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Three perspectives on Sri Lankan identity [Slightly revised version of the 12th Bakeer Markar Memorial lecture on ‘Challenges to Strengthening Sri Lankan Identity’, delivered on Nov 17, 2009 by Dr Dayan Jayatilleka, former Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations at Geneva]. (December 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) When Imthiaz extended this invitation to me, it was impossible …

The 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall Monday passed very quietly in the Arab world, because the meaning of the wall’s fall – the transition from total state control to human freedom – also bypassed the Arab world. Not the Islamic world, or the Middle East, but the Arab world. For many reasons, the Arab world collectively …

The referendum by the nationalist Swiss People’s Party labelled minarets as symbols of rising Muslim political power that could one day transform Switzerland into an Islamic nation. Geneva: Swiss voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional ban on minarets on Sunday, barring construction of the iconic mosque towers in a surprise vote that put Switzerland at the forefront of a European backlash …

THEY ATTEMPTED TO CREATE A PARADISE ON EARTH – TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD, BIGGEST HORSE RACE TRACT IN THE WORLD, BIGGEST AIR PORT IN THE WORLD, BIGGEST CAR RACING TRACT IN THE WORLD USING THE BLOOD AND SWEAT OF THE ASIAN BLACKS. NOW IN A HELL HOLE. Work has been halted on the artificial islandsFears of a dangerous new …

“LET the temple come up.” This was the remark by Atal Behari Vajpayee when I asked his reaction to the destruction of the Babri Masjid one day after. I was surprised by his comment because I considered him a liberal force in the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). Yet I did not attach much importance to his remark. Now that the …