From Molamure to Jayasuriya: ‘Honourable’ Speakers of Sri Lanka

The Parliamentary proceedings of Sri Lanka, known formerly as Ceylon, have been the focus of my interest from a fairly early age. It began when I was in the Upper-fourth D class (Grade Seven) at S. Thomas’ College, Mt.Lavinia in 1966. Our English teacher Mrs. Fernando advised us at the beginning of the year to regularly read and comprehend the Parliamentary proceedings published in newspapers.

Machiavellian Moves by Maithripala and Mahinda to Oust Ranil

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli known as Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was an Italian diplomat, writer, historian and political philosopher who is regarded by some as the father of modern political science. His most famous work was the political treatise “The Prince” which gained notoriety because it supposedly justified duplicity and a cynical disregard for morality as acceptable means to achieve the ends of gaining or m

How Sampanthan Made Wigneswaran The TNA Chief Candidate In 2013

Canagasabapathy Visuvalingam Wigneswaran  has announced the launch of a new political formation known as the “Thamizh Makkal Koottani” meaning Tamil People’s Alliance (TPA). The retired Supreme Court judge who was until a few days ago the Northern Province Chief Minister has split from the “Thamizh Thesiya Koottamaippu” or the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and declared his intent to form the TPA which is expecte

Ashraff: Single most popular mass figure in Eastern Muslim politics

October 23 is the 70th Birth anniversary of legendary Muslim Congress leader M.H.M. Ashraff. A dynamic lawyer – politician hailing from Eastern Sri Lanka would have completed the Biblical life span of three score years and ten if he were among the living today. Alas! This was not to be as Ashraff passed away in a helicopter crash on September 16, 2000, just five weeks ahead of his 52nd Birthday. His untimely demise created a vacuum in the I

President Sirisena’s Cabinet comments strike a ‘RAW’ nerve in India

Maithripala Sirisena is a man of many surprises. Sri  Lanka’s sixth executive President has a penchant to make controversial remarks and startling revelations on more than one occasion. 

Can Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa Re-unite Politically?

Ranil Wickremesinghe is Green!   Mahinda Rajapaksa is Blue!   President Maithripala Sirisena,   Which political colour are you? 

President Sirisena Pressured Into Backtracking At UN In New York

The perplexing political conduct of Sri Lankan President Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena has in recent times defied many norms and values of conventional politics.

Rajapaksa Family Politics and Gotabaya’s Presidential Candidacy

Former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s interview to the influential Indian English daily “The Hindu” has caused quite a splash among political circles in Sri Lanka. The ex- president was interviewed by Suhasini Haidar and Amit Baruah for the newspaper which has acquired a reputation over the years of being the most authoritative voice on Sri Lanka related issues in the Indian media. 

Pragmatic Politics of Plantation Tamil Leader Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman

When Sri Lanka known then as Ceylon obtained full freedom from British rule on February 4th 1948, the second largest ethnic community in the island were the Tamils of recent Indian origin and not the Sri Lankan Tamil community.

Wigneswaran, Sampanthan and Tamil National Alliance Intra-Tensions

Northern Province Chief Minister Canagasabapathy Viswalingam Wigneswaran is a retired Supreme Court judge. Much was expected of CV Wigneswaran when he was first elected chief minister of the Northern Province on behalf of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in September 2013. Sadly those 

"Medamulana Mahinda" and the Political Rise Of "Ruhunu Rajapaksas"

The rise and growth of ‘political families’ are a common occurrence in Sri  Lanka. Ever since the island known formerly as Ceylon gained limited forms of representative democracy through the Legislative and State Councils during British rule, the practice of members of the same family seeking posts through elections became widely-prevalent. The advent of Parliamentary elections coupled with freedom from colonial bondage saw the p

Cinematic politics Of Dravidian Patriarch “Kalaignar” Karunanidhi

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena reportedly sent two special representatives early this week to India with a letter to the ailing Dravidian Tamil political patriarch Muttuvel Karunanidhi wishing him a speedy recovery. Karunanidhi known widely as “Kalaignar”(artiste) has been leader of the Dravida Munnera Kazhagham (Dravidian Progressive Federation) since 1969 and served as chief minister of India’s Tamil Nadu state for

Black July: Thirty-fifth Anniversary of 1983 Anti-Tamil Violence

One of the darkest chapters in the sphere of Sri Lankan ethnic relations was the widespread anti-Tamil violence that occurred thirty-five years ago during the fourth week of July in 1983.  

Seizure of Tiger arsenal in North renews fears of an LTTE revival attempt

The 21km-long Puthukkudiyiruppu-Oddusuddan road progressing through the hinterland of North-Eastern Mullaitivu District, links Puthukkudiyiruppu on the A-35 Paranthan-Mullaitivu highway and Oddusuddan on the A-34 Mankulam-Mullaitivu highway. It was along this road that a trusted deputy of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed by the deep penetration squad of the Sri Lankan armed forces on September&n

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's US Citizenship and Presidential Ambition

The United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap will conclude his three-year term in Colombo this August. He will be succeeded by Alaina B. Teplitz, the current US Ambassador to Nepal. Both Keshap and Teplitz were appointed envoys to Sri Lanka and Nepal respectively by former US President Barack Obama in March 2015. Both, however, are US Foreign Service career Officials and not political appointees of President Obama.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Economic Vision and Political Mission

“Viyathmaga” is an organization that claims to be dedicated to the goal of “an intellectually inspired Sri Lanka”. It is said to possess an elitist membership comprising top level professionals, academics and entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka. The Viyathmaga website describes the organization in the following manner -”The Professionals for a Better Future (VIYATHMAGA) is a network of Academics, 

Biopic of "Nadigaiyar Thilagam" Savitri: Rise and Fall of a Great Actress

Film stars often act the roles of real persons in what is known as Biopics or biographical movies. Biopics are usually about illustrious and interesting historical figures. Actors and actresses enacting such roles get praised if their performances are brilliant enough to project those historical figures in a realistic manner on screen.

TNA May Launch Non-Violent Protest Campaign Against Govt Soon

The Coalition Government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe may soon be facing a political challenge from an unexpected quarter, namely the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). The TNA regarded as the premier political configuration of the Sri Lankan Tamil people is 

Lester’s reel comes to an end

It is with great sorrow that I write about the death of Sri Lanka’s greatest film director Lester James Peries  !   

No-Confidence Motion against the Leader of the Opposition

Hell hath no fury as an Opposition thwarted in its bid to pass a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against a Prime Minister! Sri Lanka’s self -styled Joint Opposition...

TNA’s key role in defeating no-confidence motion against Ranil

In the seven-decade long history of Independent Sri Lanka’s legislature, there have been two no-confidence motions and related debates that are unprecedented and unparalleled. The first was in 1981 when members of the then United National Party (UNP) government brought and passed a no-confidence motion against the 

TNA captures Jaffna Mayoralty through skilful political manoeuvre

Jaffna is the capital city of the predominantly Tamil speaking Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It was at the time of independence from Britain, the second largest city in the Island, next only to Colombo.

Anti-Muslim Violence in Amparai Town and Kandy District

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Minister of Law and Order on February 25th, 2018. It was a stop-gap measure.

Office of Missing Persons Provides ‘Audacity Of Hope’ to Sri Lanka

Let me begin on a very personal note. The first major emotional upheaval I underwent as a result of losing a very loved one, was when I lost my maternal grandfather in December 1968. I was 14 years old at that time. I was inordinately fond of him and he of me, his eldest grandchild.

How Mahinda Trapped Maithripala With The SLFP Party Leadership

Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena is currently in the throes of an acute political crisis after the Local Government poll results.

Seventy Years of Independence and Tamils of Sri Lanka

Three score and ten years have passed since Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, gained Independence from Britain on February 4, 1948. The Island nation had been under colonial bondage for a very long period. The Portuguese rule came first in 1505, followed by Dutch rule in 1658. Finally came the British rule in 1796 that lasted until 1948.

Iconic Tamil Pop singer A.E.Manoharan helped bridge the ethnic divide

“Ithaya Oasai”(Sound of the Heart”) was a drama put on the boards by the students of St. John’s College,Jaffna in 1963/64. The play proved so popular that it was staged to members of the public in Jaffna, Kandy, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Colombo. The chief actor in the play was a handsome curly-haired student in the then Higher School Certificate (HSC)class. He was a hosteller as his family was living in the central high

Lasantha Wickrematunga Assassins Must Be Prosecuted Without Delay

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his misguided astrological and numerological wisdom held the seventh presidential elections on January 8th 2015. When the date was announced most people yearning for a regime change in Sri Lanka noted the symbolic significance of January 8th in a different context. It was on January 8th 2009 that Lasantha Manilal Wickrematunge , the well known editor of “The Sunday Leader” was brutally assassinate

Will Tamil film hero Rajinikanth become Tamil Nadu Chief Minister?

In the May 2014 Indian General elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Narendra Modi swept the poll in many states to form a government...

DMK abandons separatism; captures State power in TN

Thamizhan Illaathaa Naadumillai. Thamizhanukkendroru Naadumillai (There is no country without Tamils. There is no country for Tamils) is a saying in Tamil that vividly illustrates the angst felt by the more nationalist sections of Tamils about the lack of a country of their own - an independent sovereign self-governing Tamil state!