By Nila Bala (Balananthini Balasubramaniam) United Kingdom 21 September 2026 There is a profound difference between merely observing an event and understanding the historical architecture within which that event takes place. The arrival of 34 new U.S. Peace Corps trainee volunteers in Sri Lanka in September 2026 is therefore not simply an educational story. It is also an opportunity to examine how foreign governments, institutions and international organisations have interact

Trust is indispensable to any charitable or community organisation. Volunteers, trustees, employees and donors must be able to work with one another in an environment of mutual confidence. Yet there is a fundamental governance question that every organisation ought to confront: Are we using personal trust as a substitute for institutional accountability? This is not a question about distrusting individuals. It is a question about protecting the organisation, its beneficiarie

The catastrophic flash floods that struck the Nepal–China border region in August 2026 should first and foremost be understood as a profound humanitarian and environmental tragedy. Nevertheless, the circumstances surrounding the disaster also warrant examination through a broader geopolitical and strategic lens. The emerging controversy over early-warning information, cross-border communication and the location of critical monitoring infrastructure raises questions that exten

O Mother Bharat, My beautiful sacred land, You are the flower That lives inside my heart. At your feet, I bow with love, With faith, with peace, with respect. You are not only a land to me— You are my mother, You are my father, You are my teacher, You are my guide. For thousands of years, You have given the world A simple message: Love all. Respect all. See the One in everyone. We may have different names, Different languages, Different prayers, Different ways of life… But de

A Historical–Political Critical Analysis from the Bandaranaike Assassination to the Easter Sunday Attack Judgements Introduction An in-depth examination of Sri Lanka’s political history reveals a long-standing political structure in which religion, ethnic identity, nationalism, state power, and the rule of law have not existed as separate domains, but have remained deeply interconnected. The Easter Sunday terrorist attacks of 21 April 2019 cannot be examined merely through th

Seventeen years after the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, and after successive statements by the Sri Lankan government that the organisation's leadership and military command structure were eliminated, India continues to renew its proscription of the LTTE. This raises an important strategic question: does the continuation of a ban on an organisation widely regarded as militarily defunct continue to serve India's long-term national inter

Since the post-2009 period, the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka have undergone profound socio-economic and cultural transformation. These changes are increasingly shaped by transnational migration flows, foreign remittance economies, the rapid expansion of social media ecosystems, and the structural penetration of market-oriented value systems into previously war-affected communities. Within this evolving landscape, platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and other d

I extend my sincere appreciation to all those who contributed to this important and thought-provoking gathering. The event, titled “Press Freedom for Human Rights and Democracy,” was convened on Thursday, 21 May 2026, at Micro Business Park between 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Organised by Protect Bangladesh in collaboration with its media partner EyeMedia and streaming partner Bridge Bangla, the programme explored the increasingly complex challenges confronting journalists in Banglade

Drancy Paris France This is not merely a commemorative stone, nor an emotionally charged banner of mourning; rather, it must be understood as part of a wider global architecture of political memory. When memorial banners, monuments, and documented remembrance sites relating to the genocide of Eelam Tamils are established in various countries with the cooperation of local authorities, municipalities, and councils, they move beyond the realm of private grief and enter the domai

1. Temporal and Political Context The dates 12/08/2024 and 13/08/2024 must be understood not merely as chronological references, but as politically significant moments that reflected an emerging transformation within contemporary Tamil Nadu political discourse. In many respects, these developments signalled a broader regional and geopolitical shift whose long-term implications may not yet be fully recognised within conventional political frameworks. Whether these developments

The testimony emerging from Mayiliddy in the Northern Province reflects a far broader and profoundly consequential post-war reality confronting numerous Tamil communities throughout the region. The Northern Province is not merely an administrative division within Sri Lanka; rather, it constitutes one of the principal historical, cultural, and civilisational homelands of the Eelam Tamil people. For centuries, the region cultivated its own religious institutions, maritime netwo

“The images are sourced from an external location.” Public discourse has recently intensified regarding allegations involving a senior Buddhist monk associated with the Anuradhapura Sri Maha Bodhi complex, referred to in circulating narratives as Balagama Thero. Certain accounts further suggest that the individual has, at various points, received public recognition or symbolic endorsement from prominent political figures, including senior leaders in both Sri Lanka and India.

Abstract This paper develops a critical theoretical framework for understanding gendered disinformation as a structural mechanism through which women’s public legitimacy is constructed, contested, and destabilised within contemporary digital ecosystems. It argues that reputational attacks directed at women in political, civic, and activist domains are not isolated informational disturbances but emergent properties of platform architectures that privilege repetition, engagemen

Abstract This article examines the structural paradox between sustained militarisation and persistent social vulnerability in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern Provinces following the end of the civil war in 2009. Using a reported incident of alleged child exploitation as an analytical entry point, it explores the relationship between security saturation and civilian protection outcomes. Drawing on post-conflict governance, securitisation theory, and human security frameworks,

Abstract This article presents an ethnographic-analytical examination of a diasporic literary and commemorative event held on 18 April 2026 in Ilford, marking the posthumous release of a manuscript by Maamanithar Kavignar Navannan. The manuscript documents displacement between 1995 and 2009, while the event itself incorporated live testimony from Sri Lanka extending into the contemporary period (2009–2026). The presence of a Deputy Mayor introduced a layer of civic validation

Abstract This paper critically examines the persistent misalignment between public crime narratives and the empirical distribution of harm in advanced capitalist democracies. While political and media discourse in Western states disproportionately emphasises immigration-related and street-level crime, the dominant sources of material harm arise from economic and institutional crime, including fraud, corporate misconduct, regulatory failure, and financial system abuse. Drawing

1. Executive Summary The contemporary digital information ecosystem has been structurally transformed by algorithmically mediated platforms, particularly TikTok. Unlike legacy platforms such as Facebook, TikTok operates through a behaviourally optimised recommendation engine, enabling rapid dissemination of content independent of social network structures or credibility markers (Tufekci, 2015; Zuboff, 2019). Key propositions: 1. Algorithmic amplification constitutes a primary

Abstract This study examines the relationship between cinema, political power, and structural violence in the context of the Sri Lankan civil war from 1983 to 2009 and its aftermath. While Western and Northern cinematic traditions routinely engage in self-reflexive critique, interrogating their own states, institutions, and historical failures, South Indian and Eelam Tamil filmmakers, even in diasporic contexts, have largely refrained from producing counter-narrative films th

Small Drops Balananthini Balasubramaniam, Thibaharan Thiagarajah, Rahul Rameshkumar, Indirakumaran Independent Researcher's Team, United Kingdom 10/03/2026 21:01 (“An independent team conducting research of exceptional depth and rigor.”) Copyright © Small Drops *Abstract* This article examines a Tamil theatrical performance staged at Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth, UK, as part of the 2026 Tamil Theatre Festival organised by the Meiveli British Tamil Theatre Movement. The p

Nila Bala (Balananthini Balasubramaniam) Wembley Rotary Club, United Kingdom 03 March 2026 Abstract This article examines Rotary International as a structured global service organisation, integrating historical evolution, organisational philosophy, and verifiable global impact with first-hand case studies presented by a former District Governor on 03/03/2026. It highlights how personal commitment can be amplified through Rotary’s framework, illustrates cross-cultural humanita