January 17, 2016 · 4:16 am

NPC targets Hate Speech in Context of Increasing Sinhala Chauvinism

Sinhalese extremist agitation has gathered momentum in both email chain networks involving diaspora Sinhala Lankans (and just Lankans), internet blogs, Facebook etc … and also in whisper, proclamation and media exchanges within Sri Lanka. Albeit in changed contextual circumstances, there is some similarity with the climate of claim and counter-claim in the al;te 1950s and the 1960s.  It is clear that patriots of various currents have NOT learnt the lessons of the past — so plus ca change plus c’cest meme chose. In these circumstances the public suggestion from the National Peace Council is worthy of debate… and its presentation here is followed by some examples of the SINHALE campaign that is being mounted by the ultra-right Sinhalese patriots [who do not seem to be aware that their pressures are just what the good political doctor ordered from the viewpoints of the Global Tamil Forum as well as Tamil extremists in moderate constitutional garments who are active in Sri Lanka. Michael Roberts.

Taxi-Sinha-LePublic Statement by National Peace Council, 17 January 2016:  ALL MANIFESTATIONS OF HATE SPEECH MUST BE BANNED BY LAW Continue reading →

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January 14, 2016 · 8:14 am

An Old Marriage with Deepening Ties?

Ranil + BiswasGamini Ilangakoon, in the Daily News, 14 January 2016, with his chosen title being “Harbinger of Democracy, Diplomacy and Development”

The Government’s Economic Policy Statement was made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on November 5, 2015. It stated, “Our final goal is to improve and enhance the living standards of the people; it is the goal for which we have obtained the approval of the people at the election. When we came to power on January 8, Sri Lanka had been caught in a tremendous and dangerous international quagmire. This was as a result of a lack of foresight by the previous Government. We must be able to get the economic foundation right. Multi-disciplined economic strength; local competitiveness, international trade and investments must be in our sights”. The international quagmire, the Prime Minister stresses above is not only political, but also diplomatic, globally branding Sri Lanka as a country of failed diplomacy. Continue reading →

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January 13, 2016 · 1:31 am

Unity Junior Team in UAE with Kevin Pietersen Foundation in 2015

kushil plus unity team UAE Kushil Gunasekera and his Unity junior team after the Fog tournament

Following the 2015 Murali Harmony Cup the Foundation of Goodness handpicked the most talented players from the 16–18 age group among the teams hailing from all across the island that attended the tournament to form the Murali Harmony Cup Unity Team. This is a practice we have had since the first Murali Cup, and the aim of this exercise is to give the boys an opportunity to broaden their horizons through an overseas tour whilst also learning to work together in harmony overcoming language and cultural barriers. Continue reading →

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January 11, 2016 · 11:19 pm

The Call of the Remote Wild: Kumana in SE Lanka

ATW Guneratne, courtesy of Daily News, 12 January 2016, where the title is “Wilderness is calling”

TOWN & COUNTRY

This remote Sinhalese village is situated in Eastern Sri Lanka, in the Yala East wild life park commonly known as Kumana. It is probably the only village inside a national park. Kumana village originated with the arrival of Sinhalese people who fled the upcountry areas following the 1818 Uwa Wellasa rebellion. Groups of people fled along rivers downstream to the Northern coast. Several families came down Kumbukan Oya and settled down close to the sea, near the mouth of Kumbukan oya. This is how Kumana village, Panama village 35 km from Kumana, and most of the Sinhalese villages in the East originated.

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January 10, 2016 · 1:20 pm

Lavish Five-Star Picture of Sri Lanka as Travel Destination in traveller.com

Lee Tulloch, 8 January 2016 in http://www.traveller.com.au/sri-lanka-island-paradise-reborn-glx7uf

It may not be a case of ‘bye bye backpacker’ – they will still come for the beaches and inexpensive lifestyle – but this island nation now offers some of the finest small hotels and resorts in the world. The first time I visited Sri Lanka, four years ago, I was smitten by the sensuality of this tear-shaped island of terraced tea plantations, dense jungles, empty beaches, vine-covered ancient ruins, king coconut groves, cinnamon forests, and the fragile beauty of its dilapidated colonial-era architecture. I was not so smitten by the roads. Those days (and these) it could still take several hours to travel from Colombo to the highland tea plantations, a relatively short distance by Australian standards, on terrible thoroughfares, clogged with tuk-tuks, known as “three-wheelers” here, local buses blaring jangly music and trucks conveying elephants to new owners. There are new highways, built by Chinese chain gangs, but the hilly terrain still makes single-lane roads the norm. Continue reading →

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January 10, 2016 · 10:39 am

P Saravanamuttu in Q and A: Overview on the Past Year

Courtesy of the Daily News, 8 January 2016 …. http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/01/08/features/seeing-believing

pP SARA

January 8, 2015 saw the courage of one man and the bold initiative of another, triumph over a regime that was marked by corruption – President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Great expectations are placed on this new regime though only a year old. January 8, 2016 marks one year in power that has seen the faith of their voters not disappointed with certain promises kept such as implementation of the 19th Amendment. Daily News speaks to Executive Director, Centre for Policy Alternatives, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu on how the country is being gradually moulded by the forces at work.

Q: January 8, 2016 marks one year in power for President Maithripala Sirisena. Looking back at the past year, how do you evaluate his performance? Has Maithripala Sirisena’s leadership proven to be different from that of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa? Or is he simply another ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa’?

A: Maithripala Sirisena is certainly not another Mahinda Rajapaksa in terms of his style of governance and politics and the substance of both. It has been a tremendous year for him and a challenging one and on balance I think he has done well enough to ensure that the governance agenda, though still to be realized in full, has not been replaced. Continue reading →

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January 8, 2016 · 12:23 pm

National Geographic features “Wild Sri Lanka”

National Geographic recently screened three documentaries on wildlife and landscape in Sri Lanka –each 45 minutes of total absorption in the opinion of Tissa Wellapillai to whom we are indebted for this referencing  

Coast of Giants = https://youtu.be/tF1x6waLjs8 

Land of Lakes = https://youtu.be/Gn2wMLqc9sQ

Forest of Clouds = https://youtu.be/FgQ7sxAJa_U

These video documentaries seem to have different sites and titles. For instance, the first of these appears as

The magical Island of Sri Lanka HD | Documentary Film…… Published on May 26, 2015, =   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmGiD1xVYxc

Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The bird life of Sri Lanka is very rich for its size and about 433 species have been recorded. In addition to the many resident birds, a considerable number of migratory species winter in the country to escape their northern breeding grounds. With varying climates and Geography packed into a small island Sri Lanka offers a range of adventures from the top of the mountains to the depths of the oceans.  Other than taking a dip in the oceans or snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing are the most popular beach sports in the country. Scuba diving has long history in the country. Today the oceans filled with coral gardens, multitude of exotic fishes and ancient wrecks Sri Lanka offers one of the best diving experiences in the world. 

Watch, Best Places to visit Sri Lanka | 8 Wonders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4WDG…
…….http://www.goplaces.lk

Follow us : 
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More video : https://www.youtube.com/user/GoPlaces…

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January 8, 2016 · 7:33 am

Cecil Balmond: Architect with Many Attributes and Accolades

Tina Edward Gunawardhana.  whose preferred title is  “Cecil Balmond. Sri Lankan born internationally renowned architectural maestro”

Cecil Balmond OBE of Sri Lankan origin is feted as one of the world’s leading thinkers on form and structure and widely considered to be one of the most significant creators of his generation. Pioneering a new approach in the crossover between advanced art and science Cecil heads Balmond Studio in London, a research led practice of architects, designers, artists and theoreticians who apply Cecil’s revolutionary non-linear, generative methods to create extraordinary designs that fundamentally reorganise space. Responsible for creating spectacular buildings and public art works, which appear to defy gravity such as the renowned ArcelorMittal Orbit for the London 2012 Olympics, Pedro e Ines footbridge in Coimbra, Portugal and the CCTV Tower in Beijing to name a few, Cecil Balmond remains one of Sri Lanka’s honoured progeny. Continue reading →

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January 8, 2016 · 6:21 am

Silence that leaves Women at Peril .. Via Prasanna Vithanage’s SILENCE IN THE COURTS

Lalith Gunaratne, courtesy of  Groundviews 01/07/2016 …….. where  the title is different and where comments will be found

prasanna v -filmFeatured image courtesy The Justice Project – South Asia 

As I watched “Silence in the Courts“, a documentary movie by award-winning Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage aired at the  University of Ottawa Human Rights Film Festival on 3rd December 2015, the narrative was all too familiar – the powerful man and the powerless woman – showing man’s unchecked reptilian indulgence for power, pleasure and to procreate, being played out.  In this case, if not for a couple of more enlightened men who believed the woman’s story enough to share it with the world, this too would have gone unnoticed like many other violations and crimes that some men in power commit with impunity.

“Silence in the Courts” was a part of a series of international films highlighting compelling human rights issues focusing on the theme of violence against women. Continue reading →

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January 8, 2016 · 2:09 am

High-Brow Economic Forum in Lanka Now

ONE. Press Release

On the threshold of entering into an era of unprecedented economic growth, spotlight falls on Sri Lanka in 2016 with the much awaited Sri Lanka Economic Forum 2016. Under a theme of “Steering Sri Lanka towards Sustainable & Inclusive Development”, the Sri Lanka Economic Forum is held in Colombo at the Cinnamon Grand on the 07th and 08th of January 2016 under the patronage of His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of Sri Lanka and Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The Forum will be graced by the likes of international investor and Founder Chairman of Open Society George Soros and Nobel Laureate Economist Joseph Stieglitz, in addition to a glittering line up of internationally acclaimed experts and other distinguished visitors.
The findings of the preliminary study on Sri Lanka carried out by The Harvard University’s Centre for International Development, would be addressed at the Sessions. The study identified four key areas of risk and opportunity that are believed to be strategic in supporting sustained and an inclusive long-term economic growth for Sri Lanka.

Ranil--300x280 Continue reading →

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