What do minorities gain from identity politics?
In conversation with retired public official, A.L.M. Saleem, Founding President of the Center for Social Change and Development.
Will the New President Focus on Reconciliation?
Reflections on President Gotabaya Rajapakse’s swearing in ceremony at Ruwanweliseya
Winning the Hearts of Minority Communities
Chairman of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress, Narah T. Arulkanth on the need for national development with the entire country on board.
The National List Opportunity Should be for an Educationist!
“I believe there is no conflict among ethnicities in Sri Lanka” saud Thushara Kamalaratne, Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Peradeniya
“We Will Pass the New Constitution”
“We will adopt the new constitution and implement it to solve all the problems of all people. We will implement it with the support of the TNA,” former PM
The New President’s Priorities
Prof. Amarasekara says the new president faces the challenge of winning back the trust of minority communities.
Representation of Women’s Voices is an Essential Task & Responsibility
“Being a woman alone is not important. Every woman has a duty in the country and they must perform it,”
Do Not Underestimate the Minority Vote
The Catamaran’s exclusive interview with the Professor on the weight of the minority vote this election.
Why Women Can’t Win Elections
“It’s not easy for women to get into politics without giving up our rights, we must use it wisely…” says Shrin Abdul Zaroor, a feminist and human rights activist.
Ethnic Conflict is a Disease
‘Sri Lanka’s economy is yet to recover from a protracted thirty-year war, and this year Sri Lanka has suffered further setback by the Easter Sunday Attack. Hence, irrespective of whether they belong to minority or majority communities, it is the people who must decide,’ says Journalist and Writer, Murugabupathi. His work is based on unity and harmony and is used to support the ‘Sri Lanka Student Fund’, created to assist in the educational development of affected students in the country. In this exclusive with The Catamaran, Murugabathi presents his experiences and observations in building the future of Sri Lanka.
“We need to identify politicians who act selfishly”
The Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) leader Dr. Wikramabahu Karunaratne said that if the state apparatus had functioned effectively to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks, there would be no re-emergence of racism and radicalism in the country. The government that failed to prevent it must be held responsible, he emphasized. Here is our full interview with him on the country’s current situation:
Lost Opportunity
“The majority of Sri Lankans are Buddhists and there is a common belief that Buddhism must be given prominence, unfortunately, making Buddhism the state religion was an act of a group of leftists who led the compilation of Sri Lanka’s first republic constitution in 1972. When something is legalized, it is not easy to change,” said Mayilvaganam Thilagaraj, the Tamil Progressive Alliance MP for Nuwara Eliya district, in an exclusive interview with The Catamaran.
We are afraid to talk about difficult things
‘Reconciliation cannot be reached by simply sitting together and talking. We must also talk about some difficult things. But I feel that we are afraid to discuss these things openly’ says Ambiga Satkunanathan, Commissioner, Human Rights Commission. Her interview with The Catamaran. The Catamaran: What are the complaints regarding Human Rights violations during the post-war […]
“This has threatened our reconciliation efforts.”
“If the Executive President, the Defense Sector and Judiciary of the country function properly, racial harmony is likely to be seen,” says Izzadeen Lathief, Coordinator of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Kalmunai Region.
Uniting a divided people is a difficult task
There has been an increase in anti-Muslim sentiment since the Easter Sunday attacks around Sri Lanka on 21st April this year. The situation was further exacerbated by allegations that Muslim politicians were supporting the terror groups. The tension from both situations resulted in many Muslim ministers vacating their posts, including the Deputy Minister of State. Catamaran spoke with former minister Rishad Bathiudeen in an exclusive interview. Bathiudeen is a member of the Parliament and the former Minister of Industry & Commerce of Sri Lanka. He is also the founder Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Party, a political party he registered in 2005 after his departure from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress the previous year. He resigned from his post as Minister for Industry & Commerce on 3rd July 2019.
Sri Lanka has not implemented the death penalty in 40 years. The current President and his cabinet, however, want to re-activate it for 19 people convicted of drug-related crimes.