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Simon’s THOMIA sways Sri Lanka-by Rohan Pethiyagoda Reviewing the new book THOMIA written by Richard Simon, in The Island, 16 March 2025 Source:Thuppahis As schools go, St Thomas’s College Mt Lavinia has, since its inception in 1851, had a disproportionate influence on the affairs of Sri Lanka. In ways both good and bad, it created the modern incarnation of this country. After all, four of our first five prime ministers were Thomians (‘Thomian’, by the way, is a Latin diminutive of Thomas, like Tom in English). The passage of almost 175 years more than justifies a book on the history of the school. Most such histories, however, tell the story of the school through the lives of visionary founders, eminent principals, and illustrious past pupils. That’s if the author is someone other than Richard Simon. His ‘Thomia’ is a magisterial account of the social and political evolution of Sri Lanka from the early ...

Mar 24, 2025 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , , ,
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Women in Power-by By Kusum Wijetilleke Source:Island The Revolutionary Lives and Careers of Siva, Doreen, Vivi and Sirima (kusumw@gmail.com) & Rienzie Wijetilleke (rienzietwij@gmail.com) Women in Sri Lanka make up 52% of the population and 56% of registered voters, but a mere 5% of legislators. The Sri Lankan female voter, whilst having significant strength in numbers, has been unable to translate said the bers should make women’s issues front and centre for politicking but the reality is quite the opposite. The tax rate on sanitary napkin imports was just over 100% in 2018, until a reduction to 52%. There was controversy over the recent halving of maternity leave from 84 days to 42 days for trainee development officers in the public sector. Throughout the country we find reports of domestic abuse being ignored by authorities, of street harassment with the countrywide tradition of ‘cat-calling’ being “accepted” as part of a culture. Our politics ...

Oct 29, 2020 Posted by In Articles Tagged ,
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Remembering Neelan and Sithie  (written for the 21st Death Anniversary of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam) Source:GroundViews This is the time to remember Neelan and Sithie Tiruchelvam.  Along with Kumari Jayawardena, their living rooms were spaces where scholars and activists from all over Sri Lanka, South Asia and the world came to think, discuss, break bread and just laugh.  They helped build institutions that brought together the best of young people from all over world with inquiring minds and a thirst for justice. This was the 1980s and the 1990s. It was a time when ideas were important. Today we are all implementers. Along with people like Charles Abeyesekere, Suriya Wickremesinghe, Savithri Goonesekere and Gananath Obeyesekere they created a sense of solidarity and a space for the “community of the sensitive” to be protected and warded off from the brutality that was taking place outside.   ...

Jul 31, 2020 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , ,
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