Rejecting ‘point scoring’ on the Sri Lankan conflict In response newspaper The Island‘s report of my recent Colombo book launch event, earlier this week I sent in this critical letter of response to the editor. Today it ends up being published in the paper – as a front page feature, no less! Mark Salter rejects ‘point scoring’ on SL conflict The Island, March 18, 2016 I write in response to Shamindra Ferdinando’s 9 March column for The Island – ‘Failed Norwegian peace bid in SL: Different perspectives, glaring omissions’. I welcome the coverage the column gives to the recent (3… More

CR Joint Analysis Workshop My report from the recent Conciliation Resources Workshop on ‘Peacebuiling and Reconciliation’.Great video interviews with some key participanmts too! http://www.c-r.org/resources/joint-analysis-workshop-peacebuilding-and-reconciliation

Sudar Oli Interview Well, I’m simply going to have to trust the veracity of this interview – although given the obvious quality of Sudar Oli Editor Arun Arokianathan who conducted it, I don’t think I need have too many qualms on that score . . . .

Delhi Book Launch (9 March) The final Indian launch for my new book on Sri Lanka, held at the India International Centre in Delhi. High-level panel and group of participants, thoughtful discussion of the lessons learned from Norway – and earlier India’s – experience in Sri Lanka. Many thanks to Lalit Mansingh and colleagues at the Forum for Strategic Initiatives (FSI) for hosting and organizing the event.

Chennai Book Launch (8 March) Good turnout and strong panel contributions from Erik Solheim, N. Ram (Editor in Chief, The Hindu) and Gopalkrishna Gandhi (Ex-W. Bengal Governor). Vigorous debate focusing on India’s role in Sri Lanka the result at yesterday’s Chennai book launch event. Many thanks to the Madras Book Club for organizing and the Asian College of Journalism for hosting the event.

3 March book launch at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) in Colombo. Full house, stimulating panel, and a  feisty discussion!

Thoughtful coverage of the recent Colombo launch of my Sri Lanka book from event panelist Jehan Perera of the National Peace Council. It comes in his weekly column for The Island newspaper. The context in which Jehan places it – Sarath Fonseka’s recent parliamentary pronouncements on the role of international observers in Sri Lanka – is, however, rather more controversial. The continuing need for international presence The Island, March 14, 2016, Jehan Perera The issue of international participation in Sri Lanka’s transition process continues to remain a matter of speculation with different pronouncements being made by different members of the… More

The Hindu on Chennai Book Launch They’re coming thick(ish) and fast(ish…. The Hindu‘s report on last week’s Chennai launch of my Sri Lanka book. Very strong panel at this event – and The Hindu’s Editor in Chief N. Ram in particular was highly effusive in his praise for the book. (And now I think of it, followed a close second by ex-Bengal Governor and senior Indian diplomat Gopalkrishna Gandhi). Not the best photo of yours truly. But Erik S and Gopal G are obviously getting into the swing of things . . . Sri Lanka ready for peace, says Erik… More

Here’s Narayan Swamy’s report from last week’s Delhi book launch. And it’s India & LTTE – not Sri Lanka itself – that are very much in focus . . . ‘Killing Rajiv Gandhi was LTTE’s biggest mistake’ Indo Asian News Service IANS New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Assassinating former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was the Tamil Tigers’ biggest mistake, a new book quotes the late LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham as saying. Balasingham told Norway’s former Special Envoy to Sri Lanka Erik Solheim that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his feared intelligence chief Pottu Amman initially denied their involvement in… More

Chennai Book Launch Looking forward to this evening’s book launch here in Chennai with Erik Solheim, The Hindu‘s Editor in Chief Ram Narasimhan, Ex-West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Sashi Kumar, Chief of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ). Starts 18.00, at the ACJ.