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

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. […]

Society

In Conversation with Dalton Madanayaka A Buddhist in Church

Admin November 12, 2019

MELANI MANEL PERERA Why a man from a Buddhist background chooses to light candles in a Catholic church Dalton Madanayaka, seeks reconciliation among his countrymen. He tries to pour a drop of water on the spark so that the fire will not burn again. This 55-year-old comes from a strong Buddhist upbringing and is the […]

Society

Ven. Walawahengunaweve Dhammarathana Thero speaks: Reconciliation is Everyone’s Responsibility

Admin November 12, 2019

UPUL THAMMITA Chief Incumbent of Mihintale temple talked to The Catamaran about his personal experiences on working for reconciliation Chief Incumbent of the ancient temple of Mihintale, Ven. Walawahengunaweve Dhammarathana Thero, mobilized a citizen’s movement for ethnic unity. Ven. Thero discussed with Catamaran is personal experiences on working for reconciliation THE

Society Uncategorized

In Conversation with Jayathilaka Bandara The Voice of the Good People

Admin October 31, 2019

SRILAL SENEVIRATHNA Musician and vocalist, Jayathilaka Bandara talks about ‘Sadhu Jana Rava’, his two decade long show which aims to enhance social reconciliation and brotherhood in Sri Lanka. Musician and vocalist, Jayathilaka Bandara, has been conducting his ‘Sadhu Jana Rava’ (the voice of the good people) show for over two decades. This show aims to […]

Society

Talking to Vimukthi Ravanasinghe How to Heal an Infected Society

Admin October 31, 2019

DAYA NETHTHASINHAVimukthi Ravanasinghe, programme coordinator of Sri Lanka’s SCRM Secretariat discusses peace-building around the country Vimukthi Dushantha Ravanasinghe is a resource person and a programme coordinator of the Secretariat for Coordinating Reconciliation Mechanisms (SCRM) of Sri Lanka. He went around the country discussing issues related to peacebuilding

Society

In Conversation with S.G. Punchihewa Planting Distrust & Drowning in Myth

Admin October 23, 2019

SHALIKA WIMALASENA S.G. Punchihewa, a senior lawyer discusses current social issues while working to guarantee people’s right to information. S.G. Punchihewa is a senior lawyer who actively works against the struggle for democratic rights and is presently a member of the Information Commission. He joined this interview with The Catamaran to discuss current social issues

Society

The Fishermen Community in Negombo No Sense in Being Divisive

Admin October 23, 2019

SARATH MANULAWICKRAMA The people of ‘Little Rome’ live in peace built from the four religions that make the city. The Easter Sunday attacks failed to break these pillars of faith and the people of Negombo remain as united as ever. The people of Negombo are striving to overcome feelings of distrust and disharmony after the […]

Society

A Story from Kandaloya “I wasn’t interested in education. Today, I’m in university!”

Admin October 17, 2019

TUSANTHAN VAYIRAMUTHTHU “I was not interested in education but the arts made me a university student,” says Moses Prabhath, an old student of the Kandaloya Tamil Maha Vidyalaya. Kandaloya is a village situated on the Kandy border of the Kegalle district. The village is located on a hill at a distance of about 25 km […]

Society

Bygones are Bygones Today is in our hands to make tomorrow possible

Admin October 17, 2019

A.M.FAIS We work hard to build self-confidence, social cohesion and leadership traits among students to enable them to understand one another. Knowledge and friendship are developed using social media. It binds us together and can be considered an asset, said Bertal Pinto Jayawardena, Project Coordinator of Unity Mission Trust. Here is his interview with The […]