Category Archives: trauma

July 29, 2025 · 2:10 am

FIRE AND STORM analyses Sinhala-Tamil Confrontations Over the Decades

Neil Jayasekera introduces FIRE AND STORM by Michael Roberts … printed by Vijitha Yapa Publications in 2010 …. ISBN 978955-665-14-8  ….presenting 28 articles & an Amalgamated Bibliography …. Posted by  Feb 28, 2023 

Unique JewelsAnonymous Reviewer in Sunday Times, 21 July 2013,  where the title runs “Important contribution towards a dialogue on Lankan polity. Book facts”

When Michael Roberts left Peradeniya in the late seventies, he was part of an exodus of intellectuals from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, arguably one of the best universities at that time. The exodus of academics at that time was compelled by the economic difficulties faced by university dons. It was the second wave of such emigration that diminished the intellectual life of the university and country.

Unique Jewels

Pirapāharan and leading Tiger Commanders at the Indian sponsored training camp at Sirimalai in 1984

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July 20, 2025 · 2:17 pm

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.

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July 18, 2025 · 2:44 pm

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

 

Photo courtesy of Ruki Fernando

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.

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July 11, 2025 · 5:00 pm

Hard Yards in Medical Learning at Colombo University in the 1960s

Dr Nihal D Amerasekera, in The Island, 6 July 2025, …where the title reads  “Going through Colombo Medical School” ... with highlighting emphasis imposed y ThE Editor, Thuppahi

Some real-life experiences:  I am looking at the events of the 20th century with 21st century spectacles. Hence there are no hard feelings or anger except a fervent hope the situation has changed for the better.

My first introduction to the Medical Faculty was on registration day. It started with virtual ‘road blocks’ by seniors to round up the freshers. This was the beginning of the rag to usher in the new recruits and introduce them to a new brand of nastiness, a tradition that has prevailed since the very beginning of the institution.

Photo here  This infamous ritual has become more outrageous with time. This kind of harassment went on for a further fortnight after we joined. What an introduction to a supposed sanctuary of like-minded scholars!! I look back at this behaviour — a set of practices was accepted by many of the staff in the Faculty andeven encouraged by some of them.

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July 3, 2025 · 7:04 pm

Hiran Applauds Sri Lanka’s ODI Win Over Bangladesh

Hiran Hewavisenti in FACEBOOK,, 3 July 2025

What a show🔥‼️The skipper leads from the front, has a cool head and makes all the right moves with his timely bowling changes.
The former captain has a hot head and weaves his magic when we need it most. His persona energises others on the field, not to mention the fans!

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April 10, 2025 · 12:20 pm

Dynamite at the Heights! The Elon Musk-Trump World

Presenting an You-tube item sent to me by my Aloysian compatriot in Canada, Sarri Junaid — formerly from the Fort of Galle ….

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April 8, 2025 · 5:40 pm

Linguistic Bombs Within A Cross-Cultural Marriage

Courtesy of NIMAL DIAS JAYASINHA in Facebook, April 2025

A Polish man married an American woman, and even though his English wasn’t perfect, they got along just fine.
One day, he bursts into a lawyer’s office, looking panicked.
Man: “I need divorce! Please help!”
Lawyer: “A divorce? Well, that depends on your situation. Do you have any grounds?”
Man: “Yes, yes! One acre and nice little house.”
Lawyer: “No, I mean—what’s the foundation of your case?”
Man: “Oh! Made of concrete.”
Lawyer: sighs “Sir, do you and your wife have a grudge?”
Man: “No need! We have carport!”
Lawyer: “Let’s try again… what are your relations like?”
Man: “All still in Poland.”
Lawyer: “Sir, has there been any infidelity in your marriage?”
Man: “Oh yes! We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player.”
Lawyer: “No, I mean… does your wife ever beat you up?”
Man: “No, no, I wake up before her every day!”
Lawyer: getting frustrated “Then why do you want a divorce?”
Man: “Because she try to kill me!”
Lawyer: “What?! What makes you think that?”
Man: “I have proof! She buy bottle at drugstore… put in bathroom!”
Lawyer: “And what did the bottle say?”
Man: “Right on label… ‘Regular Polish Remover!'”
May be an image of flower
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April 2, 2025 · 1:16 am

A Jewish American Lass Condemns Israel

Sent to me by my Peradeniya Uni Mate, Gamini Seneviratne …. HANNAH EINBINDER’S Passionate Protest & Her Condemnation of ISRAEL’S Genocidal Warfare ….. & …….. SHE is Jewish American

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March 23, 2025 · 7:54 pm

Slaughter of Palestinians …. Again

A Sri Lankan American, in an Item entitled “Slaughter of Palestinians”

As the world wakes up to the harrowing images of children slain by Israeli bombs across the entire Gaza Strip AGAIN, we cannot bear witness to global leaders JUST… DOING…. NOTHING. This is an acceleration of the genocide that Israel is committing against the Palestinian people as a whole. We already failed to prevent it and our Governments have an even greater obligation to stop it now.

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) – March 18, 2025

https://x.com/FranceskAlbs/status/1901964025950310842

   

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ALSO SEE

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/23/senior-hamas-leader-among-23-killed-in-israeli-strikes-in-southern-gaza

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March 23, 2025 · 4:14 pm

Revisiting ‘Noble Death’ via the Tamil Tigers

Michael Roberts 

An ‘outfit’ named ACADEMIA.COM has sent me digital links to old articles from my ‘pen’ on web that have attracted HITS. This is a flattering nudge to my weakening memory bank. As new generations of ‘students’ of the Sri Lankan scene may be interested in these old engagements, I place the A1 generated summaries here.

ONE …. “Empowering the Body and Noble Death,” By Michael W Roberts  in Social Analysis, 2006

AI-generated Abstract: The paper “Empowering the Body and ‘Noble Death'” explores how specific cultural practices in Asia, particularly those associated with martial arts, facilitate a sense of empowerment in the face of death. It discusses the interplay of mind and body in rituals and practices that foster a unity with cosmic forces, enabling practitioners to confront death fearlessly. Through a comparative analysis of various contributions in this domain, the authors reflect on the complexity of participant observation in ethnographic studies and the challenges faced by researchers in fully engaging with the cultural contexts they study.

TPS Pictorial — Thuppahi

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