Features

Ceylonese activism during World War II and need for a new peace movement

Published

8 months ago

2025/05/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

Raising a flag over the Reichstag, by Yevgeny Khaldei

Ninth May, 2025, marked 80 years since the Soviet Red Army defeated Nazi Germany.

Of all the allied powers, the Soviet Union paid the highest price in the war against Nazism and Fascism – 27 million Soviet citizens were killed, including every second member of the Communist Party. In the occupied territories of the USSR, around 1.5 million children were exterminated by the Nazis. War does not stop at destroying living labour – around 73,000 Soviet settlements were razed and 32,000 enterprises destroyed during the Nazi onslaught.

The scale of the atrocity is numbing to read, even today.

Significantly, the red flag raised over the Reichstag also signalled the disintegration of the classical colonial system. The weakening of European colonial powers during the war and the subsequent moral prestige of socialism in the Third World enabled the sequence of national liberation struggles that ensued in the coming decades.

It is no surprise that the historic Bandung Conference, which sparked the non-aligned movement and the Third World project, occurred almost exactly a decade after the end of the Second World War.

As Sri Lankan communist Pieter Keuneman noted in an essay, “Sri Lanka and the victory over fascism”, penned 40 years ago:

“Victory over fascism has also provided a powerful spur to the democratisation of international relations. It has made it possible for nearly half the world’s population, whom imperialism had excluded from any say in world affairs, to emerge as an independent force that has made—and continues to make—an important and positive contribution to the world-wide fight for peace, disarmament, decolonisation and social progress.”

Not only did the Red Army’s victory open the door for political independence, but the USSR would also, subsequently, play a role in assisting willing partners in achieving a degree of economic independence. While the World Bank sought to veer post-independent Ceylon away from industrial ambitions, Soviet economic assistance included the establishment of a steel factory in Oruwala, a tyre and tube factory in Kelaniya, and a flour mill in Colombo. When the Ceylonese government nationalised oil companies in the 1960s, it was the USSR that broke through the embargo of the TNCs and delivered oil supplies.

Ceylonese Friends of the Soviet Union

During the war, pro-Soviet solidarity work in Ceylon was led mainly by the communists – who had been expelled from the LSSP in 1941. The year 1942, when the Nazis were advancing across the USSR, saw a flurry of publications by the communists in Colombo. Among these were ‘The Soviet Way’ by Pieter Keuneman, ‘Russia Fights Disease’ by S.A. Wickramasinghe, and ‘Under Nazi Rule’ by Hedi Keuneman.

This was done in conditions of censorship of pro-Soviet materials, even though Britain was nominally with the Soviets. Pieter Keuneman recounts that during this time, colonial authorities confiscated his copies of speeches by Soviet leaders while allowing him to keep works by Hitler and Mussolini.

‘The Soviet Way’ was likely the first book to be published in Ceylon that offered a comprehensive view of the Soviet Union, including the conditions which were obtained during Tsarist rule and the adversities and external threats faced by the young USSR.

‘Russia Fights Disease’ described in detail the advance of the Soviet healthcare system. For Wickramasinghe, a doctor by training and a witness to the impact of the malaria epidemic in the 1930s, the Soviet health system was a source of inspiration. It may have also informed his work with Seneka Bibile to establish a rational and sovereign pharmaceutical policy in the 1970s.

‘Under Nazi Rule’ outlined the rise of Nazism in Germany and was dedicated to the German communist leader Ernst Thälmann, who was imprisoned by the Nazis and executed in the Buchenwald concentration camp. The author, Hedi, was born in Vienna and fled to Britain after the Anschluss (annexation of Austria by Germany), where she maintained links with the underground anti-fascist resistance in Germany. This book was published just 18 months after she moved to Ceylon with Pieter.

In 1943, the Ceylon Friends of the Soviet Union was established in order to include broader sections of the intelligentsia. It soon rose to a membership of over 9000. It published the Lanka-Soviet Journal, which was edited by T. Duraisingham and featured contributions from surprising elite figures.

For example, in 1944 SWRD Bandaranaike wrote: “Whether we agree or not with all aspects of the activities of Soviet Russia, no one can deny that within the short space of a quarter of a century an almost unbelievable progress has been made in industry, agriculture, education, health services.”

George E. De Silva wrote: “Today, the Soviet Union has demonstrated to an astonished world what a united people could achieve in defence of freedom and liberty,” adding that “We in Lanka would be better off if we could copy some of the health measures that have been adopted in the Soviet Union.”

Interestingly, even J.R. Jayewardene was a member of the union’s executive committee. In the context of heated debates about reforming the colonial education system, he had written in the journal that “The Soviet educational system should help our legislature to mould its future system too on similar lines.”

Most importantly, the workers in the Ceylon Trade Union Federation, led by M.G. Mendis, also played an enthusiastic role. These workers were organised in the packaging and export of rubber and tea, as well as in the ports. The Lanka-Soviet Journal recalls that “When an order for the Soviet Union came in, the workers, one and all, put in their weight and finished the order in record time.”

In one incident, Tiddy Perera, a unionised worker for Harrison & Crossfield Ltd., was fired by the management in order to weaken the union. However, Perera refused to leave the store as the workers were in the midst of completing an order destined for the USSR. When Perera was told there would be no compensation for the additional work, his reply was, “I will work free for the Soviet Union.”

The Need for a New Peace Movement

Everywhere today we see echoes and shadows of the fascism of the 1930s. The US and the EU have decided that the solution to the present economic crisis will be a form of military Keynesianism. Austerity rules, so harshly enforced on workers in the decades of neoliberalism, are being eased to fill the pockets of the warmongers. According to Stockholm-based SIPRI, world military spending in 2024 rose at the highest rate in four decades. The US-led military bloc, inclusive of NATO and non-NATO military allies, comprises over 74% of world military spending.

But this is not the same conjuncture, and there are crucial differences. The far right of today is, for the most part, more than capable of ruling within the framework of institutions built up in the neoliberal era. Meanwhile, the state of social movements is not what it was in the 1930s, where fascism was also a political response to the surging workers’ movement and the popularity of communism.

The war in Ukraine has been a theatre for the contemporary revival of fascism. Since at least 2014, NATO-aligned forces have been supporting the revival of neo-Nazi groups, banning the local left-wing organisations and waging a genocidal campaign against Russian speakers in the Donbas region.

There are also many underreported wars raging on the African continent, such as in Sudan where 150,000 people have been killed and 13 million displaced, while Arab monarchies, backed by the Global North, jockey for control over resources such as gold. There is also the ongoing destabilisation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where imperialism acts through regional governments such as Rwanda to facilitate the theft of natural resources necessary for the fourth industrial revolution.

In West Asia, the Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza has killed over 53,000 people, while the US and its allies continue to provide weaponry and diplomatic cover to the perpetrators. In South Asia, the recent escalations between nuclear-powered India and Pakistan threatens to drag this region further into jingoism and war. In East Asia, the effects of the US-led New Cold War on China, including encirclement of China by military bases, provocation of separatism in Taiwan, and the steady revival of militarism in Japan, all threaten to drag the world into more wars.

Given our own rich history of internationalism and anti-imperialism, Sri Lanka is in a unique position to contribute to a global peace movement to reject new wars, both cold and hot. The history of the solidarity campaigns of the 1940s shows that such campaigns are most successful when they are nurtured from the bottom up, with active participation of the workers, peasants, and intelligentsia. To move in this direction requires immense work, and a break from the narrow bounds of economism and electoralism that have infected many of our social movements and political organisations following the assault on the Left from the 1980s onwards.

(Shiran Illanperuma is a researcher at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and a co-editor of Wenhua Zongheng: A Journal of Contemporary Chinese Thought. He is also a co-convenor of the Asia Progress Forum, which can be contacted at asiaprogressforum@gmail.com)

by Shiran Illanperuma

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Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

22 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the progressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world of democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

22 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

22 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.