Fri, 29 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Marc Ruskin

Dailymirror Online

Oh, the times we live! - EDITORIAL

18 Feb 2019 - 1     - 1088

On Friday, US President Donald Trump declared a state of national emergency in the United States. The president is in search of a means to provide himself with funds to construct a 230-mile long wall between the US and Mexico.


Race for AI dominance heats up

18 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1106

Last Monday President Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Maintaining American leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI)’. This new policy is based on five main principles, first of which firmly outlines....


ART OF WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

18 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1014

We are now in an age when anyone with a basic working knowledge of a digital camera can take pretty pictures of wildlife. To take that special picture, however, the one that results in a sharp intake of breath, not just at the perfection....


The Day We Screamed: Thinking outside the box

18 Feb 2019 - 0     - 736

The Day We Screamed is an important multi-media exhibition. Held at the Theertha ‘Red Dot’ Art Gallery, it brought together paintings, sculptures, etchings, collages and images of performance events from the 1990.....


IPC’s Decriminalizing Section 377: India’s LGBTIQ community feel victorious yet?

18 Feb 2019 - 0     - 623

Five months after Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was decriminalised, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) community still feels the stigma and discrimination lurking around.


LET’S PROTECT THE MIRROR OF OUR SOUL

18 Feb 2019 - 0     - 615

According to a Japanese proverb face is considered as the mirror of our souls. True to this fact, we all know, our face reflects almost all the hidden secrets of our body and mind. Not only that, face and....


Madush Underworld and free market economy

15 Feb 2019 - 0     - 3038

The arrest in Dubai of Makandure Madush and a few others wanted here in Sri Lanka for drug trafficking and murder, first made stories in media giving credit to different persons for the “meticulously planned” arrest.


Madush a product of the system

15 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1811

Deputy Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, who was in hot water in July last year for praising the one-time administration by the LTTE before it was militarily decimated, told a few days ago that it was the southern politicians....


Odissi Dance Recital

15 Feb 2019 - 0     - 660

Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, High Commission of India, Colombo will be presenting Ms Meghna Das, an Odissi exponent from India on February 18, 2019, at 6.00 p.m. at SVCC auditorium located at 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 07.


Demolition and development

15 Feb 2019 - 0     - 890

Mankind has made progress over the centuries. However, most if not all progress made is not a figment of imagination in the minds of our ancestors. Yet, what we experience today will in future be surpassed without a shadow of doubt.


Reflections on Sri Lanka’s two nationalisms

15 Feb 2019 - 0     - 607

Depending on how you see it, Sri Lanka is either a nation of many cultures or a culture of many nations: Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and so forth. It is up to us to construct an identity transcending petty...


Right of reply: National Government: Committee Stage Amendments to 19th A

15 Feb 2019 - 0     - 507

The following is a reply penned by eminent Lawyer President’s Counsel Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne to the article titled ‘The ‘Honorable’ Speaker and the Spirit of Democracy’and penned by Malinda Seneviratne which appeared in the Daily Mirror of February 7, 2019.


Can Dubai teach Sri Lanka lessons on drugs? - EDITORIAL

15 Feb 2019 - 0     - 2001

The drug issue in Sri Lanka made everybody look beyond drug lord Makandure Madush because a leading musician and his son were also among those arrested in Dubai. 


Nuclear holocaust: Clock ticks closer to midnight

15 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1086

Hibakusha in Japanese means bomb-affected persons and the word is exclusively used to refer to the survivors of atomic explosions at Hiroshima or Nagasaki in August 1945.


EXHIBITION

14 Feb 2019 - 0     - 581

‘A CROSS SECTION,’ an exhibition of contemporary Sri Lankan art to mark the Iran-Sri Lanka friendship week, will open at the Iran Cultural Centre on Feb. 17 at 5.00 pm. The exhibition will continue until Feb. 24 and is organised by the  Theertha Artists’ Collective in collaboration with the Iran Cultural Centre.


On the trail of the Ava Group

14 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1956

Nine years after the defeat of the tiger rebels we still hear stories about disgruntled Tamil citizens demanding justice and also of attempts by certain parties to give hero status to rebel cadres who perished during the conflict. 


Election-fearing democrats and the PC conundrum

14 Feb 2019 - 1     - 999

The call for several decades has been the abolition of the executive presidency. It’s as if the one and only problem this country has had is this office, its powers, functions and those who hold it. An all-powerful presidency that makes a mockery of the division of power among the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the state is certainly a problem. 


Have we done enough for Lester?

14 Feb 2019 - 0     - 881

Sri Lankans who watched the state funeral accorded to Lester James Peries (LJP), the filmmaker, hailed as the architect of authentic Sinhala cinema and creator of some of the best Sinhala films, greatly appreciated t he glowing tributes showered on him during the funeral. The comments came from the highest in the Land. And the eulogies did not stop there.


Let’s return to our traditional ways of farming

14 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1086

Exactly ten days ago Sri Lanka celebrated its 71st Anniversary of Independence. But in the hustle and bustle and the pomp and pageantry of the Independence Day celebrations it appears that the life and times of our nation’s founding father, Don Stephen Senanayake, the most outstanding political leader ever produced by the 


A charade: National Government

14 Feb 2019 - 0     - 978

The latest shenanigan of this kind is the government’s on-going ploy to form a ‘National Government’, farcically enough, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the only Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) member in Parliament (Ali Zahir Mowlana, the Digamadulla District Parliamentarian is the only SLMC MP who 


Male children exposed to higher risk of abuse

14 Feb 2019 - 0     - 3292

Child abuse in Sri Lanka is increasing at an alarming rate despite efforts by Government and non-government bodies to safeguard children. Experts say that many cases of abuse have gone unreported and available statistics do not represent all incidents.


India shows neutrality in dealing with SL politics

14 Feb 2019 - 1     - 889

The February 9 thought conclave conducted by The Hindu newspaper of India in Bangalore included a blend of speakers representing different shades of opinion. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had been invited to deliver the inaugural address between 10.00 am and 11.00 am on February 9, and the topic was ‘the future of India- Sri Lanka ties’.


From worms in food to jilted lovers, the first recourse is social media

13 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1206

Last week one of the Sri Lankan journalists, Rahul Samantha Hettiarchchi from Hambantota, whom I have worked with for a long time, had the worst type of experience in byline theft.   


Next Presidential Election: Who will win in a three-cornered fight?

13 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1950

The social media is quite busy. One of its main political thrusts has been towards promoting one single individual of the United National Party (UNP). And that is Sajith Premadasa, the incumbent Housing and Cultural Affairs Minister, the son of the late Ranasinghe Premadasa. Ranasinghe Premadasa was a totally different kettle of fish. 


A NATION’S PRIDE?

13 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1164

The pride of the nation was historically displayed on February 4 with the tri-forces and police taking pride of place. Seventy-one years of Independence is indeed a cause for celebration, but the question is with the country in such economic and political chaos, did it warrant a celebration of the calibre put on display? After all, the people of 


Sinharaja suffers from tourist development

13 Feb 2019 - 0     - 3102

When you put away all the modern conveniences for a few days to step into a rainforest, you don’t expect the trip to be comfortable. It’s raining, it’s hot, you’re dirty, but you feel more alive once you have arrived in Sri Lanka’s largest rainforest, Sinharaja, thanks to its unique ecosystem and rich biodiversity. Walking under the tall 


Man hours lost due to traffic congestion

13 Feb 2019 - 0     - 2233

Let us admit it, even grudgingly, that the Rajagiriya flyover helped ease traffic in and around the area. However, it also created a minus. The ease of traffic due to the flyover and its panoramic view tempted thousands of those who had been avoiding Rajagiriya, due to traffic snarls earlier, to venture into the route again. 


Sri Lanka after 70 Years of Independence

11 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1462

Sri Lanka celebrated its 71st Independence Day last week. We remember this day with pride as the day we regained our political autonomy. Indeed, that is surely something to be celebrated.


Sri Lanka’s National Security Think Tank: Ranked in the Global Think Tank Index

11 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1427

The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme (TTCSP) of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania ranked world’s leading think tanks in a variety of categories.


Eminent Southern Planter with Humane Qualities

11 Feb 2019 - 0     - 839

Reginald Lionel Perera, who was RL and Reggie to many, was a very distinguished personality in Deniyaya Planting district. His reputation extended beyond the Southern Province especially among the planting community....


Ordinary people: the Point that Bandula Gunawardene missed

11 Feb 2019 - 0     - 874

I mentioned in the first part of this series of articles that I agreed with Bandula Gunawardene. But then, there’s no real reason to doubt that the other side, i.e. those who root for international schools, have their stories to tell as well.


EC’s Advocacy for Non-violence: Fine-tuning the UN Programme

11 Feb 2019 - 0     - 781

Article 3 of our Constitution declares our sovereignty: “In the Republic of Sri Lanka sovereignty is in the People and is inalienable. Sovereignty includes the powers of government, fundamental rights and the franchise.


Venezuela crisis and US interference in Latin America - EDITORIAL

11 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1489

Venezuela today is in the grip of a political, economic and humanitarian crisis. The ‘Guardian’ reports that as many as three million of its people, a 10th of the population have fled the country.


A New Course for Post-War North

11 Feb 2019 - 0     - 903

After nearly 30 years of conflict, the post-war socio-economic challenges in the North were tremendous. Destroyed and underdeveloped infrastructure, deteriorated social fabric, and human resources that lagged behind the rest of the country.....


Global expert in water management visits SL

08 Feb 2019 - 0     - 944

Dr. Roberto Lenton, one of the world’s foremost experts in water management, is in Sri Lanka this week for high-level government consultations. Dr. Lenton has just been appointed to chair the Board of Governors of the International Water Management Institute....


Ridiculous National Government

08 Feb 2019 - 1     - 1409

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella was frank when he said on Wednesday that they were going to form a National Government under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in order to increase the number of Ministers of the Cabinet from 30 to 48.


Democratic Fraud Rob, Ruin and Rule

08 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1286

President Sirisena has openly rejected the UNP Government’s proposal to form a National Government with a single member of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council (SLMC) in Parliament.


Let’s nip racial tension in the bud! - EDITORIAL

08 Feb 2019 - 1     - 1694

The eight Muslim students released on February 5 after being found guilty of violating laws that help protect archaeological sites makes Sri Lanka seriously consider the efforts they take to instill discipline in society. 


We need to restructure SAARC

08 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1438

At a time when South Asian regional cooperation is all but forgotten, a symposium was held Tuesday at the BMICH in Colombo, highlighting the importance of South Asian cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity. 


Stinking Beira suffering due to broken sewage line

08 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1287

Known to be one of the iconic landmarks in Colombo, the Beira Lake has added much attraction and historical significance to the cityscape. However over the recent past, the Lake has been frowned upon due to the continuous...


Act quickly to deactivate the drug barons

07 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1301

Sri Lanka is a country that’s blessed four times over with the hallowed teachings and tenets of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. But sadly though, these four major world religions have not had that much of an impact when it came to liberating this country from the clutches of narcotics.  


‘Honourable’ Speaker and the Spirit of Democracy

07 Feb 2019 - 1     - 1343

The United National Party (UNP) has informed Speaker Karu Jayasuriya of the party’s intention to move a resolution on forming a ‘National Government’. The UNP has in doing so identified a UNP-Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) coalition as satisfying constitutional conditions for such an eventuality. The SLMC has just one 


Salary dispute in tea estates Workers’ demands discarded like tea stains

07 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1809

Tea workers’ salaries are revised once in two years. The two-year Collective Agreement (CA) between Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and trade unions was to be renewed on October 15, 2018. The new agreement which was signed almost two weeks ago was not published as usual. Trade unions are critisising the RPCs for


Election Phobia? Only one Cure; Face it PC poll will set the trend

07 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1079

Politicians’ fear of facing the constituents in an election held on the due date is not listed, explained, or discussed under common phobias by psychologists. Probably, it is so rare in the democratic world that psychologists are yet to invent a term to denote the phenomenon. A few dictionary definitions blended together, ‘phobia’, is an extreme and illogical fear reaction. 


Ginnen Upan Seethala Flawed but Important

07 Feb 2019 - 0     - 2479

‘Ginnen Upan Seethala’ (The Frozen Fire) is a movie that was asking to be made. It’s about the life of JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera and his bid to change the political history of Sri Lanka through armed insurrection.   


an illustrated memoir at the Wendt

07 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1093

For more than 20 years, British artist Robert Sedgley has been visiting Sri Lanka; and in that time has built up a considerable body of water colour paintings of scenes and buildings of the island. From Galle to Jaffna, from Colombo to the hill country, he has recorded, in his inimitable personal style, historic buildings and temples, humble dwellings and mansions, street scenes, shops and the flavour of local life.   


Uproar within SLPP over President’s move to secure candidacy

07 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1041

The Presidential Election has to be declared only in October, this year, but the main parties have already swung into action to prepare for it. Interestingly, President Maithripala Sirisena enhanced his efforts to secure the consent of the SLPP/UPFA alliance to be its presidential candidate.  


are we ready to drop ‘independence’?

06 Feb 2019 - 3     - 2225

Sri Lanka didn’t forget to celebrate its 71st National Day with all the pomp and pageantry forgetting however that seven decades have passed after British rule with her true potential as an island nation not being realised. 


WORTH OR WORTHLESS!!

06 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1621

Having written at length on politics, politicians, their misdemeanours, greed and, more importantly, their false sense of values; I felt compelled to dwell a little philosophically, on the knowledge of reality, the causes and nature of things and the principles governing our existence, our personal rule of life!!!  Most times I get 


How ethical is puffing up of the Cabinet?

06 Feb 2019 - 1     - 935

Although some comments made by President Maithripala Sirisena during his Independence Day speech yesterday might be inappropriate to the occasion, the view he expressed on the move by the Government to increase the number of Ministers hiding behind the term National Government might have been endorsed by the majority of people in the country.   


Hope for the best; Prepare for the worst

06 Feb 2019 - 0     - 775

There was a time when the average voter was taken for just another pawn in the cruel and conniving hands of politicians. The arrogance of the politician was so immeasurable; his disdain for the average voter was surpassed only by his greed for the material wealth he thought he could muster for his family and himself.  


71 years of Independence and the challenges that lie ahead

06 Feb 2019 - 0     - 896

As we celebrate 71 years of Independence from the British, challenges that await us as a sovereign state are formidable. On that account, there seems to be hardly anything to be celebrated. As politicians, military officials, ambassadors as well as common people gather to the Galle Face Green to celebrate independence, the challenges that confront us as a nation remain, blurring our modest achievements into oblivion.  


Iranian revolution: A revolution in essence

06 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1000

Iran completes forty years to its revolution this month. The 40-year history of the Islamic Republic of Iran is nothing but a history of defiance to the hegemonic world powers that have always remained hell-bent to suppress nations and people who aspire to stand on their own feet. 


‘We’re bringing discipline to the Fiscal Policy’

06 Feb 2019 - 3     - 3377

Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Dr. Harsha de Silva spoke to the Daily Mirror regarding his engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and future plans. 


Tiny poems bring larger pictures

04 Feb 2019 - 0     - 910

In Thamil they call this kind of poems Kurum Paa, meaning shortest verse or poem. They could be equated to the limericks of English. But I wonder whether such poems strictly fit into the definition that a limerick is a five-line humorous poem.


Sri Lanka @ 71 adrift in a chaotic world

04 Feb 2019 - 0     - 1213

Today the country celebrates its 71 anniversary of independence at a time marred by internal political divisions and heading towards decisive elections which may yet not fix most of our system of governance that has metastasized....


Malays, the fast vanishing minority

04 Feb 2019 - 0     - 5104

The Ceylon Malay community which is rich in culture and religious traditions is an important ethnic minority that has played a major role in shaping the history and diversity of Sri Lanka.


Give a helping hand to Mullai flood victims

04 Feb 2019 - 0     - 764

In an effort to equip and empower families to rebuild and restore their lives, World Vision has organised a pop-up sale at The Bayleaf on February 9, in collaboration with emerging start-ups.   


Who wants Provincial Council elections - EDITORIAL

04 Feb 2019 - 0     - 929

The delay in holding Provincial Council (PC) elections is very much in the news these days, especially since Elections Commissioner Deshapriya threatened to quit his post if elections were not held before November 2019.  


Jumbo Cabinet—Bonanza to Commemorate 71st Independence and Indian Interests

04 Feb 2019 - 0     - 778

At 7.30 am on February 4, 1948 His Excellency Sir Henry Moor, who had just vacated the office of Governor of the Colony of Ceylon, took his oaths as Governor-General of the Dominion of Ceylon before the Chief Justice Sir John Howard.