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Remembering Lasantha Wickrematunge’s Assassination-by Michael Roberts Source:Thuppahis Image Source:Thuppahis Posters being pasted in Colombo and suburbs yesterday to mark the 15 years since the murder of Lasantha Wickrematunge which falls today.   Today marks 15 years since the brutal murder of iconic journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge with none brought to justice. To mark the occasion Lasantha’s kids Avinash, Ahimsa and Aadesh issued the following statement which will be read out today at Lasantha’s graveside memorial at the General Cemetery Kanatte. Image Source:Thuppahis “Fifteen years ago today, our father Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated in cold blood in a defining moment of loss that shook the spirit of Sri Lanka and broke the hearts of all those who love and value peace and democracy. ...

Jan 10, 2024 Posted by In Articles, Michael Roberts Tagged ,
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Killi will loom even larger in death than in life Source:-www.ft.lk It was early 2005, a few months after I had been made the CEO of Rivira Media Corporation. I had been warned that the media industry was a cutthroat one, and to expect little help for a fledgling newspaper like Rivira. Still I decided to reach out to the heads of some electronic media organisations to see if we could work together. Amongst those I emailed was the MTN Networks Chairman Raj Rajamahendran, better known as Killi Maharaja. I introduced myself and the newspaper and asked if I could meet him at his convenience. Having sent the email, I took a moment to scoff at my own hubris. Mr. Rajamahendran was not just the head of the country’s largest private broadcasting empire, he also chaired dozens of companies in areas as diverse as manufacturing and infrastructure development. There was ...

Jul 30, 2021 Posted by In Articles Tagged , ,
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Unbowed and unafraid, Lasantha spoke truth to power – By D.B.S. Jeyaraj Source:FT Lasantha Wickrematunge lived for only 50 and eight months on this planet. Yet, he achieved many, many things in that short lifespan. He changed single-handedly the state of journalism in this country. His name will be remembered when the history of journalism in Sri Lanka is written truthfully Twelve years ago on 8 January 2009, Lasantha Manilal Wickrematunge, the Editor of The Sunday Leader in Colombo, was killed by “unknown” assassins. He was my colleague, Editor, friend and above  all a kindred soul. How I miss him!  There is a huge vacuum in the media scene after his departure. It is yet to be filled adequately. I doubt that it will ever be filled. A dozen years have passed since his demise but his killers are yet to be brought to justice. This is to be expected ...

Jan 9, 2021 Posted by In Articles Tagged ,
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Cassandras In Sri Lanka: Some (Random) Thoughts – BY PROF. DR. CHARLES SARVAN PONNUTHURAI Source:Colombotelegraph Since some readers may have forgotten, I begin by reminding them of the Cassandra story. She was the beautiful daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. The god Apollo fell in love with her, and in an effort at seduction, bestowed on her the gift of seeing into the future. When Cassandra still resisted his advances Apollo, unable to take back what he had already presented, turned the gift into a curse: Cassandra could foresee and fore-warn but it would go unheeded. So it is that Cassandra cried out against the impending destruction of her city but no one paid attention. Troy was destroyed; she was dragged away to slavery and later murdered. Cassandra has come to stand for anyone who warns of coming danger but is ignored. (In a figurative sense, I suppose ...

Jul 30, 2020 Posted by In Articles Tagged , , , Comments 0
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