D.Chandraratna, Perth In a way it was sad to read the essay on the print media recently written by Shenali Waduge to this news sheet. She pointed out, very correctly, that, ‘Media is the most prostituted public service entity next to the profession of politics. Anyone can do anything if they throw in some cash. People […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth The leader of the opposition has found it fit to stand up for the freedom of expression, which on the face of it is a darn good thing. But without knowing the ground realities superficial talk of freedoms is pure bourgeois political titillation. The big picture is to make the entire country […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth W.A  The latest in the attack on Sri Lanka by the enemies of the country revolves round the issue of asylum seekers to Australia. This really is a joke of mammoth proportions if not for the perils of a hazardous journey with so many infants they intentionally carry as accoutrements. The UN […]

D.Chandraratna, Perth The UNHRC Chief in Navi Pillay seems to be realizing that with the likely non-cooperation of the Sri Lankan government her dream of becoming the prima donna of the LTTE is facing its deserved nadir and her impertinence will make UNHRC a ‘bolshie’. The special interest groups like the GTF who are now […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth    Sri Lanka must be conscious of the possible threats to its territorial integrity and sovereignty at all times. Our entry into the post conflict age, with lessons learnt, requires a reorientation of our maritime strategy given the limitations of our own defence capabilities. Sri Lanka’s geographical position in the Indian Ocean must […]

Dr D.Chandraratna Perth Today’s news item in the Indian Daily ‘The Hindu’ states that ‘President Mahinda Rajapaksa will hope that the BJP’s independence of Tamil Nadu allies will make New Delhi more supportive of his regime. India values ties with Sri Lanka but Colombo must make room for political aspirations of the minority Tamils.’ Another […]

 Donald.Chandraratna, Perth, W.A There is plenty of talk in the media about racism, racial vilification and incitement to violence against minority groups in the country, allegedly orchestrated by various organisations, religious as well as civil. Hence there is an appeal to the ruling party by a number of lobbyists to bring in legislation and other […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth, W.A  Some highly paid UN spokesperson has said that the ban on commemorating the tiger outfit by the Sri Lankan military in the North will be investigated. The whole organisation seems to be preoccupied with micro managing Sri Lanka when human rights are trampled upon in so many places in the world. […]

Dr D. Chandraratna, Perth, Western Australia   It was rather sad to read an interview given by Ven Medhananada Thero to the ‘Ceylon Today’ News-sheet recently lamenting the destruction and pillaging of the archaeological treasures of ancient Sri Lanka. He referred to Diyathithawela Nandimitra Aranya, Kudimbigala in Seruwila in particular, and a number of other places […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth Western Australia    The UNHRC was created after years of deliberations by the world at large in order to prevent the reoccurrence of the despair and degradation of millions who perished in the Nazi Holocaust and other places. It was to act as the last sentry at the gate of human rights […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, The stance of the TNA in the actions of the NPC members as reported in the media lately is suggesting to all rational minds that they are either not keen on reconciliation or at worst totally opposed to it for fear of laying the ghost of the LTTE for good. We are not […]

Dr Donald Chandraratna Perth Australia  It is ironic that those who paid scant regard for human life at one time are now eulogizing Mandela who was a more of a moral leader than a political leader. This includes those leaders of western societies who were dithering for over thirty years and many centuries prior to […]

Dr D. Chandraratna As recently as last month there were two instances in Australian Universities when academic freedom became mere sophistry and nonsense. In the first case, the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at Sydney University, an academic from Israel-â„¢s Hebrew University was refused permission to respond to a talk given by another academic […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth, Western Australia The intelligent public in Sri Lanka is indignant with justification at the regular walking out behavior of Sri Lankan Parliamentarians and high executives, a recurring contagious madness of late.ƒ”š‚  Walking out may be an individuals right but they should not forget that the public have a right to an explanation […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth, Australia In her statement, Ms Rivera opined that the report of the Sri Lanka Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission falls short of the comprehensive accountability process recommended by the UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts and encouraged the Council to consider the matter. These are baseless allegations.ƒ”š‚  The report of the expert panel […]

Dr D.Chandraratna Perth, Australia Today for the first time the Australian newspaper, “ƒ”¹…”The Week End Australian’ƒ”š‚  published an accurate picture of the ground realities of post conflict Sri Lanka and the growing presence of the LTTE in Australia by the veteran journalist Greg Sheridan. ƒ”š‚ As pointed out in the Australian press the villain in Sri […]

By Dr D. ƒ”š‚ Chandraratna, Western Australia. Once again that ghost of separatism is raising its ugly head. A number of Tamil organisations spurred on by the Diaspora are appealing to the Tamil voters to boycott Presidential elections. The LTTE used the same tactic to forcibly drive a wedge between the Tamil electorate and the rest. […]

By Dr D. Chandraratna, Australia The word joker seems to be cropping up these days for whatever reason in the Sri Lankan news bulletins in relation to the presidential poll. This is good news for the incumbent President as he cannot be painted by the same brush. Joker, for the Sri Lankans is an interesting […]

Donald Chandraratna, Perth, Australia A sense of despondency and gloom overhangs the political environment these days. The turn of events after the retirement of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and his likely entry into the mainstream of politics has caused this despondency among the nationalists (we are called pseudo nationalist or chauvinists by Western […]

Donald Chandraratna, Australia This incessant talk of violating human rights is fast becoming hollow talk by Western powers who do not apply the rules of fairness to the charges and allegations levelled at poorer nations in the world. No one will deny that there are serious violations from time to time by all states parties […]

Dr D. Chandraratna, Australia The so called international community and a few disgruntled Sri Lankan NGO’ voices are making a mockery out of the situation of IDP’s again. Once the Channel 4 Video allegation melted into thin air along with Mr Solheim and Professor Alston the IDP issue is back on the agenda. Surely, there […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Australia The drama of international relations played in the portals of Colombo has done all of us a favour. And that is the suspicion and doubt that it has created in the minds of thinking people.ƒ”š‚  The aggressiveness of diplomacy in the past few months have prompted us to question the validity of […]

Dr D Chandraratna, Australia Much has happened in Sri Lanka in the four months after the demise of the LTTE. No more blood letting, no more claymores’ and no more needless loss of lives. There is more economic activity, people movement, protests, social and cultural activities and a sense of sheer freedom and relief among […]

By Dr Donald Chandraratna, Perth, Western Australia The British High commission has ruled that Dr Kohona and Mr Arjuna Ranatunga are technically and legally not entitled to enter UK. ƒ”š‚ Likewise the Canadian Embassy has refused the visa for Rev Somananda Nayaka Thero on the grounds that Reverend and Thero do not appear in the passport. […]

Dr D.Chandraratna, Perth, Australia Within a month or so after the elimination of the Terrorist outfit the same core group in the Tamil Diaspora has come out with the novel idea of a transnational state. The Eelam State is formed by an identity nexus among all Tamils in the world. While not dismissing totally the […]

Dr Donald Chandraratna, Australia The diktats of innumerable conventions beginning from Franz Leibers code in 1863, which try to limit the rights of belligerent warring parties to minimise the suffering of civilians are usually claimed as Western in origin. This may be correct although similar but more virtuous sentiments of righteousness in the conduct of […]

Dr Donald Chandraratna, Perth Australia Sri Lanka has stood up to the bullying by the European nations. Quite unlike the previous regimes the current President has defied the taunting by the likes of David Milliband to remind that coterie of individuals who declare themselves to be the self appointed representatives of the International community that […]