Countering anti-propaganda

Good governance and human rights are perhaps the most important and crucial cross-cutting issues that we have to focus serious and sustained attention on. The adverse impact of an internal conflict on institutions and structures of good governance is well documented the world over. Sri Lanka nearly three decades-old conflict has had an inevitable impact but we are fortunate that our institutional foundations are preserved intact. We have successfully come out of a conflict situation but that does not mean that the threat of terrorism is completely eradicated with the degrading of the LTTE military capability.

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The Morning Inspection - Malinda

On films, malice and the poverty of criticism

Two news stories caught my eye a short while ago, both related to the arts and more specifically to films and the film industry. The first was about the ‘family film’ Bindu smashing all-time records. I’ve already written about Bindu (Daily News, October 6, 2009: ‘Children’s films disturb me’). So I shall just say well done, congratulations, keep it up and all that kind of thing to the producer, director and others associated with the film.

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The peace prize:

Pro pace et fraternitate gentium “For the peace and brotherhood of men”

The promise of Obama

Mahatma Gandhi, though nominated on five occasions, that’s right, the strongest proponent of peace in the 20th Century, was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. (You can read the details on the Nobel Prize website under ‘Mahatma Gandhi, the Missing Laureate’).

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IDPs, human rights and freedom

Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) are much in focus. It is the latest big stick used by West, USA and the EU to beat us. Sri Lanka is accused of violating fundamental human rights, freedom of movement of citizens within their country guaranteed by our Constitution. These IDPs are in the North, beyond Vavuniya.

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