Category Archives: rehabilitation

November 17, 2024 · 12:32 pm

Joachim’s Letter to AKD in Sri Lanka: An Earnest Appeal

Your chance to re-write history Mr. President! A second letter to AKD……. – by Aubrey Joachim**

Dear Mr. President,

Your victories have been stunning to say the least. Winning the top job was good enough. Your virtual clean sweep of the legislative chamber is more than impressive. However, unprecedented is your victory in the North where for the first time in modern political history a Sinhalese Buddhist has been given a mandate by the Tamil Hindu populace. Let this be the last time that Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans have to be referred to by race or religion. You have ensured that our great country is but one nation of people who can achieve greatness.

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October 31, 2024 · 12:07 pm

Dr Narendran Rajasingham: A Grounded Sri Lankan Tamil Patriot

Michael Roberts

Naren Rajasingham was a trifle junior to me at Peradeniya University when he pursued a Vet/Science Degree before proceeding to postgraduate qualifications in the same field. It was only when I was fully enmeshed in researching the Eelam Wars and visiting Colombo with some frequency that I got to know him. My memory is imprecise in its notation of time; and I cannot fix precise dates to our exchanges.

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October 28, 2024 · 7:43 pm

Peoples’ Struggle Alliance sprouts up in Sri Lanka

VISIT FACEBOOK

WHERE ….  Mahendran Thiruvarangan and Sumathy Sivamohan speak up in support of this new political venture

138 mutual friends
Dr. மகேந்திரன் திருவரங்கன் மற்றும் Prof. சுமதி சிவமோகன் ஆகியோர் ஸ்வஸ்திகாவின் பிரச்சாரத்தை ஆதரித்து பேசுகிறார்கள்.
ආචාර්ය මහේන්ද්‍රන් තිරුවරන්ගන් සහ මහාචාර්ය සුමති සිවමෝහන් ස්වස්තිකගේ ව්‍යාපාරයට සහයෝගය දක්වමින් කතා කරති.
Dr. Mahendran Thiruvarangan and Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan speak in support of Swasthika’s campaign. ……………………….

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October 28, 2024 · 4:50 pm

Sustaining Vanni Hope with A New Website

Ranjan Sivagurunathan

Introducing Vanni Hope’s New Website!

Hello Everyone!

I am excited to share that Vanni Hope’s brand-new website is officially live! You can now explore it at vannihope.org.

This new platform marks an important step forward as we continue to grow and serve impoverished communities across the island. Our updated website will feature the latest project updates, announcements, and a chance to meet our dedicated team. It offers new ways to stay connected and discover how you can contribute to our mission.

A key highlight is our new donation platform, offering exciting new features including:

  • Recurring Donations – Schedule contributions automatically at your convenience.

  • Donation Management Portal – Track and manage your giving history with ease.

  • Tribute Donations – Donate in honour or memory of someone special.

  • Project Category Selection – Choose which cause your donation will directly support.

  • Automated Receipts – Receive receipts immediately to your email inbox after donating, along with an annual receipt providing a summary of your donations at the end of each financial year for your tax purposes.

A special thank you goes to our young director Valluvan Thillairajah who developed this entire website during his medical school break. His hard work has provided us with a platform that truly reflects our mission and makes it easier for supporters like you to engage with the work we do.

I encourage you to explore the site, learn about our initiatives, and consider making a donation to be the reason someone smiles today.

Thank you for your continued support. Together, we are building brighter futures and stronger communities across Sri Lanka.

Warm Regards

Ranjan Sivagnanasundaram
Chairman / Public Officer

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October 20, 2024 · 4:13 pm

Burning Issues for the NPP Economic Team

Darshanie Ratnawalli, in The Island, October 2024 ... where the title reads ”The recent IMF visit and the new ‘economic team’

A new economic team, representing SL has gone into a meeting with the IMF. A President Media Division release dated October 2, 2024, says that the IMF visit was to hold discussions on the progress of the IMF programme and the release of the fourth tranche and that the following “economic team” has been appointed by the new government for discussions with the IMF.

This is the team –Anil Jayantha, Chair of the NPP Economic Policy Council & Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs & Finance, Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Advisor to the President, Sunil Handunnetti, JVP Politician, Seetha Bandara Ranathunga, Sunil Gamage, Nandasiri Keembiyahetti, O. G. Dayaratne Banda and Amarasena Athukorala.

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October 14, 2024 · 7:38 pm

Justice: Another Opportunity Lost

A DailyFT item, 14 October 2024, entitled “Another Lost Opportunity”

The new administration of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake lost yet another opportunity in the international stage to rectify past wrongs and charter a new course. This time at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), keeping with the policies of the Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe administrations, the Government rejected international efforts to deliver justice for the tens of thousands of victims of State atrocities. 

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September 22, 2024 · 8:51 pm

Facing Wokism in Britain Today

Matthew Said, whose title in The Sunday Times reads “If you think we’re past peak woke, we may not even be halfway up that hill” …. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

Unconscious bias training and cancellation are mainstream for the young. Just wait until they’re in charge.

Here’s what ‘woke’ means and how to respond to it

In the Second World War, the Allied bomber command had a problem. Aircraft were flying missions over Germany and being shot down in ever greater numbers. The top brass decided that they needed additional protection in the most vulnerable areas (it would be impossible to cover the entire aircraft, as it would be too heavy to take off). But where to place the armour? The good news is that they had plenty of data from craft that had returned to base, and they showed a clear pattern: there were lots of bullet holes in the wings and fuselage, but not so many on the cockpit and tail. The answer seemed obvious: put armour on the wings and fuselage.

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September 11, 2024 · 10:35 pm

Gamini Goonetilleke’s Wide-ranging Medical Work in Lanka

“In the Line of Duty: The Life and Times of a Surgeon in War and Peace” a memoir published in 2008. …………………. now sold out.

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August 14, 2024 · 4:55 pm

Helping Disabled Children in Sri Lanka: VACD’s Philanthropic Outreach from Australia

An Item circulated by Felix Stephen of Melbourne, with the heading “Their Future in Our Hands” …. being the VACD Australia & Sri Lanka July & August 2024 Newsletter …… “When we give alms with our hearts, we give well”

Dear friends, colleagues, supporters, and collaborative partners,

Greetings to you, your families, loved ones, and colleagues from all of us at VACD……Annual Report: My Annual Report for FY 2023/24 to the VACD Australia Board and Fellows can be found on the following hyperlink: https://www.vacd.org.au/2024/08/14/vacd-australia-chairmanss-fy-2023-2024-annual-report-to-the-vacd-australia-board-fellows/

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August 13, 2024 · 1:34 pm

As Sturdy as Sigiriya: Raja de Silva reaches His Year Hundred

Rajiva Wijesinha, in The Island, 11 August 2024, … where the title reads “Raja de Silva at 100″

I have been privileged to have come to know in the last few years the former Commissioner of Archaeology, Raja de Silva. He was at school with my uncle Tissa and last year he came home – as he used to do in his schooldays – to a celebration of what would have been the latter’s 100th birthday. And before that he had been a source of interesting books, for in downsizing his library he passed on to me several books he thought I might like.

Raja …. Cutting birthday cake

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