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Sri Lanka Heading Towards Inevitable 20 Percent Depreciation of the Rupee

26 January 2012, 5:42 pm

By Dr. Arujuna Sivananthan

Hello Friends,

‘It’s the economy stupid’ was the popular phrase publicised widely by the Bill Clinton team during the Presidential elections campaign of 1992.

George Bush Sr running for a second term was seen as a sure winner then because of developments like the end of the cold war and the US gulf war victory. But the Clinton campaign focused on the recession and projected Clinton as a better choice because Bush had not adequately addressed economic issues.
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Irresponsible diaspora sections cause many problems in Jaffna

25 January 2012, 7:43 pm

By Rajasingham Jayadevan

Hello Friends

Rajasingham Jayadevan is an accountant based in London, Britain. He has been and continues to e a political activist concerned about the future and well-being of Sri Lankans in general and Tamils in particular

Pic courtesy of: A visit to the market in Jaffna ~ more pics-by By helpingmedia
~ David Brewer-Dec 6, 2011

Some years ago while visiting Sri Lanka Jayadevan had an unpleasant experience at the hands of the LTTE which he had supported at one time. He was detained and interrogated by the tigers in the Wanni while pressure was exerted by the LTTE to gain control of the Eelappatheeswarar temple in London of which Jayadevan was chief trustee.
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Rowdyism at Rameswaram by Tamil Nadu ‘activist’ mob

23 January 2012, 10:06 pm

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

Rameswaram (Rameshwar)in the South of Tamil Nadu state in India is revered by Hindus all over the world as a place of tremendous religious significance.The Island town was the scene of an ugly rumpus on the tenth of this month when a well-known Sri Lankan Tamil businessman visiting for a religious purpose was victimized in a deplorable act of rowdyism. He was apparently targeted because of his relationship to President Mahinda Rajapaksa through marriage.
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Sharing land powers is part of the devolution process enshrined in the constitution

23 January 2012, 5:56 pm

By Austin Fernando

Hello Friends

The sharing of powers over land between the Provincial and Central Governments is currently a raging controversy. The “lands” issue has become one of the primary issues on which the Government and Tamil National Alliance (TNA)are finding it difficult to reach agreement upon.

President Rajapaksa’s pronouncements on the subject tend to convey an impression that the TNA representing the Tamil people is making a fresh,unreasonable demand which will not conceded. The reality however is that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and the Provincial Councils act have already defined the sharing of land administration powers although it may be ambiguous and may not be satisfactory.
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Island Mystique: Three startling differences Between India and Sri Lanka

21 January 2012, 11:47 pm

Professor Alaka Basu ~ pic: cornell.edu

By Alaka M.Basu

Hello Friends

A friend sent me an interesting article that appeared in “The Telegraph”published in Kolkota (Calcutta). It is written by Alaka M.Basu who is a professor in the Department of Development Sociology at Cornell University,USA.

Ms.Basu was in Sri Lanka on a holiday recently and is captivated by its charm like most travellers to our lovely Island “where every prospect pleases”.
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President Rajapaksa must Address Specifics of a Political Settlement

20 January 2012, 6:19 am

Siddharth Varadarajan

Hello Friends

India’s respected newspaper “The Hindu” has experienced a change at the Editorial helm with the Editor in Chief Narasimhan Ram stepping down with effect from January 19th 2012.

The Hindu’s national bureau chief Siddharth Varadarajan has succeeded him as Editor.
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Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna reaches out to people of Northern Sri Lanka

18 January 2012, 9:14 pm

External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna arrives at the Kilinochchi District Hospital, Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Photo: R.K.Radhakrishnan-courtesy: The Hindu

Hello Friends

As most of you are aware India’s minister of External Affairs SM Krishna is currently in Sri Lanka. Krishna is a Kannadiga and a former chief minister of the South Indian state of Karnataka.

A highlight of the Indian foreign ministers Lankan trip was his visit to the Northern Province where many Tamils reside. Krishna participated in many functions related to projects benefitting by India’s generous assistance and aid.

Krishna whose mother tongue Kannada like Thamizh belongs to the Dravidian school of Languages often tried to reach out to the audience by speaking in Tamil during his Northern trip.
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Thaippongal celebrations at Temple Trees

18 January 2012, 6:28 am

A pictorial perspective

Hello Friends,

“Thaippongal” is the traditional Tamil Thanksgiving festival that augurs bountiful harvests and good fortune. It is known as “Thamizhar Thirunaal” and “Uzhavar Perunaal”.

“Thaippongal” was celebrated by President and Mrs.Rajapaksa at “Temple Trees” this time. I am posting some pictures taken by photographer Sudath Silva from the event held on Tuesday, Jan 17th at the “Temple Trees”.

Here they are friends-DBS Jeyaraj


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‘I have been damned by the establishment in Sri Lanka and its proxies in Australia’ – Gordon Weiss

17 January 2012, 8:35 pm

Gordon Weiss

An Interview With G.Pramod Kumar for “First Post”.

Hello Friends,

The book written by former UN official in Sri Lanka Gordon Weiss titled “The Cage:The fight for Sri Lanka and the last days of the Tamil Tigers”has made huge waves.
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Devastating critique of LLRC Report by the TNA

16 January 2012, 10:39 pm

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj

Hello Friends

The controversial report presented by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) has evoked much interest in many different circles. It is being projected by some as Sri Lanka’s effective response to the demand for an International accountability mechanism on the one hand while others criticize it as falling far short of International standards

The premier political organization of the Sri Lankan Tamils at present is the umbrella group known as the Tamil National Alliance(TNA). The TNA has released a 114 page analytical response to the LLRC report.
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