My Shattered Dreams - “We will meet in three days”

I It was April 21, 2006. The final day in my home and on my soil. The final minutes I spent with my dad. The last time I saw my mum and dad together. My final activity in Jaffna[1]. My last direct initiative in the North part of the Island. My final good bye to Jaffna in that atmosphere. That was the final day I saw many of my friends. Would it be possible to see at least my mum in our home again? Or was it my last journey in Jaffna? Just before I left the house, I wanted to say bye to “Appa” (dad[2]), but he was at the prayer room. When I moved the curtain, he noticed me and said “take care of yourself, we will talk in three days...

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Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: Breaking the Myth and Bringing the Truth

“There cannot be reconciliation without justice. Justice and equity are at the core of reconciliation” – Professor Hizkias Assefa The platform for an “genuine reconciliation” should be rooted via the democratic exercises, rights and participation of all citizens throughout a country. But, if people are under fear to express their grievances and aspirations, including opposition political parties, dissident voices, independent media and even some ruling party government ministers how can a national minority discriminated and oppressed for more than five decades practice their rights in Sri Lank...

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A Turning Point in the life of a Human Rights Defender

When the 1994-95 peace process in Sri Lanka also failed, war erupted again on 19th April 1995, and the then President Chandrika Kumarathunga initiated a “War for Peace” campaign. In the same year, another event forced me to change my approach toward the path of non-violence. On the 22nd of September 1995, I received an urgent notice from my officer in charge for the St. John’s Ambulance Service. I told my mum about that notice during a time when heavy shelling and aerial bombing was taking place around us. After a few minutes silence she told me to attend to that invitation. Neither of us thought that this mission would prove to...

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