‘NAM must work towards truly representative UN’
Today, NAM gives voice to over 120 sovereign
nation states and millions of people they represent. The challenges
in the contemporary world, especially in multilateralism as a result
of the absence of open and transparent dialogue with respect to
diversity and pluralism, is a matter of concern. It is in such
trying circumstances that we should lay greater emphasis on
upholding the values and norms of NAM. They have enduring relevance
in striking a balance in the manner the real politics of the
contemporary world are conducted. As one of the founding members of
this Movement, Sri Lanka reaffirms its steadfast support and
commitment to our collective efforts in preserving and promoting the
core principles of NAM,
Full Story
Reconciliation and the issue of identities
The Nakba (‘Catastrophe’ in Arabic) is the name
given to the ethnic ‘cleansing’ of Palestine of almost its entire
Arab population. Zochrot (‘remembering’ in Hebrew) is an Israeli
group dedicated to educating the Jewish population about the Nakba.
Full Story
The pull of the states on New Delhi
If coalition compulsions played a major role,
almost as big as US pressure, in India's vote against Sri Lanka at
the UNHRC in March, these compulsions now appear to be causing
growing concerns about the stability of the Indian government, with
New Delhi being compelled to share much more power than ever before
with the states.
Full Story
Peri Sundaram - patriot, freedom fighter and workers’ champion
- Part II
The Labour portfolio - ‘the greatest challenge’
The Labour portfolio presented Peri Sundaram
with the greatest challenge of his career. Under a colonial
administration workers were treated no better than serfs and the
basic right to organize and to bargain collectively was ‘Pie in the
sky’ for Ceylonese labour. An abundant supply of cheap ‘captive’
labour to work the plantations and to maintain roads, railways and
the port of Colombo to transport and ship the cash crops was the
order of the day and the question of workers’ rights did not figure
in the colonial equation,
Full Story
|