Sri Lanka, the US and what the future holds

The US has been grappling with the problem of how to advance its interests in the world, and throughout much of the 20th century the question boiled down to the debate between the realists and the idealists.

Defeated Trump: the selfish emperor without clothes

With the Covid-19 pandemic still raging and the second wave being worse than the first,the United States President Donald Trump is still refusing to concede defeat and is continuing to underplay or undermine the pandemic as he did when it first erupted in January this year.

Muslims’ dilemma on ethnic politics

Many Muslims in Sri Lanka might have agreed at least for a moment with the Sinhalese who are against ethnicity based politics when six Muslim Parliamentarians voted in favour of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution Bill on October 22, breaking rank with Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) under which they returned to the Parliament.

Muslims gutted by banning of burials

There is something positively vile about a government that goes out of its way, in the midst of a global pandemic to hurt the most core sentiments of a religious community. During the pandemic Sri Lanka is the one among abysmally few countries in the world that has explicitly disallowed burials.

Taking responsibility during an hour of need - EDITORIAL

We’re in the thick of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the call is for all citizens to act responsibly. This is a bit hard to demand....

COVID colonialism: Vaccines are coming, but first to the rich

In what could be the beginning of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been given the glad tiding that vaccines for the most dangerous....

Gota’s no-frills first year, whines and whiners

It was obviously not a year that made for pomp and pageantry, even if that was the desire. All issues have been either framed or impacted by Covid19. In any case, he’s not, for example, a Mahinda Rajapaksa. Covid-19 of course was so sobering that the contrast was lost.

Trump’s mixed signals; Supporters resort to violence

Pope Francis, the Head of the Catholic Church, was among the several world leaders—who included Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron,

Caught between the devil and the deep murky sea

During the past 8 months, fishing has been hit appallingly by the coronavirus. During the first wave of the epidemic, the issues were low prices, low production and incomes due to curfews, lockdowns, etc.,

Sight of drones and failed communication

The month of November in 1989 was colder than in past years. It was in fact chilling from a metaphorical sense.

“DEVA KOPAYA” (THE ANGER OF GOD!)

Could anyone be surprised at the ANGER OF GOD? Some heartless, unscrupulous people seize any opportunity they can to STEAL from the unsuspecting.

In the US, the chickens are coming home to roost - EDITORIAL

The US elections are over, but not quite done and dusted as many would like to think. On 14 November the media announced former US Vice President....

Drone vs privacy concerns

Drones became the latest high-tech gizmo added to Sri Lanka’s fight to collar COVID-19. Last week it was announced that drones were being used to monitor....

Colombo Chief medical Officer reveals Colombo Chief medical Officer reveals

Colombo’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni, after conducting a series of random PCR tests in the Colombo City, had said days ago that there may be more than 30,000 people infected with COVID-19 in the City of Colombo. Dr. Wijemuni told media that around 300 people in the city had been randomly selected for a PCR test and that fi

Compulsory cremation of Covid-19 dead bodies of Muslims: Science, human decency and racism

Biden bursts the bubble of populism

When Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban said in September that rooting for the re-election of Donald Trump was his ‘Plan A’, he was probably echoing the sentiments of most of the world’s populist, autocratic leaders. They hoped for four mor

COVID-19: Govt. at a crossroads on the issue of burial

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) appears to be on the horns of a dilemma over whether it should allow Muslims to bury (as per their religious beliefs) those who had died of COVID-19, or if they should be required to submit to cremation, eve

City of COVID-19: Colombo’s isolated areas need special attention

The COVID-19 pandemic has a devastating effect on Colombo life, with the continuing second wave and the Peliyagoda wholesale fish market......

The first Ceylonese Migrant family Down Under

Last Wednesday Daily Mirror reported about a Sri Lanka-born Doctor being named Queensland’s ‘Australian of the Year’.

Growing fatalities and misleading claims - EDITORIAL

A little over a month ago —4 October 2020— a new outbreak of the Coronavirus was detected at a Brandix factory in Minuwangoda.

Health workforce: The greatest asset amidst pandemic

A lot has been written on the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these portray the dangers of acquiring the infection.

US Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s Key Sri Lankan Tamil Aide

An overwhelming feeling of relief has descended upon the world-not merely the US- after the Presidential elections of the United States of America ended.

How can we stem the spread of the Coronavirus in prisons?

According to media reports, as at 10 November 2020, 109 prisoners and two officers have tested positive for COVID-19 at Welikada, Bogambara and Matara prisons.

Biden ushers in a time to heal and revive America’s soul

The white House has virtually been turned into a white-washed sepulchre with the defeated President Donald Trump refusing to concede defeat as traditionally done in the United States which is considered by the free world as a model democracy with checks and balances.

‘Brewing tea’ during the pandemic - EDITORIAL

The COVID-19 pandemic serves us with a wake-up call. How? It teaches us that we have to save up for harder times.

US Republican Party’s soul in danger as Trump plays last card

What has happened to the Republican Party? Picking Donald Trump in 2016 as the Republican candidate, giving him victory in primary after primary.....

Burial or cremation: Where is the experts’ opinion?

The issue of burial of bodies of people who had died of COVID-19 has again surfaced with unconfirmed reports to say that the Cabinet has approved the burial....

The 19th, 20th and Judicial appointments

Draconian. Dictatorial. Authoritarian. Hitler-like. These are the words that were used when Gotabaya Rajapaksa first announced the decision to contest, throughout the election campaign and even now, as he approaches one year in office.

COVID-19 is refusing to go, so is Donald Trump

It is no secret that this incarnation of the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading even more rapidly across the country and according to the research carried out by scientists at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, this strain is more virulent than the one that invaded the country in early March.

Don favours MMPR system for new Constitution

The 20th Amendment that was incorporated into the constitution is now operational. The Parliamentary Council which replaced the previous Constitutional Council is now in place. Now, the experts’ committee appointed to work out a totally new constitution has gotten down to business. The evolution of a new electoral system in place of the present proportional representation system as part of the new constitution is being discussed. The Government a