Lanka -from political dignity to slavish servility

At a given point of time, ours was a country where political leaders and ordinary citizens alike, walked with heads held high. The then leadership took decisions based on the people’s needs and country’s benefit.

It’s the CMC’s responsibility to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs

Media reports are again raising alarm about the increasing number of stray dogs on the roads.

The blood of victims in mass graves cries for justice

Several mass graves have been discovered in our land. All of them allegedly linked to rogue elements within the police and armed forces of the state. The victims -- as always civilians- come from both majority and minority communities and range from women and children to the old and the infirm.

CALLING THE GOVERNMENT AND SEDEC/CARITAS FOR MEANINgFUL ACTION

The Sri Lankan Government and the National SEDEC/ CARITAS organisation of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, whose task needs to be vitally concerned with the burning issues of the country, should consider it a matter of urgency to listen not only to the painful cries of our fishermen but also to propose practical solutions to tide over the present difficult situation faced by fishermen. Some examples:

Genocide, mass killings, expulsions – end result of a process

Before 2023, genocide was thought to be a feature of the 20th Century which saw mass killings in Nazi-dominated Europe, Cambodia, Yugoslavia and Rwanda. But Israel proved that it could be a 21st Century phenomenon too, by its relentless attempt the wipe out Palestinians in Gaza.

Sri Lankan Leaders Continue To Favour Incompetents Over Intellectuals

“The colonial administrator Leonard Woolf, in his foundational text Villagein the Jungle penned a disquieting insight into Sri Lankan monarchs of old, an insight that resonates with chilling, almost prophetic, accuracy in our current political climate.” Woolf noted, with a distinct undertone of regret and perhaps exasperation, that these kings often preferred “idiots and buffoons” to intellectuals. Their courts, he implied, were populated by thos

Finance on the Precipice Finding our way forward without the IMF

The current global era is dominated by finance. Following the long economic downturn of the 1970s with falling profits, capitalism shifted towards an accumulation strategy centred on finance for profit generation.

Why Sri Lanka Must Keep History in Schools

Unlike many global powers that take pride in their modern accomplishments, Sri Lanka stands unique in its possession of a written history that stretches back more than two and a half millennia. Few nations can claim such continuity of record and cultural memory.

The mastermind who eternally eludes identity

More than six years after the Easter Sunday Terrorist attacks in 2019 targeting Christians, yet another adjournment debate on the incident was held in Parliament on 9th of this month.

Lanka’s gentle giants being driven into extinction

A few days ago, many were heart-broken when we read of the death of yet another majestic elephant called ‘Bhathiya’. Approval was granted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and regulatory bodies, for the foreign veterinarians to arrive in Sri Lanka to treat the animal, but Bhathiya died before they could arrive.

Sathosa: No management, no maintenance?

Incredible as it may seem, the Sathosa supermarket outlet at Borella has been without air conditioning for almost a month now.

Safety of people and wildlife at stake?

The Wildlife Department head recently revealed that most weapons used to kill elephants and wildlife were domestically produced weapons and that the government analyst has issues tracing the origins of bullets during investigations.

Men in khaki uniform must use humour

The Sri Lanka Police are so close to the public in terms of dispensing their duties. For some unexplainable reason, people fear the men in khaki. This could be one reason why the Sri Lanka Police have decided to use some humour in sending a message to errant drivers. The police website has a recent post to attract the attention of drivers who wouldn’t care much about being obedient drivers. The post shows the drawing of a horse. The first half o

As Albanese stands tall, let’s stand by her

At a time when human rights monitoring has been outrageously politicised and is being shamelessly exploited by imperialists—and even by genocide-committing Zionists—to parade themselves as the paragons of virtue in world forums, one figure stands tall. She is Francesca Albanese, a rare kind of human rights warrior in a world where nations trade away their principles in pursuit of geopolitical and greed-driven economic goals.

Foreign remittances, foreign debt and social fallout on Lankan society

All governments of our country have initiated steps to sending more of its citizens to foreign countries to bring in much needed foreign exchange since Lanka declared bankruptcy in 2022. Official remittances rose 22.3 percent to 635.7 million dollars in June 2025. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Exchange (SLBFE) anticipates remittances from migrant workers to reach over US$ 7 billion by the end of this year.

Unpopular Measures

It’s good to see the government taking some unpopular measures that hardly get highlighted in the media. Two examples to mention a few, the removing of unauthorised buildings along the Southern coast and up country, too.

When would there be the day when religion is safe from Politics?

It was so lovely to witness the concluding of the Pada Yathra (trek) pilgrimage for 2025 on July the fourth sans major issues. Why even talk about major issues during a religious event? We need to do that because Sri Lanka is one of those countries which has used religion as a tool to cause divisions within a community.

Sri Lanka’s private education crisis and Govt. impact

For middle-class Sri Lankan parents, small businesses, teachers, and other professionals, education is not just a right, but a lifeline to a better future for their children. They work tirelessly to save for college degrees that promise good jobs and social mobility. However, access is severely limited; only 17% of students who pass A/Ls gain admission to state universities, leaving many reliant on private institutions like KDU, ACBT, or SLIIT.

Doctors in Hambantota hospitals face death threats due to drug shortage

Health authorities in the Hambantota district have expressed concerns regarding the shortage of drugs in hospitals and hardship created as a result.

The lessons Sri Lanka did not learn from the Easter Sunday attack, and will regret one day

Last week, Parliament erupted with allegations and counter-allegations in yet another adjournment debate over the Easter Sunday Attacks.

Perils of Sri Lanka tourism and the way forward

Tourists who fly down to Sri Lanka are often convinced by attractive promotional videos that are being made viral on social media platforms. Of course, the pristine beaches, breathtaking waterfalls, diverse cuisine and culture are worth the experience. But from a hospitality point of view, Sri Lanka is still lagging behind on a few priorities.

The Ripple Effect of the Sinhala-Only Act

We should not hastily place blame on Minister Sunil Handunneththi for the widely criticised interview at the recent World Economic Forum.

Let the law take its course

The fear expressed by several organisations of doctors to prescribe medicines and medical equipment to be purchased from private pharmacies after the arrest of Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne does not seem to be justifiable.

Is America moving towards the Far Right?

The United States stands at a political crossroads. The entrenched rivalry between the Democrats and Republicans, often indistinguishable in their elitism, may soon give way to a sharper ideological divide: the Far Right and the Far Left, currently embodied by President Donald Trump and New York City Mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani.

The Looming Crisis: How Economic Hardship and Stifled Entrepreneurial Spirit threaten Sri Lanka’s National Security

Sri Lanka stands at a critical juncture in its post-independence history. The echoes of past upheavals, particularly the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) insurgencies of 1971 and 1987-89, resonate with chilling clarity in the contemporary socio-economic landscape. These past rebellions, often attributed to the explosive combination of unbearable cost of living and the widespread unemployment among educated youth, serve as stark reminders of how ec

Will the UN go the same way as the League of Nations ?

The United Nations was established after World War II because its predecessor, the League of Nations, failed to prevent World War II from breaking out in 1939.

Degradation of the city of Colombo

The role that trees, green spaces and greenery play in our day-to-day lives is indescribable and inimitable. They are a balm to the soul of man, who goes in search of the miracles of Mother Nature - forests, wildlife, jungles - leaving behind, temporarily, the fast paced lives and concrete monstrosities in urban towns.

Bradman the Man for all seasons!

“Sir Donald George Bradman was, without any question, the greatest phenomenon in the history of cricket, indeed in the history of all ball games”.

Sri Lanka in Crisis: Hartal -1953 and Aragalaya– 2022

Sri Lankan politics shows a repeating pattern where established parties take over grassroots movements.

The ‘Aragalaya’ to fight corruption and assert political sovereignty

Three years ago –- on 13th July 2022 – Gotabaya Rajapaksa, president of Sri Lanka, fled the country as the economic crisis spiralled out of control.