiceless

The Easter Sunday bombings of April 21, 2019 and its consequences have caused a profound impact on the body politic of Sri Lanka.

Cinematic links between director Lester and actor Gamini

Sinhala cinema’s pioneering director Lester James Peries is the Sri Lankan filmmaker I like, admire and respect most.

Zahran Hashim, Kattankudy and the Islamic State in Sri Lanka

The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the Easter Sunday attacks was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by the Chairman of the Commission, Supreme Court Judge Janak de Silva at the Presidential Secretariat on February 01, 2021.

The Man Behind Moves to Form the “BJP” in Sri Lanka

The flower bud is the accredited electoral symbol of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) which is ruling Sri Lanka. However, the image of that flower bud resembles the lotus flower bud. In fact, a lot of lotus buds are used to decorate platforms of the SLPP known in popular parlance as the “pohottuwa” party.

Tamil “P2P” Protest of 2021 and the Tamil “Satyagraha” of 1961

The “Pottuvil to Poligandy” (P2P) Protest that ended last week was a watershed moment in the political history of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Protest Launched From Pottuvil in East to Poligandy in North

There has been a lot of political excitement in the Tamil speaking areas of the Eastern Province for the past two days (February 3 and 4) due to the launching of a protest demonstration named “Pottuvil to Poligandy” or “P2P”. This was to be a long march on foot and in vehicles from the Eastern town of Pottuvil in the Ampara District to the Northern town of Poligandy in Jaffna district.

Dharmasena Pathiraja: “Enfant Terrible” of Sinhala Cinema

January 28, 2021 was the third death anniversary of famous filmmaker Dharmasena Pathiraja. The renowned academic cum film director, referred to as “Pathi” by almost everybody he interacted with, breathed his last on the morning of January 28, 2018 at the Lakeside Hospital in Kandy.

Acquittal of TMVP Leader “Pillayan” From Murder Charges

On January 12, 2021, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court imposed a sentence of four years rigorous imprisonment on Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjan Leo Sylvester Alphonsu alias Ranjan Ramanayake finding him guilty of the offence of Contempt of court.

Army’s LRRP Ambush of LTTE’s Military Intelligence Chief

A news report in the Dailymirror last August stated that the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) of the Sri Lanka Army’s Special Forces has been ranked the third most dangerous Special Forces in the world by the military ranks.info. The United States Navy SEALs was ranked as the most dangerous Special Forces Unit in the World, while the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was second.

Jaffna Mayor election defeat causes crisis in TNA-ITAK

The Tamil National Alliance(TNA) is the premier political configuration representing the Tamils of North -Eastern Sri Lanka.

MGR: From Tamil Film Hero to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

The recent announcement by Tamil Cinema Superstar Rajinikanth that he would be forming a political party to contest all 234 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly at the forthcoming May 2021 elections, has led to much speculation and excitement.

LTTE Political Strategist Anton Stanislaus Balasingham

Anton Stanislaus Balasingham the political strategist of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and political adviser to Tiger leader Veluppillai Prabhakaran died 14 years ago in his South London residence.

Gotabaya Govt’s pre-emptive strike against LTTE Maaveerar Naal

November 27th 1989 was the day on which the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) first observed its annual “Maaveerar Naal” or Great Heroes Day (GHD). The LTTE and its leader Veluppillai Prabakharan are no more after the military defeat of the tigers in May 2009.

US Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s Key Sri Lankan Tamil Aide

An overwhelming feeling of relief has descended upon the world-not merely the US- after the Presidential elections of the United States of America ended.

How the SLAF killed the LTTE’s “Smiling Cobra” in an air strike

More than eleven years have passed since the war between the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organisation concluded.