The state should protect its citizens

Recently, the Supreme Court declared that the former Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Hasalaka Police Station had violated the Fundamental Rights of a woman who was arrested and detained for wearing an item of clothing bearing a ship’s wheel, which was mistakenly interpreted as a depiction of the Dhammachakra.

The Unravelling of a Presidency: Why Gotabaya Rajapaksa Failed in 2022

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s meteoric rise to the presidency in 2019 was built on a formidable reputation. As the Defence Secretary credited with orchestrating the decisive victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, and for his perceived efficiency in beautifying Colombo, he embodied the promise of strong and decisive leadership.

A lament on Sri Lanka’s public service

Much has been spoken about Sri Lanka’s administrative service and its culture of lethargy and inefficiency. While certain citizens have had the privilege of getting the required services within a span of a few hours or in one day, most citizens have experiences of walking in to government offices on multiple rounds to obtain a simple document.

Sri Lanka wins top travel award despite twisted history

Sri Lanka is at present cock-a-hoop after topping the list in a survey done to find out the 50 best islands to travel to. Sri Lanka fared extremely well in this survey, conducted by www.enjotravel.com

What happens to our bus services at night?

As early as eight-to-nine p.m., one can see so many people walking for miles at night on Colombo streets. This is because there are no buses plying even on some of the major routes. If this is the situation in Colombo, it must be worse out of Colombo and in distant areas.

Proposed Education reforms: A momentous opportunity that should not fall victim to cheap politics

The government’s proposed education reforms, in their snippets that are still available for public knowledge, appear to be transformative.

NPP’s ten months - promises fulfilled and hopes hanging fire

On September 21, 2024, the National People’s Power (NPP)’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), was elected president of this country.

Safe Sea Swimming Pools: A Lifesaving Initiative

I want to express my appreciation to the Sri Lankan Army for declaring July 29 as Sea Shore Cleaning Day. This initiative showcases the Army’s commitment to protecting our environment and ensuring the well-being of our citizens. Kudos to the Army for taking the lead in keeping our shores clean and safe for seabathers!

Will the promised Constitutional reform see the light of day?

Despite every government since the nineteen sixties having promised to replace the existing Constitution with a new one, only two governments did so, but only to be rejected soon, resulting in an eternal pursuit of a new Constitution.

A way out of card transaction charges

It was recently reported that, according to Wasantha Alwis, Director of Payments and Settlements at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), companies have no legal right to impose additional charges—typically ranging from 2.5% to 3%—on customers for transactions made using credit or debit cards.

Universal adult franchise - an ideal not realised even in democracies

Adult franchise, or Universal Adult Suffrage, refers to the right of all adult citizens to vote, regardless of gender, race, caste, religion, education, or income. It ensures that each adult has an equal voice in choosing leaders and shaping public policy. It is deemed to be a fundamental feature of a democracy.

Nothing of worth in RW Education Reforms rebranded as “NPP”

Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister of this NPP government, travelling around marketing “her education reforms” says, they would be implemented from January 2026 despite false accusations, criticisms and protests. She is yet to release the complete draft of the proposed “Education Reforms”. What has now been hastily released through social media is a PowerPoint (PPT) presentation that the Ministry of Education (MoE) perhaps

A Bold Foray into Education Reforms in a Corrupt Society

Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Prime Minister holding the Education Portfolio, has made a bold foray into education reforms. We all know how grave and intractable the problems are, crying for urgent resolution. Right-thinking Sri Lankans wish her success.

Sri Lanka’s enduring struggle Reasons for our post-independence underdevelopment

​Sri Lanka, an island nation blessed with abundant natural beauty and a strategically vital location, has, for over 77 years since gaining independence, remained entrenched in the category of a developing country.

History: A Double-Edged Sword EDUCATION - Safeguard Child’s Birthright to Create

Every child is born with the same creative power. This is not just a nice idea—it is a fact. All human brains, no matter what race, religion, or class can imagine, invent, and create. The genius we see in great artists and inventors lives inside every child, waiting to grow.

Victims of Black July and Easter Sunday await justice

As the month of July 2025 draws to a close, it is a good time to reminisce on the events of July 1983, which led to the coining of the term ‘Black July’ in our country.

Public Nuisance: Huge Containers on City Roads during Peak Hours

Through your esteemed publication, I would like to bring to the attention of the concerned authorities a pressing issue that affects the daily lives of commuters in our city. The placement of huge containers on city roads during peak hours, specifically between 4 pm and 9 pm, has become a significant public nuisance.

The “Weeping Widow” who Became the World’s First Woman Prime Minister

History was made 65 years ago in July 1960 when 44 year old Sirimavo Bandaranaike assumed office as the prime minister of Sri Lanka known then as Ceylon. Sirimavo shattered a glass ceiling by becoming the world’s first elected woman prime minister. It is said that the British press coined a new word “stateswoman” after Sirimavo became PM.

Cracking down on corruption and need for changed strategies

Prior to 2023, it was a very rare instance for parliamentarians, ministers or presidents of this country to be held responsible for crimes they committed wittingly or unwittingly. It had become a culture where politicians could even commit murder with impunity. Police inquiries and judicial sentences were halted or overturned on political affiliation.

The story of mass graves in Sri Lanka

The reports about finding skeletal remains of children from what now seems to be a mass grave at Chemmani, the entrance to Jaffna city, inevitably remind the writer of a similar scenario that occurred some forty years ago, in 1984.

Why Wait? Give Gen-Alpha a Head Start in Language Learning

Hon. Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, recently informed Parliament of the Government’s plan to make Sinhala compulsory as a second language for Tamil-medium students, and Tamil for Sinhala-medium students, from Grade 6 to Grade 9 in all government schools.

Is independence from political influence overrated?

Sri Lankans, at least those who engage with the esoterica of lawmaking, appear to think highly of independence from political influence. The 17th Amendment to the Constitution which was forced on President Kumaratunga by the JVP in 2001 introduced the novel institution of the Constitutional Council.

Human-Elephant conflict Assam’s story is an eye-opener

Sri Lanka is at the forefront of the human-elephant conflict (HEC), with 130 people and 380 elephants dying as a result last year. This is the highest HEC death toll reported from anywhere. But we are not the only country affected by this issue, and this is an attempt to take a comparative look at other affected countries.

All eyes on education reforms, but teachers also must ‘grow’

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is planning many reforms to make education in the country a pleasant and rewarding experience. This is what we gather when we read about what President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Premier Harini Amarasuriya have to say about education reforms through our browsing of newspapers. We are made to understand that the government is planning to change the education system from being an exam related one to a module ba

R2P RIP; its grave is in Gaza

Responsibility to protect—protect whom? The vulnerable, facing imminent death. We had heard the term before. It was once fashionable in political discourse to invoke the concept—stylishly abbreviated as R2P—when powers, both big and not so big, cited it to justify interventions ostensibly on humanitarian grounds. To be seen as benevolent, after all, they thought, would enhance their international standing as do-gooders.

Garbage crisis at Armour Street flats and CMC’s inaction

Despite a formal complaint lodged on July 10, 2025 with the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) — including its senior officers, the Commissioner, and the Mayoress—the mounting garbage within the precincts of Armour Street Flat remains uncleared as of today (July 24, 2025). This was followed up with WhatsApp/SMS messages and phone calls, yet no meaningful action has been taken.

Removal of an IGP, a first for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is in the process of witnessing the removal of an Inspector General of Police (IGP). The decision to remove IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon came about when he was found guilty of serious allegations by a constitutionally appointed Committee of Inquiry, setting the stage for an unprecedented parliamentary vote on his removal. According to Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, “this is the first time in the history of the Republic of Sri Lanka that such a c

Climate Change Catastrophe: Are We Ready?

The time has come to face a harsh truth: climate change is no longer a distant threat — it is here, and it is having disastrous consequences.

America at 250: Democracy’s Promise and Contradictions

As the United States begins its 250th year of existence, it finds itself in the midst of what many observers describe as a profound political, social, intellectual and cultural transformation. The great democratic principles that were proclaimed in Jefferson’s famous document—principles which inspired not only the struggle against the British monarchy, but also the Second American Revolution of 1861-65 that abolished slavery—face significant chal

Why do ‘civil society champions’  want to shut down Chabad Houses?

A recent curious occurrence should baffle discerning Sri Lankans. Local civil society activists and religious freedom advocates, who at other times decry the ‘Sinhala Buddhist Supremism’, are now campaigning to shut down Jewish Chabad houses in the country.