There is no such thing as a snark. The word, referring to an imaginary animal, was coined in 1876 by Lewis Carroll in ‘The Hunting of the Snark’. I was reminded of Carroll’s word when over breakfast this week, a friend and I spoke about media freedom, and the pitfalls and potential of free expression [...]
Review of ‘Right of Way: A journey of resettlement’
I was delighted when asked to review Right of Way: A journey of resettlement by Sharni Jayawardena and published by the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA). Sharni’s skill in photography is enviable, and was the co-creator of Walkabout: Slave Island, supported by Groundviews. At the time of review, the publication was not in the public [...]
On S. Thomas’ and education
My son, started school this week at S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, one of the finest educational institutions in this country. Or at least, being Thomians, this is what most of us believe and often proclaim. Others rightfully may beg to differ. No one school defines education, and no school can itself claim to be [...]
Missing the basics
“Labuwau Nawa Wasara Samayen, Sathutin piri Wasarak Wewa/ I wish you a peaceful and a happy New Year. – President Mahinda Rajapaksa” I detest spam, whether it is in the form of unsolicited mail posted home, emails that clog my Inbox or SMSs on my mobile. However, linked to the powerlessness to stop it or [...]
On reading
Bulathsinhala Kade exists, but not in this name. Its real name is Liyanage Stores, but no one at home called it by this name. Dr. Bulathsinhala, our family doctor, was right in front of this shop, and it was natural for us at a small age to associate the shop with his name. It would [...]
Right to Information revisited
“The Commission was deeply disturbed by persistent reports concerning attacks and obstacles placed on journalists and media institutions including news websites and killing of journalists and the fact that these incidents remain to be conclusively investigated and perpetrators brought to justice. The Commission was also alarmed by the deplorable attack on the Editor of the [...]
Speech at the Awards Ceremony of Agenda 14’s Short Film Festival 2011
Delivered this speech in Sinhala at the Awards Ceremony of Agenda 14’s Short Film Festival 2011, held at the National Film Corporation Cinema. A PDF of the Sinhala version can be downloaded from here. ### Good evening. In the time I have for this speech, which is around 10 minutes, over 6,000 new videos would have [...]
A Very Long Engagement
With the release of the line up of writers and speakers for the Galle Literary Festival 2012, we can expect in the coming weeks voices from outside Sri Lanka, supported by some within, reiterate a call to shun the event as a gesture of solidarity with journalists and writers killed, abducted and missing in Sri [...]
On photography
Granularity of many vs. the vantage of the few: Photography and activism today was the title of a lecture I delivered recently at the American Centre, and in a slightly revised form, at the Fulbright Commission. The preparation for the lectures reminded me of my experience with photography. I first handled Thaththa’s Minolta when I [...]
Dishonest dissent
“… far too often we are pleased with, defend and opt for mediocre, mundane and haphazard activism and advocacy, which in turn supports the governments that seek to censor and harm us. If we aren’t better than them in strategy, expression and content, it is they who gain and we who lose.” It’s the defence [...]
