24th January 2010, journalist and cartoonist Pradeep Eknaligoda went missing. He was 50 years old, and is one of thousands of missing people in Sri Lanka. In fact, Sri Lanka ranks second in the list of countries after Iraq to record the largest number of disappearances, and enforced or involuntary disappearances are reported to be around 65,000.Yesterday, 29th March 2017 ...
(This piece first appeared for a fortnightly column entitled 'The F Word: Lets Talk Feminism and Gender' that I am writing for The Weekend Express of News Express Ltd) On the 28th of February and the 1st of March at Cinnamon Lakeside, The British Council hosted the annual Schools Now! conference under the Partner Schools Global Network banner. This involves ...
(This piece first appeared for a fortnightly column entitled 'The F Word: Lets Talk Feminism and Gender' that I am writing for The Weekend Express of News Express Ltd)Another International Women’s Day has come and gone and along with it a rush of activity, offers, events and the usual spate of some men asking “why don’t we have International Men’s ...
This review of the 2015 movie Suffragette first appeared in The Weekend Express's in-paper magazine The ConnoisseurMy first memory of hearing the term Suffragette was when as a young child, I watched Mary Poppins and listened to the apple-cheeked Mrs. Banks as she cheerily sang about the fight to get women the right to vote in ‘Sister Suffragette’. Surely fans ...
(This piece is the first for a fortnightly column entitled 'The F Word: Lets Talk Feminism and Gender' that I am writing for The Weekend Express of News Express Ltd)Earlier this week a former employee of Uber penned an article that generated a great deal of conversation both online and offline. Susan J. Fowler worked as an engineer for Uber ...
It’s been a long time since I have written just for myself. There was a time when I wrote far more often and with far more ease about how I was feeling. I would upload and share without hesitation, laying my thoughts bare to whoever deigned to read them. This hesitation I writing is new and unfamiliar to me, ...
(Recently I attended the Regional Young Women’s Dialogue initiated by the Canadian Missions in South Asia, and in Delhi met the amazing young women of the Women’s Development Cell, Miranda House College of Delhi University. These young feminists celebrated Valentines Day a little differently from most – they wrote letters to Patriarchy. So inspired by them, here is my own ...
(Disclaimer: These are questions and thoughts that I jotted down after reading through and listening to numerous debates/discussions on the issue. I personally hold neutral and undecided views on the issue)1. I'm still struggling to grasp what the issue is supposed to be as illustrated by the poster such as the one in this picture. Do the protesting segment of ...
(This post appeared originally on the blog of the website - Forum for Overseas Sri Lankas - fosl.lk)Of the contributions that Sri Lankan’s and those of Sri Lankan origin living overseas have made to various sectors and areas in the country, literature and particularly English literature is certainly one of them. From Michel Ondaatje, to Shyam Selvadurai, and Ru Freeman, ...
Dear Chris GayleI guess you’re kind of sick of seeing your name in the media as of late right? I’m sure you’re thinking that you made a harmless, even flattering comment to Mel McLaughlin and this has sent hysterical women all around the world into a frenzy. Geeze those feminists – always looking for a chance to play the victim ...
Some facts I found interesting when I looked at the women who have been given Cabinet/State/Deputy Ministries. Certainly some patterns here for us to think about who gets elected and what they have in common.The list used as reference is this list published by the Daily Mirror Cabinet MinistersWomen & Children - Chandrani Bandara: Daughter of the late Chandra Bandara ...
The following is the second in a few interviews/feature pieces that I am writing in the lead up to Cinnamon Colomboscope 2015 scheduled to take place on the 22nd and 23rd of August. See my interview with city walker and photographer Abdul-Halik Azeez here and my interview with Tamil rapper Krishan Maheson here) Its mid-afternoon and I make my way ...
(The following is the second in a few interviews/feature pieces that I am writing in the lead up to Cinnamon Colomboscope 2015 scheduled to take place on the 22nd and 23rd of August. See my interview with city walker and photographer Abdul-Halik Azeez here. Keep an eye on this space for more pieces coming up over the next few days) ...
(The following is one in a few interviews/feature pieces that I am writing in the lead up to Cinnamon Colomboscope 2015 scheduled to take place on the 22nd and 23rd of August. Keep an eye on this space for more pieces coming up over the next couple of days)My Saturday mornings are usually pretty routine - catch up with friends, ...
Never settle for less. Keep striving, reaching and working. Be better, be greater, be more amazing. Love with all your heart and take a leap with every breath. And in between it all - don't forget to pause, take a breath, smile and take it all in. Then just keep going.
1. You are a diamond in the rough - don't you let anyone (even me) tell you otherwise. In the same breath don't you ever forget the 'in the rough' part. Dream big - but that will only get you halway there. You need to work hard, push your boundries and feel the pressure before you come out shining and ...
We see life through a viewfinder. No two are the same. Each one is scratched, bent, coloured and adjusted for our unique view of life. Each one reflects the journey you have taken in this life. And no view is more exciting, more amazing, more imperfectly beautiful than your own.
(This was written as a Facebook status on the occasion of Sri Lanka's Independence Day 2015, a manifestation of something I had been doodling for a while and had become what you will read below)The future of our nation lies in our hands.If someone were to ask me what is the most impassioned and complicated relationship I have in my ...
Happy 67th Independence Day Sri Lanka!If someone were to ask me what is the most impassioned and complicated relationship I have in my life – the answer is the one I share with my country.She is like a lover who hurts me time and time again, but whose inner core I know is capable of the purest love and so ...
I have been very privileged since 2013 to be a a member of the Global Shapers Community - which is an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Last year I traveled to Geneva to attend the Annual Curators Meeting, and wrote about the experience which literally changed my life.This year - in lieu of the Forum's flagship event - the ...
