Meet Dr Swati Mohan, the face behind the historic landing of the Mars Rover on the Red Planet. My latest podcast looks at the huge achievements of this Nasa lead systems engineer making us all proud.

Article published 28th February 2021

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.

A discussion, in Tamil, about the unprecedented times we live in.

Article published 21st February 2021

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.

This week's podcast highlights the achievements of two exceptional young Tamil women who now occupy very high government positions. 

One is DILEENI DANIEL SELVARATNAM  - born to Sri Lankan Parents from Araly, Jaffna. DILEENI is a Lawyer with the British Foreign office where she had a very colourful career ranging from advisor to the British Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Advisor to the Minister of justice. On the 1st of January 2021 Dileeni assumed duties as The Governor, (the Representative of H.M.Queen), in the Caribbean Island of Anquilla which is still part of Britain.

The second lady star is the new ruling Labour Govt MP for Upper Harbour Electorate. Vanushi Walters, who took oaths in the

New Zealand Parliament dressed in Saree and Tilak, is the daughter of Colombo accountant Jana Rajanayagam & Mrs Preethiba Rajanayagam   who migrated to New Zealand in 1987 when Vanushi was barely 6 years old. Vanushi qualified in the Auckland University & at the Oxford University UK. and career included actively serving with the Amnesty International & the Human rights commission

These two ladies have taken the fame and reputation of Sri Lankan Tamils to newer heights and I for one am very proud.

Article published 6th December 2020

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.

I arrived in Britain,  45  years ago on a very cold wintery day in February 1976.

In this podcast I trace my initial reactions to the British way of life. Having been an announcer on SLBC, or Radio Ceylon, I was well versed in this medium but Sri Lanka didn't have television broadcasts until 1977 after my departure. 

So newly arrived in the UK I was fascinated by the televisions I saw, and though there were only two channels, and those were only black and white I fondly remember the programmes of those years and reminisce on them in this week's podcast.

Article published 13th December 2020

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.

This week's podcast is a tribute to the late Upali Wijewardene, the millionaire businessman whose private jet went missing from Kuala Lampur to Colombo Flight on 13th February 1983

Article published 14th February 2021

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.

This week's podcast is both a review of a blockbuster Hollywood movie as well as a reflection on my own life experiences. The movie is Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies and I focus on the role of the American Lawyer Donovan, played by Tom Hanks, appointed by the court to defend a Russian spy as well as the harassment he suffers at the hands of the American public and the C.I.A  who are ignorant about the Duty of a lawyer to protect the client. Whilst reviewing the movie  I discuss similar dilemma faced by me in cases handled by me in my 4 decades of  legal practice in the UK.

Article published 7th February 2021

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.

This week as the world watched Kamala Harris swearing in as Vice President of arguably the most powerful country in the world, I reflect on the humble beginnings of this daughter of Chennai Tamil lady who was destined for greatness. 

Article published 31st January 2021

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.

An original vintage recording of Isaiyum Kathaiyum the hugely popular and celebrated radio show from the Radio Ceylon Tamil Commercial Service. The story featured in this episode, first broadcast in 1975, as with all Isaiyum Kathaiyum stories was sent in by one of the millions of avid radio show listeners. This story, called Pavala Mallikai was written by an undergraduate student at Peredeniya University and read and acted by myself Wimal Sockanathan, back in 1975. 

Wimal Sockanathan and BH Abdul Hameed reinvented a classic radio show style where once duty announcers would read out letters and submissions from listeners. Instead they brought life to the beautifully written scripts borne out of the creativity of a hugely talented generation in 1970s Sri Lanka. Wimal Sockanathan & Abdul Hameed utilised their broadcasting skills together with acting prowess as well as a keen talent for mimicry to dramatise the listeners' letters in a way that had never been done before. The new show style was a groundbreaking success and the Head of the Tamil Commercial Service, Mr Vivian Namasivayam increased the frequency of the programme from once to twice a week.  The listeners were grateful for the bonus show and the letters continued to flood in. Wimal & Abdul Hameed to this day remember the programme fondly and cherish the pleasure brought to them by the listeners' undying enthusiasm and support.

To honour that faithful cult following that developed for the radio show we are overjoyed to be able to bring into the 21st century, by way of the medium of podcast an opportunity to relive and reminisce on these much-loved sounds of yesteryear.

Enjoy the show.

More episodes of Isaiyum Kathaiyum to follow.

An innocent 24 year old Princess Elizabeth was seen off at Heathrow by her very loving but sick father King George VI While the princess was away in Kenya the King died in London. The Plane returned to London carrying HM The Queen Elizabeth. I discuss why a Coronation cannot be arranged at very short notice.

Article published 24th January 2021

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.

Current world events have shown us that when the chief controlling body is no more, all the small elements fight for supremacy . This has been the case when the Soviet Union was dismantled in the early nineties & when Yugoslavia split up following Tito’s death. These are events of the past 30 years. In this podcast episode I discuss the outcome of Hindu/Muslim violence which followed the British declaration of Independence to India, & Pakistan - a problem which continues to date.

Whereas the Sri Lankan Independence declaration did not take into account the position of Tamils prior to the arrival of the British. I also look into the British habit of moving the human work force between their colonies. Thousands of Tamil labourers brought from South India to work in the British-owned tea plantations were ignored by respective Sri Lankan Governments. Their living conditions salaries etc have not improved. Similarly, Britain took Indian labourers to their African colonial countries Kenya & Uganda. When New national leaders like Kenyatta and Idi Amin took over these African nations after independence the leaders asked all Indians to leave Africa.

So, the Indians with their "British Passports”, landed in London.

This Tamil podcast by veteran broadcaster Wimal Sockanathan, is an audio presentation of the popular weekly column Wimalin Pakkam as published in Sri Lanka's daily newspaper Virakesari.