Wimal LIVE Wimal Sockanathan

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.