Stories about Sri Lanka from May, 2009
UN Human Rights Council Backs Sri Lankan Government
Sepia Mutiny reports that the UN human rights council passed a resolution praising Sri Lanka's victory over the LTTE and refused calls to investigate allegations of war crimes by both sides in the fag end of the civil war. Human Rights Watch condemned the resolution.
Sri Lanka: Prabhakaran's DNA Matches With Son
Bailaman reports that DNA taken from the body of the LTTE leader Prabhakaran matches with his son Charles Anthony. This discovery by Sri Lankan Army medical experts is supposed to end all speculations over his death.
Sri Lanka: Equality, Justice And Democracy
Rohini Hensman at Groundviews suggests that constitutional reforms should be initiated in Sri Lanka to remove discrimination and ensure real parity for Sinhala and Tamil population.
Sri Lanka: Trivias About Some Well Known Bloggers
London, Lanka and Drums posts little known facts about some well known Sri Lankan bloggers.
Sri Lanka: LTTE Confirms Prabhakaran's Death
Vijay Sappani at Desicritics posts a press release of LTTE, which admits that the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead.
Sri Lanka: On The End Of The Conflict
London Lanka and Drums highlights some Sri Lankan blogs and blog posts that have written about the end of the civil war and comments: “Whatever our views, whatever our race and for differing reasons most of us would agree that this is one of the biggest single events in our...
Sri Lanka: Abuse, Disbelief And Bitterness Persist
The Sri Lankan government's civil war for over 25 years against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended a few days ago when the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was killed. The question remains that "has the dream of many Tamils of having a separate state free from discrimination died with him?". The polarized Sri Lankan Blogosphere is buzzing with a lot of analysis and counter analysis on the stories of celebrating the end of war, human rights abuse, distrust and communal hatred.
India: Aid Collection For Sri Lankan IDPs
Madhat at Blogbharati informs about an effort by some Indians to collect aid from various Indian cities to help the IDPs (internally displaced people) in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka: What Are We Celebrating?
Chatu at Groundviews asks some questions: “what are we celebrating? Defeating an entity we forced into existence? Are the reasons that forced a young Prabhakaran to assassinate the Mayor of Jaffna resolved? Is Sri Lanka truly united towards peace and coexistence?”
Sri Lanka: Concern For The IDPs
Musings from Toronto comments: “Whether the pro-LTTE diaspora's fear of the Sri Lankan Government is ludicrous or otherwise; their concern for the displaced civilians is certainly one I support.”
Sri Lanka: The Body Of Prabhakaran Creates Controversy
The statement by Sri Lankan government yesterday was that LTTE leader Prabhakaran was killed, and burnt beyond recognition when he was trying to flee in an ambulance. The End, Rising from the ashes notices when the body was shown on TV: “nobody from the Government had yet clarified how the...
Sri Lanka: Priorities After The War
A Voice In Colombo discusses about the two priorities Sri Lanka needs to address after the end of civil war; helping the IDPs and taking care of the injured veterans and families of the deceased.
Sri Lanka: Bloggers react to the death of the LTTE leader
The government of Sril Lanka announced via state media and SMS today (Monday, May 18, 2009) afternoon that the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Vellupillai Prabhakaran, is dead. Obituaries of Prabhakaran note that he was a hero to some and a ruthless killer to others. Sri Lankan Bloggers lament on the legacy of this war lord and what his demise means for the future of the Tamil people and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka: Prabhakaran, The King Maker Is Dead
Ajith P. Perera at Dare To Be Different writes about the life of the slain LTTE rebel chief: “Prabhakaran is no more a hero than Hitler or Pol Pot, but he is a legend that will live on. I am sure for centuries to come mothers use his name to...
Sri Lanka: Is It Really Over?
The LTTE rebel leader Velupillai Prabakaran is dead and many Sri Lankans are rejoicing. Portrait describes how does it feel when the war is won. However Scourge! asks whether the Sri Lankan civil war is really over.
Sri Lanka: Understanding The Tamil Conflict
G. Kuganesan at Voices In Exile sheds a light into the background of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka: “The Tamil conflict has deep roots, distant ties that date well beyond the mere formation of a violent LTTE (Tamil Tigers) movement, a history buried in discrimination, segregation, and specific ethnic...
Sri Lanka: Now is not the time for Eelam
Indi.ca from Sri Lanka comments: “This is not the time or the way to establish borders. Right now we need to preserve our common humanity. Then we need to learn to live together in a united Sri Lanka. The LTTE’s Eelam seems to involve sacrificing all the Tamils there. That’s...
Sri Lanka: Satellite Image Proves Shelling Of Civilians
ICT For Peacebuilding (ICT4PEACE) posts an image from a commercial satellite and quotes a Human Rights Watch report, which claims that indiscriminate shelling of civilians is going on in the North of Sri Lanka. The blog comments: “Unless the argument is made that commercial satellite imagery is also pro-LTTE, this...
Sri Lanka: Helping The IDPs
Sarvodaya, the largest and most established NGO in Sri Lanka, has been at the forefront of helping the IDPs in the Sri Lanka's war ravaged north. Learn more about their efforts from their blog.
Sri Lanka: British Journalists Arrested
In Mutiny reports that three British TV journalists, who reported the grim situation from the Sir Lankan IDP camps for Channel 4 News, have been arrested and will be deported shortly.
Sri Lanka: Unbowed and Unafraid
ICT For Peacebuilding (ICT4Peace) informs that a new Sri Lankan website named “Unbowed and Unafraid” – has been launched today, which “aims to continue the spirit of investigative journalism of the slain Editor of the Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickrematunge.”
