A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Media’s Darling Diaspora Kids Become Goodwill Ambassadors
by Pearl Thevanayagam
(December 31, 2013, London Sri Lanka Guardian) The
sound and fury after Canadian MP Ms Sathsabiesan spoke eloquently in
three languages in the Canadian parliament when war was escalating in
2009 in Wanni fizzled out no sooner than TVs and media turned their
attention to other events unfolding. Young and beautiful she is, she
became the media darling for diaspora Tamils and Tamils living in Sri
Lanka.
Then
there is MIA, daughter of former Tamil militant Prof. Arudpragasam
(comrade of LTTE leader Pirabhakaran in the early stages of Tamil
militancy) who used her charms and incredible fashion sense to bring Sri
Lanka before the world media with her rap and hip-hop music in almost
porn-like strutting on stage. That she went on to earn her living as a
pop star is another matter.
Children and youth in the Tamil diaspora raised thousands of pounds and
dollars for the Tsunami and war victims with their cultural shows and
they really went for it with their parents supporting them.
Having said that, both of the afore-mentioned darlings are welcome in
their own sweet and cute ways to do their bit to raise the subject of
human rights pertaining to Tamils in Sri Lanka.
But when it comes to action, we need movers and shakers with experience.
One could hardly make these two sweet and cute little things sit
together with Northern Province Chief Minister Wigneswaran, MPs
Sumanthiran or Sampanthan. Certainly these sweet and cute little things
would be soothing ointment for ageing and sore eyes but they would
hardly comprehend the intricacies of diplomacy and politics no matter
how many degrees or accolades they have piled up in their portfolio.
One does not know the purpose of Ms Sathsabiesan’s visit to Jaffna. Is
it to garner evidence of war crimes and other issues affecting Tamils or
is she here to reclaim some ancestral property? Who is footing her
travel expenses? Is it the Canadian Government or the Tamil diaspora or
is she footing the bill herself from her own pocket or her family’s?
The young and eager Indian journalist Pirabakaran was mentally tortured
and his trade tools confiscated by the TID on his recent visit to Wanni.
Actor and poet Jeyapalan too was arrested on blind suspicion by the
security forces in November this year. Can Ms Sathsabiesan show the same
boldness in Jaffna as she did in Canadian Parliament to record and take
photographs to present as evidence at the UNHRC sessions. It is hardly
possible and almost impossible. On the other hand she may surprise us
all.
But the media loves a bit of sensation just like the actresses who are
coming out of the woodworks to contest elections in order to prove they
have not only got acting talent and beauty but brains. Bless their
make-up and shimmering dresses.
Ms Sathsabeisan certain has grabbed Sri Lanka media’s attention. Enjoy is what I say.
(The writer has been a journalist for 24 years and worked in
national newspapers as sub-editor, news reporter and news editor. She
was Colombo Correspondent for Times of India and has contributed to Wall
Street Journal where she was on work experience from The Graduate
School of Journalism, UC Berkeley, California. Currently residing in UK
she is also co-founder of EJN (Exiled Journalists Network) UK in 2005
the membership of which is 200 from 40 countries. She can be reached at
pearltheva@hotmail.com)