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

This article has written on the 11th of August 2010, in order to mark two hundred days of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda disappearance and the birthday of assassinated senior journalist Dharmeratnam Sivaram. 


Both journalists came from a different background and polarized communities in Sri Lanka, but both are / were seen as a threat against autocratic government of Sri Lanka.


Meanwhile, this is the government saying that they are working on reconciliation process. 


This article will analysis the real meaning of reconciliation, ground reality, government moves and international community role in the reconciliation process.


Full version of this article can be view soon.

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Searching for Peace in a Kingdom of Vultures

(From my archives 2009 September)

“Peace is the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part”



The armed conflict in Sri Lanka came to an end by mid May 2009 - after more than three decades - with a ‘military victory’ of the Sri Lankan government. The Rajapakse regime won the Eelam War – IV, but a Tamil spirit for autonomy remains - as it occurred - due to misrule, an identity-based state patronage, exclusion, mismanagement of scarce natural resources, underdevelopment, and violation of human rights. The Tamil people’s political aspirations were once again proved through the recent Jaffna Municipality and Vavuniya Urban Council elections (both districts are in the Northern part of Sri Lanka). Even though the government has won their battles, it has failed in the resettlement, reconciliation and reconstruction process so far. Whether nonviolent or violent, the struggle of Tamils is closely related to the denial of their basic human needs.

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Advocacy from Afar - Towards Human Rights for Victims of the Sri Lanka's civil war -

                                              (Photo Courtesy Virakeasari)




In 2009, the global media turned it's attention to the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). At the time, many questions were raised on the treatment of the Tamil civilians trapped in the conflict.

“About 300,000 civilians, plus the Tamil Tiger forces were trapped in an area of territory about the size of Central Park in New York…They were within range of all the armaments that were being used, small and large, being used to smash the Tamil Tiger lines… Between 10,000 and 40,000 civilians died during the final desperate battles”
- Former UN spokesperson in Sri Lanka, Gordon Weiss

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The Future Tamil Politics

Eelam War IV shattered and devastated Tamils social, economical, cultural and political structural factors. These four structural factors were corner stone’s of the Tamil National Struggle and were intricately interconnected to each other. These became primary targets during the war and were destroyed. To give this research paper a focus and due to contextual developments I will only be analyzing the political aspect. However, I will give due prominence, understand and agree upon the arguments that all four factors have equal prominence.

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The Birth of an Activist

During the early hours of November 14th, 1980, my grandfather was at the Selvasannithi temple, attending a unique Hindu festival which is related to ensuring justice upon this earth. On the 13th night my grandfather went to the temple in order to attend the 4am special prayers. According to my grandfather, during his sleep, around 1.30am, he saw a dream of a new-born elephant moving towards him. Our family members are strong lord Ganesh devotees and we believe that the elephant is lord Ganesh’s vehicle. Soon after he saw the dream he woke up and thought about my mum’s pregnancy, and immediately came to our house.

Heavy rainy and thunder had begun, causing a small flood in our lane. Mum told my grandmother, “I am feeling a pain”. Due to my mum’s pregnancy grandma realized the situation and asked my uncle to bring a car to take my mum to the hospital. As my uncle brought the car, my sister was holding an umbrella above my mum. Heavy rainy and thunder roaring, the wind taking up its speed; the moment approached, it was 2.30am, November 14th, 1980. My mum was trying to get into the car with deep pain, but before she could manage to put her step into the car, she gave birth to me into my grandmother’s hands.

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" A Voice Of Resistance On Behalf of The Silenced Voices"

09-09-09

   My Vienna Declaration

My voice is for the voiceless. My voice is for the genuine and legitimate cause of oppressed people. I have a moral responsibility to speak the oblivious truth about the injustice and non-democratic actions, which I have witnessed. My fidelity on my ambition is consolidated. My aspiration is to bring to life the aspirations of oppressed people. I know the path and its consequences, which I have chosen.

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