Category Archives: security

Facing the Algal Threat in Adelaide: Miller-Frost

Louise Miller-Frost’s Circular, July 2025

The coastline and waters are a great asset to Boothby residents, and many of us very much value the time we spend there walking on the beach, swimming in the ocean, fishing off the jetties or small boats, or just sitting contemplating the spectacular views.

And so the Algal Bloom currently affecting much of the SA coastline is of great concern.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, australian media, economic processes, governance, landscape wondrous, life stories, politIcal discourse, security

Cold War Proxies in Conflict: Ceylon & Palestine

Darini Rajasingham Senanayake,** at IDN-InDepthNews,… 24 July 2025, …. being Part II of an extended article with this title “From Ceylon to Palestine: Ethnic Conflict and Its Role in Cold War Proxy Dynamics” …. This is the second of a two-part series. Click here to read part one  .. .. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

There are remarkable patterns of history, organised violence, and disinformation between events leading to the pogrom and forced population displacements in Sri Lanka in 1983, and British occupied Palestine 35 years earlier as the Nakba unfolded amid Cold War escalating in Europe between the Allies and Soviet Union or Axis Powers.

Map indicating locations of Palestine and Sri Lanka. CC BY-SA 4.0 – Photo: 2025

 

 

Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under accountability, Americna imperialism, atrocities, authoritarian regimes, British imperialism, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, discrimination, disparagement, ethnicity, Fascism, fundamentalism, governance, historical interpretation, Indian Ocean politics, Jews in Asia, JVP, law of armed conflict, life stories, LTTE, Middle Eastern Politics, Muslims in Lanka, politIcal discourse, power politics, racism, security, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, slanted reportage, terrorism, travelogue, truth as casualty of war, war reportage, world events & processes

Political Complexities in Jaffna & the Killing of Rajani Thiranagama

BEING Chapter 3 of Palmyra Fallen, from Rajani to War’s End, by Rajan Hoole ….. Published 2015 …. a book printed and bound by Global Printing Works, 5 Stork Place, Colombo 10 …. a chapter entitled Some Crucial Pieces of the Jigsaw” … [with the highlights here –– except for those in black — being impositions by The Editor, Thuppahi]

 “To everything there is a season…A time to be born and a time to die…A time to weep and a time to laugh: a time to mourn and a time to dance…I know that whatsoever God doeth it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it”- The Book of Ecclesiastes

Dayapala & Rajani Thiranagama in 1984 .. . well before her assassination in late 1989

Dayapala in later years

 

3.1 The Sands Run Out

More recently, we have been able to put together more detailed information about Rajani’s killing. Given that much water has since flowed under the bridge, we felt that while placing the truth about her murder on a record that adequately traces its manner, purpose and the parties involved, it would also be appropriate to bring out a publication that allows today’s reader to see her relevance to the present. As is evident from our account, Rajani’s killing was well planned, mobilising a network of LTTE contacts and agents. Here in Chapter 3, we detail the cold-blooded murder and cover-up by the LTTE and the names of those who were involved at the time. In Chapter 4, we discuss who within the LTTE was involved.

Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under accountability, asylum-seekers, atrocities, authoritarian regimes, caste issues, centre-periphery relations, citizen journalism, communal relations, disparagement, education, Eelam, ethnicity, governance, historical interpretation, human rights, insurrections, language policies, life stories, LTTE, nationalism, patriotism, political demonstrations, politIcal discourse, power politics, prabhakaran, racism, security, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, social justice, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, Tamil migration, tamil refugees, Tamil Tiger fighters, teaching profession, terrorism, trauma, world events & processes, zealotry

Confronting the Algae Bloom in South Australian Coastal Waters

Louise Miller-Frost

The coastline and waters are a great asset to Boothby residents, and many of us very much value the time we spend there walking on the beach, swimming in the ocean, fishing off the jetties or small boats, or just sitting contemplating the spectacular views.

And so the Algal Bloom currently affecting much of the SA coastline is of great concern. The impact on the local environment and ecosystems, the widespread marine species deaths, the impact on recreational and commercial fishing, the impact on tourism and local businesses is all of great concern to locals and to all levels of government.
Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under animal world, australian media, education, landscape wondrous, life stories, marine life, medical puzzles, nature's wonders, security

Wind Power in Lanka: India’s Imperial Grab

Chris Dharmakirti n Facebook, July 2025

India has overstepped its ambition by grabbing Sri Lanka’s 50 giga watt wind power asset valued at over 40 billion dollars and then for having obstructed Sri Lanka’s Bay of Bengal extended continental shelf claim that is estimated to possess 200 billion dollars of resources. India has weaponized her 4 billion debt assistance in 2022 to ride rough shod over a weak Sri Lankan political and civil service administration that bent over backwards to appease Modi.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, centre-periphery relations, disparagement, economic processes, foreign policy, governance, historical interpretation, Indian Ocean politics, island economy, legal issues, modernity & modernization, politIcal discourse, power politics, security, self-reflexivity, travelogue, world events & processes

The Killing of Fr. Saverimuttu Selvarajah in 1990

Ruki Fernando in Groundviews,  11 July 2025, where the title reads “Getting Rid of A Troublesome Priest” ... with the highlighting emphasis being the workd of The Editor, Thuppahi

 

July 11, 2025 marks 35 years since the disappearance of Fr. Saverimuttu Selvarajah, a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Batticaloa. Known as Fr. Selva, he was 30 years at that time and serving as the parish priest and administrator of Holy Cross Shrine in the remote village of Sorikalmunai in the Ampara district.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under accountability, atrocities, authoritarian regimes, centre-periphery relations, citizen journalism, communal relations, counter-insurgency, disparagement, ethnicity, governance, historical interpretation, insurrections, JVP, law of armed conflict, Left politics, life stories, LTTE, martyrdom, Muslims in Lanka, patriotism, politIcal discourse, power politics, racism, religious nationalism, security, self-reflexivity, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, Tamil civilians, terrorism, the imaginary and the real, trauma, travelogue, truth as casualty of war, unusual people, vengeance, war crimes, war reportage, zealotry

Introducing A Cutting Edge Journal: SOUTH ASIA

Michael Roberts

SOUTH ASIA has been a form of Australian exploration — in the plural form of manifold journeys and investigations — in South Asia for several decades. I was a small cog in this cluster of activities some 20 years back; but, alas, fell away. Some old partners in arms are still part of the Editorial Advisory Board; but its a fresh and bright team that is bringing the Indian subcontinent into the Aussie arena. Sri Lankan scholars and readers need to take note of this work and chip in with their own ‘commentary’ — whether in article form or as avid readers.

Check https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/csas20 …. AND/OR write to ……….. OR ……………………….. priya.chacko@adelaide.edu.au

Cover image for South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies, Volume 47, Issue 6 Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under ancient civilisations, australian media, British imperialism, Buddhism, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, cultural transmission, economic processes, electoral structures, ethnicity, European history, governance, heritage, Hinduism, historical interpretation, Indian General Elections, Indian Ocean politics, Indian religions, Indian traditions, land policies, landscape wondrous, life stories, literary achievements, migrant experiences, modernity & modernization, parliamentary elections, patriotism, pilgrimages, plural society, politIcal discourse, Portuguese imperialism, Portuguese in Indian Ocean, power politics, Presidential elections, press freedom & censorship, racism, Rajiv Gandhi, religiosity, riots and pogroms, security, self-reflexivity, terrorism, transport and communications, working class conditions, world events & processes, zealotry

Face-to-Face in Sri Lanka: Elephants & Humans

Zinara Rathnayake, in an Item in the New Lines Magazine that is reprinted in The Island, 23 March 2025

Screenshot

In Makulpotha village, 89 miles northwest of Colombo, Punchibanda woke up to the trumpet of an elephant while he was sleeping in a small wooden hut built on a tree beside his vegetable farm. Fearing that the elephant could destroy his harvest of pumpkins, melons and eggplants, Punchibanda rushed to chase it away. But he could not guard his produce, and instead lost his life.

The large bull elephant charged toward the 62-year-old, who fainted out of fear; the animal crushed him to death. Over a year later, villagers still live in fear as they struggle to protect their crops from wild elephants.

Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under accountability, centre-periphery relations, colonisation schemes, demography, economic processes, historical interpretation, island economy, life stories, security, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, wild life

Bradman’s Momentous Task in Amparai in 1971: Facing the JVP Insurrection

An Extract from Bradman Weerakoon’s MEMOIRS presented in The Island, 9 March 2025 under this title “The JVP insurrection of 1971 as I saw it as GA Ampara”

In April 1971, there occurred the JVP insurrection which assumed significant proportions in the Ampara district. Rohana Wijeweera, the leader of the JVP at the time, had been arrested in Ampara, at the bus-stand a few months earlier and was in remand in far-away Jaffna. However, the cells he had initiated in the district schools, specially those with selected teachers and some of the best of the senior students continued to thrive — in Ampara those following science subjects were very active specially in the predominantly Sinhala areas.

Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under accountability, centre-periphery relations, communal relations, economic processes, governance, historical interpretation, insurrections, Left politics, legal issues, life stories, politIcal discourse, power politics, security, self-reflexivity, sri lankan society, trauma, unusual people, world events & processes

“Europe in Danger” — Trump Eviscerated by French Senator

Verbatim Record of Claude Malhuret’s Speech in French Senate, March 2025 **

“President, Mr. Prime Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen Ministers, My dear colleagues,
Europe is at a critical turning point in its history. The American shield is crumbling, Ukraine risks being abandoned, Russia strengthened. Washington has become the court of Nero, a fiery emperor, submissive courtiers and a ketamine-fueled jester in charge of purging the civil service.

A box of Impeachmints,  …  related to his dealings with Ukraine.
On Thursday, 19 December 2019, in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Donald Trump caricature is seen on a trailer in Krakow, Poland on July 25, 2024. The figure, which was previously a theater prop, has been bought by local politician Lukasz Wantuch. Now he is planning to present it at Donald Trump’s campaign rallies…. Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under accountability, american imperialism, authoritarian regimes, Britain's politics, centre-periphery relations, disparagement, ethnicity, historical interpretation, human rights, law of armed conflict, life stories, military strategy, nationalism, politIcal discourse, power politics, Russian history, security, self-reflexivity, truth as casualty of war, Ukraine & Its Ramifications, world events & processes