Rights and wrongs of the UNP position
Some may believe that it was a masterstroke by the Government to go to Parliament with the issue of the team appointed by the UN High Commission for Human Rights. The ruling party has the numbers....
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And Vasilisa is still beautiful after all these years
People send me book lists now and then. They want to see if I’ve read at least 6 in the list. Sometimes the figure is 10. Such lists, I am told, consist of the most popular books on earth or those...
View ArticleThe world is made of humiliation and insult
“If the insults and humiliations of all time were woven into a cloth would not the tapestry wrap the earth many times over?”There are times when I feel the world is made of advertisements. Look around...
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The IGP must resign!*
These are days of frayed tempers, perceived grievances, real threats and real fears that can cloud and blow away reason. This is the hour or the rumor-monger. This is the hour of the extremist. This...
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What is the color of racism?
‘Before you speak let your words pass through three gates. At the first gate, ask yourself ‘is it true?’ At second, ask yourself ‘is it necessary?’ And at the third, ask yourself ‘is it kind?’– Sufi...
View Article'Extensive Methodology' of the OHCHR and other tidbits
Extensive Methodology of the OHCHRDays after the announcement that Sri Lanka had decided to deny access to the UN investigation team, the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said...
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Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein’s prayer
The United Nations General Assembly on Monday has unanimously approved Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein of Jordan as the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, succeeding Navi Pillay of South Africa....
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An Army occupied with faith and the faithful
A temple is a temple is a temple. There are grand ones and humble ones, rich and poor, revered ones and just-visited ones, temples where succor is sought due to reputation of delivery and temples...
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Ranil’s Moment
Humility is probably the most powerful propaganda tool around. It is also the least used, especially by politicians. This is why Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should be applauded for...
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'Mis-residencing' Lakdasa Wikkramasinha
In the early eighties there were two Sri Lankan poets whose work was included in the GCE A/L English Literature syllabus, Lakdasa Wikkramasinha and Patrick Fernando. In later years, for reason best...
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With you, without you
The two don’t like each other. Well, let’s say that they are opposed to each other. The opposition is public knowledge. They’ve made statements to this effect. General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena...
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Self-inflicted wounds, Chandrika's sorrows and other tidbits
Self-infliction There's penance. Self-flagellation. People do all kinds of masochistic things. But is it only Ven Watareka Wijitha Thera who is self-inflicting cuts and blows? Isn't it true that...
View ArticleThe importance of learning words*
Mrs. Lakshmi Jeganathan, who once claimed (and rightly so) that she taught me my ‘A, B, C’ (the letters pronounced with ‘correct’ enunciation of course), continues to teach me English, 41 years after I...
View ArticleOf lessons learnt on dreaded Saturdays and unlearning the mis-learnt*
My last conversation with her took place almost ten years ago. It was at my sister’s wedding. I was struggling to introduce her to my then girl friend. "This is Aunty Lakshmi," I said and then got...
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A place for miracles
‘I am not a magician,’ he had said, humble as always, according to reputation. ‘Devi kenek’ (a god), the Resident Anesthetist said. This was of renowned Neurosurgeon Dr Sunil Perera, who had...
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The costs of pleading the fifth
Michele Sison can be loquacious Americans of the United States are familiar with the term ‘Pleading the fifth’. It refers to the 5thAmendment to the Constitution which, in popular understanding, gives...
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'Arahat' Malaka and other tidbits
Tissa's Theorem (Corollary) No, it's not Tissa Attanayake we are talking about. It's Tissa Vitharana. Professor. The good professor wants prelates to act against unruly mobs. Absolutely. There is a...
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The ‘Syrian Vote/Veto’ undressed the self-righteous
Can eyes that choose not to see Gaza, Iraq and Afghanistan have tears for Syria?The United States of America and its allies are a trigger happy lot. They are also heavily invested in hanging people....
View ArticleBouquets, melodies and tapestries
Referring to an article I wrote titled 'There are republics I would die for,’ Indrani Peries recalls an incident that had taken place some decades ago. She remembered being annoyed by the way an Asian...
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Human rights activists plan a trip to France
‘We have to do something about it,’ Psychosothy Paranamuttu started things off at Celery Café, Colombo 3 where some hardcore HR hawks had gathered to obtain comfort of companionship in trying...
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