February 09, 2012

Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim workers, peasants and oppressed people

Unite to bring down the Rajapakse regime!

LankaSocialist Correspondent

USP General Secretary Siritunga Jayasuriya was invited to the 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Australian Tamil Congress as the Chief Guest. AGM was held on the 4th of February in Melbourne.

Siritnga was not able to attend the meeting due to some unavoidable circumstances. Following is the Siritunga’s message, which was presented at the meeting.

Comrades and Friends, Warm Greetings to All of You!!

It is a coincidence that we have this meeting on the 4th of February – Sri Lanka’s so-called Independence Day.

As socialists we have nothing to celebrate as it only marks the exchange of control between those who suppress the working people in Sri Lanka. This Day signifies the loss of Freedom & Independence for the Tamils. 64 years of Independence have been 64 years of deprivation of all freedom and rights, resulting in making Tamils subservient 'subjects', not free citizens with equal rights. Read More...

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Rathu Tharuwa - January 2012

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November 21, 2011

Migration

Why refugees seek asylum in Australia

www.socialistworld.net (Originally published on November 21, 2011) website of the committee for a workers' international, CWI

Interview with Siritunga Jayasuriya, Sri Lankan socialist leader

Mel Gregson, Socialist Party (CWI Australia)

Siritunga Jayasuriya is the leader of our sister party in Sri Lanka, the United Socialist Party. He is also the President of the Samastha Lanka Free Trade Union and has been active in the labour movement for over 40 years. Siritunga is well known in Sri Lanka for his opposition to the government’s war against the Tamil people.

The Socialist Party’s Mel Gregson recently spoke to Siritunga about the situation in Sri Lanka and why people continue to seek asylum in Australia.

MG: What is the situation facing Tamil people in Sri Lanka now that the civil war has ended?

SJ: Outside of Sri Lanka, countries like Australia, have created the idea that Sri Lanka is safe now after the war. This is not true at all. Now, two and a half years after the war the army still occupies the north of the country and controls every aspect of human life. Everything has to go through the army commander. In Jaffna, people still fear for their life. There are many people who are trying to leave Sri Lanka because of these reasons. Read More...

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October 30, 2011

Australia/Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan government under fire as President visits Australia

First published in www.socialistworld.net, 27/10/2011
website of the committee for a workers' international, CWI

Siritunga Jayasuriya, secretary of the United Socialist Party (CWI) Sri Lanka, has made a stinging public attack on the regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa while in Australia at the same time as the president.

Rajapaksa will be attending at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the city of Perth. Siritunga will be a key guest speaker at the ‘Socialism 2011’ event hosted by the Socialist Party (CWI in Australia) this weekend in Melbourne. Siritunga will be speaking out about the Sri Lankan government’s war crimes and its crack down on democratic rights.

Siritunga was interviewed by the ‘Connect Asia’ radio programme produced by Australia’s public broadcaster and heard around the entire Asia-Pacific region. To listen to the programme

In a press release Siritunga told the Australian media “while Rajapaksa is sitting around with the heads of the Commonwealth claiming to be a champion of democracy, I want to tell the Australian people the real story". Read More...

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October 15, 2011

United Socialist Party holds successful congress

“Difficult times - yet we are defiant and determined!”

By: LankaSocialist Correspondent

LankaSocialist learnt that the United Socialist Party held its 12th National Congress on October 8 – 9, 2001 at Kamkaru Sewana Hall, Ratmalana.

Delegates from all parts of the country were in attendance at the congress. Many representatives from various international Trade Unions and political parties, including Committee for Workers International (CWI) were also present at the congress.

During the two days of the congress, in-depth discussions were conducted on current national and world political financial crisis as well as strengthening the party to face current and future challenges. Read More...