M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy

M. R. Narayan Swamy is a renowned Indian journalist and author known for his multi-dimensional reporting—from politics to insurgencies. Best known for his definitive works on the LTTE, he brings depth to South Asian affairs and conflict journalism.

The Tamil Mothers Are Still Grieving. Is Anura Listening?

The Tamil Mothers Are Still Grieving. Is Anura Listening?

By M.R. Narayan Swamy Jeyavanitha Kasipillai was crouched in the crowded camp for war-hit civilians at Omanthai when some Sri Lankan soldiers showed up and rudely snatched away her eldest daughter, Jeromi. Jeyavanitha still remembers screaming her head off as she desperately tried to ward off the armed intruders to save and retain the 16-year-old girl, who too was shouting and wailing. One of the heartless soldiers told the distraught mother in half Sinhala, half Tamil: “We believe your daugh
JM Exclusive August 2026
M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy
One Nation, One People — But on Whose Terms?

One Nation, One People — But on Whose Terms?

By M.R. Narayan Swamy One day in 1997, Sri Lanka’s air force chief, Oliver Ranasinghe, learnt from a “little bird” that the Defence Secretary had gone to the UK with his son to buy two C-130 aircraft. The C-130 was ideally suited for Sri Lanka. It can carry heavy loads and even operate out of unprepared airfields. But there were problems with these two aircraft. Both had been parked on a tarmac in the UK for 13 long years in extreme weather, without being flown or even the engines being run.
Book Review August 2026
M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy
A Colombo Tamil Family Looks Back at the Country It Lost

A Colombo Tamil Family Looks Back at the Country It Lost

By M.R. Narayan Swamy “For every Sinhalese soldier killed, we will kill a thousand Tamils!” This was the war cry echoing on the streets of strife-hit Colombo in July 1983 as Sharmala Kanagasundram and her family sped to safety in a car while vicious anti-Tamil violence swept the Sri Lankan capital. Sharmala, her husband Ajit, and their three young boys were part of the Colombo elite and led an idyllic life. They were sure they could be happy in the country until Ajit retired from the Central
Book Review August 2026
M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy
India Sends a Message to Colombo — and to Tamil Leaders

India Sends a Message to Colombo — and to Tamil Leaders

By M.R. Narayan Swamy The Indian government has publicly raised a demand for early Provincial Council elections in Sri Lanka despite knowing that powerful interest groups in the country are arrayed against devolution of power. During a hectic day-long visit to Colombo on Wednesday, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri urged President Anura Dissanayake to hold the much-delayed balloting to the Provincial Councils “at the earliest”. It is the closest India has come to saying that the elections
Guest Column Opinion & Analysis
M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy
How the LTTE Hollowed Out Tamil Society Long Before Its Military Defeat

How the LTTE Hollowed Out Tamil Society Long Before Its Military Defeat

By M.R. Narayan Swamy At a workshop for teenage Tamil girls in Jaffna, a teacher wanted to know who Nelson Mandela was. Several hands went up. Mandela fought for South Africa’s freedom and to end apartheid. The answer was apt. Okay, who was Mahatma Gandhi? Again, several hands went up. Gandhi led the Indian independence movement against the British. He was an apostle of non-violence. Correct. A third question followed: Who was (Appapillai) Amirthalingam? There was a silence in the classroo
Opinion Article
M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy
How Deep Do China-Sri Lanka Ties Really Go? A New Book Explores

How Deep Do China-Sri Lanka Ties Really Go? A New Book Explores

By M.R. Narayan Swamy China and Sri Lanka have enjoyed decades of close and warm relations. Many Sri Lankans also credit China with providing extensive military assistance that helped Colombo defeat the Tamil Tigers. But is there a side of this relationship that has been kept under wraps? Yes, says a Sri Lankan scholar in a revealing new book. After detailing at length the many ways China has come to the economic and military rescue of Sri Lanka since the 1950s, Colombo-based Bhagya Senaratne
Book Review Article
M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy
Why the President Needs the August 3 Meeting as Much as Tamil Leaders Do

Why the President Needs the August 3 Meeting as Much as Tamil Leaders Do

By M.R. Narayan Swamy There is an important reason President Anura Dissanayake must be equally looking forward to a meeting on August 3 with leaders of six Tamil and Muslim parties in Sri Lanka. In the first major initiative since coming together on July 13 to flag issues of common concern, the six parties sought a meeting with Dissanayake to address a string of unresolved issues plaguing the Tamil-speaking communities. Immediately after Batticaloa MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam sent a letter req
Guest Column July 2026
M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy
1987: The Year Sri Lanka's War Could Have Ended
Velupillai Prabhakaran (right) with Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (left). Also pictured are LTTE political adviser Anton Balasingham (second from right) and Indian Tamil politician Pandrutti Ramachandran.

1987: The Year Sri Lanka's War Could Have Ended

By M.R. Narayan Swamy It was close to midnight on July 28, 1987, when I got a tip I had been waiting for: Velupillai Prabhakaran and Anton Balasingham were in a meeting with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, ahead of his trip to Colombo to sign the India-Sri Lanka Agreement. My source was the indefatigable Shankar Rajee of EROS. This was breaking news. The Tamil Tigers, we knew, were unhappy with the proposed accord and were avoiding Gandhi. The TULF and other militants had given their approval, ev
Guest Column July 2026
M.R. Narayan Swamy

M.R. Narayan Swamy