MPH expresses concern over change of Vesak dates clashing with Islamic Udhiyah

Issuing a statement, the Minority Professional Hub, a think Tank of Minority Groups, has expressed concern over the government’s decision declaring “Vesak Week” from May 27 to June 2, 2026 and the adjustment of public holidays under Gazette Extraordinary No. 2485/14. ‘’The Minority Professional Hub (MPH), comprising members from across all districts of Sri Lanka and reflecting minority perspectives within the national context, wish to point

Provocation and retaliation in Sugeeshwara’s incident

The incident involving Sugeeshwara Bandara and the so-called “shit attack” that followed his protest outside the Finance Ministry Secretary’s residence is a worrisome trend in Sri Lankan politics. Sri Lanka was notorious for political violence at one point. However, the country’s image has improved since, and violence was almost absent at recent elections. What makes it worse this time is that both sides involved in this incident have serious

NPT Review Summit: Confronting nuclear hypocrisy amid Iran war

Nuclear weapons are not humane and do not belong to humanity. Yet nations continue to possess them, pursuing their deterrence value as much as their use as tools to dominate and bully weaker nations. As nations meet in New York this week for a United Nations summit reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, disarmament activists insist, “A world free of nuclear weapons is both possible and necessary.” The 1968 treaty is premised on the princ

Govt. should be accountable for its actions

Another May Day comes by. According to the news, there will be 21 rallies held by the NPP. People don’t need any more promises, but they want to see that these promises already made are being delivered. The government reiterated the fact that it would retrieve money allegedly stolen by the Rajapaksa regime and hidden in foreign countries. They said they would eliminate corruption, but they seem to be unable to walk the talk. A number of case

A.E. Goonesinha: Father of the Labour Movement and a democrat at heart

Writing about a historical figure is no easy task. Readers could tire of reading about the same feats year after year. However, every year there are readers who could gain knowledge of history created by our own men and women. Today is 1st May, Labour Day (May Day), the day the workers celebrate their rights, their dignity and the appreciation of the work they do for man and country. Labour Day was first held in Ceylon in 1927 under the leadershi

Buddhist approach to human challenges

Life, by its very nature, invariably presents a myriad of challenges that are fundamental to the human experience. The various social ills that afflict humanity cannot be understood without recognising the profound human dynamics at play. Navigating these challenges according to Buddhism involves shifting from attempting to control external circumstances to mastering one’s internal responses. Central to these challenges are certain detrimental d

Sri Lanka cricket gears for a fresh innings, at last..

Sri Lanka Cricket Board Chairman Shammi Silva’s resignation came in at a time when the most popular sport in the country is gasping for breath. Cricket, once a much-celebrated sport in every nook and corner of the country, gradually became unpopular among the masses due to its corrupt nature. With players showcasing poor performances and sometimes losing matches at a rate, much to the dismay of fans who were ready to support the team despite the

NPP in a bind over Theepachelvan’s books

The National People’s Power (NPP) government, since it was voted into power in 2024 thanks to the unprecedented economic crisis the country underwent four years ago, is gradually learning to mend the gap between theory and practice in politics, yet giving ammunition to its adversaries.

Alarming concerns on accountability

Recent events compel us, as Sri Lankans, to confront an uncomfortable truth: we have repeatedly failed to act, even when forewarned.

Did the Finance Ministry fall prey to North Korean hackers?

The recent exploit of US$ 2.5 million from Sri Lanka’s external resources department, tricked into funding a US$ 2.5 million sovereign debt payment to a malicious third-party account, is embarrassing enough.

NPP’s PC election dilemma

Although Opposition parties so far have not proven their allegations of corruption against the government, they have succeeded in creating considerable suspicion among the people about the moral high ground the National People’s Power (NPP) has been laying claims for.

White house shooting, bombs in Middle East and Ukraine

To the dismay of the whole world, a shooting incident occurred near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., prompting the immediate evacuation of President Donald Trump and other officials off the stage to safety as attendees were advised to take cover under their tables on Sunday. Accordingly, most people were seen lying on the floor or running in panic.

The Indispensable Island: Sri Lanka’s blueprint for sovereign survival

Sri Lanka occupies a position on the global map that is disproportionate to its physical size. Often described as a ‘teardrop’ off the coast of India, a more strategic assessment reveals it to be the ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ of the Indian Ocean. While the nation has recently weathered the storms of economic bankruptcy and political upheaval, its fundamental geographic, ecological, and strategic foundations remain not only intact, but unparal

When dealing with bullies use logic, not anger

Bullying is a term usually reserved for schools. Many of us have experienced some kind of bullying at school, but it doesn’t stop there, extending to our institutions of higher learning. The dreaded ragging phenomenon so prevalent in our universities is a kind of extreme bullying.

S.J.V. Chelvanayakam: Visionary and statesman

S.J.V. Chelvanayakam KC Memorial Lecture Delivered at Jaffna Central Collage on Sunday 26 April by Professor G. L. Peiris D. Phil. Peiris is an(Oxford), Ph. D. (Sri Lanka); Rhodes Scholar,Quondam Visiting Fellow of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London; Former Vice-Chancellor and Emeritus Professor of Law of the University of Colombo.

A sad tale of lowering costs and eliminating corruption

It’s over a year-and-a-half since the National People’s Power (NPP) Government captured political power in this country. Over four years have passed since the country declared itself bankrupt in 2022 following an unprecedented economic crisis.

Domestic violence in SL: Intersection of gender norms, culture, and legal responses

The landscape of domestic violence in Sri Lanka is defined by a profound tension between progressive legislative frameworks and deeply entrenched patriarchal social norms. While the State has made significant strides in codifying protections for women, the lived reality for many survivors is governed by a ‘culture of silence’ and the social pressure of ‘lajjawa-baya’ (shame and fear). This cultural weight often reclassifies criminal acts as priv

Restore Col 15 bus services: Even at a premium

Residents and visitors to George Pieris Mawatha, Colombo 15, accessed via Ferguson’s Road, continue to face significant hardship due to the complete absence of a bus service along this stretch. Whether approaching from Raasamunakande (Kanda Uda) or Nagalagam Street (Thotalanga), commuters are compelled to walk considerable distances, an inconvenience that disproportionately affects the elderly, schoolchildren, and daily-wage earners.

Sri Lanka’s tea turning point

Few agricultural products in the world carry the prestige and recognition of Ceylon Tea. For more than a century, the emerald hills of Sri Lanka have produced a beverage that has travelled from misty plantations to the tables of millions across the globe. Tea has shaped the country’s landscapes, built communities, and created livelihoods for generations. It became not merely a crop, but a national identity.

Dada

It has been one year since you passed, and we all still miss you more than ever. I wish you were here to watch Amelia and Lily grow into the mischievous little ones they are. I am so glad that Amelia got to spend time with her Seeya. She adored you and loved every moment she spent with you.

Former Political Leader Mangala Samaraweera’s birth anniversary fell on April 21 The ‘Mangala’ signature in my life

In a moving tribute to the late Mangala Samaraweera on what would have been his 70th birthday, reflecting on a man who was both “aging and ageless.” Mangala was a rare political creature -a pragmatist who abhorred racism and a free-thinker who obeyed his conscience above all else. His life was a stupendous party of ideas, defined by a radical openness that welcomed all “birds” to his tree. Years after his passing, his vision for a liberal, global

$2.5M Treasury Heist : Urgent questions on access governance

The diversion of nearly USD 2.5 million from Sri Lanka’s Treasury highlights a dangerous evolution in financial crime: the manipulation of trusted communication over traditional hacking. With investigations pointing toward compromised emails and “privilege creep,” the incident underscores a global reality where 80% of breaches involve identity misuse. As Sri Lanka’s digital transformation accelerates, this heist serves as a critical wake-up call

Ranil Wickremesinghe case: Interest groups question legality of setting up Trial-at-Bar

The Joint Opposition has raised concerns regarding the government’s proposal to setup a three-judge Trial-at-Bar to take up the case against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The case against Wickremesinghe is the alleged misappropriation of state funds during a visit to Britain to attend his wife’s doctorate graduation.

Focus on Electronic Vehicles: Sri Lanka: A second bite at the cherry

Nothing in recent human history has dominated the life of a human being than the motor car. Be it war, peace, exploration, or any kind of humanitarian activity, they have always increased in efficiency due to the motor car and of course its internal combustion engine. Even though the motorcar was developed into a luxurious car in the European countries, including Germany and England, it is not until Henry Ford came up with this Model T, “a car fo

When Reform Outpaces Readiness

The recent “money hacking” incident at Sri Lanka’s Finance Ministry has cast a long and uncomfortable shadow over the government’s reform narrative. It is not merely the breach itself that alarms, but its timing—coming in the wake of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s press release formally transferring public debt management responsibilities to the Finance Ministry. What was projected as a structural reform aligned with international best practice

Pakistan’s peacemaking puzzle: Bridging the US-Iran trust deficit

When a trust deficit exists between Iran and the United States, a peace deal between them — ceasefire notwithstanding — is not worth the paper it is written on. Pakistan, elevated to a rare peacemaker role, appears to be drawing on every guideline in the textbook of diplomacy to sell peace to two sworn enemies burdened by five decades of enmity. Islamabad deserves appreciation for undertaking a challenging task in peace diplomacy.

Alleged USD 2.5 million payment and concerns regarding the Treasury

I refer to the erroneous payment of USD 2.5 by the Treasury which translates to nearly Rs. 800 million, a staggering loss by any standard. Such an error cannot be dismissed as routine oversight; it reflects negligence of the highest order. In any properly governed payment process, several basic controls are non-negotiable. Before settling a liability, officers are expected to verify the agreement, confirm the identity of the creditor, check the d

If only every street dog in the world was treated like Aloka…

Sri Lanka is once again in the global spotlight with the ‘Ehipassiko’ Global Walk for Peace currently parading the streets across the country. Led by Ven. Pannakara Thera, the Walk commenced in October 2025 when monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Centre in Texas walked 2,300+ miles to Washington DC. The main objective of this Walk is to promote unity, compassion and mindfulness amidst social division.

Coal deal: Did the NPP lose its moral high ground?

Flaws in procedures in procurement of 14,000 carrom boards and 11,000 checkers (Damm) boards landed former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando in jail last year. Would a similar scenario take place in the case regarding the coal procurement controversy, landing Kumara Jayakody, the Energy Minister of the National People Power (NPP) government, in prison?

Why Colombo Must Transition to Solar Street Lighting?

Amid prevailing dry weather conditions and the urgent need to conserve grid electricity, a significant number of street lights across Colombo remain switched off. While the intention to save energy is understandable, the unintended consequences of inadequate street lighting are both serious and far-reaching.