tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-113544372009-06-28T00:27:07.502+05:30“I know you won't believe me, but the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others." – Socrates. * Contact me: castedeus@yahoo.co.in * No part of this blog maybe reproduced without full acknowledgment of the author and source.Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-24871431260552402702009-04-29T11:13:00.010+05:302009-06-28T00:26:14.622+05:30

The Tamil Nadu factor in Sri Lankan politics has been omnipresent since the 1980s and it is plain evident that contemporary times are no different. India is in the midst of elections and the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka has once again been predictably hijacked by politicians across the Palk Straits. The southern state goes to the polls on 13 May in the fifth and final phase of elections in the world’

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-48166937215231703762009-02-10T21:52:00.000+05:302009-02-10T21:54:30.816+05:30

A humanitarian crisis looms in northern Sri Lanka and requires urgent attention. Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped in the Vanni. They are pawns on a chess board on which the simple game plan is survival. It’s just too bad the survival is not their own. The territory under rebel control is shrinking fast. Any fears preventing civilian movement into government-held areas will have to be

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-14656683716165538702009-01-14T00:34:00.001+05:302009-01-20T11:31:01.843+05:30

As Sri Lankans, we’re inherently a superstitious people. It is in our culture. During my childhood, I recall how I was often told that if I did something on the first day of January, I was bound to repeat it, whatever it was, for the rest of the year. So (until I shunned such superstitions later in life), I was adamant that I make a good start and have a splendid year. As the New Year dawned two

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-83508769095746869382008-12-05T01:55:00.006+05:302009-01-07T23:56:12.661+05:30

The following is an article I contributed to Groundviews, published on 18 November, 2008:The military have now taken the strategic western town of Pooneryn, thus opening up the A-32 highway that links Mantota and the former along the western flank of the Northern Province. This would enable the linking up of the peninsula with the mainland for the first time since Eelam War II. Supplies, both

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-62225666203304762512007-09-13T00:29:00.000+05:302007-09-13T16:43:57.037+05:30

All the hullabaloo on the MiG 27 deal aside, it is heartening to note that fundamentals have remained intact in the Sri Lankan Security Establishment and that the bickering has been left to the bureaucrats. The latest success of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) against three LTTE logistics vessels off Sri Lanka's southern coast indicates the potency of planned assaults on the supply chain of the enemy,

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-81022186836344762252007-09-09T19:16:00.000+05:302007-09-09T19:58:32.061+05:30

Night club brawls and ministers' sons are now synonymous with typical Colombo-speak. Now we have it again...... the noted son of a notorious politico assaults man at Colombo nightclub. Yawn...... where's my coffee today?This morning's Sunday Times alleges that a pistol was used to assault the victim on the head. The latest incident is an uncanny reminder of a similar episode of assault that took

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-10003416126654915592007-08-01T11:25:00.001+05:302007-08-01T14:04:40.155+05:30

The trumpets have faded and the dust has settled on the battlefields of the east. It is now time for contemplation, a time for serious reflection on issues of real national interest. For all the hype and celebrations on its re-capture, it remains to be seen what administrative mechanisms will be installed for governance of the region. This is not the first time that power has been devolved to the

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-80604254542077850252007-07-26T21:23:00.000+05:302007-07-26T21:52:32.776+05:30

The following is a response posted by the author of Dheshapalana to a speech delivered by Dr. Ellyn Shander, MD, in support of Tamil Eelam, at a Peace Rally at Capitol Hill, Washington DC, on July 23, 2007. The full text of the speech is available on transCurrents.Dear Dr. Shander, The overall manner in which the Government of Sri Lanka has conducted its war is deplorable indeed. It should be the

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-40610374253780255052007-07-12T18:12:00.001+05:302008-03-29T16:39:46.287+05:30

Murder is the cardinal sin. It is condemned by civil society the world over. Regimes committing genocide are universally condemned. Those committing murder, even if to avenge the death of another, are subject to the same societal and legal condemnation. To take a life is wrong and no one can give us this power.... but does this situation change if a court is to sentence to death? Is it anymore

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-35527026295034580462007-07-10T22:31:00.000+05:302007-07-13T01:34:59.822+05:30

I recall sitting in a tutorial room over two years ago and engaging in a passionate debate with my peers, on the future of blogging in the changing world of media. My argument was that it was the future - or at least a substantial part of it. I cited Indymedia. My peers insisted that blogs were nothing but personalised rants and self-contained writings, akin to public journals.I knew that the

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-36079724991356416792007-07-10T10:45:00.000+05:302007-07-10T11:09:54.167+05:30

I was browsing Kottu.org, when I spotted a link to a blog purported to be an advertisement for a brothel run by a popular Sri Lankan actress. To the less than careful observer, the language used on the site alone would tell the obvious tale that the blog is merely a set-up by some frustrated mind with way too much time on his hands.I will refrain from blogging at length about this and

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-59407417023480484872007-07-03T22:05:00.001+05:302008-12-09T19:24:48.628+05:30

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-5499693971139386922007-07-03T10:17:00.000+05:302007-07-04T09:17:20.633+05:30

Dragons of Eden carried a very interesting post a couple of months ago, titled "Suit Up or Shut Up: Shooting Down the LTTE Air Force." An excellent post indeed, considering that it provides an informed perspective on aircraft and airborne combat, in comparison to a layman's grasp on these matters such as that of myself. I stumbled on this post after reading "A Question" on Manshark's Random Rants

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-87595693119064595092007-06-10T23:06:00.000+05:302007-06-11T00:06:45.950+05:30

YET another sleepless night and I find myself blogging once again. I am a bit of an irregular blogger as you will notice for yourself, if you care to peruse. I need motivation, a sort of inspiration or catalyst to work my lethargic mind. As it is, I don't feel like writing but talking instead. Nevertheless, here's a shot. I have issues to discuss.I've spent the better part of the past hour

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-84406647358613049862007-05-02T08:33:00.000+05:302007-05-02T11:05:42.449+05:30

The obstinacy of the Rajapaksa regime baffles me. On one hand the President remarks that innocent Tamils must be absorbed into the process of governance and on the other, his government displays blatant incompetence with regard to setting the foundations for a free and just society. The cornerstone for such a society within a multi-ethnic, multi-religious polity such as that of Sri Lanka must be

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1162271369079398742006-10-31T10:37:00.000+05:302007-03-04T10:16:21.710+05:30

Q. IS PRABHAKARAN A MAD MAN?Please feel free to comment as much as you like, express your point of view on this question and stimulate discussion. I look forward to your comments.

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1161841666586782462006-10-26T11:07:00.000+05:302006-10-30T15:12:09.720+05:30

With the peace talks to get underway in Geneva, it is heartening to note that the GOSL is starting off the correct foot and a word of congratulations must go out to Government Defence Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella. The minister was quoted in the Daily Mirror this morning as commenting thus:“We want to give recognition to pluralism and not to a Sinhala-Buddhist only

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1156998073750958612006-08-31T08:46:00.000+05:302006-08-31T09:53:04.943+05:30

The kidnapping of Sooriyan FM News Manager Nadarajah Guruparan on Tuesday morning has infringed once again on the freedom of the media in Sri Lanka. It should be unequivocally condemned by all those who love freedom. The role of the media as the 'fourth estate' may fast diminish in the climate of terror being generated by an interested few. As the atrocities of the LTTE intensify across the

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1155956793562725552006-08-19T08:25:00.000+05:302006-08-19T08:42:18.240+05:30

Sport has been widely known as 'the great unifier.' If that remains true of the 10th South Asian Games that commenced under lights at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo last evening, remains to be seen. Meanwhile, will someone tell me.............. what's with the 'kurakkan scarves???'

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1155728443789754622006-08-16T17:09:00.000+05:302006-08-21T05:51:21.413+05:30

Dear readers, The following is a statement that I have put together as part of a very small way in which we can further lend our multiple small voices to hopefully contribute to the wider good. Undoubtedly, it is not as effective as a regular petition but considering the constraints brought about by anonymity within this virtual community of the Sri Lankan bloggasphere, I presently see no other

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1155728316999120862006-08-16T17:07:00.000+05:302006-08-16T17:08:37.000+05:30

Dear readers,As suggested in the post titled "An Open Petitition by Bloggers for Peace" please feel free to comment on the above post here.Thank you.(My apologies in advance for any confusion/complication of the situation).

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1155649493488212322006-08-15T19:02:00.000+05:302006-08-15T22:11:03.096+05:30

So the war has now begun. The CFA is but a memory of the past. Guns blaze as lives are snuffed out. Many a combatant has lost their life; civilian lives have also been claimed. For all hardliners, this is what they want: a war in earnest. Well, you have it.Of LTTE atrocities of the recent past (Bambalapitiya, Kollupitiya, water-deprivation in Mavil Aru & countless others), there shall be no

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1155135896617887492006-08-09T20:28:00.000+05:302006-08-11T05:35:30.876+05:30

The latest spate of violence has claimed over 830 lives since December 2005 and left tens of thousands internally displaced in northeast Sri Lanka. Since the Eelam War officially began in 1983, well over 60,000 lives have been lost and over 353,000 internally displaced. At present, a Low Intensity Conflict is intensifying. The Kebethigollewa attack has been the biggest single blow to civilian

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1151292570574764482006-06-26T08:56:00.000+05:302006-06-26T08:59:30.586+05:30

A bomb blast in Pannipitiya, on the outskirts of Colombo killed Major General Paramai Kulatunga at around 7.45am today. Early reports filtering in state that at least two to four people are believed to be among the dead. No further reports were immediately available.

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11354437.post-1150995994769342352006-06-22T22:36:00.000+05:302006-08-09T23:17:29.130+05:30

I wonder how many of you were fortunate readers of the astonishing piece of literature that appeared in the column titled 'This is My Sri Lanka' in the Daily News of June 19. The following is my own response: Dear Editor, I write with reference to the column titled 'This is My Sri Lanka' by Bandula Jayasekera, that appeared in the Daily News issue of June 19, 2006. I was both

Castedeushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10282311122016295623noreply@blogger.com3