Mahawamsa and Buddha’s visits to Lanka - EDITORIAL

The Mahawamsa or the Great chronicle of Lanka does not start with the account of Vijaya, the first recorded king of the country. The Vijaya story only begins in the sixth chapter of the book under....

“Election Phobia” and Easter Sunday Massacre: Two Threaten to Disclose Facts

We wrote on these columns, under the heading “Election Phobia? Only one Cure; Face It… ”, on February 7, 2019, when the Yahapalana government kept postponing Provincial Council (PC) elections. Dictionary....

Background to the Coup d’état conspiracy of 1962

This January is the 60th anniversary of what has come to be known as the 1962 Coup or Coup d’état of Sri Lanka known formerly as Ceylon.

Non-violence is mightier than the mightiest weapon

During the nearly 30-year civil war and the two armed insurrections led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankan people were killed or injured while an equal number were left in deprivation and destitution, desolation and social degradation.

Britain says Sri Lanka needs good governance and equal rights for all

Kumar Sangakkara, a sportsperson both our countries greatly admire, spoke passionately about ‘different ethnicities and religions who celebrate their diversity by uniting for a common cause’. Naturally, he was talking about cricket,

IMF may be a Shylock, but Lanka should do what is right

As the global recession resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the International Monetary Fund is once again in a commanding position to reshape the world economy – also politics – and revisit those growing economies which had not so long ago snubbed it.

recent Child disappearances and naive parents

In the recent past there were reports of several children going missing and being found later. Children going missing is a sensitive topic. It’s heartbreaking when that happens. The most recent one was a 15-year-old girl who went missing in Maharagama. She later surfaced when the police released her photo to the media seeking help to trace her.

Did fear of defeat prompt government to postpone LG polls?

Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Thennakoon has not given, as he is not legally required to, any reason for the term extension of local government bodies, till March 19, next year.

Remembering Lasantha Wickramatunga - EDITORIAL

On January 8, 2022 was marked the 13th anniversary of Lasantha Wickramatunga’s assassination in broad daylight at Ratmalana....

Who’s benefiting from govt’s economic policy at whose expense?

If the government policy or something that remotely smacks as such is an overwhelming incorrigibility, its economic policy wins.....

Shaky deals and misdeeds in the fuel industry

The price of fuel was increased to reduce usage, but a new problem has emerged. Drivers claim that fuel available these days burns faster and the maximum speeds of vehicles have decreased and vehicles are subject to defects. Several drivers said they suspect several vehicles went up in flames in different areas due to poor quality fuel. “We are not sure whether the Governm

Tourism vs Omicronism - EDITORIAL

Sixteen thousand tourists visited Sri Lanka in the first week of January, according to Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. It appears....

How do you report your own editor’s murder?

The visual details of this moment are really fuzzy. The only recollection I have is that of a pixelated room. In contrast, I remember....

Mega SWAP facilities could push Sri Lanka to a more severe debt trap: Dr. W. A Wijewardena

Sri Lanka’s current economic meltdown-aggravated by the existing dollar crisis, soaring cost of living and a possible shortage of food....

Prepare the masses for the looming dangers

The COVID-19 situation in the country is such that the media has stopped releasing daily tally of new infections. The number of new infections has been almost static between 500 and 700 for several weeks instilling confidence in the general public while withering away the media enthusiasm on the pandemic. But, are we out of the woods? Going by the latest reports in the Western developed countries where the leaders hoarded several folds vaccine

“Tourism” needs sustainable and eco-friendly development plan

What has tourism to do with “national development?” How valid and accurate are claims about tourism contributing to development? “A major breakthrough” is how Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had proudly announced Sri Lanka recording nearly 200,000 tourist arrivals in 2021 amidst the pandemic, reported Daily FT on January 3, 2022. The news re

Rajapaksa popularity facing a drop but I believe it is temporary: Namal

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Namal Rajapaksa has said Sri Lanka would ease all crises this year and come out of the woods as the Government hoped to revive the tourism sector and.....

Growing authoritarianism in Lanka - for whose good? - EDITORIAL

Since independence, Sri Lankans have enjoyed a relatively high degree of democratic rights and freedom. From time to time, however governments of various hues and shades have....

Susil, a turning point? - Uniting ‘Green-Thinkers’, ‘Jubilee Hoot’

Electronic Media knew Susil Premajayantha was buying Veggies at Delkanda. “I was asked by a journalist on vegetable prices and I said the government’s agriculture policy has been a failure. I was....

Seven Tamil Parties Seek Modi’s Help for Implementing 13-A in Full

In a significant political move, seven political parties mainly representing the Sri Lankan Tamils of the Northern and Eastern provinces have written a joint letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

Realising the truth when sidelined

The sacking of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion State Minister Susil Premajayantha from that post by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on January 4 over a statement he had made seems to be message to the other dissidents within the government as well.

Outrage of poverty: Simple lifestyle is part of the solution

For 2022 one of the world’s most important missions is the eradication or alleviation of poverty. At present it is known that about 10 super billionaires own or control about 70 per cent of the world’s wealth and resources. This is created by the globalized capitalist market economic system which is designed to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

SL simply can’t continue asking for financial assistance from China -Palitha Kohona

Sri Lankan ambassador to Beijing Dr. Palitha Kohona speaks to Daily Mirror regarding the present status of Sino-Lanka bilateral.....

Why people need a facility like Galle Face Green - EDITORIAL

In the thick of the doom and the gloom people are experiencing at present due to the shortcomings of the Government...

Lanka’s geopolitical course correction to overcome economic crisis

Just as a drowning man will clutch at a straw, the Sri Lankan government is now seizing upon every avenue that comes it way.....

Can the Govt. prevent 2021’s baggage of woes overflowing into 2022?

Despite several countries including India scaling down or cancelling their New Year celebrations in the face of the fast-spreading Omicron viral infection; thousands of Sri Lankans, having thrown the much publicized health guidelines to the wind, were seen dancing and dining their cares away at the Galle Face Green, 5-star hotels and at parks and roadsides to herald the New Year with a bang and a blast of good cheer.

Claims and demands: The flip side of  longing for ‘belonging’

Two weeks ago, I dwelled on the grief and anxiety experienced by our nation (“One Country, One Law’ in an aggrieved and anxious nation”), pointing out that all communities,

Pedophiles, the rich, the powerful and Ghislaine Maxwell - EDITORIAL

‘Vocabulary.com’ describes pedophiles as persons who are sexually attracted to children. Most pedophiles also rape and molest....

Desmond Tutu: A willing friend that Sri Lanka never had

Desmond Tutu is not just one man. He is a larger than life representative of an Era. Not just a by-standing, passive representative....

Did absence of regulator send gas industry up in flames?

The failure of respective governments since 2012 to grant legal status to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka to regulate....