TEHRAN – The war between Iran and Israel appeared to grind to a halt on Tuesday, after a dizzying 12 days in which the world watched President Donald Trump demand the evacuation of Tehran’s 10 million residents, threaten to assassinate Iran’s Leader, advocate for “regime change,” launch strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, and then claim he harbored no beef with the Iranian government and even wish for God to “bless Iran.”
Iran and Israel haven’t signed a ceasefire deal, but have only agreed to halt fighting, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. He stated on X that Iran will hold back from striking Israel as long as the regime refrains from further aggression.
This war brought the region to the edge of a full-scale conflict, especially after American forces directly joined the fight and faced retaliatory strikes from Iran. Regional leaders watched with anxiety, fearing that the flames ignited by Trump would engulf them as well. For now, it seems the region might be safe. However, given the well-documented history of Israel and Washington breaking their word and even violating official ceasefire agreements, the threat of renewed conflict remains a very real possibility for every country in West Asia.
Meanwhile, Western media outlets have been working overtime to paint Iran as defeated, censor the grim reality unfolding in Israel, and conveniently ignore the elephant in the room: Israel and the U.S. not only failed to achieve their objectives, but faced unexpected and unprecedented consequences.
Below, we examine some key aspects of this conflict.
How did the war break out?
The war ignited in the early hours of June 13 when Israel, with U.S. backing, initiated bombings of residential buildings in Tehran, nuclear facilities in Natanz and Esfahan, and military sites throughout Iran. The regime also assassinated several of Iran’s top military generals and nuclear scientists on that day.
These attacks caught Iranians off guard, as they were preparing to attend a sixth round of nuclear negotiations with the United States in a matter of days.
Iran launched its retaliatory strikes on the night of June 13, carrying out 22 waves of missile and drone attacks against the occupied territories. The last round was fired just minutes before the fighting was supposed to cease on June 24.
Initially, American officials claimed they had no involvement in the Israeli assaults, but on June 22, they directly intervened by striking nuclear sites in Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow.
BBC – Donald Trump and his top officials have pushed back on a leaked intelligence report that said US strikes on Iran only set its nuclear programme back by a few months.
Speaking at a Nato summit in The Hague on Wednesday, Trump said the strikes led to the “virtual obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities and set its atomic programme back “by decades”.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was also at the summit, said the preliminary Pentagon assessment was made with “low confidence” and the FBI was investigating the leak.
On Tuesday, sources familiar with the initial report into Saturday’s bombings told the BBC’s US partner CBS that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not eliminated.
They added that the strikes had only set the country’s nuclear programme back by a few months – an assessment the White House swiftly described as “flat-out wrong”.
According to the report, strikes on the heavily fortified enrichment facilities at Fordo and Natanz had sealed off entrances but failed to destroy underground structures.
Officials familiar with the leaked Defense Intelligence Agency evaluation warned it was an early assessment that could change as more information becomes available about the sites.
The Defense Intelligence Agency is the Pentagon’s own agency which specialises in military intelligence to support operations. It collects large amounts of technical intelligence, but is distinct from other agencies like the CIA.
The US has 18 intelligence agencies, which sometimes produce conflicting reports based on their mission and area of expertise. For example, the American intelligence community is still not in agreement over the origins of Covid-19.
On Wednesday, while sitting alongside Nato Chief Mark Rutte, Trump initially acknowledged some uncertainty, saying the intelligence on the attack was “very inconclusive”.
But he then went further in his assessment, saying “it was very severe, it was [an] obliteration”.
When asked if the US would strike again should Iran resume its nuclear activities, Trump said: “Sure, but I’m not going to have to worry about that. It’s gone for years.”
Trump later likened the strikes to America’s atomic bombing of Hiroshima at the end of World War Two.
“I don’t want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don’t want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing – that ended a war,” he said.
The US president was flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, who both echoed his scepticism about the leaked intelligence.
Hegseth said the leak was politically motivated and insisted the bombs landed “precisely where they were supposed to”.
He added: “Any assessment that tells you it was something otherwise is speculating with other motives.” He characterised the leak as “completely false”.
Rubio also cast doubt on the leaked report’s credibility, suggesting the contents had been distorted in the media and labelling the leakers as “professional stabbers”.
The preliminary assessment also indicated that some of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile had been moved prior to the attack.
According to sources familiar with it, Iran’s centrifuges remain largely “intact” with the destruction limited to aboveground buildings.
Entrances to two nuclear facilities were blocked and some infrastructure was damaged, they said, but much of the deeper installations survived the blasts.
In US intelligence terminology, “low confidence” typically indicates that the information is either poorly sourced, fragmented, or uncertain – making it less reliable than assessments graded with “moderate” or “high confidence”.
Hegseth’s reference to the report being “low confidence” suggest it is tentative and its findings may change as more detail emerges.
The US struck three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday – Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan – using “bunker buster” bombs designed to penetrate hardened underground targets.
While the specific munitions used in the attack have not been confirmed, the 30,000lb (14,000kg) Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), was thought to be the only weapon capable of destroying Iran’s underground enrichment facilities.
Tehran has always said its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
In the hours that followed Saturday’s strikes, Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, told reporters that it would take time to assess the damage to the facilities.
But he added that “all three sites sustained extremely severe damage and destruction”. Satellite images showed six fresh craters clustered around two entry points at the Fordo nuclear sites, as well as grey dust and debris.
It is unclear from the latest satellite images, however, how much damage the sites sustained below the surface.
Hassan Abedini, the deputy political director of Iran’s state broadcaster, said the three sites targeted by the US had been evacuated a “while ago”, and that Iran “didn’t suffer a major blow because the materials had already been taken out”.
Both US and Israeli officials, meanwhile, have hailed the mission as a success.
Colombo, June 25 (Daily Mirror) – United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Talatha Athukorala has alleged that a Deputy Minister attempted to influence police regarding the recent assault on Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) member Sandamali Uluwitage.
“We are aware that this Deputy Minister contacted the Grandpass Police to inquire about the incident. One has to wonder why a government official would take such an unusual interest in a police investigation,” Athukorala remarked during a press briefing yesterday.
She accused the government of undermining democratic norms. “It appears that democracy has been sidelined by this administration,” she said.
Athukorala alleged that the National People’s Power (NPP) exerted pressure on six CMC members who had initially pledged their support to the opposition, causing them to reverse their stance at the last minute.
Speaking about the assault, Ms. Uluwitage claimed she was nearly strangled by her attackers. “They warned me, saying, ‘Be aware that we, the NPP, have secured the CMC. Watch your step,'” she recounted.
She also accused the police of manipulating evidence related to the attack.
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is an eternal law.” – Gautama Buddha
Buddhism, has a long and great tradition of Ahimsa (non-violence), and peace among world religions. At this time, on the world is on the brink of World War 3. There is an urgent need for Buddhists to lead a Global call for Peace– through balanced and negotiated conflict resolution in the Middle East. The conflict in that region is embedded in a staged Clash of Civilizations”, involving monotheistic Judeo-Christianity on the one hand and Islamic formations on the other.
The Buddhist tradition of Critical Thinking, based on Cultivation of Right View (sammadithi) and Right Understanding; through investigation and analysis of the facts and events for oneself may be recalled at this time.
Through study of a subject or problem and development of Right Understanding and Consciousness a strategy for Right Speech and Right Action to ameliorate a situation, whether local or global, may be arrived at, collectively, at this time of global emergency, although individually we may feel weak and unable to do much.
The Buddha’s message of Ahimsa or Non-Violence in a time of War-talk
The world is ‘millimeters’ way from nuclear catastrophe” in the Middle East, Russia has warned. Israel’s United States-backed illegal attacks on Iran under international law, and counter-attacks by Iran, have already caused nuclear leakage and environmental harm in the past week. This escalation has also distracted from Israel’s genocide in Gaza against the Palestinian people.
At this time US President Trump is considering Striking Iran within two weeks– after moving troops to safety from America’s Middle East military bases. The Middle East is the center of global energy supply and another world war starting in the region could affect many debt-trapped countries in the Global South, including Sri Lanka—which is the historical repository of the teachings of the Enlightened One who perfected and taught the Nobel Eightfold Path.
Buddhism has a long tradition of peace-making with Social Justice. Peace-making without social justice is not sustainable and amounts to ‘passification of populations’ rather than genuine conflict resolution. It buries the problem, which resurfaces later. The ends do no justify the means.
Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent resistance to end British Colonial Occupation of India was inspired by Buddhism. So too, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela who led non-violent resistance to end Apartheid in that country was strongly influenced by Buddhism.
With the world on the brink of unprecedented catastrophe is it not time for Buddhist leaders and assemblies / congregations (Upasakas and Upasikas) around the world to call for Peace?
Online Religiosity and Zionist Chabad Networks in Sri Lanka
The setting up and use of extremist religio-cultural networks during the Cold War and intervening years has escalated in recent times through digital religiosity and online social media platforms. Simultaneously, the staging of Culture Wars has enabled dividing and fragmenting historically plural and multicultural societies with shared traditions of community and co-existence.
The weaponization of world religion/s and use of extremist pseudo-religious organizations and networks like the Zionist Chabad Houses, as a strategy of warfare has been conducted by the same forces that promote wars and sell weapons and debt trap countries. The links of Chabad movement to US and Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad are well documented. Simultaneously, the legitimacy of global religious traditions of peace have been eroded.
In recent times, Israeli networks have set up Zionist Chabad Prayer Houses in Sri Lanka although there never was and is no Jewish community in the county. There are on-going attempts to convert people, once again escalate and weaponize religion/s, also through funding and using extremist organizations and groups to de-stabilize a historically multicultural and multi-religious county, and divide and distract citizens.
This constitutes a National Security Threat, especially given in the history of Islamic State (ISIS), claimed terror attacks at Easter Sunday in 2019 which were staged to trigger cascades of violence” and destroy the multi-faith social fabric of Sri Lanka.
Here, Right Understanding of the complexity and geopolitical economic dimensions of the problem and taking Right Action based on Right Understanding is required at this time to address this issue. Burying one’s head in the sand and saying that we see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil’ may not be a wise option even if understandable given the magnitude of the problem.
Another world war with religious under-tones triggered by nuclear-armed Israel backed by the United States would constitute a global environmental catastrophe. The United States and NATO has 750 military bases around the world to stage war.
Collective and Community-based Solutions based on Right Understanding
While we may feel that individually we have little or no power to change things collectively we may be able to make a difference. Or at least try. Sadly, the emphasis on community and the collective in Asian cultures, and the search for collective solutions have been undermined and atomized in recent times by advanced individualism and consumerism. People are increasingly in their post-Covid-19 digital bubbles in the wake of Lockdowns and masking of truth.
Here, the promotion of on-line digital religiosity as a form of ‘passification of populations’ may give us pause. Simultaneously, there has been an over-psychologisation and perhaps a Western individualist approach to fundamentally Social and Collective problems that are shared by all and warrant collective action and solutions. Asian Buddhist Societies have historically valued community over individualism.
Right Action based on Right View and Right Understanding of What the Buddha Taught is needed at this time. We may be individually weak, but together, collectively, we may have the power to make a difference, if not change things for the better. Avoiding escalation of conflict in the Middle East and World War 3 would require non-violent global resistance based on Right Speech and Right Action arising from Right View and Right Consciousness – from a Buddhist Perspective- drawing on What the Buddha Taught.
To: The President, Government & People of Sri Lanka Date: June 2025 Subject: Sri Lanka’s Position at the UNHRC & the Non-Binding Nature of Its Resolutions The Sri Lanka Media Collective issues this urgent clarification in light of continuing pressure and politically motivated resolutions against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Key Facts:
Sri Lanka is NOT A MEMBER of the UNHRC (2025):
Sri Lanka currently holds observer status only.
We have no voting power and cannot block resolutions.
We are more vulnerable to external political targeting by powerful member states.
UNHRC Resolutions are NOT LEGALLY BINDING
The UNHRC is not a judicial body.
It cannot enforce resolutions, impose criminal liability, or override national sovereignty.
Resolutions carry no legal force unless Sri Lanka voluntarily accepts them.
UNHRC Is overstepping its Mandate
Resolutions have been based on unauthorized reports like the Darusman Report, Petrie Report & OISL (which had no UNGA or UNSC approval) and on anonymous, unverifiable testimonies.
This violates Article 2(7) of the UN Charter, which prohibits intervention in domestic matters.
Since Sri Lanka is NOT A UNHRC Member
Sri Lanka is not forced to vote on global conflicts.
We are free to speak, expose bias, and build diplomatic counter-narratives without being bound by Council procedure. Sri Lanka Media Collective calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to:
Publicly affirm that UNHRC resolutions are non-binding.
Reject all resolutions based on flawed reports like Darusman, Petrie and OISL.
Strengthen regional and diplomatic alliances to resist international overreach. Let us stand united in protecting our national dignity, institutions, and sovereign decisionmaking from global politicization. in solidarity, Sri Lanka Media Collective
Colombo, June 24th 2025 — A prominent civil rights lawyer and public interest litigation activist, Nagananda Kodituwakku, has called upon the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to intervene in what he describes as a deeply flawed and politically motivated” Supreme Court rulings that permanently disbarred him from practicing law in Sri Lanka.
Kodituwakku, a Solicitor (England & Wales), has spent over a decade fighting corruption across all three branches of the Sri Lankan government—executive, legislative, and judicial. Despite his commitment to exposing abuse of power and filing over 45 pro bono public interest lawsuits, he now finds himself silenced and barred from the courtroom, stripped of his professional standing, and denied due legal process.
This week, he formally submitted an appeal to the UNHRC, alleging that the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka violated his constitutional and international human rights, particularly those protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sri Lanka is a signatory. The appeal outlines systemic failures in due process, lack of judicial impartiality, and suppression of anti-corruption legal activism.
The Heart of the Dispute
In February 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a ruling in case SC/Rule/3/2017, banning Kodituwakku for life from practicing law and filing public interest litigation. The ruling stemmed from a 2015 affidavit he filed requesting a fuller bench—excluding then-Chief Justice K. Sripavan—to hear a constitutional case concerning election fraud. Although this request was subsequently withdrawn with the Chief Justice’s approval in 2016, the disciplinary charge unexpectedly resurfaced in 2018 under new judicial leadership.
The bench that ultimately decided his fate consisted of three judges—Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, Justice Padman Surasena, and Justice S. Thurairaja—whom Kodituwakku had earlier named in judicial corruption complaints filed in the Supreme Court. Despite multiple formal motions requesting a new, independent panel, all were rejected, demonstrating abuse of power.
Kodituwakku states that the hearing was conducted without the basic tenets of natural justice: he was denied the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses or present a defense. He was not even notified of the date of the final ruling. Nevertheless, the judgment falsely claimed it was delivered in his presence.
Broad Impact on Justice and Civil Rights
Beyond personal injustice, the consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision are far-reaching. More than 45 public interest lawsuits that he had filed—ranging from large-scale financial fraud and environmental destruction to gas explosion fatalities and homes, and electoral violations—have been stalled or dismissed.
The ruling has effectively created a chilling effect within the legal community, discouraging future public interest litigators from pursuing cases that challenge political or judicial corruption; thus, indirectly encouraging corruption. Critics argue that this decision sets a dangerous precedent and weakens the judiciary’s role as an independent check on power.
What makes Kodituwakku’s appeal even more urgent and important for the country is the silence from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), which has failed to publicly condemn or question the legality or implications of the ruling.
Kodituwakku’s Core Allegations
In his appeal to the UNHRC, Kodituwakku lists several fundamental rights violations:
Denial of due process and legal representation
Judicial conflict of interest, as judges involved were previous respondents in corruption cases he filed
Delivery of judgment without his knowledge, falsely stating he was present
Prohibition from continuing public interest litigation
Media-driven public character assassination aimed at discrediting him and his organization, the Vinivida Foundation
He also noted in his appeal that the ruling used the charge of malpractice” under the Judicature Act, which he contends is legally inapplicable to his procedural request for a fuller bench’ in 2015.
What the Appeal Seeks
Kodituwakku is not just asking for personal redress. His appeal urges the UNHRC to pressure Sri Lankan authorities to:
Reinstate his right to practice law and file public interest cases
Reopen his pending Revision Application filed on October 1, 2024
Restore due process and judicial integrity in Sri Lanka
Safeguard legal professionals and civil rights advocates from political retribution
He argues that without UN intervention, Sri Lanka’s judicial independence and constitutional democracy remain under threat.
The Electoral Manipulation Controversy
Another major point in the appeal concerns Kodituwakku’s legal battle surrounding the postponement of Provincial Council elections in 2017. In a letter dated September 20, 2017, then-Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya advised the Speaker of Parliament that amendments to the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Bill could be made at the committee stage—so long as they adhered to constitutional requirements. However, his opinion controversially suggested that these changes could override an earlier Supreme Court ruling that elections should not be delayed.
Kodituwakku initiated legal proceedings, accusing the Attorney General of contempt of court for allegedly undermining judicial authority and facilitating constitutional manipulation. He believes this triggered further backlash and contributed to the judicial persecution he now faces.
What the Public Should Know
Kodituwakku has dedicated his career to fighting corruption in Sri Lanka’s public institutions.
He was permanently disbarred by a Supreme Court bench he previously accused of misconduct.
His disbarment halted more than 45 ongoing public interest cases.
He was not allowed to present a defense and was not present when the judgment was delivered.
His appeal to the UNHRC aims to restore justice, transparency, and civil rights.
Why This Matters: Important to the country and the Public?
Sri Lanka’s standing in the global community is closely tied to its adherence to international human rights agreements. The case of Nagananda Kodituwakku presents a litmus test for the country’s commitment to judicial integrity, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.
As a legal professional who ventured to challenge systemic corruption, his case symbolizes both the risks borne by whistleblowers and the urgent need for institutional reform. His call for UNHRC intervention is not just about individual justice—it is about restoring public trust in a judicial system that many now view as compromised. The contents here is based on the information presented in the UNHRC Appeal.
By spotlighting this issue, Kodituwakku hopes not only to regain his right to practice law but to ensure that future generations of Sri Lankans can rely on an independent judiciary to defend their rights and uphold democratic principles.
Annual Exhibition organized by Lajna Imaillah, Sri Lanka (Women’s Wing of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community) was held on 15 June 2025 at Baithul Hamd, Colombo.
This daylong event was inaugurated by the President of Organization followed by silent prayer.
The exhibition featured a wide display of handwork and creative crafts by Nasirats (Ahmadi girls between the age of 7 to 15) and other ladies (Lajnas). Beautiful and imaginative handicrafts made by Ahmadiyya Montessori children were also on display, drawing much admiration.
Variety of displays was in many fold compared with the previous year. Waqf-e-Nau children (the children who are dedicated for the faith) took part in numbers and exhibited their talent and skills which attracted the visitors. The students of Ahmadiyya Montessori also participated and displayed their handicrafts.
The art, poster and calligraphy competitions were held in age groups. Ahmadi girls and ladies enthusiastically participated, showing their creativity and talent.
The Book Stall offered free Islamic literature, including the book: The Life of Muhammad and ‘World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace’—both were available in Sinhala. Leaflets on the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)) and the message of peace were also distributed to all visitors.
There was a display titled: Mehendi Corner, where free Mehendi was applied for all attendees and visitors bringing joy to many. (Mehendi – a design made on someone’s hands with henna ( a reddish-brown dye)
A total of 16 special guests, including non-Muslims and non-Ahmadis, attended the event. Many of them showed sincere interest in learning about Islam and Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, asking thoughtful questions about the teachings of Islam and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Lajna Ima’illah – (committee for the maids of Allah) is the women’s auxiliary organization of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It is for women above the age of 15. The organization was established in 1922 by Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, the second Khalifa (Caliph) of the Community to give women a voice in the administrative affairs of the Community and a degree of independence. It is the largest of the auxiliary organizations within the Community.
Motto
No nation can progress without educating their women.
Aims and Objectives
This Axillary organization places a particular emphasis upon education and the moral upbringing of children. Among its aims are:
To improve and enhance knowledge, whilst being focused on achieving high morals and spirituality.
To serve the Community using pre-existing skills, including fundraising for local charities.
To focus on upbringing of children, training and preparing them to spend their lives in accordance with the teachings of Islam.
To promote unity and work together with patience and forbearance, overlooking each other’s shortcomings.
To strive hard in the face of difficulties and challenges with fortitude and bravery.
The National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (NAHTTF) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched an island-wide television and radio campaign today (Jun 24) to raise awareness on trafficking-in-persons. Implemented with funding support from the Government of Japan, the initiative highlights the dangers of human trafficking and encourages reporting suspected cases of trafficking-in-persons.
The chair of the NAHTTF, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd) remarked, “As the NAHTTF, we are committed to safeguarding the dignity and security of all individuals and this media campaign underscores our collective responsibility to combat trafficking-in-persons. By raising awareness and fostering collaboration across sectors, we aim to build a Sri Lanka where exploitation has no place, perpetrators are brought to justice and survivors receive the support they deserve.”
The campaign aims to educate communities on the different forms of trafficking, including trafficking for forced labour, sexual exploitation, child labour and forced criminality in cyber scamming compounds and underscores the urgent need to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
This multi-platform media campaign will air across prominent TV and radio channels, featuring stories inspired by real-life experiences of survivors of trafficking. The campaign will be further amplified via billboards in targeted districts for wider outreach.
The campaign will also direct viewers and listeners to the national hotline operated by the NAHTTF, where they can report trafficking cases or seek assistance. It is part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s response to human trafficking in alignment with the National Strategic Action Plan to Monitor and Combat Human Trafficking (2021-2025).
Trafficking-in-persons remains a heinous crime and awareness is the key in effectively addressing this issue. By leveraging the power of media, we aim to educate the public and ensure that all Sri Lankans are aware of the pre-emptory signs of trafficking and the means of action available to them.
This media campaign is a beacon of hope for those silenced by human trafficking. It is a call to action for us all to stand together, raise our voices and ensure that every survivor is heard, supported and empowered to rebuild their lives. Together, we can create a future where exploitation has no place and dignity prevails, in alignment with IOM’s strategic objective of saving lives and protecting people on the move,” noted Ms Kristin Parco, Chief of Mission for Sri Lanka and Maldives of the International Organization for Migration.
Japan has embraced the concept of human security as a central pillar of its foreign policy and remains deeply committed to international efforts to combat trafficking in persons. In Sri Lanka, Japan has partnered with international organizations such as IOM to prevent forced labour, support migrant workers, promote vocational training and assist in the rescue and reintegration of trafficking survivors. Recognizing that effectively addressing human trafficking requires a whole-of-society approach, Japan advocates for reducing vulnerabilities through targeted outreach and awareness campaigns. The launch of this national media campaign is a vital component of the broader project, reflecting the importance of proactive public engagement. Japan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing global efforts to eradicate trafficking in persons.” H.E ISOMATA Akio, Ambassador of Japan noted.
IOM and the NAHTTF Sri Lanka urge the public to stay informed and report suspicious incidents of trafficking-in-persons via the NAHHTF hotline: 0768 447 700
For more information, please contact:
Minoli Don – Head of Protection Unit, IOM Sri Lanka, 0094 777 409 409; Email – mdon@iom.int
Asel Kularatne – Communications Officer, IOM Sri Lanka – akularatne@iom.int
IOM is the United Nations Migration Entity and a leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration that works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.
NDB Leasing is making it easier than ever for Sri Lankans to get behind the wheel of a brand-new Perodua Axia G, with a special leasing offer designed to put affordable vehicle ownership within reach. Through this exclusive partnership with Unimo Enterprises Ltd., the authorised distributor of the Perodua Axia G in Sri Lanka and a fully owned subsidiary of United Motors Lanka PLC, for a limited time, customers can drive away with manageable monthly installments of Rs. 69,999/-, making this compact and reliable vehicle an ideal choice for everyday life.
This special offer is tailored for a wide range of individuals who keep the country moving, from schoolteachers and tuition providers to public sector employees, private sector professionals, and small business owners. NDB Leasing understands their dedication and is proud to support their mobility needs with a solution that’s both practical and cost-effective.
The Perodua Axia G’s reputation for efficiency on fuel, ease of use, and stylish design makes it a smart option for personal or professional use. And with NDB’s quick approvals, flexible payment plans, and straightforward documentation process, reliable import and after-sales service customers can enjoy a smooth journey from application to delivery and even driving home in just one day.
This initiative is yet another example of NDB Leasing’s ongoing commitment to helping Sri Lankans achieve their goals. Whether you’re upgrading your vehicle or investing in your livelihood, NDB stands ready to support your journey with trusted financial guidance and tailored leasing options.
Ranjith Soysa Spokesperson, Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka
To: The President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG)
• Member States of the United Nations
Dear Respected Officials,
We, the undersigned concerned citizens, legal scholars, and members of civil society in Sri Lanka and abroad, write to express our strongest objection to the continued reference to and reliance upon the so-called Darusman Report — a document that lacks legal standing, was produced without proper authorization, and has since been used to undermine Sri Lanka’s
sovereignty, distort its history, and weaponize the United Nations’ human rights mechanisms for political ends.
Our Concerns
1. Lack of legal mandate and transparency
The Darusman Report was personally commissioned by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, without any formal mandate from the UN General Assembly or the UN Security Council. As such, it constitutes a private, extrajudicial, and unilateral inquiry, devoid of institutional legitimacy. Compiled using anonymous and unverifiable sources, the process denied the Government of Sri Lanka any opportunity to be notified, participate, respond to allegations, or cross-examine witnesses — violating the UN’s own principles of natural justice and fairness. These omissions amount to serious breaches of the principles of natural justice, due process, and state sovereignty, and they violate key provisions of international law.
2. Violation of due process and fair hearing rights and the denial of the right to a fair hearing contradicts:
• Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which guarantees the right to a fair and public hearing by an independent tribunal;
• Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), affirming rights to a fair trial, to examine evidence, and to defend oneself.
3. Violation of State Sovereignty
According to Article 2(7) of the United Nations Charter, the UN must respect the sovereignty of member states and refrain from intervening in matters within their domestic jurisdiction. The Darusman Report undermines Sri Lanka’s sovereignty by circumventing legal and diplomatic protocols.
4. Procedural and Evidentiary Irregularities Key evidence, including testimonies, remains sealed for 30 years, deliberately preventing verification, rebuttal, and due scrutiny — a gross violation of principles of transparency and justice. The Darusman Report and subsequent UNHRC/OHCHR
narratives rely on one-sided, uncorroborated accounts, while entirely ignoring that the conduct of armed conflict must be assessed under international humanitarian law (IHL), not human rights law. The persistent focus by OHCHR and UNHRC on how the LTTE died and the unverified claim of 40,000 civilian deaths blatantly disregards the paradoxical reality that the Sri Lankan Armed Forces rescued close to 300,000 Tamil civilians from LTTE captivity. These civilians were provided with food, shelter, medical care, and were shielded from further harm — actions for which Sri Lankan soldiers have been praised by international humanitarian agencies on the ground.
Shockingly, none of these life-saving efforts are given serious recognition in any UN statements; where mentioned, they are only noted in passing, undermining both the spirit of impartiality and the UN’s own declared standards of fact-based reporting.
5. Geopolitical and historical Hypocrisy
The United States, which initially championed the UNHRC resolutions based on the Darusman Report, has since withdrawn its active role and passed leadership of the Core Group overseeing Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom. We call upon the UK, as the
current head of this Core Group, to first address and account for over 100 years of colonial crimes, exploitation, violence, and subjugation in Sri Lanka before demanding accountability from a sovereign nation striving to heal and rebuild.
Our Demands
1. Immediate Withdrawal and Disavowal of the Darusman Report
We call on the UNHRC, OHCHR, and the UN Secretary-General to officially withdraw the Darusman Report from all UN records and public discourse, recognizing its lack of legitimacy
2. Institutional Accountability and Review
3. We demand a system-wide review of the procedures and mandates governing UN
investigative bodies to ensure compliance with international law, fairness, and respect for state sovereignty.
4. A New Transparent Investigation
Any future investigations related to Sri Lanka must be conducted transparently, with full participation of the Sri Lankan government, respecting due process and evidentiary standards.
5. Respect for International Legal Norms and Historical Context
We urge the UN system to uphold its obligations under the UDHR, ICCPR, and UN Charter, and to consider the broader historical and geopolitical context — including the colonial legacy of the UK — in its dealings with Sri Lanka.
We acknowledge that this appeal is directed in part to bodies whose conduct is in question. We do so not out of hostility, but out of commitment to justice. If the UN is to remain a credible defender of human rights, it must demonstrate the courage to reflect, to correct, and to uphold the same standards it demands of others.
The continued use of the Darusman Report compromises the legitimacy of the UN’s human rights mechanisms.
We therefore urge you to take swift corrective action in the interest of truth, law, and the dignity of the international system.
Ranjith Soysa
Spokesperson, Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka
Professor S.M. Junaideen, Vice-Chancellor of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, has suspended 22 students for allegedly subjecting a group of first-year students to severe ragging.
M.I. Naufer, Registrar of the South Eastern University, stated that an internal investigation into the incident is being conducted by a committee comprising university lecturers.
The alleged ragging incident involved second-year students of the Engineering Faculty targeting first-year students.
The university administration initiated the internal inquiry after a video related to the incident circulated on social media.
Additionally, Akkaraipattu Police have also commenced an independent investigation into the matter.
Throughout Sri Lanka’s history, Sinhala Buddhists have maintained and protected their identity, sovereignty, and religious heritage through centuries of resistance against external forces. However, in modern political discourse, nationalism is being redefined and misrepresented, framing it as a negative force rather than the foundation upon which Sri Lanka was built. There has never been a single instance where Sinhala Buddhist nationalism has been the cause of war in Sri Lanka. Every major historical conflict, from Dutugemunu to Parakramabahu to the more recent colonial struggles, arose from external invasions, not from internal nationalist movements. Today, however, political forces and external agendas attempt to erase nationalism, seeking laws to criminalize patriotism and weaken Sinhala Buddhist identity under the guise of promoting inclusivity.
There is a clear effort to dilute Sri Lanka’s national identity, often presenting nationalism as divisive or extremist. Some political movements frame nationalism as dangerous, using globalist rhetoric to weaken the nation’s ability to protect its heritage. Sinhala Buddhist identity, however, is not a political tool—it is the foundation of Sri Lanka’s civilization. Attempts to remove or restrict national identity must be critically examined, as they often serve external ideological interests rather than the well-being of Sri Lanka’s citizens. Sinhala Buddhists have sustained the nation through Dharma, historical governance, and cultural preservation—none of which can be disregarded in shaping the country’s future.
Sri Lanka’s history is marked by wars fought not to conquer others but to defend its sovereignty and Buddhism. Sinhala Buddhists have always resisted external invasions, protecting their land, traditions, and Dharma. Over 21 major wars in Sri Lanka’s history were fought against foreign invaders, not internal nationalist movements. From King Dutugemunu’s reclamation of Anuradhapura to King Senerath’s resistance against Portuguese occupation, Sinhala Buddhist rulers have upheld the nation’s independence, ensuring Buddhism thrives within its native homeland.
King Dutugemunu (161–137 BC) led the campaign to restore Buddhist governance in Anuradhapura, defeating the Foreign invader immigrant Elara. His victory was not about ethnic conflict but about reclaiming sovereignty and ensuring Buddhism thrived. His contribution to Sri Lankan heritage is immortalized through the construction of Ruwanwelisaya, reinforcing that Sinhala Buddhist governance is tied to Dharma, not oppression. Similarly, King Vijayabahu I (1055–1110 AD) liberated Sri Lanka from Chola rule, restoring Sinhala Buddhist governance. His reign emphasized reviving Buddhist traditions by inviting monks from Burma, reaffirming the necessity of nationalism in protecting cultural and religious heritage.
King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186 AD) expanded Sri Lanka’s influence while ensuring Buddhism remained central to governance, proving that national identity strengthens prosperity. He built massive irrigation systems, demonstrating how Sinhala Buddhist leadership fosters progress, not division. The last major resistance against colonial rule was led by King Senerath (1604–1635 AD) reclaimed Nagadeepa (Yapane/Jaffna) from the Portuguese, and was welcomed by local communities—affirming Sinhala Buddhist rule as a rightful continuation of the island’s sovereignty.
A Jathiya (ethnic nation) can only exist within a single sovereign country, meaning a people must share a distinct homeland, continuous civilization, unique language, and exclusive traditions to be recognized as an ethnic nation. Sinhala Buddhists are the only ethnic nation in Sri Lanka with a continuous civilization, distinct language, customs, and historical sovereignty. Tamil and Tamil-speaking Muslim communities, while ethnic groups, were introduced under colonial rule, making them cultural subgroups, not separate ethnic nations.
The British brought Tamil laborers from India to work on Sri Lanka’s plantations, forming an expatriate workforce that was not indigenous to the island. Over time, both Tamils and Tamil-speaking Muslims maintained cultural ties to Tamil Nadu, and in some cases, consciously aligned with religious identities rooted in external Islamic traditions—further reinforcing a sense of foreignness within Sri Lanka. Despite being the civilizational foundation of the island, Sinhala Buddhists were politically compelled to accept a broader national identity that diluted their historical centrality. Even today, many within Tamil and Muslim communities primarily identify by ethnicity or religion rather than as Sri Lankans, suggesting that communal identity often outweighs a unified national consciousness.
Adding to this imbalance is the troubling reality that only Sinhala Buddhists are expected to suppress their identity for the sake of national unity. There is no distinct or developed language called Sri Lankan”—nations across the world define themselves through their mother tongue, and in Sri Lanka, that language is Sinhala. Likewise, Buddhism has been the spiritual backbone of the nation for over two millennia. Therefore, if a person identifies as Sinhala Buddhist and affirms that this is their historic homeland, such an expression should never be labeled as Sinhala Jathiawadi Deshapalanaya” (ethno-nationalist politics). On the contrary, efforts are underway to ensure that future legislation protects this right—safeguarding cultural integrity while preventing malicious accusations from undermining rightful identity.
In recent times, certain self-styled reformers and political actors—posing as defenders of pluralism—have attempted to weaponize constitutional and judicial mechanisms to silence those who affirm Sinhala Buddhist heritage. They claim to uphold justice, yet seek to criminalize traditional expressions, branding them as extremist or intolerant. This is a distortion of both law and truth.
Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sri Lanka is a signatory, every individual has the right to cultural expression, religious belief, and freedom of opinion—so long as it does not incite violence or hatred. Affirming one’s identity as a Sinhala Buddhist and defending the historical guardianship of the island is not a violation of human rights—it is the exercise of them.
Attempts to defame or dismantle sacred chronicles like the Pujavaliya or Rajavaliya, or to erase the Yuga Parampara (civilizational lineage), are not acts of reform—they are efforts to fracture the cultural and spiritual continuity of the nation. Sinhala Buddhists have a state duty and a moral obligation to protect the Buddha Sasana, as enshrined in both ancient practice and modern constitutional spirit.
Weakening nationalism opens the door for globalist control, reducing Sri Lanka’s self-determination and exposing it to external ideological influence. Sinhala Buddhists will lose their ability to resist cultural dilution and foreign political control. This policy will not bring peace—it will erase national identity, replacing it with controlled governance that prioritizes external interests over national preservation.
Some academics, especially those promoting anti-Buddhist or universalist frameworks, attempt to misuse Samuel Huntington’s The Clash of Civilizations to discredit Sinhala Buddhist nationalism. But this is either a shallow misreading—or a deliberate distortion.
> In the post–Cold War world, the most important distinctions among peoples are not ideological, political, or economic. They are cultural.” > — Samuel P. Huntington, Chapter 1
While Huntington’s thesis on civilizational identity is a modern academic recognition, Sinhala Buddhists understood and lived this principle long before such theories were articulated in the West. Anyone who truly studies the history of Ceylon can easily recognize that cultural identity was never an abstract idea for our nation—it was the lived foundation of governance, social conduct, and Dharma.
Unlike cultures that define themselves through legal structures or political regimes, the Sinhala Buddhist civilization is deeply aligned with natural phenomena and spiritual principles. Culture, to us, is not just a way of life—it is a path toward liberation. The foundation of our civilizational identity is the ability of individuals to attain Nibbāna through the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and other teachings of the Buddha. What Huntington writes as theory, we have practiced as ancestral wisdom for over two millennia.
According to the Buddha Dhamma, civilization” cannot be measured merely by external culture or broad identity groupings. The defining feature of the human being is not race or religion, but the presence of a mind capable of moral elevation or decline. Every human being is born with this potential—but it is the mental tendencies (gati lakkhana) cultivated through actions that determine whether one sinks further into saṁsāra or rises toward vimutti-sukha (the bliss of liberation).
The Buddha classified beings not by geographic civilization, but by the quality of their minds and karmic disposition. Human birth itself is a rare opportunity, yet within that human state, there exist five subtle mental classes:
Nerayika humans – driven by hellish tendencies
Preta humans – consumed by craving and spiritual hunger
Thirachchāna humans – governed by ignorance and instinct
True humans – ethically upright and mentally refined
Deva-like humans – approaching divine purity and wisdom
Thus, in the Buddha’s teaching, true civilization is not a political or cultural designation—it is the refinement of mind and moral discipline, culminating in the ability to attain Nibbāna.
People define themselves in terms of ancestry, religion, language, history, values, customs, and institutions.” — Huntington, Chapter 1
Huntington’s view that people define themselves in terms of culture, ancestry, or faith traditions fails to grasp the core of Sinhala Buddhist civilization. We are not defined” by culture—we are entrusted with Dhamma.
In Sinhala Buddhist understanding, there is no concept of religion” as a salvation system ruled by a supernatural authority. We follow neither divine command nor dogma—but only the path revealed by the Buddha, the Noble Eightfold Path, rooted in the Four Noble Truths.
We don’t follow prapañca (fabricated conceptual proliferation); we protect what is real, what is timeless. That is why our civilization does not merely preserve a cultural identity—it guards the transmission of Dhamma for the benefit of future beings yet to be born, who may arise in far future eras to rediscover what we have preserved.
The Abhidhamma, the highest strata of wisdom, refined through countless generations, has been preserved through the Four Buddha eras—unbroken in intention, even if hidden in form. Our land has held many names: Oja Dīpa (Island of Vitality), Vara Dīpa (Blessed Isle), Mandā Dīpa (Gentle Isle), Sīhala Dīpa (Island of the Lion Race)—each a reflection of its karmic role as protector of the Sasana.
Sri Lanka’s Constitution upholds Buddhism as the foremost religion, as outlined in Article 9, which mandates the state’s responsibility to protect and sustain Buddhism. This responsibility is inherited through Sinhala Buddhist families, monks (bhikkhu), nuns (bhikkhuni), and lay disciples (upāsaka/upāsikā), all of whom contribute to sustaining Buddhist traditions. Sinhala Buddhists have dedicated their lives to safeguarding the Dharma, practicing Dana, Pana, Mal Puja, and making sacrifices to attain Nirvana.
Any political attempt to undermine Buddhism or Sinhala nationalism must be challenged under constitutional law, as leaders have sworn an oath to protect the Buddhist state—not to establish a multi-ethnic or multi-religious state at its expense. If any political party seeks to weaken Sinhala Buddhist nationalism, its actions should be reviewed under Article 9 to ensure that no hidden agenda compromises the foundation of the nation’s identity. Many external forces have long attempted to dismantle Sinhala Buddhist nationalism, benefiting financially or politically from Sri Lanka’s fragmentation and loss of sovereignty.
The ideological forces attempting to weaken the Sinhala Buddhist state are not isolated incidents but part of a long-term, well-funded agenda backed by hidden financial networks and globalist interests. These efforts are linked to the same ideological factions that once sought to end Sri Lanka’s war with LTTE, not through genuine peace but by reshaping national identity to fit their broader agenda.
This movement, which emerged in the 1980s, seeks to erase ethnic and cultural identity under the pretext of human rights, feminism, environmentalism, and cosmopolitanism. Sinhala Buddhists must remain vigilant, especially against deceptive political strategies disguised as reforms—such as altering the national flag or anthem, revising Article 9, and redefining citizenship laws in a way that undermines inherited rights.
These efforts are linked to the same ideological factions that once sought to end Sri Lanka’s war with LTTE but now push similar narratives under the guise of a ‘new world order.’ The Sinhala Buddhist community recognizes these influences as external threats, knowing that such movements master anti-Buddhist rhetoric to infiltrate political spaces. Shockingly, those who advocate these changes often present themselves as the saviors of the nation, manipulating Sinhala Buddhist youth for their own electoral gains while celebrating multiculturalism and erasing the sacrifices made by patriots who defended the nation for over 550 years in recent history.
The struggle for identity and sovereignty must never be forgotten, for it is the foundation upon which generations of Sinhala Buddhists have built their legacy.
Each nation has the right to uphold its culture. Sinhala Buddhist identity must be protected in Sri Lanka just as other nations safeguard their own heritage. Political actors misusing ‘equal rights’ must be challenged, because real equality does not mean erasing native identity in favor of globalist ideals. Article 9 of the Sri Lankan Constitution clearly establishes the state’s duty to protect and foster Buddhasasana, making it a fundamental legal pillar that must be upheld. It is the duty of the government and any person who visits, stays, or is born in this country to never forget their constitutional responsibility while upholding their own agenda in daily life.
— Palitha Ariyarathna
To my beloved mother, and to the nation she loved. On this day—her birthday—I offer this work as a reflection of her unwavering guidance. She taught me never to fear the truth, never to bend to injustice, and always to defend one’s country through wisdom, not hostility. Her words echo eternally: Defend your nation not through hatred, but through civilizational guardianship rooted in truth.”
This work also honors all mothers of true civilization—those who raise their children not to conquer others in the name of God or power, but to uplift their own people through compassion, dignity, and fearless honesty.
May this article be worthy of her memory and strengthen the spirit of the nation she upheld.
Reference:
Huntington, Samuel P.The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Simon & Schuster, 1996. → Quoted and critically examined regarding civilizational theory.
Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (as amended). → Cited for Article 9—the constitutional duty to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana. Available at: https://www.parliament.lk
Mahānāma Thera.The Mahāvaṃsa: The Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated by Wilhelm Geiger. Ceylon Government Press, 1912. → Referenced for historical continuity of Sinhala Buddhist sovereignty and governance.
Indika Shabandu & Ariyarathna, Palitha. Response to AUKUS.” Ceylon Diary Podcasts Radio, 26 September 2021. → Dialogue on sovereignty, MCC, and cultural resistance. Listen at: https://podbay.fm/p/ceylon-diary-podcasts-radio/e/1632658461
Col. Asoka Alles. Commentary on National Integrity and Strategic Leadership.” Ceylon Watch, 2024. → Cited for insights on preserving constitutional integrity and resisting ideological dilution.
Buddhist Canonical Teachings. → Terms such as gati lakkhana, vimutti-sukha, and the classification of beings are drawn from the Abhidhamma Piṭaka and relevant sutta sources. Translation fidelity maintained.
Historical Role of Buddhism & Article 9 – Analysis of how Buddhism shaped Sri Lanka’s governance structure and constitutional duty.
Why Sri Lanka Must Remain a Sinhala Buddhist Nation – Advocacy for the preservation of Sri Lanka’s Buddhist heritage.
Not for Nothing That We Have Article 9 – A historical perspective on the constitutional protection of the Buddha Sasana.
NDB Bank recently hosted its prestigious Retail Banking Awards 2024, honouring the exceptional achievements and unwavering commitment of its employees across the island. This annual celebration stands as a proud tradition within the Bank, recognising the passion, performance, and dedication of staff who continue to push boundaries and drive NDB forward.
This year’s ceremony was held under the theme Quantum 2024: A Leap in Banking Excellence”, reflecting the Bank’s renewed commitment to transformation, growth, and purpose-driven leadership. The event brought together teams from across the country to celebrate milestones reached and new standards set across NDB’s retail network. From frontline officers to support staff, every award highlighted the collective effort behind the Bank’s mission to deliver impactful, customer-focused financial solutions to Sri Lankans from all walks of life.
Among the highly anticipated accolades of the night was the Best National Branch Award, which saw the Moratuwa Branch claim the title of Champion for 2024, followed by the Dambulla Branch as First Runner-Up and the Ambalantota Branch as Second Runner-Up. Their achievements reflected strong leadership, consistent performance, and outstanding teamwork in meeting the evolving needs of their communities.
The evening also recognised high performers across a wide array of business verticals, including savings, current and fixed deposits, home loans, leasing, pawning, Aachara, SME banking, digital banking, cards, bancassurance, trade finance, and overall service excellence. Special accolades were awarded in areas such as operational excellence, Bank2U, PRV officers, recoveries, project finance, and more, underscoring the depth and diversity of talent within the organisation.
Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, the Central Region was honoured with the Best Region of 2024 Award, in recognition of its remarkable contribution and year-round performance across key indicators.
Speaking at the event, CEO of NDB Bank, Kelum Edirisinghe, stated, shared his reflections on the journey so far and the road ahead: Excellence is not a destination; it is a discipline. What we are witnessing here tonight is the result of relentless effort, a shared vision, and a culture rooted in accountability and purpose. As we leap forward into a new era of banking, our people remain the most powerful force driving that transformation. Let this recognition be a moment of pride, but also a call to keep raising the bar for our customers.”
Echoing these sentiments, Sanjaya Perera, Senior Vice President – Personal Banking and Customer Experience, noted, Behind every number, every milestone, is a person and a team that chose to show up, adapt, and deliver. These awards are not just a celebration of performance but also a recognition of character, consistency, and commitment. I am proud of the culture we’ve built, one that thrives on results, yes, but more importantly, on people who lead with purpose.”
The NDB Retail Banking Awards are more than a celebration of performance; they are a tribute to the people who make excellence possible every day. In a year that presented challenges and opportunities, NDB’s employees remained focused, their impact meaningful, and their dedication unmatched.
As NDB continues its journey of transformation, the Retail Banking Awards 2024 serve as a reminder that behind every milestone stands a team and a Bank committed to leaping boldly into the future of banking excellence.
Donald Trump ordered direct US airstrikes on Iran, after helping Israel start a war of aggression. Tehran already said it would retaliate against US targets. There are more than 40,000 US troops in West Asia (the Middle East), and dozens of military bases, which could be hit. US intelligence agencies previously said Iran was not developing nuclear weapons, but this US war will now actually make them likely. Ben Norton explains.
Colonel Jacques Baud is a former military intelligence analyst in the Swiss Army and the author of many books. Colonel Baud discusses America’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities and the deception surrounding this war of aggression. International law, treaties and institutions are all undermined in the effort to destroy Iran and restore American hegemony.
‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’
e-Con e-News 15-21 June 2025
‘The declaration of war against Iran (Persia) by England
or rather by the East India Company is the reproduction of one
of those cunning & reckless tricks of Anglo-Asiatic diplomacy,
by virtue of which England has extended her possessions
on that continent. So soon as the Company casts a greedy
look on any of the independent sovereigns, or on any region
whose political & commercial resources or whose gold &
jewels are valued, the victim is accused of having violated this
or that ideal or actual convention, transgressed an imaginary
promise or restriction, committed some nebulous outrage, & then
war is declared, & the eternity of wrong, the perennial force of the
fable of the wolf & the lamb, is again incarnadined in history.’
– Karl Marx, on the Anglo-Persian war, 1856-57
Replace England with the USA, and East India Company with Exxon Inc (aka Aramco, Mobile, Caltex, Chevron, etc). Replace 1856 with 2025: And here we are today, as yesterday, as in the 1953 US coup against the Iranian government of Mohammad Mosaddegh. That coup led to the installation of a puppet regime under the Shah of Iran, which itself was overthrown in 1979 (see ee 16 July 2022). The destabilization of our countries continues… And Sri Lanka, whose economy & political life is still dominated by Europe & now the USA, will be thrown into further disarray by the latest white recklessness…or, provided yet another opportunity to break our chains…
The Concert of Europe – All of white Europe & its genocidal & settler colonial outposts, still stand behind the threat to annihilate Iran, with nuclear weapons if needed. And they keep threatening to further divide our country (see ee Who’s Who, ReMining Mullaitivu). Over these longest of days in the northern hemisphere’s summer solstice, the capitalist core countries (G7) were also plotting last week in Canada’s Rockies (for Ottawa’s role in the latest genocides, see ee Random Notes). US President Don Trump then dramatically left early, to presumably direct US warships out of the South China Sea towards the Malacca Straits to sail past Sri Lanka to reach the North Arabian & Red Seas, directing their war machinery from the Atlantic & Europe towards the eastern Mediterranean & to Palestine – so as to attack Iran, with massive bombers launched from Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago southwest of Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the secretive Bilderberg Group of top economic & state leaders met in Sweden this week, to see how it could hobble if not topple China (see ee Quotes). A NATO summit is still scheduled for the Hague next week. Imperialism hopes to turn Iran into the USA’s southern front against Russia; and as China is still seen as the USA’s main enemy, the US should be expected to turn their guns towards the rest of Asia, including, sooner or later, Sri Lanka again…
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After SWRD Bandaranaike removed the English military bases from Sri Lanka in 1957, he was consequently assassinated in 1959. England then reinforced its military bases in Diego Garcia, after evicting its residents. This inspired Sirimavo Bandaranaike to join Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere, in proposing UN Resolution 2832 – the ‘Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace’ in 1964. This led to the destabilization of her government that very year (see ee 12 April 2025). Her next government, from 1970-77, would also meet the same fate – so much for ‘women’s rights’! Further attempts at establishing national governments were met by imperialist-sponsored terrorist wars, waged south and north. With all this US machinery of death again assembled in the region, it is a matter of time before this government here, too, would be destabilized to enable their attempt at further colonizing Asia, hoping they can also bring a swiftly rising China to heel…
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• Boiling over the Indian Ocean – While there is much media fog as to their actual flight path and the number of aircraft involved, the USA’s 4 B-2 Spirit stealth bombers that dropped the 13,600kg GBU-57 bombs on Iran, were joined by 6 F-15 multirole warplanes to supposedly protect the Diego Garcia airbase from Iran drone or cruise missile attack. 6 KC-135 tankers were also positioned to refuel aircraft on the approach to Iran.
England recently signed a deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with an agreement to lease Diego Garcia for £101million each year for the next 99 years. The Diego Garcia base is nominally an English Overseas Territory (BIOT), but Washington and London signed a 50-year agreement in 1966, which provided for a 20-year extension to 2036 as long as neither party gave notice of termination for 2 years beginning in December 2014. ‘Tamil refugees’ were somehow allowed to enter and stay in the heavily fortified US base in English-colonized Diego Garcia! Still, the media is refusing to state if England gave the US ‘permission’ to attack Iran from there. English Prime Minister Keir Starmer held an emergency ‘Cobra’ meeting after returning from the G7 summit. US forces apparently now refer to Diego Garcia as Dodge.”
John Sawers, former head of MI6, on Thursday told the Chatham House thinktank’s London Conference with England’s long-term lease to the US for a base there, ‘the whole purpose of Diego Garcia is so the US can use it when they need to use it’.
The B-52s each carried 20 cruise missiles, for launching from a distance. The media claims the B-2s supposedly had to fly all the way from their Whiteman air force base in Missouri direct to the site near Qom – a distance of 11, 200km. They received air-to-air refueling from tankers stationed in West Asia & Europe. With the ever-widening movement of US warplanes into the region, over 30 air-to-air refueling tankers crossed the Atlantic to be stationed at airbases across Europe & West Asia, joined by squadrons of F-22 & F-35 stealth fighters. The U.S. aerial refueling tankers accompanying aircraft from the Midwest to the Pacific, were a decoy, and not part of the mission. There will now be 2 US aircraft carriers in the region, once the soon-to-be-decommissioned USS Nimitz (used as decoy in this episode) sails past Sri Lanka and arrives from the South China Sea.
None of their media covered the report of the detailed US plans for this weekend strike on Iran, published 3 days ago by Seymour Hersh (the journalist who has been used as a conduit, so they can claim media freedom, to expose US killings, from Vietnam’s MyLai to Iran’s Qassem Soleiman, etc.) There’s a long hidden history to this foggery by the media, which is more than ‘free’ and in fact very expensive!
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• 150 Years of Massive Media Fog – In 1869, England’s Reuters (now Thomson-Reuter), France’s Havas (now Agence France Presse, AFP) & Wolff (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, DPA) divided up the world of news. Then with increased ‘intervention’ by England in Iran, numerous concessions were ‘granted’ to foreign-owned businesses in 1872: Iran’s Nasaer-al-Din Shah ‘granted’ England’s (German Jewish) Baron Julius de Reuter, a ‘concession’, which covered the entire territory of Iran (Persia), giving him the exclusive rights & monopoly, for 70 years, to exploit all mineral resources including, but not limited to, coal, iron, copper, lead, & petroleum, and to construct & operate roads, railways, telegraph lines, water canals, irrigation systems, and customs services. (Nearly 60% of the world’s known oil reserves today are in southwestern Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, and Egypt.)
Thus, the history of Iranian oil agreements began with this unprecedented 1872 ‘concession ‘which caused widespread revolts. The 1872 concession initiated the era of ‘big oil’ in West Asia, and Persia itself (or Iran, from 1935) would emerge into prominence on the world oil stage. Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, who described Persia (Iran) as one of ‘the pieces on a chessboard upon which is being played out a game for the domination of the world,’ said de Reuter’s concession:
‘Literally took away the breath of Europe…
The most complete & extraordinary surrender
of the entire industrial resources of a kingdom
into foreign hands that has probably ever been
dreamt of, much less accomplished, in history.’
The violent opposition of Persians eventually forced the cancellation of the oil concession. But Reuters has never accepted the cancellation, and repeatedly filed claims for compensation. So, they will now try again…
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Despite all the fog about ending ‘forever wars’, the usual ‘liberal’ media took to, as usual, acting as if the wars on Palestine & Russia are not US/European wars. They call the US President, a madman, when he is just another white man, and there’s a method to such whiteness. As far as they, and those who urge him on, are concerned, whiteness is the success story: having annihilated other peoples and stolen their best lands wholesale on several continents. Trump has already invoked the genocidal spirits of Andrew Jackson (who invaded the native lands of the North American southeast and southwest) and William McKinley (who invaded Cuba, the Philippines, etc). The Atlantic’s (NATO’s) boundaries are fluid, and are already meeting the Pacific Ocean, washing up ashore in Sri Lanka itself.
This ee Focus continues our look at the 19th century roots of the US political system, of the US Capitalist Party (there really is only one party in these countries, despite the ‘loyal opposition’ hoopla) midst their mass-scale genocide & robbery of original American land, chattel slavery & imperialism. We learn how New York’s leading bankers & merchants, have ensured that various administrations deposit their city funds and buy their city goods. We see the fixing of primary elections, packing nominating conventions, repeating (the same person voting over & over again) & breaking up of meetings. How the USA became a modern model of democracy, delivering sermons to the world, is more a tribute to their historical & powerful propaganda machineries than any reality (see ee Focus).
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• In his ‘Tale of 2 Dams & Destruction of a National Asset’, Sunil Abhayawardhana describes the dubious motivations behind so-called ‘development projects’ that have failed to build local ability & capacity in the country. He describes the ecologically destructive scandal of the USA’s Gal Oya Scheme, modeled on a Tennessee Valley Authority blueprint. He then compares them to the relative success of the local industrial projects undertaken by Sri Lanka with such socialist countries as Czechoslovakia. Yet,after 1977, the sabotage of productive national assets galloped apace & JR’s accelerated Mahaweli Scheme was pursued to ‘please the Japanese & beg for more aid’. – Whatever that ‘aid’ was actually invested in, we are certainly now living the consequences… For no matter, how much ‘aid’ or ‘investment’ is proclaimed, no class in Sri Lanka is yet allowed to, or will, invest in capital goods aka capital accumulation, or sovereign, economically productive modernization… (see ee Focus)
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• This ee Focus also concludes SBD de Silva’s look at how only the total separation of the settler economies from the ‘metropolitan centres’, as in the genocidal ‘white dominions’ provided the requisite ‘impulses for growth’. He compared the English & French settler colonies, and examines the weakness of the Algerian settler bourgeoisie compared to those in South Africa, Rhodesia or even Kenya. In such settler colonies, unlike in the genocidal of the USA & Canada, the settlers were however not an ‘adequate substitute for an indigenous bourgeoisie’. The politics underpinning their development required racialized discrimination & inequality. Economically dysfunctional, their wage costs & products were more expensive than similar goods made elsewhere. Despite a higher level of progress, the ‘irrationalities & contradictions of a system utilizing modern technology but based on a quasi-Fascist ideology for maintaining the privileges, purity & status of a white minority’ could only lead to an ‘explosion’… (see ee Focus)
Dr. Itay Gal in Jerusalem Post, in Jerusalem Post, June 2025
What is Diego Garcia? The US military base that will be key to operations against Iran ….? What is there, what aircraft operate from it, and why could it become a critical link in any future conflict in the Middle East?
US B2 Spirit stealth bomberAs President Donald Trump weighs up striking Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities, this rarely mentioned US military base will become key to any possible US operations against Iran.Located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by water on all sides, out of sight but very close to global conflict zones, lies one of the United States’ best-known secrets, and a prime operational asset, especially when looking west toward Iran: the Diego Garcia military base.What is there, what aircraft operate from it, and why could it become a critical link in any future conflict in the Middle East?The strategic military base has dominated the media this week, but it has long held a presence on the Pentagon’s operational maps. Amid rising tensions with countries like Iran, Diego Garcia has transformed from a forgotten island into a critical strategic jumping-off point, especially for stealth aircraft such as the B-2 Spirit and the B-1 Lancer, which are capable of reaching directly into the heart of Iran and returning without requiring aerial refueling.
In 2012, as the world faced rising conflicts and tensions His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad sent letters to major world leaders, exhorting them towards peace and justice to resolve their disputes.
Those letters are just as pertinent today as they were back then. With the Iran and Israel war unfolding, we present some extracts from the letters to he leaders of these two nations.
Letter To:
Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel
26 February 2012
We hear reports in the news nowadays that you are preparing to attack Iran. Yet the horrific outcome of a World War is right before you. In the last World War whilst millions of other people were killed, the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jewish persons were also wasted. As the Prime Minister, it is your duty to protect the life of your nation. The current circumstances of the world indicate that a World War will not be fought between only two countries rather blocs will come into formation. The threat of a World War breaking out is a very serious one. The life of Muslims, Christians and Jews are all at peril from it. If such a war occurs, it will result in a chain reaction of human destruction. The effects of this catastrophe will be felt future generations, who will either be born disabled or crippled. This is because undoubtedly, such a war will involve atomic warfare.
Hence, it is my request to you that instead of leading the world into the grip of a World War, make maximum efforts to save the world from a global catastrophe. Instead of resolving disputes with force, you should try to resolve them through dialogue.
Thus, world leaders, and particularly you should terminate the nation of governance by force and should refrain from oppressing the weak. Instead strive to spread and promote justice and peace. By doing so, you will remain in peace yourselves, you will gain strength and world peace will will also be established.
MIRZA MASROOR AHMAD
Khalifatul Masih V
Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Letter To:
Ayatollah Syed Ali Hosseini Khamenei Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
14 May 2012
As Muslims, we should endeavor to teach the world to live in peace, love and harmony. In particular, Muslims leaders need to urgently pay heed to this. For this reason, it is my request to you to draw the attention of your Government towards its responsibilities to establishing peace in the world.
If Iran is attacked it has the right to defend itself to save the country, however it should not instigate aggression and take the first step forward into any conflict. Instead, an effort should be made to leave aside religious differences and to try and unite upon common values. It is this very approach that we find was adopted in the history of Islam.
As the spiritual leader of a large Islamic nation, I hope that you will come to agree that if the entire Muslim Ummah unites and work together, world peace can be established. We should not pointlessly add fuels to enemies and grudges, rather, we should search for opportunities to establish peace and tranquility. Further, even enmity or opposition against others should not be devoid of justice.
May Allah enable the entire Muslim Ummah and all Muslim governments to understand my message so that they prepare themselves to play their respective roles in an effort to establish peace in the world.
As interpreted by Indika Shabandu, Magulmaduwa is not merely a royal audience hall—it is a living symbol of international moral law, rooted in the Buddha Sasana tradition and the universal Dhamma order of Emperor Ashoka. It is here that two civilizations once met in a righteous accord to protect a just and compassionate way of life.
On 2 March 1815, this site bore witness to the British surrender under the Kandyan Convention—a moment that, while framed as a treaty, was later questioned by voices of conscience, including a Wesleyan priest who accused the British of aligning with Mittaya Dusti,” a betrayal of both spiritual and ethical values.
This moment stands in contrast to the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), where Spain and Portugal divided the non-Christian world between them under religious pretense—ignoring the dignity of indigenous peoples. That treaty was a product of empire; Magulmaduwa was a call to conscience.
As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk visits Sri Lanka from 23–26 June 2025, it is imperative that he not bypass this sacred site. Magulmaduwa offers a rare opportunity to witness a historical moment where peace was not imposed, but emerged through Dhamma—a path of compassion, justice, and shared humanity.
Let this visit mark not only a diplomatic mission, but a spiritual awakening—a reminder that true peace begins where power bows to principle, and where the dignity of all people is honored above doctrine or empire.
As shared by Indika Shabandu, a direct descendant of Kivulegedara Mohottala, the righteous fight to protect Dhamma was not abstract—it ran through families, villages, and ancestral duty. His mee mutta, a key leader in the Sinhala army, stood against inhumanity during the Uva-Wellassa Rebellion—not to claim power, but to uphold the spiritual dignity of a people and their land. If such a figure were alive today, he would be a witness—not only to global peace narratives—but to the deep hypocrisy still embedded in many Western-led human rights efforts, where agendas are often cloaked in moral language but divorced from humanity itself. The very forces that once suppressed sovereignty under colonial flags now speak of justice from podiums—while overlooking sacred truths like those enshrined at Magulmaduwa. It is here, not in distant policy rooms, that the true blueprint for peace was written—not as conquest, but as a righteous accord. Not as doctrine, but as living Dhamma.
Every defender of fundamental rights, every voice raised for human dignity, and every advocate of peace must not overlook Magulmaduwa. This sacred hall, where the Kandyan Convention was signed, holds a profound moral legacy that demands deep study—not just as history, but as a living lesson in ethical governance. In the spirit of Article 9 of Sri Lanka’s Constitution, which mandates the protection and fostering of the Buddha Sasana, this site offers a unique opportunity to understand how peace can emerge through Dhamma—not doctrine.
As an author who has deeply conversed with Indika Shabandu, I carry a profound understanding of his thought, though I humbly recognize the limits of my conceptual capacity. Still, I firmly believe that Magulmaduwa is not just adjacent to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic—it is spiritually intertwined with it. It channels the very essence of Buddha Dhamma, embodied in place, memory, and moral law. To ignore this location is to miss a radiant thread that runs through the heart of our civilization and extends outward to the conscience of the world.
Before claiming the title of a global leader, one must first learn to be truly human. The world cries out for compassion over conquest. It is not enough to speak of peace—we must stop war in all forms, and stand where peace was once forged in spirit, not in strategy.
“Can a virtuous person recognize a wicked one, while a wicked person cannot recognize the virtuous?”
What if everything we thought we knew about the universe… was wrong? For decades, scientists believed they had the cosmos under control. Laws. Equations. Models. But now, the James Webb Space Telescope—humanity’s most powerful eye in the sky—has just sent back data that doesn’t fit any of those rules. Entire galaxies appearing far too early, mysterious structures stretching across the universe in patterns that suggest intentional design, gravitational distortions without visible mass… and light pulses coming from empty voids of space. Are we witnessing a glitch in the matrix of the universe—or the start of something far more unimaginable? Stay with us until the very end—because what the James Webb Telescope just uncovered might change not just physics, but the very foundation of our reality.
Why the U.S. Fears Iran More Than Any Other Nation – The Hidden Truth | Morgan Freeman Motivation What if the greatest fear of the United States isn’t about weapons or warfare — but about an idea? A nation that doesn’t submit. A people that refuse to break. This 26-minute cinematic motivational speech, delivered in the compelling tone of Morgan Freeman, uncovers the hidden truth behind why the U.S. fears Iran more than any other country. From unmatched resilience under decades of sanctions, to Iran’s rising influence across the Muslim world, this video goes far beyond politics. It’s a story of power born from faith, resistance built on sacrifice, and a legacy that cannot be silenced. Iran isn’t just a geopolitical challenge — it’s a spiritual threat to a world order built on submission. This is the speech they never wanted you to hear — stay till the end, and you’ll understand exactly why.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday warned the United States against launching military action against Iran, as tensions escalate in the Middle East and speculation grows over potential U.S. involvement in the conflict alongside Israel.
Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s military and nuclear program last Friday, and Tehran has responded with its own salvos of rockets and drones. Scores of civilians have been killed in both countries since the air war began, and despite global calls for de-escalation, the two sides have ramped up their bellicose rhetoric.
U.S. President Donald Trump has further fueled tensions by suggesting earlier this week that American forces in the Middle East might try to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and vaguely calling on Tehran to agree to an “unconditional surrender.”
“We would like to particularly warn Washington against military intervention in this situation,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
Zakharova noted that any such move by the U.S. “would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences.”
Her warning came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, during which both leaders condemned Israel’s actions and called for a ceasefire.
“They strongly condemn Israel’s actions,” the Kremlin said in a readout of the call.
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters that Moscow and Beijing believe the conflict must be resolved “exclusively by political and diplomatic means.”
Russia shares close relations with Iran, having boosted military ties following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, it also strives to retain amicable relations with Israel.
Despite Moscow’s ties with Tehran, Putin said Iran had not asked Russia for military assistance since Israel’s attacks began.
“Our Iranian friends have not asked us about this,” he said at a late-night press conference in St. Petersburg.
He added that a treaty signed with Iran in January does not function as a mutual defense pact and does not require either side to provide military aid.
Asked what Russia would do if Iran’s Khamenei were assassinated, Putin replied: “I don’t even want to discuss such a possibility.”
