Sri Lanka is No. 1 nation in ‘sex’ searches on Google;

Sexual abuse of female LTTE cadres were widespread during the war

Not many will doubt that one of the most sought after keyword on Internet is “sex”. And Sri Lankans, it seems, are the most search savvy when it comes to Googling that term.
This is according to Google Trends, a public web facility that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.

The research, carried out by Emirates 24/7 as of December 26, 2012, shows that second-placed India is not far behind in search for the term, and so isn’t (surprise, surprise) #3 Papua New Guinea and #4 Ethiopia even as Pakistan completes the Top 5 nations that Googled for ‘sex’ in 2012.

Sri Lanka: Ruling party politicain poses for a photographer

According to Google Trends, search for the term peaked in Sri Lanka during the week April 15-21, 2012, even as the partial data for the current week (December 23-29, 2012) shows it as second-highest week during which the term was Goggled in 2012.

In India, people most Googled for the term during the week November 11-17, 2012 while the week October 21-27, 2012, wasn’t far behind.

When it comes to breaking down the data by cities, however, India’s Bangalore tops the charts for people Googling the term ‘sex’ in 2012.

In fact, the top 5 slots are all Indian cities – Bangalore is followed by Chennai, Pune New Delhi and Calcutta, in that order.

And mind you, this is a worldwide list – not the list of Indian cities most searching for the term. Pakistan’s Lahore is at No. 6 while the next two – Chandigarh and Mumbai – are again Indian cities, followed by Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, both in Vietnam.

Below are the ‘rankings’ for 2012, as of December 26, 2012.

Sri Lanka is No. 1 nation in ‘sex’ searches on Google; India’s Bangalore tops among cities

India follows close, according to Google Trends

By

Published THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Not many will doubt that one of the most sought after keyword on Internet is “sex”. And Sri Lankans, it seems, are the most search savvy when it comes to Googling that term.

This is according to Google Trends, a public web facility that shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world, and in various languages.

The research, carried out by Emirates 24/7 as of December 26, 2012, shows that second-placed India is not far behind in search for the term, and so isn’t (surprise, surprise) #3 Papua New Guinea and #4 Ethiopia even as Pakistan completes the Top 5 nations that Googled for ‘sex’ in 2012.

According to Google Trends, search for the term peaked in Sri Lanka during the week April 15-21, 2012, even as the partial data for the current week (December 23-29, 2012) shows it as second-highest week during which the term was Goggled in 2012.

In India, people most Googled for the term during the week November 11-17, 2012 while the week October 21-27, 2012, wasn’t far behind.

When it comes to breaking down the data by cities, however, India’s Bangalore tops the charts for people Googling the term ‘sex’ in 2012.

In fact, the top 5 slots are all Indian cities – Bangalore is followed by Chennai, Pune New Delhi and Calcutta, in that order.

And mind you, this is a worldwide list – not the list of Indian cities most searching for the term. Pakistan’s Lahore is at No. 6 while the next two – Chandigarh and Mumbai – are again Indian cities, followed by Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, both in Vietnam.

Below are the ‘rankings’ for 2012, as of December 26, 2012.

Top 10 Countries where People Googled the term ‘sex’ in 2012

1. Sri Lanka

2. India

3. Papua New Guinea

4. Ethiopia

5. Pakistan

6. Bangladesh

7. Vietnam

8. Nepal

9. Somalia

10. Cambodia

Sri Lanka is No. 1 nation in ‘sex’ searches on Google; India’s Bangalore tops among cities

Google Search Volume Index ‘Sex’ – Sri Lanka Beat All The Nations

Delegation to visit LTTE detainees

THURSDAY, 27 DECEMBER 2012 

United National Party (UNP) MP Jayalath Jayawardene together with the Ven. Dambara Amila Thera and Mannar Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph are to visit the LTTE detainees at the Welikada prisons tomorrow  to provide them with a Christmas treat

Dr. Jayawardene said he had decided to do so because their family members were unable to visit them during the festive season.

“Prisoners are usually allowed to meet their kith and kin for Christmas or Vesak but these Tamil detainees have been unable to meet their loved ones because they are mostly from Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Kilinochchi areas. Therefore I decided to visit them be and give them a treat,” he said.

Dr. Jayawardene said he hoped to distribute more than 100 lunch packets among the prisoners. (By Yohan Perera and Hafeel Farisz)

Rehabilitation given to 48 persons arrested from Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts.

Thursday , 27 December 2012

Government has decided to rehabilitate   the arrested persons by the Terrorism Investigation police during an unforeseen search operation conducted recently in Jaffna peninsula is according to information reached to "Udayan"

Under terrorism prevention law, 48 persons were arrested in Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts were the complaint made to Human Rights Commission.

They were arrested on allegation that they have maintained links with Tamil Eelam Liberation tiger movement is according to police information.

The arrested persons were taken to Vavuniya for investigation and were inquired from many angles and later according to their statements they have been transferred to rehabilitation camp is according to government sector information.

Government decided to rehabilitate the arrested persons according to 1721/5 one of the disciplinary regulations included to the terrorism prevention law in an illegal manner, when emergency regulation was abolished.

 Under this regulation, any arrested person could be inquired by detaining at the rehabilitation camp.

Meanwhile the four arrested Jaffna University students were recently transferred to rehabilitation camp is much aware.

Socialist Youth of PSM condemn the brutal suppression of Tamil students in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

27 December 2012

The Socialist Youth from the Socialist Party of Malaysia strongly condemn the brutal harassment and arrest of students in Jaffna, Sri Lanka for participating in a peaceful protest to remember the people who lost their lives in the 30 years of bloody war.

The arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act is yet another proof that the state authorities, like the Malaysian federal government, are using the 'national security' agenda on its people to suppress the peoples' uprisings. 

We believe that it is a basic human right of any individual or group of people to express their views peacefully without any harassment by the state. Thus, the arrest is clearly undemocratic and against the claims of the Sri Lankan government of their balanced treatment of the opposition in Sri Lanka.

We demand an immediate release of the arrested students.

Long live the students struggle
Karthi
Socialist Youth
Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM)

Gotha should cease chauvinistic campaigns - Mano Ganeshan urge

Thursday , 27 December 2012

Defense Secretary Gottabaya Rajapakse immediately should cease racist campaigns and activities targeting the Tamil and Muslim community in Colombo including many areas was said by Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganeshan

 

Tamil Muslim Alliance arranged a media briefing yesterday in Colombo and on his participation he made this statement

 

He said, prejudiced voice is emerging now in this country, against the Tamil and Muslim minority community.

 

These racism activities are advanced by stating that Tamil Muslim population is increased in Colombo.

 

Minority communities living situation in Colombo was not from now, but they were living before the country got freedom.

 

Sinhala community which was 3 percent in east now has increased to 30 percent. How could this be possible? When there are situation like this, the minority in Colombo have increased, stating like this is racialist.

 

A situation should be originated for any type of race to live in any part of the country.  By false campaigns country's harmony should not get disturbed.

 

Defense Secretary Gottabaya Rajapakse should immediately curtail racist campaigns and racism activities advanced to target the Tamil and Muslim community in Colombo.

 

 After war, Government should come forward to stop creating problems among the three races in this country and should originate synchronization among the three communities.

190,000 displaced in Batticaloa due to floods, 30% of paddy destroyed

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 December 2012, 20:33 GMT]
211 GS divisions in Batticaloa district have been affected by floods that have caused displacement of 190,966 members of 51,379 families in one week, civil officials at Batticaloa district secretariat said. Four persons were reported dead, one injured and two others have been reported missing in the floods. More than 4,000 houses were damaged. 30% of 155,000 acre paddy cultivation has been destroyed. 25,000 fishermen have lost their livelihood and families engaged in firewood and bricks making have lost their expected income. Several hundred heads of cattle have been washed away by the floods and those engaged in animal husbandry have lost their income, according to Department of Animal Husbandry sources. 

11,530 members from 3,459 families have been staying in 34 transit centres as displaced, according to Disaster Management Unit in Batticaloa. 51,770 members of 14,323 families have been staying with their relatives and friends as displaced. 

Those affected people by the rain and flood have not been provided with any assistance by the Colombo government despite some NGOs assisting them to resume their normal life in a little way, DMU sources said.

250,000 metric tonnes of paddy produce were expected this Maha season, according to R.Hariharan, District Assistant Director of Agriculture.

About 45,000 acres with paddy crops were under flood water for several days. Forty percent of minor crops such as maize, chilli, green grams and other crops were also destroyed due to flood. 

4,035 houses were damaged due to one week long heavy rain and flood. 

Of them 1,261 houses were completely damaged and 2,774 partially destroyed.

Flood hits Vanni

[ Thursday, 27 December 2012, 02:58.50 PM GMT +05:30 ]

Due to heavy rain villages in the Vanni face flood threats in the district.

Iranaimadhu tank, Killinochchie tank, Kanagambikai tank,Puthumuripu tank and Akarayan tank were filled with flood water. Several roads were damaged and submerged with flood water due to this motorist were requested to use alternative roads.

Army builds hotel on shores of Nanthikadal Lagoon

Frances Harrison

Ex-BBC Correspondent, Ex-Amnesty International, Journalist & Author of 'Still Counting the Dead' - book on Tamils who survived Sri Lanka's 2009 war

ප්‍රභාකරන් මැරුණු නන්දිකඩාල් කළපුවේ රු: 15,000ක් ගෙවලා රැයක් ඉන්න කැමැතිද?  'මව්බිම' ගවේෂණයට මෙවර මුල් වූයේ පුවත්පත් දැන්වීමකි. 'නන්දිකඩාල් කළපුවේ සුවය විඳීමට එන්න' නන්දිකඩාල් කළපුවේ ඉදි කළ නිවාඩු නිකේතනය පිළිබඳ එම දැන්වීම මෙවර 'මව්බිම' ගවේෂණයට පාර කියන්නට විය. මීට අවුරුදු හතරකට පෙර ත්‍රිවිධ හමුදාව ...  Read More View from balcony of the military-built hotel - shores of killing fields can be seen across the lagoon-26 December 2012 The Sri Lankan Army has completed the construction of another hotel, this time on the shores of the Nanthikadal Lagoon. The Lagoon’s Edge is a luxury hotel, built entirely of teak and was built in a "place where thousands of war heroes, terrorists and others died", according to Sinhalese newspaperMawbima. Writing in the Huffington Post, author of “Still Counting the Dead”, Frances Harrison describes how the hotel “caters for Sinhala war tourists who want to see the last bastion of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels.” President Rajapakse during the opening ceremony and planting a holy Buddhist bodhi tree, with defence secretary Gotabhaya. Just across the lagoon, visible from the hotel, is the area where hundreds of thousands of Tamils were attacked by the Sri Lankan military in 2009. “Right in the heart of what was rebel territory, the hotel overlooks the stretch of water that became the frontline during the final bloody months of the conflict, in which it's now estimated by the United Nations 40,000 or possibly 70,000 civilians died in a few months. Tamil survivors describe wading through the neck-high water, passing floating corpses and dodging bullets. Several children and injured or elderly people drowned in the water in the struggle to escape,” wrote the former BBC correspondent. A picture also shows what appears to be a memorial frame with a soldier in a triumphal pose, with a machine gun in one hand and the Sri Lankan flag in the other.-Sign at entrance to hotel, entirely in Singhalese

Sri Lanka's Killing Fields Tourism

Frances Harrison

Ex-BBC Correspondent, Ex-Amnesty International, Journalist & Author of 'Still Counting the Dead' - book on Tamils who survived Sri Lanka's 2009 war

Posted: 27/12/2012

The Sri Lankan military is advertising a newly constructed hotel in the heart of the killing fields in the north of the island, where tens of thousands of minority Tamils were killed in 2009. The holiday resort, called Lagoon's Edge, caters for Sinhala war tourists who want to see the last bastion of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels.

Billed as a once in a lifetime experience, one Sinhala language newspaper, Mawbima, boasted to readers that Lagoon's Edge is constructed entirely of teak, has a dance floor for parties and is situated in a "place were thousands of war heroes, terrorists and others died". The paper touted this as an opportunity to spend the night beside the lagoon where the Tamil Tiger rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran died, all for a price equivalent to $100.

Right in the heart of what was rebel territory, the hotel overlooks the stretch of water that became the frontline during the final bloody months of the conflict, in which it's now estimated by the United Nations 40,000 or possibly 70,000 civilians died in a few months. Tamil survivors describe wading through the neck-high water, passing floating corpses and dodging bullets. Several children and injured or elderly people drowned in the water in the struggle to escape. On the far side of the lagoon from the hotel built by the army, lies the sandy spit of land, which is considered Sri Lanka's killing fields.

This is fourteen square kilometres of territory into which hundreds of thousands of people were crammed in haphazard makeshift encampments and then pounded by heavy artillery and bombed by supersonic jets belonging to the same military now offering sightseeing trips.

Opened by the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and his brother the defence secretary, the tourist hotel is part of a triumphalist approach to what's viewed as purely a terrorist problem. The victors deny the Sri Lankan military committed war crimes and crimes against humanity as alleged by a UN report. And nearly four years on they have shown no desire to address the root causes of decades of ethnic violence and discrimination.

As if to underline this, photographs of the hotel's opening ceremony show traditional Kandyan drummers performing - part of Sinhala culture - but totally alien to this exclusively Tamil part of the island.

And this luxury teak hotel for tourists from the south of the island to view the spoils of victory must be little comfort to local people who shelter in flimsy tents. According to an article in TimeMagazine in May 2012 the UN estimated 100,000 houses were destroyed in the final phase of the war but only 16,000 had been rebuilt.

An International Crisis Group report this year said most Tamils returning home after the war live "in makeshift and inadequate shelters and many struggle to afford food, with few jobs or economic opportunities and little or no savings. Few schools and medical centres have been rebuilt'.

 

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Interrogation of Bishop Rayappu by the CID

Thursday, 27 December 2012 

Media Statement On Interrogation of Bishop Rayappu by the CID

We the ‘Christian Solidarity Movement’ (CSM) are alarmed to be informed that Bishop Rayappu Joseph of the diocese of Mannar has been questioned by the CID about a statement made by him over the issue of deportation of asylum seekers, by the Australian government. This is not the first time that the Bishop has been interrogated by the CID.

It is no secret that Tamil people are constantly harassed by the military on suspicion for their links with the LTTE and as a result they are suffering at the hands of the military. The voiceless Tamil people are really condemned to suffer in silence as a result.

We are very much aware that the Bishop as a real Shepherd for his people is accessible to anyone and it is to him that people turn when in distress. He has now become a voice of the voiceless.

We as the Christian Solidarity Movement are proud to see him as a rare and extraordinary leader who is faithfully fulfilling his Christian mission by boldly speaking on behalf of the suffering Tamil people. Bishop Rayappu Joseph has always spoken about the current problems faced by his people and denounced some of the barbaric acts against the innocent.

Further he has always stood in the past, and will in future, for a just and peaceful political solution which does not dissolve the identity and the unique culture of the Tamils.

On many occasions, he has urged the authorities for the establishment of a civil administration to replace the present practice of involving the military in civil matters. Freedom to exercise their democratic rights, we believe is a prerequisite for a democracy. In fact establishment if civil administration is one of the recommendations of the LLRC report.

In this instance we remain in solidarity with Bishop Rayappu Joseph and pray that he be continually inspired by the Holy Spirit to endure these challenges.

According to the information we received he has been questioned regarding connections with the Tamil Diaspora. Linking any voice whether in the North or even in the South raised on Justice and Democracy and any attempt made to denounce the undemocratic rule, with the LTTE or Tamil Diaspora, is to silence the courageous voices. We see this as a dangerous trend. In this instance the questioning of Bishop Rayappu Joseph for long hours in our view is a sign of intimidation to silence the Tamil voice.

Fr. Sherard Jayawardene.

Fr. M. Sathivel.

Fr. Rohan Silva OMI.

Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando

Fr. Ashok Stephen OMI

Fr. Nandana Saparamadu.

Fr. Terrence Fernando.

Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda.

Fr. Bernard Reyheart

Sr. Helen Fernando.

Sr. Noel Christine Fernando.

Sr. Deepa Fernando.

Sr. Rasika Peiris.

Sr. Anne Perera

Mr. Ruki Fernando.

Mr. Premon Fernando,

Mr. Kingsley Karunaratne

Mr. Hadly Anthony

Mr. Nimal Perera

Mr. Mahinda Namal

Miss Melani Manel

Mr. Herman Kumara

Mr. Wilson Bulathsinhala

Gotabhaya appropriates whole village in Mannaar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 December 2012, 15:53 GMT]
An entire Eezham Tamil village, Mu’l’lik-ku’lam in the Musali division of Mannaar district, has been declared out of bounds for its uprooted residents by SL defence Secretary and presidential sibling Gotabhaya Rajapaksa visiting the village on Wednesday. The entire village will be used for a military base of the occupying Sinhala forces and to serve as a hub for the Sinhalicisation and Colonisation process of the land and waters of the strategic locality in the Mannaar district. Nobody would be allowed to resettle within a perimeter of 750 meters of the Mu’l’likku’lam village, Gotabhaya said at a meeting held at the SL Naval Base established there on Wednesday between 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. 

The ‘conference’ was attended by Ravindra Silva, the Sinhala Government Agent of Mannaar, K.Ketheesvaran, the divisional secretary of Musali, Bishop of the Mannaar Diocese Rt.Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, Rev. Fr. Ranjit and the commanding officers of the occupying Sinhala Army in Mannaar and Vavuniyaa. 

The villagers, displaced from Musali, have been temporarily staying in Peasaalai, Thaazhvup-paddu, Keeri and in Thalaimannaar and have been subjected to various harassments by the SL military throughout the last five years.

A section of the uprooted people from Mu'l'lik-ku'lam attempted to enter their lands six months ago. Some of the families have been residing at Kaayaang-kudi and at Malang-kaadu. 

Now it is learnt that 450 acres, at the rate of half an acre per family, have been allotted for these people to resettle away from the village. They have been informed that they could visit schools and religious places but not to their abandoned houses in Mu'l'likku'lam. 

After the SLN camp meeting was over, Gotabhaya held discussions with members of the public assembled there. At the discussion some of them have consented to accept alternative lands leaving their own lands in Mu'l'likku'lam. 

More than 4,500 civilians were forced to flee Mu'l'likku'lam and surrounding villages in the Musali division in September 2007.

Since their eviction, the people of Mu'l'likku'lam have been continuously protesting and demanding return to their village for resettlement. They have been appealing to the SL authorities for five years. The ruling UPFA politicians have been neglecting all their demands. 


Fears for Sri Lanka’s outspoken Leader

By Charles Haviland-26 December 2012

Critics say the Sunday Leader has lost Lasantha Wickrematunge’s ethos

Almost four years after its editor was killed in mysterious circumstances, there are fears that Sri Lanka’s most outspokenly anti-government newspaper is losing its critical edge.

On 8 January 2009, the editor of the Sunday Leader, Lasantha Wickrematunge, was assassinated by a group of masked men on motorbikes. The case sent shockwaves around the world, highlighting the dismal state of press freedom in the country. The murder has never been solved.

The investigative, anti-establishment newspaper had riled the authorities and continued to do so after his death. But in July the near-bankrupt Leader was bought by a well-connected businessman.

In September the then-editor, Frederica Jansz, said he had sacked her for not toeing his political line. She then fled abroad citing fresh death threats.

Under a new editor the paper has issued retractions of past articles and has lost some of its most outspoken columnists. So, has the Sunday Leader lost its edge?

Today, as since its founding in 1994 by the man always known simply as Lasantha, the Leader offices sit in the same somewhat bleak suburban location, adjoining an industrial area.

You cannot miss the building, a large cream edifice with bright pink and blue stripes. Inside you realise that this is no ordinary newspaper.

There is a small garlanded picture of Lasantha above the lift and a huge portrait in the office. Framed cuttings are a reminder that the paper has been attacked many times: In November 2007 (with T56 guns, cricket bats and petrol), in 2005 (before the presidential election), in 1995 and 1998 (physical attacks on Lasantha and his home).

In 1998 he was interrogated by CID police and in 2003 and 2006 he received death threats, reportedly from people high in the political hierarchy. No one was brought to justice for any of the assaults.

Controversial apologies

The paper has just had a “relaunch”, which simply means a more sophisticated look, says the new editor, Shakuntala Perera.

New editor Shakuntala Perera insists the Leader is still critical of government

“It didn’t mean a huge change in policy or editorial stand,” she says, fresh from the main weekly meeting.

The new owner, with a 72% stake, is a businessman, Asanga Seneviratne, who is president of the national rugby union and appointed the president’s son as captain of the national team. The other share remains in the hands of Lasantha’s brother, Lal.

Ms Perera says Mr Seneviratne has no editorial input and the paper has lost none of its radicalism despite the buyout.

“On the judiciary, we’ve been critical of the government stand,” she says, referring to a government campaign to impeach the chief justice.

“On the prisons [the death of 27 prisoners amid a riot last month], no paper has taken the strong stance we took… Any issue affecting the people will get a voice.”

Indeed, recent issues have contained some rigorous articles on the jail violence, quoting prisoners’ relatives as saying some of the deaths were summary executions; a detailed report on the mood in the northern town of Jaffna, a subject most papers ignore; and investigative articles about official bodies.

Set against these have been apologies for past articles which have raised the suspicions of critics.

Most striking was an apology to Sri Lanka’s defence secretary, the president’s controversial and powerful brother.

Angered at a phone call from Frederica Jansz in July, when she implied the national airline made a decision as a personal favour to him, he allegedly used obscenities and told her: “People will kill you!”

Last month the paper retracted the article and apologised to Mr Rajapaksa. It also rescinded and apologised for a series of articles from 2006 that linked the governor of the central bank to illegal financial schemes.

There has been a scathing reaction.

Frederica Jansz, in an emailed interview, said the retractions were “shameful” and the editorial team had “prostituted journalistic principle… merely to satisfy political masters” and “grovel”.

Previous editor Frederica Jansz said she was forced from the job by a new owner

“The legacy that Lasantha Wickrematunge left has been destroyed - buried forever,” she said.

Sonali Samarasinghe, the widow of Lasantha and also now in exile, and the author of the pieces on the bank governor, said she stood by the articles which were backed by facts.

The retractions gave “little cause for optimism” and would “raise questions about the independence of the new editorial team”, she said. In the past, she said, the paper thrived on getting into deep water and did not fear legal action.

In response, the new editor said the apology to Mr Rajapaksa was not decided on under her auspices, while declining to comment on the other retraction.

Truth to power?

The Leader’s associate editor, Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema, who has been at the paper for 15 years, said there had been problems with the tone of some of the journalism.

“There were a lot of personal feelings getting in the way of the writing after Lasantha died… Things had slipped,” she says.

“Lasantha would always tell us: Always have your facts right and keep your personal emotions away from what you write. This was not being fully followed.”

There is, nonetheless, unhappiness among some of the newspaper’s radical columnists.

One, Tisaranee Gunasekara, regularly accuses the country’s rulers of nepotism and megalomania. Last month she abruptly quit the paper after her column was clumsily edited with each reference to the Rajapaksas excised.

She told the BBC it was “not sensible to expect that I will be allowed to say nasty things about our royal family… in the new Leader”.

“I also regret it. I feel bad,” said Ms Perera bluntly on this episode, saying she was under time pressure when editing and this would not happen again. She wants Ms Gunasekara to return and insists that the column did not spook her.

Lasantha Wickrematunge’s murder remains unsolved

Yet recent remarks by the new owner, Asanga Seneviratne, in the magazine “Echelon” suggest the Leader may find it difficult to continue targeting the higher authorities so fiercely.

“To me, the president is our president, and whether you like it or not, he gave our country back to us,” Mr Seneviratne said. “Whatever anyone says, I will respect him for the rest of my life because of that.”

He denied asking Frederica Jansz to leave but admitted taking an exception to a caption she wrote and saying he was having difficulty trusting her actions and that therefore “I have to see what is going in the paper”.

Assessing the new order, it is impossible to avoid economics. The Sunday Leader had been doing badly and the government had pressurised advertisers to withdraw from it.

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa recently won a case against it and has two more pending. Fifteen lawsuits against the paper remain. So what future for the Sunday Leader?

“It’s not just any other paper, it’s really something people believe in and that needs to carry on,” says Shakuntala Perera.

Mrs Samarasinghe, however, believes the new management team will chart a new course.

She says she and her husband saw it as their duty to “speak truth to power in Sri Lanka’s largely self-censored media environment”. Will the paper continue to do this? The jury is still out.

Meanwhile, no progress has been made in bringing Lasantha Wickrematunge’s killers to justice.

One man held for the killing, an impoverished Tamil motor mechanic, died mysteriously in prison 14 months ago. His family called him an innocent man who would not even kill an ant.