Thank you for inviting me to speak on Dharmasena Pathiraja’s fourth death anniversary, on the ‘Relevance of an Alternative Film-Culture Today’, the topic suggested to me by the organisers. My talk has two parts. In the first, I’d like to share with you a couple of thoughts that I have been reflecting on for some… Continue reading Relevance of an Alternative Film-Culture Today – Laleen Jayamanne
Author: ssalanka
A History of Unfortunate Circumstances – Hasini A. Haputhanthri
‘A Day in July 2019’ by Rajitha Dissanayake, 2022, Lionel Wendt, Colombo
This play has been long in the making. A string of unfortunate circumstances induced by the pandemic resulted in the postponement of Rajitha Dissanayake’s new play, at least twice. So, we got to watch this play titled ‘A Day in July 2019’, in January 2022. And yet, the play is not out of step with… Continue reading A History of Unfortunate Circumstances – Hasini A. Haputhanthri
‘A Day in July 2019’ by Rajitha Dissanayake, 2022, Lionel Wendt, Colombo
A Secular Need: Islamic Law and State Governance in Contemporary India. Geoffrey Redding. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2020. 240 pp – Reviewed by Farzana Haniffa
Redding’s book lays out the manner in which regardless of the horrendous anti- Muslim violence permitted and often perpetrated by the Indian secular State court system, the secular State courts in turn need the ‘Islamic non-State’ in both material and ideological ways. The Islamic non-State that Redding refers to is the Dar- Ul Quaza network… Continue reading A Secular Need: Islamic Law and State Governance in Contemporary India. Geoffrey Redding. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2020. 240 pp – Reviewed by Farzana Haniffa
A Feast of Words – Minoli Salgado
for Sandya Ekneligoda
The writers were at the table, eating each other’s words. Delicate morsels of sliced crime, tangy segments of romance, silver spoonerisms washed down with a glass of iced humour that turned the lips green. ‘How delightful’, one cooed, ‘I must try this at home.’ The wine critic was not sure. She would like to have… Continue reading A Feast of Words – Minoli Salgado
for Sandya Ekneligoda
Dissident Memory and Democratic Citizenship: Sandya Ekneligoda and Her Struggle for Justice – Chulani Kodikara*
Sandya Ekneligoda holding a flame and trident (24 January 2019). (Photo: Nilshan Fernando) Prageeth Ekneligoda, journalist, cartoonist, and political activist, disappeared 12 years ago on this day, somewhere between 8.30 and 9.30 pm on his way to a meeting with an acquaintance unknown to his friends or family. On the day of his disappearance, Prageeth had left home… Continue reading Dissident Memory and Democratic Citizenship: Sandya Ekneligoda and Her Struggle for Justice – Chulani Kodikara*
In and Out of Place: A Conversation between Shyam Selvadurai and Neloufer de Mel
This conversation was part of a panel discussion on Imaginative Geographies: The Place of Sri Lanka in Contemporary Sri Lankan Writing in English, featured at the virtual festival on Imaginative Geographies organised by the Institute of Advanced Studies, University College, London (UCL) on 5 May 2021. The panel was co-hosted by the Department of English,… Continue reading In and Out of Place: A Conversation between Shyam Selvadurai and Neloufer de Mel
Democracy in the Global Interregnum – Devaka Gunawardena
The meaning of democracy is becoming unmoored. Since the end of World War II, the US claimed the banner of democracy, while it underwent profound transformation at home through the civil rights movement and other popular struggles. At the same time, the US allied with repressive regimes abroad, ostensibly to defeat communism. The concept of… Continue reading Democracy in the Global Interregnum – Devaka Gunawardena
Budget 2022: Brace for Austerity – B. Skanthakumar
“… we must at least now, stop, groping in the darkness” ~ Basil Rajapaksa (12 November 2021) Basil Rajapaksa’s maiden Budget for 2022 received parliamentary approval on 10th December 2021, as to be expected in a legislature comfortably controlled by the government, with 157 votes in favour and 64 against. However, this was no reason… Continue reading Budget 2022: Brace for Austerity – B. Skanthakumar
Nationality, Complex Identities, and Multiple Belongings – Rohini Hensman
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pravada/Polity, it is a pleasure to have been associated with it, as a regular contributor, over this period. One reason I did so was because it was extremely satisfying to be linked to a good quality, left-wing but non-dogmatic publication, which was discussing issues vital to the present… Continue reading Nationality, Complex Identities, and Multiple Belongings – Rohini Hensman
‘A Letter from the Village’ – Udan Fernando
I was recently, and abruptly, reminded of a conversation that a junior researcher at a research institute I previously worked at, had with a few colleagues including myself. For whatever reason, Gamini Foneska’s name popped up, and the said researcher asked “Who is that dude?”. Being her honest and humble self, she admitted she did… Continue reading ‘A Letter from the Village’ – Udan Fernando