Journeyman Pictures anchored by Mark Davis of SBS
SEE http://youtu.be/owDY94bpY2A ………
Kavudha Rajaa! Who is to be King? Mahinda or Prabhaa? Misjudgements that changed the course of history
Somapala Gunadheera, in The Sunday Island, 11 November 2012
Misjudgements are anathema to justice. Nevertheless even they may accidentally ensure ‘the greater good of the greater number’ in very exceptional circumstances. The following judgements made by the Supreme Court since 2005 have turned out to be one such instance.
1. Injunction to prevent the Police from further investigating alleged misappropriation of tsunami funds by Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR)
2. Ruling that President Kumaratunga (PK), steps down from office one year earlier than stipulated
3. Decision that allowed any “cross over” in Parliament to continue as an elected MP, despite his or her political party’s objections
These decisions have been widely criticized with cogent reasons by legal luminaries. Recently there has even been an implied confession on the tenability of the injunction at 1 above. However, my intention is not to go into the legality of these decisions but to reflect on how they changed the course of history of this island. Continue reading
Filed under accountability, Fascism, historical interpretation, Hitler, Indian Ocean politics, LTTE, military strategy, politIcal discourse, power politics, prabhakaran, propaganda, racist thinking, Rajapaksa regime, Sinhala-Tamil Relations, sri lankan society, terrorism, violence of language, world events & processes
To be or not to be Sri Lankan? … That is the question!
Theruni Sebastiampillai, from The Island, 10 November 2012 … noting *** at end
How do I define my identity? At first glance, the answer would be simple and clear: I am a French citizen with Sri Lankan origins. This would be enough for any administrative paperwork. But in daily life, the reality is quite different depending on the situations that we are facing.
The first question would be: Am I French or Sri Lankan? I was born in France, I studied in France, I live and work in France. So what could be more natural than to feel French? Continue reading
The Power and Dignity of the Judiciary …. Consitutional Issues in the light of the Impeachment Motion on Shirani Bandaranayake
Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne of Montreal — courtesy of the Sri Lanka Guardian ….. see his explanatory letter at the end of this reflective academic article.
Jeffrey Toobin, a staff writer at The New Yorker and Senior Legal Analyst at CNN, in his latest book The Oath (Doubleday:2012) observes of the United States Supreme Court: ” In the previous dozen years, the United States endured a terrorist attack, economic calamity and several wars. But the Supreme Court’s rulings may leave as important a legacy. The future of politics, business, public safety, individual freedoms – all hang in the balance before the justices. How will our elections be conducted? What is the place of race in American society? How much power may the Federal Government exercise? On those questions and many more, the Supreme Court will have greater sway than either the executive or the legislative branches of government”. Continue reading
Note arising out of very short visit by Arjuna Aluwihare to Menik Farm camps and Chetticulum and Vavuniya hospitals 29 and 20 September 2009
Arjuna Aluwihare, …… This memo was written by Professor Arjuna Aluwihare for his own edification — then in early October 2009. As befits a scholar he presents hi impressions within the proviso that it was short visit. I have taken the liberty of highlighting some sentences. Web Editor… see ** at END for bio-note
1. I was very well received by Dr Jayasinghe, Dr Safras, and all other medical and other personnel. Drs Jayasinghe and Safras had arranged for my driver and me to stay at the IOM accommodation in Zone 0- and we were fell fed and watered! It was a pleasure also to meet many young graduates from various faculties who have recently come as medical officers to the camps. I need to stress we were very well looked after. I am grateful to the Secretary Health for arranging this visit.
2. Health related matters
I had seen the statistics and data collected and collated by the IDP centre and Dr Herath and his staff, and was amazed at their detail and the trouble taken to understand the problems and deal with them. Having seen the camps it is easier to appreciate how much very hard work is reflected in the tables he had. I had also read the poems written by Dr Terence de Silva. Continue reading
Three LTTE marksmen make the grade in rifle shooting as sport
Dhaneshi YATAWARA in the Daily News,
The youngest and the most cheerful of the three was 24-year-old Suresh Kumar. The determined one was Thavendran (26), and the studious, Rajeevan (34). Different in character, yet the decision they took years ago gave them almost a similar result in life. The life they spent as LTTE cadres is now over. These three young men are turning a new leaf in life – a much greener and luscious one indeed. Rajeevan, Thavendran and Suresh today are budding sportsmen training to excel in marksmanship. Under the Sri Lanka Shooting Association the trio train in the game of shooting, aiming to be national champions. “At the very initial stage when we tested them for their level of talent the three showed skills above the average, for beginners. With a systematic training they have no barriers to excel in sport,” said Lt. Col. Dushan Wijewickrama (Rtd.), Secretary of the National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka and the national trainer. “These young men came to our training through a special initiative in the rehabilitation program as a result of a special discussion held between the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Rehabilitation Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera, said Lt. Col. Wijewickrama explaining how it all started. Continue reading
