Our prisons are in need of urgent reforms and funding

The cause of the Negombo prison riot, which left 25 dead, is yet to be ascertained. But, as in the case of previous prison riots, it could be traced to certain chronic deficiencies in the Sri Lankan prison system. These deficiencies were identified by the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (PRP), a civil society organisation dedicated to advocating for prisoners’ rights.

Political chaos, mayhem in sports and the war in West Asia

Since the end of World War II, the US has been the bully-boy of international politics. A rough, aggressive state, often employing its armed forces or local thugs/militia to enforce, intimidate, or hurt smaller nation states which reject US demands and try to follow policies which would improve the conditions of their own people. In 1953, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), together with the British, toppled Iran’s elected Prime Ministe

Is murder more foul when committed by a woman?

Between 27, 000 to 29,000 murders are reported in India every year. But one murder committed barely three weeks ago has gripped the attention of the entire nation. In a Bollywood-style melodrama, Siya Gohal, a wealthy young woman from Pune, Maharashtra, has been arrested for the murder of her multi-millionare fiance Ketan Agarwal, while Chetan Chaudhary, said to be Siya’s secret boyfriend, has been arrested as her accomplice. According to the po

Why Does Sri Lanka Continue to Require Mandatory Overseas Training for Specialist Certification?

I wish to draw your attention to an important policy issue that may have significant implications for the future development of specialist medical services in Sri Lanka. At present, Sri Lanka generally requires a period of mandatory overseas training before a medical specialist can obtain Board Certification. However, many South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, certify specialists primarily through accredited loca

From Vulnerability to Opportunity: AI and the Future of Work in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s labour market is undergoing a gradual but significant shift. Generative AI is becoming embedded in everyday work. Unlike earlier rounds of automation, which focused mainly on manual and manufacturing sectors, generative AI now reaches white-collar roles. Professional and clerical positions, once considered stable, are increasingly affected. Generative AI creates new content—text, images, audio, video, or code—based on patterns learned

US-Iran war: Stop second round, save the MoU

A nation in mourning. A ceasefire deal in tatters. Energy prices rising yet again. Developing nations bearing the blows. Peace saboteurs eager to resume the war. A president desperate to etch his name into history—not with deeds but with ego-driven misdeeds. That nation in mourning is Iran. The ego-driven president is Donald Trump, the like of whom the United States has never seen before. Maverick and unpredictable, Trump refuses to play by diplo

Anatomy of the Negombo prison riot: Government should fix the prison system without delay

Two days of deadly violence in the Negombo prison have laid bare the persistent decay in the Sri Lankan prison system, and by and large, the entire criminal justice apparatus. The violent riots cost at least 27 lives, including 8 prison officers’ and 19 inmates’, and injured over a hundred. The inmates clubbed to death several prison officers before waging running battles with the prison guards and Police Special Task Force commandos.

‘Prisoners are human beings:’ The reality inside and outside the prison walls

The prisoner riot at the Negombo prison on Sunday and Monday (July 5 and 6) seems to be a godsend for the Sri Lankan Opposition parties, which are short of sensational issues to use against the government.

Held to Ransom: How policy failure is poisoning Sri Lanka’s poultry industry, consumers

For over a decade, Sri Lanka’s poultry and livestock industry has sat across the table from successive governments, pleading for a rational, predictable maize import policy. Since 2012, industry representatives have raised the same warning at every meeting: without timely, adequate access to maize-the single largest raw material in poultry feed, accounting for roughly 50% of every feed formulation-the industry cannot function, and consumers will

Anatomy of the Negombo prison riot: Government should fix the prison system without delay

Two days of deadly violence in the Negombo prison have laid bare the persistent decay in the Sri Lankan prison system, and by and large, the entire criminal justice apparatus. The violent riots cost at least 27 lives, including 8 prison officers’ and 19 inmates’, and injured over a hundred. The inmates clubbed to death several prison officers before waging running battles with the prison guards and Police Special Task Force commandos.

National Archaeological Conference to begin in Colombo today

Coinciding with the 136th Archaeology Day, the national archaeology conference titled “Breathing Life into Heritage” (Urumayata Jeevayak), organised by the Department of Archaeology, is scheduled for July 7 and 8 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The opening ceremony of this conference will commence on July 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Moral injury in Sri Lankan Combatants who participated in Eelam War

Moral injury refers to the deep psychological, behavioural, and spiritual turmoil that arises when an individual either engages in, witnesses, or fails to avert actions that contradict their core moral convictions (Litz, Brett et al., 2009). The term moral injury was coined by Dr. Jonathan Shay, a clinical psychiatrist, in the 1990s, while working with Vietnam War veterans, and he connected their deep psychological trauma not to fear, but to a pr

Good tourists, bad tourists – We’ve been lucky so far

Tourism has two sides or images which complement each other like the two faces of a coin. First comes the visitors’ perception of a country and its people. Unless they like what they see, they won’t come.

Upper-middle income label is a myth in reality

The World Bank last week upgraded five countries - Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Jordan and Micronesia - from lower-middle to upper-middle income category. This is the second time Sri Lanka achieved this important milepost in the recent past.

Increasing retirement age would help sustain pension funds

I wish to thank Mr. Sumith de Silva for his response to my letter of June 30 regarding the retirement age.

The Digital Menace: Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s Future Generations

In homes across Sri Lanka, a quiet tragedy unfolds daily. Children once filled with curiosity and play now sit glued to screens, their laughter replaced by the glow of notifications and endless scrolls.

Colours That Remember -- A Brief Respite for Wounded Minds

Can the grief and the quiet hope of women who have lived through war ever be held within a single frame? I found my answer to that question on June 27, when I walked into an exhibition titled “A Brief Respite for Wounded Minds,

39th Anniversary of Indo-Lanka accord: Rajiv and JRJ’s Miraculous Escape During the Indo-Lanka Accord

The Indo-Lanka Peace Accord, signed in Colombo on July 29 1987 by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene, remains one of the most consequential—and controversial—agreements in Sri Lanka’s modern political history.

Justice delayed is Justice denied wherever it happens

On June 11, the Daily Mirror headlined the story of a man who was freed from jail thirty-years after he was convicted of double murder. Possibly he is now out of jail. This unfortunate spent thirty years of his life on death row, confined to a cell.

Attempts to challenge the state apparatus

Several protests were carried out by political factions on July 1, calling upon the President to resign.

Carry out dengue prevention programmes throughout the year

It seems that only when dengue cases increase the responsible people get activated!

From Village Tanks to Modern Crises

Don Stephen Senanayake, often lovingly called the Father of the Nation, was the first Prime Minister of independent Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon. He is fondly remembered for leading a peaceful movement that happily achieved the country’s independence from British rule on February 4, 1948. As noted in his Britannica biography and other historical sources, his life’s work flourished in areas such as agriculture, economic self-sufficiency, an

A book, a warning, and the world’s unkept promises

Earlier this month, while travelling abroad for a few days, I stepped into a bookshop and was immediately drawn to a particular book. I read a few pages, and before long I decided to buy it, as a gift for my granddaughter, who is now preparing for her G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations.

Lessons in governance from the Chinese Communist Party

As the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrates its legacy of historic growth, its path offers profound lessons for Sri Lanka’s own economic goals. From the lifelines of the 1952 Rubber-Rice Pact to modern landmark infrastructure like the Colombo Port City, the CPC-led nation has consistently reinforced Sri Lanka’s development. President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on continuous party self-reform highlights the vital blueprint required to achieve long

Rising from the ashes of war

A cherished chapter in the religious and cultural history of Northern Sri Lanka will be reopened on July 24, 2026, when the newly constructed THER (Chariot) of St. James Church, Kilaly is solemnly inaugurated during the annual feast celebrations of the parish’s patron saint.

Honouring the War Heroes of Prince of Wales

As Prince of Wales College marks its 150th anniversary this year, ceremonial events are held to commemorate this milestone. It is fitting to honour the College’s war heroes on this occasion. Their supreme sacrifice commands our deepest respect and enduring gratitude. As a nation, we must continue to honour all war heroes and members of the Armed Forces who have given their utmost to safeguard the country against grave threats.

Malabe Boys’ School rugby hampered by poaching

Malabe folks have got used to the sound of rubber spikes on boots hitting the ground early in the morning, and the voice of the coach bellowing at the boys who are at practice. Rugby union is a relatively new sport in Malabe. The boys in this town have at a very early age shown a keen interest on trying their luck at the game, played with the oval shaped ball. The school that gives them this opportunity is Malabe Boys’ School, which is headed b

HelpAge will perform 3000 free cataract surgeries before 2026 ends

HelpAge Sri Lanka, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest social service organisations that conducts free cataract surgeries to underprivileged older persons has decided to perform 3000 free cataract surgeries before the end of this year.

Pregnancy kits donated at charitable event

Sri Lanka Thailand Society organised a charitable event called “Gabini Matha Sathkaraya” on Poson poya day by donating Pregnancy kits to thirty pregnant women at MOH office, Mihintale, in the presence of His Excellency Paitoon Mahapannaporn Ambassador of Thailand in Sri Lanka.

Where are those buses for the disabled?

Having read in the news a few weeks ago about buses specially equipped for disabled commuters being imported, I’ve been waiting.