Polity

SSA presently publishes Polity/Pravathm three journals in Sinhalese, English and Tamil which are a major forum for discussion and debate on democracy, human rights, devolution and peace, social and economic justice, and gender equity. Polity addresses the intelligentsia on a broadly social democratic agenda.

Pravada Publications
425/15, Thimbirigasyaya Road, Colombo 05.
Sri Lanka.
Tel: 501339,Fax: 595563
E-mail: ssa@eureka.lk

Catamaran: South Asian American Writing

This is a new biannual literary print magazine publishing works by new and upcoming South Asian creative artists (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Bhutanese, Maldives) in North America. First issue will be out in fall 2003. It will carry as its debut feature a retrospective on the celebrated Kashmiri poet, Agha Shahid Ali, who passed away late last year.

This magazine will feature short fiction, one act plays, poetry, non-fiction in the form of personal essays, travelogues, book and film reviews, photography, and one feature article per issue about a South Asian creative artist working in America. It will also contain information about South Asian American creative events such as art shows and performances. The magazine aims to give exposure to the rapidly growing circle of South Asian American artists who are as yet unable to break into the mainstream.

Domains: The Journal of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies

ICES celebrates the inauguration of Domains - its new, refereed, internationally published, scholarly journal - with a US$ 1000 prize competition. Submission deadline for papers is 15th Dec. 2003. Work from any geographical area and orientation within the humanities and social sciences is welcome. For more information on Domains, and the contest visit

http://www.icesdomains.org

Nethra

This quarterly journal from the International Center for Ethnic Studies (ICES) has just published a special issue titled "July '83 and After". The papers and poems in this special issue reflect some of the important efforts that have been made to study the riot of 1983 and what it has meant to the Sri Lankan context in years following the riot. 213 pages. Selling price Rs.200.00. Order ‘Nethra’ from:

The Librarian, International Centre for Ethnic Studies, 02, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo – 08, Sri Lanka. Email: library@icescolombo.org; Fax: 698048.

moju: a journal of south asian literature and arts

http://www.moju.org/
In Sinhala and Tamil, two of Sri Lanka's three official languages (English being the third), moju means "mixture". The word usually shows up in the name of a popular eggplant and mixed vegetable dish: kaththirikkal moju in Tamil, and batu moju in Sinhala.

This moju offers a somewhat different mixture. Arts and literature instead of vegetables and spices. Our mission is to give public, international and immediate exposure to new artistic productions from and about Sri Lanka and South Asia that are, in the words of poet and activist Adrienne Rich, "especially urgent, lively, haunting, resonant, demanding to be read" (or viewed). The journal has no political or activist agenda other than to promote understanding through the creative dialogues of the arts. The editors invest extra energy in fostering new and emerging voices from as wide a range of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds as possible. We believe that it is essential to give exposure to visions that are new and perhaps controversial. We hope, however, to balance each issue by publishing the work of emerging artists alongside work by more established contributors. Each issue will showcase several pieces by only a handful of artists so that issues come out more frequently and provide thorough introductions to those who are featured.

Moot Point Volume 5

The fifth issue of Moot Point, published by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, has just been released. Moot Point 5 reviews important legal developments in the year 2001.

This issue includes a critical analysis of a landmark case which received considerable publicity in the year 2001. The review of the Egodawela Case by Kishali Pinto Jayawardena examines in depth the right of the citizens to exercise their franchise in an independent and secret manner. The case is part of a series of judgments of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court upholding this important right.
In the section of General Issues, there are several articles which deal with matters of significance. "Litigating Environmental Rights using the European Convention on Human Rights", and "From Nuremberg to Rome: The International Criminal Court" are two articles which concentrate on international trends. Moot Point 5 also carries three articles which deal with Sri Lankan constitutional issues: Two articles, "Fundamental Rights-the Sole and Exclusive Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court", and " Fundamental rights and Executive and Administrative Action" focus on recent trends in the Sri Lankan cause of the Supreme Court with respect to the protection of fundamental rights. "Minority Representation in the 17th Amendment" focuses on some of the contentious issues in the amendment. Further, this section includes an essay by an American academic on the "New Employment Policy Paper", which discusses the labour laws and policies of the country.

An article which highlights the deficiencies in the law making process in Sri Lanka is also included in the latest issue of Moot Point. This issue is discussed in the light of a case filed by the Centre for Policy Alternatives in relation to the Consumer Protection Authority Bill, 2001.