Saturday, March 05, 2005

"This natural disaster has made all of us even more committed to our goal,”

“We could have protected our people more effectively if we had had the necessary resources and, mainly, the sovereignty in our own hands. This natural disaster has made all of us even more committed to our goal,” - SP Thamilselvan, on CBC

"No proposal from GOSL regarding the matter of establishing a joint mechanism to implement tsunami relief yet,"

Talking to the journalists after the meeting, Mr Brattsakar said that he had not brought any proposal from the Government of Sri Lanka regarding the matter of establishing a joint mechanism to implement tsunami relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programme in the northeast: TamilNet _____________________________ Clinton expresses hope on joint mechanism for Tsunami reconstruction: Expressing hope on a joint mechanism for reconstruction of Sri Lanka's tsunami-shattered coastal areas, US ex-president Bill Clinton Monday said that he was informed Sunday night that the Liberation Tigers (LTTE) and the Sri Lanka Government were working together to create such a mechanism for tsunami relief: TamilNet

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

"Somewhere, in the long forgotten histories of the human race, we know there have been previous tsunamis."

Fishermen at beach during sunset in Galle: Photo by by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai Posted by Hello "Somewhere, in the long forgotten histories of the human race, we know there have been previous tsunamis. Maybe, this was how ancient civilisations suddenly vanished — on a similar, idyllic Sunday morning. And yet, those of our early ancestors, who survived that manifestation of the ocean's wrath, went on with their lives." - Nirupama Menon Rao, High Commisioner of India writing in The Hindu.

"He's a very good boy"

It just makes us feel that there's hope, and there's hope for everyone," the infant's father, Murugupillai Jeyarajah, told ABC News through a translator. Surrounding us, everyone's lost people," Murugupillai told ABC News' Charles Gibson. "It is hard to have joy, because there is sadness all around us." "The baby is basically asleep," said Lisa Sharkey, a "Good Morning America" senior producer who met them as they landed. "He's a very good boy."

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

"Both establishments (Tamil and Sinhalese) do not reflect the views of ordinary people,"

Sunset in Galle: Photo by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai "Both establishments (Tamil and Sinhalese) do not reflect the views of ordinary people," Post-tsunami, Sri Lanka will never be the same again, says filmmaker and writer Tissa Abeysekara from the island country. "I am too close to the tragedy to write about it. The wounds are still raw and the scars are fresh in memory," said the author of the novel "Bringing Tony Home", of the havoc wreaked by the Dec 26 tsunami." Writing a novel was like coming home for me as I have always felt creatively renewed by the process of writing. Myths and legends have always inspired me and influenced my narrative style," Abeysekara told IANS in an interview here. Here to attend the South Asian literary conference, Abeysekara sees himself as first and foremost a storyteller for it is the sorcery of the written word that mesmerises him. His autobiographical "Bringing Tony Home" elicited lavish praise from celebrated writer Michael Ondaatje who described it as a "lost classic". A distrust of power is another defining feature of his writing. Wary of all power structures, Abeysekara prefers to speak for the common man."Both establishments (Tamil and Sinhalese) do not reflect the views of ordinary people," he added: IANS Links about "Bringing Tony Home": Guardian, Barnes & Noble, & NorthWest Passages. Posted by Hello

"We take the incident very seriously, it just shows how vulnerable the eastern situation is,"

"[The] attack took place in an area very close to a Sri Lankan army checkpoint, so there is no doubt in our mind that it is the Sri Lankan military," S Puleedevan, head of the Tiger's peace secretariat, told Reuters. "If these attacks continue, it will be very difficult for us to remain patient," he added: BBC

"It's a disgrace,"

A shipment of aid, bound for Sri Lanka's tsunami victims, will be subject to a 30% import tax, according to the founder of a Guernsey charity. Linda Garnham from Aid Reaching Children says the Sri Lankan government is making delivery difficult: BBC "Purifiers were finally cleared Saturday after a payment of $10,000 to the Government of Sri Lanka Customs".: TamilNet

Monday, February 28, 2005

"Karuna is now a brand name taken under a bizarre franchise by loyalists."

The hapless Eastern Tamils have suffered a military tsunami and a natural tsunami. Now they are in for a third tsunami of intra - tiger violence: D.B.S. Jeyaraj, in Sunday Leader Tamilnet: A senior political official and two of her colleagues were shot and seriously wounded around 6 p.m.Monday near Akkaraipattu by gunmen suspected to be from a paramilitary working with the Sri Lankan armed forces, LTTE sources in Batticaloa said. "This could not have happened without the knowledge of the Sri Lankan armed forces in that area", charged an LTTE commander in Batticaloa.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

"95% of the relief we have passed out have been to hindu people..."

A Missouri pastor who has spent the last year in Sri Lanka trying to spread Christianity, until the tsunami happened over this past Christmas weekend. Villages originally did not receive him well, but since the tsunami, as he helps to recover, he's also been developing a new relationship with the village: NPR Weekend Edition