‘Buddhist’ is an identity tag as much as it denotes preference for a particular teaching (Pic by Rukshan Abeywansha) ‘Buddhist’ is an identity tag as much as it denotes preference for a particular teaching (Pic by Rukshan Abeywansha)

Way back in the year 2004, when the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) was formed to contest the April elections, I objected on grounds that the political/historical role of the Bikkhu was advisory. The mayor, I wrote to the Sunday

After what seemed to be a brief but palpable and conspicuous absence from serious public engagement (in late 2012), Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka has returned from Paris; a return marked by his characteristic interventions in the press and the release of a book, titled ‘Long War, Cold Peace: Conflict and Crisis in Sri Lanka’ (Vijitha Yapa, 2013). The book, his second major publication on Sri Lanka, brings together most of his writings on Sri Lankan affairs which were published in the papers during the past few years.

It is obvious that in many parts of Western world people suffer from Islamophobia. Since 9/11 attacks on innocent Muslims increased dramatically in these countries. Muslim properties are vandalised, mosques are attacked, Muslim cultural heritages are mocked and damaged, Muslim religious symbols are destroyed in some places and ladies with Islamic attires are attacked. All these happened in post and pre-9/11 periods in some western countries. This new social phenomenon originated and developed out of fear of Islam and Muslims. Somet

The people of Kotakethana who had been traumatized by a wave of murders considered most heinous, are once again living in fear, as some of the suspects taken into custody over the murders that terrorized the area in Ratnapura, were released recently.

The suspects or 'terror merchants' as they had been referred to, of Kahawatta, were behind bars, giving the villagers a sense of relief, enabling them to slowly but steadily revert to their simple way of life.

Self-censorship & Restrictions on media, the serious issues
Free flow of information must insure before the Election

Campaign for Free and fair Elections (CaFFE) expresses its grave concern over the media culture of self censorship developing in the North due to continuous attacks. This self censorship, especially in regarding human rights, rule of law and democracy, in the run up to the Northern Provincial Council Election is unacceptable.

CaFFE along with many civil society organizations had expressed dism

The Sri Lankan government under pressure from the international community is considering to appoint a Truth Commission to probe the alleged violations of international humanitarian law during the final phase of the three-decade long war, a Sunday Sinhala newspaper reported.

Quoting reliable sources the Lankadeepa Sunday newspaper said the government's move is in response to the allegations from the international community regarding the alleged war crimes that took place at the end of the war between the government and the

Whether or not Sri Lanka will play host to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November this year will be known after the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meets in London on Friday.

Although the question of the venue is not on the formal agenda of the CMAG, it could be raised under the provision for “any other business.” The most recent plea against holding the summit in Lanka came from the Commonwealth Law Conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, between April 14-18. The meeting,

The US has said that Sri Lanka's rights record in 2012 was tainted by "major human rights problems" including "involuntary disappearances" and "unlawful killings" by security forces and pro-government military groups.

"The major human rights problems were attacks on and harassment of civil society activists, persons viewed as LTTE sympathisers, and journalists by persons allegedly tied to the government, creating an environment of fear and self censorship, involuntary disappearances as we

Sri Lankan police on Sunday rejected allegations of torturing detainees in the island nation raised in a United States human rights report released by the State Department last week.

Police spokesman Priyashantha Jayakody said the police underwent training in maintaining human rights when carrying out their duties and such allegations raised by the United States were baseless.

“There have not been such reports in recent times,” said Jayakody.

In the wake of the execution of Sri Lankan housemaid Rizana Nafeek on 9th February 2013, accused of smothering an infant in her care in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the human rights of migrant workers have come to the forefront of the policy discussion on migration. This article discusses what the next step needs to be in developing a comprehensive governing framework for migrant labour, and argues that collective action is the strongest tool in the arsenal of sending countries in protecting migrant workers.