Society

Honest Plans: Winning the Hearts of Minority Communities

Admin November 29, 2019

UPEKSHA UDUWARALLA Chairman of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress, Narah T. Arulkanth on the need for national development with the entire country on board.    The result of the presidential indicated ethnic polarization of the Sri Lankan polity. The new president has the challenge of uniting an

In Focus

The Reconciliation Mechanism: Memorial Parks as a Peacebuilding Platform

Admin November 29, 2019

PRIYADHASHINI SIVARAJAH “Focus on small but profound efforts to bring about change will help people understand the tension between the ethnic groups” says Prof. Chandraleka Mownaguru “It will not make any sense if the reconciliation mechanism becomes only an NGO-oriented plan. Yet, no multi-religious group has brought about any changes. Focus on small but profound […]

Society

In Conversation with Dr Mohammed Buhari Mohammed Ajvad. Reconciliation happens when we understand each other.

Admin November 28, 2019

KARUNARATHNA GAMAGE “We build up social relationships by understanding each other. I think then we do not need building reconciliation anew,” says Dr Mohammed Buhari Mohammed Ajvad. Dr. Ajvad was born in the Ottamavadi village in Valachchenai and is married to Konara Mudiyanselage Rukma Maithri Kumari Pamunuwa.  Dr. Ajvad met Rukma when he was serving […]

Uncategorized

In Conversation with Dr. Ajantha Perera Representation of Women’s Voices is an Essential Task & Responsibility

Admin November 26, 2019

MELANI MANEL PERERA “Being a woman alone is not important. Every woman has a duty in the country and they must perform it,” After 20 years, a woman contested the presidential elections in Sri Lanka. She was also the only woman to contest the 2019 election. Environmentalist Dr. Ajantha Perera says she came forward to […]

Uncategorized

In Conversation with Prof. Upul Aberathna Do Not Underestimate the Minority Vote

Admin November 25, 2019

GAYAN YADDEHIGE The Catamaran’s exclusive interview with the Professor on the weight of the minority vote this election. Prof. Upul Aberathna lectures in the Political Science Department of Peradeniya University. Thirty five political parties and independent candidates have filed nominations for this presidential election, the highest number of candidates contesting in our

Society

Finding Peace in Divinity Looking Beyond the Issues of Man

Admin November 25, 2019

RANJITH RUPASINGHE The Catamaran looked to leaders and followers from various walks of faith to gather their views on reconciling as a nation, following the ethnic unrest post Easter Sunday attacks. A Hindu priest, Kurukkal Ajantha Kumar, of Sri Muttumari Amman Kovil of Mahaiyawa in Kandy states that people of all religions have been visiting […]

Society

In Conversation with Sathyawel People can Survive on Humanity Alone

Admin November 25, 2019

CHANDINI DISSANAYAKE Lassegama Wimalarathana Thero’s ambition is to add value to the monkhood he obtained with difficulty and to spread the message of Lord Buddha to the world. This is his interview with The Catamaran. Sathyawel, also known as Shiva Kumar, was born in 1981 as the son of a Indian Brahmin mother and a […]

Society

Looking to Heaven for Deliverance Prayers of the Sisters of the North

Admin November 25, 2019

MELANI MANEL PERERA “A group of Tamil women from the North visited the Katuwapitiya church and paid homage to the victims of the Easter tragedy, asking for peace, healing of the wounds and strength to live the rest of their lives, A group already shouldering memories from three decades of war, chose to visit the […]

Society

Heavy Metal The Sound of Reconciliation

Admin November 13, 2019

VIMUKTHI KARUNARATNE What can Sri Lanka’s Heavy Metal counterculture teach us about reconciliation? When I was born, I had inherited war. I don’t recall a time when it was ever absent. Violence between Sinhala and Tamil factions occurred for decades; shootings and bombings had filled our senses and surroundings. Though most of it took place […]

Society

Escaping the Snake Den How One Woman Overcame Immense Tragedy and Debt

Admin November 12, 2019

LATHA THURAIRAJA Sarojini lived with snakes to escape debtors. Today, she is a successful businesswoman. This is her story. Mrs. Nirmalkumar Sarojini (age 51), had to live with snakes for many years to escape the debtors in her battle for life. She would walk many miles each day with no money to travel by bus. […]