The 'polythening' of Vesak*
I remember, way back in 1978, watching a programme on ITN. This was just after we got ‘TV’ in Sri Lanka. We didn’t have enough programmes back then to fill the day or even half a day. There was a lot...
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Kavan Rambukwella reflects on ‘being Sri Lankan’*
He was a player, a coach, an administrator, a selector, a consultant and promoter. That’s when it came to rugby in Sri Lanka. His skills in all these spheres are widely recognized to be legendary....
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Vesak thoughts
Inmates of the Magazine Prison, Welikada get ready for Vesak.Pic by Rukshan Abeywansha‘Dan ithin Vesak balanna yanna baya nehe; bomba pipirenne nehene (Now, after all, we can go to see the Vesak...
View ArticleThose elephants and these elephants
Let’s have an uncommon candidateVen Medagama Dhammananda got it right. He is opposed to the idea of the opposition putting forward a ‘common candidate’ to contest the presidential election. We have...
View ArticleThere is a stranger within, did you know?
It is said that when the ascetic Siddhartha Gauthama was at the point of attaining enlightenment he was confronted by Mara, the ‘tempter figure’ wont to appear as deity (devaputta), defilements...
View ArticleOn the poverty of art-appraisal*
Last week I wrote a comment on Liyanage Amarakeerthi’s take on the Sinhala novel and especially his gripe about the relationship between this and what he calls Sinhala Buddhist Nationalist Ideology. I...
View ArticleVictories grasped and un-grasped
When there’s fighting, when there are bombs exploding and there’s expectation of explosion, when there’s death and displacement, there’s an oft articulated wish: the end of fighting. When a nation has...
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Shelly Whiting would be funny if she were not tragic
Canadian High Commissioner Shelley Whiting is a conscientious woman, she would have us believe. She has decided to boycott this year’s ‘Victory Day’ celebrations. She has offered her reasons. She is...
View ArticleFive years after the fighting ceased
When do wars end? Do they end with surrender, with military annihilation of protagonist, the recovery of livelihoods, reconstruction of houses, hospitals, schools, return of the displaced, erasing off...
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The big boys of tobacco celebrate a court decision
‘A brilliant coup if ever there was one!’ explained Mr Sticks as he poured himself a glass of carrot juice.‘I hear you!’ Mr C Garette cheered in agreement, accepting a glass from the host. ‘Do you have...
View ArticleDimensions of academic dishonesty*
About 18 years ago, facing an interview for a junior academic position in a university in Sri Lanka, I was asked to describe what I thought were the key differences between the US and Sri Lankan...
View ArticleMeditation on poetry, transliteration and recitation
My friend Suranga Fonseka said something about dimensions and the limitations of the mind about twenty years ago that I can never forget. We were talking about multiple dimensions, those that would...
View ArticlePathiravitana’s ‘Cameos’ a tender gaze on nation and citizenry*
I parachuted into journalism. I didn’t do the hard yards. I was picked from nowhere by Manik De Silva, Editor, SundayIsland about ten years ago. He said I could be his understudy. He did his best...
View ArticleModi as gonibilla and maverick’s plaything
Narendra Modi is not just India’s new Prime Minister. He’s also the latest gonibilla conjured by Indophiles, Eelamists, federalists and other fellow-travelers. The ‘Specter of Modi’ is a good topic...
View ArticleMissing a trick and showing a slip
President Mahinda Rajapaksa did not invite seemingly estranged leaders of coalition partners such as Champika Ranawaka and Wimal Weerawansa to accompany him to the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected...
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A dansala for royalty
The first was when I was about five years home. We were returning to Colombo from Kurunegala, my maternal grandparents’ place. It was night. My father stopped the car at a nondescript point located...
View ArticleThe nation above all
'The Nation' was launched eight years ago. At the time I was Deputy Editor (Features) and one of my tasks was to write the weekly editorial. I was with 'The Nation' until January 2007 and wrote...
View ArticleThe word ‘common’ is offended*
My name is Common. Yes, there’s a reason for the upper case ‘C’. That’s a proper noun and not an adjective. I write because my name has been prostituted so much that it is hard for me to figure out...
View ArticlePhysician, prescribe for the real and not imagined malady
In these Narendra Modi days, we once again have fear-mongering devolutionists trying to make a fast political buck at the man's expense. There's reference to promises made and talk of Modi making sure...
View ArticleOn the being that gives
In the middle of the year 1993 I went to meet some friends at Marcus Fernando Hall, Peradeniya University with my erstwhile comrade at arms at Peradeniya, Dhammika Amarakoon. We went there to talk...
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