Decline of the fifth precept

I had been invited to the home of one of Colombo’s most wealthy and distinguished families for a dana (alms-giving). They told me they were particularly interested in having a suduhamdru visit and that the man of the house had a deep interest in Dhamma.

Terrorism: Turning calamities into blessings - EDITORIAL

With Sri Lanka still suffering from the after effects of the 30-year war against LTTE terrorists and the April 21 Easter Sunday bombings by terrorists linked to the Islamic State, Wednesday, August 21 will be an important day....

Unconditional basic income: Small step but a quantum leap

Human well-being is in crisis: whether we look at the way men are these days or how women fit into the current paradigm, how children survive, how the old are treated and the way the LGBTI community....

Election promises and what must be changed

We have read much about what potential election candidates and Pohottuwa party’s Gotabaya Rajapaksa have had to say these days. Now its the turn for these presidential hopefuls to read the minds of voters and check out their needs. Given that Sri Lanka is debt-ridden, the country’s citizens are concerned about lawmakers spending lavishly on elections propaganda. Right now we see many posters

Presidential poll: A holistic view of security

The upcoming presidential election is likely to be decided on one key issue – security. The candidate who the voters will perceive to be the most suitable to ensure their security and that of the country will win the election and become the president, the head of state, the head of government and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Security is a condition that assures an indivi

Past haunts presidential hopefuls

On the eve of the 1988 presidential election, it was rumoured that J.R. Jayewardene – who had by then assumed office twice as President – was planning to re-contest despite the Constitution introduced by him in 1978 provided for an individual to hold presidency only twice. The Constitution says: “No per

UNP in crisis even without Gota

Sunday in Colombo was Gotabaya’s day. Monday in Badulla was Sajith’s. Tuesday, it was reported, Ranil had his day with Sajith hurrying to meet his leader. Wednesday it was Poya for all to prove they are pious Sinhala Buddhists. All these days people became and for days to come they will become hoarse and agitated, cheering their pet candidate at every public appearance they make.

Presidential elections and the Gota factor

There is a positive vibe generated in the political scene after the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) announced former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the party’s presidential candidate.

Alliance partners at a loss over UNP’s internal crisis

Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa took a step further in staking a bid for presidential candidacy- that is by holding a rally in Badulla on August 12, 2019. It is still uncertain whether he will receive nomination with the blessing of the party leadership. Let alone, the Badulla rally virtually turned out to be his maiden public event in view of the

A questionnaire for Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

Dear Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, what do you have to say about the murder of Lasantha Wickramatunga (Never mind that Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sarath Fonseka was involved)? What do you have to say about white vans? Ekneligoda? Thajudeen? And how about the mausoleum built for your late parents?

Appreciating the role of women in humanitarian crises - EDITORIAL

Thy famous author Ernest Hemmingway in one of his bestselling books titled For whom the bells toll, makes a challenging and prophetic proclamation which we need to deeply reflect on. He says: “I belong to humanity and every person’s death diminishes me.” But during the past century especially, a large number of countries and people appear to have worked completely

Examining America’s ‘gifts’ ACSA, SOFA and MCC under fire

Three controversial agreements with Sri Lanka – devised by the United States –came under fire from diverse quarters last Friday. If the Acquisition & Cross Service Agreement (ACSA) – inked in August 2017, the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) – said to be ‘under negotiation’ since August 2018 and the Millennium Challenge Corporation grant (recently approved by the

SOLIDARITY

“This is no time to talk of hedges and fields, or the beauties of any country. Sadness and fear and hate, how they well up in the heart and mind!!!” Delving into Alan Paton’s ‘Cry the Beloved Country’ we certainly do have to cry for our beloved country, the ignominy, the blatant disregard for truth and justice, the dauntless power struggle, the huge sums of money donated for the

SLPP’s mobile app and curious permission requests

Social media is going to be one big melee towards the end of this year. With elections closing in, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have become the other frontier in Sri Lankan election campaigning, far more potent, effective and yet more vulnerable to manipulation than five years back.

Ragging in universities: Academical institutions turn torture camps

Another story about ragging in universities had made headlines last week. 19 senior students of Ruhuna University were remanded after being arrested over an incident where a new student from Gampaha had been inhumanly tortured during ragging. They had been arrested after the victim student, seemingly a courageous boy had published the nightmare he had to undergo in

Let youth be armed with education, not guns

It is essential for the youth to play a key role in major issues such as poverty alleviation through a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources, the battle against global warming or climate change and disarmament especially the dismantling of nuclear weapons. In Some countries the young people including teenagers are indeed playing major roles. For instance the Swedish teenager Greta Thunb

Tale of two political parties

The Pohottuwa’s inaugural national convention held on Sunday was plain-dealing, so to speak. Ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa took over the leadership of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and then announced that his younger brother Gotabaya would be the party candidate for the forthcoming presidential election. No one fretted about internal party democracy or the lack of it. None cried wolf over nepotism. Almost every soul in the audience list

Revisiting “Maharaja Gemunu” Dutugemunu and Elara on screen

Jayantha Chandrasiri’s Maharaja Gemunu opens with a shot of the Ruwanwelisaya at dusk and the hero’s famous justification for the campaign he’s embarked on: “I fought a war, not because I loved the shedding of blood, nor because I believed that the strong are the victors, but because of the need to protect my faith, and my country, for the sake of humanity.” This is of course different from the justification the author of the Mahavamsa puts into

Kashmir conflict India’s action is like a curate’s egg: partly good, partly bad

On August 5, the Narendra Modi-government in India took three momentous, unprecedented and simultaneous steps vis-à-vis the Muslim-majority North Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir(J and K) having borders with hostile Pakistan and China. Firstly, it abrogated Art 370 and Art 3

Continuing turmoil in Hong Kong - EDITORIAL

Over the past two-and-a-half months Hong Kong, a former British colony and now a part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), has been in a continual state of turmoil. Demonstrations in Hong Kong....

Hide and seek shifts from Tennakumbura to Mirihana

In the midst of rising public support for former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the SLPP’s Presidential candidate especially from sections of floating voter has attracted a few ‘clandestine’ flirtings by senior members of SLFP and UNP.....

Remembering Lakshman Kadirgamar And his contribution towards media

Much has been spoken and written, and much has been left unsaid about the late Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, a great son of Sri Lanka the country unfortunately lost.

Promoting a cycling culture in Sri Lanka

Colombo Mayoress Rosy Senanayake’s recent initiative to promote a cycling culture in Colombo is admirable, but if it’s to bring about any kind of change to Colombo’s notoriously conservative, unimaginative.....

In search of a true Sri Lankan identity

People will always believe what they want to, how they want to and when they want to. The events of Easter Sunday (April 21, 2019) triggered a process in Sri Lanka which has exposed the entire Sri Lankan Muslim....

Changing our food culture for climate change - EDITORIAL

More than two thousand five hundred years ago, Gautama the Buddha promoted vegetarianism – not only because we need to stop killing animals especially cattle, but also because a plant-based diet is better and more nutritious for people.

The dismal state of politics in Sri Lanka

Yahapalanaya regime ascended to power on the plank of eradicating corruption. It was widely alleged that a coterie of ruling elites of the last regime became law unto themselves. What happened in the aftermath under MS/RW....

Fighting over a toothless Presidency The perks of the original Presidency is intact… are the parties vying for them?

Will former President Mahinda Rajapaksa nominate his brother and former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Sunday for the candidacy of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) for the forthcoming Presidential election?

Populist waves and political fortunes - EDITORIAL

Lawmaker Sajith Premadasa has decided to break away from the shackles placed on him and think for himself. At present Sajith is much talked about after he showed his intentions of contesting the much-looked-forward-to presidential elections.

Will Tamils, Muslims vote for the next President

Sri Lanka caught deep in a geopolitical conflict between the two economic giants with a heavily polarised society Presidential elections in January 2015 saw both Tamils and Muslims polling almost en bloc, perhaps for the first time in such a manner at any election. It was an open protest vote packed with anger against the Rajapaksa regime. So much so, women’s polling

Kashmir: Modi drags India into Hindutva fascism

Narendra Modi could have been right, only if he had acted democratically with the consent of the Kashmiri people. His supporters may point out that in repealing Kashmir’s special autonomous status, Modi acted democratically.....