Ratmalana Airfield: The Dangerous Wall that raises eyeballs amongst experts

Let us revisit the whys and wherefores behind constructing the wall at Ratmalana Airfield. To the best of my recollection, this wall was built in 2005/2006 to protect the aircraft and runway from potential LTTE attacks. During the conflict, Ratmalana airfield served as the main transport hub for military aircraft, housing planes that delivered troops, warfighting equipment and rations to air-dependent military units in the North and East. With ti

Setback in Sino-Indian relations due to fresh territorial and water disputes

Last year, regional rivals India and China reached an agreement on border patrolling, reducing tension in the Eastern Ladakh sector.

Memorial service on Jan 8 to honour media legend Lasantha

On January 8, 2009 Sri Lanka mourned the death of former Sunday Leader Editor-in-Chief Lasantha Wickrematunge who was assassinated while he was driving to office.

Gideon Levy and Israel’s ‘Zone of Interest’ in war-battered Gaza

Gideon Levy is a courageous, conscientious and outspoken Israeli journalist. He writes for the Israeli daily ‘Haaretz’ and is on its editorial board. When he talks about Israel’s ‘Zone of Interest’ in Gaza Strip, he’s referring to British filmmaker and screenwriter Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar-winning 2023 film ‘The Zone of Interest’ which focuses on the life of German concentration camp commandant Rudolf Hoss and his family during World War II.

HOW TO GET PROPERTY TAXES RIGHT?

Regarding the recent announcement about the proposed implementation of a property tax, I would like to make the following comments and suggestions towards implementation of the property tax.

Remembering Namal Wickremage

As I sit down to write this about my Dearest Aunty Namal, I am filled with the wonderful memories of her, which time and space can’t erase. She was one of my Dearest childhood friends, Diko’s (Indika) mum and I knew her for over 40 years!

WHAT A MIRACULOUS FRIEND YOU HAVE BEEN

There is a miracle called Friendship that dwells within the heart and you do not know how it happens or when it even starts. But the happiness it brings to you always gives a special lift and you realise that friendship is God’s most precious gift.

Sri Lanka signs MoU with India to rehabilitate the Karainagar Boatyard

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for rehabilitation of the Karainagar Boatyard in Northern Province of Sri Lanka was signed and exchanged by High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka H.E. Santosh Jha and the then High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India H.E. Kshenuka Dhireni Senewiratne with grant assistance from Government of India to the tune of SLR 290 million

Is environment unsuitable for UNHRC to help Rohingya people in Sri Lanka?

“There is still no basis to consider them as refugees yet. For now, this is regarded as a case of human trafficking.

“Traditional schooling can cause harm to children and most parents understand that” - Pathanjali

In January 2024, the Independent Collective School (ICS) became Sri Lanka’s first formal educational establishment for alternative education.

Power struggle: Villages split over planned mini hydro project in Kotmale

A proposed mini hydro plant has stirred a rift between two villages in Kotmale, each with a contrasting vision for their future.

The Nalanda Old Boys’ Association celebrates its Golden Jubilee Nalanda Junior OBA Celebrate 50 years of dedicated service

It was in the mid 1970’s that a young set of past students of Nalanda, felt they could be of more benefit to the school if they could break the stringent formalities and to direct their youthful energies towards the progress of their alma mater - Nalanda Vidyalaya.

How the Cuban Revolution influenced the revolutionary transformation of Latin America

The Cuban Revolution was an armed uprising in Cuba that overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959. The revolution’s leader, Fidel Castro, went on to rule Cuba from 1959 to 2008.

A special event to felicitate veteran artiste Nissanka Diddeniya

The Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya, Colombo Chapter is proud to present a special event to felicitate veteran artiste Nissanka Diddeniya alongside the staging of the Sinhala drama “Sindukara Kavinaluwa.”

No salt in Sri Lanka till April-May this year

Lanka Salt Hambantota was originally established as a fully state-owned corporation. On January 24, 1997, the Ministry of Finance transferred its ownership of the shares to an external party for Rs. 471 million. At the time of this transfer, approximately 90% of the shares was held by the Employees’ Trust Fund Board, and 10% of those shares was subsequently allocated to the employees of the saltern. Since then, the saltern has been registered un

Theertha Performance Platform MAKING WAVES IN CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE ART

The fifth Theertha Performance Platform will take place from the 6th to the 8th of January, 2025 at the “Genesis- Dilmah Centre for a Sustainable Future”. On the 6th of January at 5.30 pm there will be a panel discussion on Performance Art. The final day, the 8th of January will be open to the public where Performances by visiting international artistes and local artistes will take place.

Temple of the Tooth, People’s Bank support student scholarship programme

Irrespective of what religion the recipients practised, the Temple of the Tooth offered scholarships to 2000 students who had passed the Grade Five Examination from 16 districts in the country. Each recipient received Rs. 2000 annually. These students will continue receiving this scholarship annually till they finish their GCE Advanced Level Examination.

Elephant drives ; Is it a feasible solution to mitigate HEC?

Sri Lankan citizens have many hopes and aspirations towards the incumbent government which was elected to power through a large mandate. The incumbent government’s solution to mitigate the human-elephant conflict aims to implement a community-driven approach to mitigate the conflict by assessing elephant migratory patterns and their habitats based on biological interventions and new technological innovations. But it is rather unfortunate that thi

Designing the Pekoe Trail Lessons learnt about Tourism, Communities, and Sustainability

Over the past decade, as the founder of the Pekoe Trail, I’ve been fortunate to witness Sri Lanka’s incredible potential to become a global leader in sustainable tourism. It has been a journey of discovery, not just in mapping out a 300-kilometer trail through the island’s stunning tea country but in understanding the deeper impact tourism can and should have on people, communities, and the environment. Designing the Pekoe Trail wasn’t just about

‘Sri Lanka in Crisis: The Lost Generation’ relaunched A journal on an island’s corridors of doom

Prins Gunasekara’s acclaimed work Sri Lanka in Crisis: A Lost Generation was recently relaunched at the Foundation Institute, drawing a distinguished crowd of political activists, literary scholars, and other intellectuals who gathered to celebrate a man who wore many hats as a politician, journalist, lawyer-advocate and human rights activist.

Singing praise to Lord Ayapan all the way to Sabarimala

Sri Lankans are diligently preparing for the much looked forward to trek to Sabarimala in Kerala, India. You can see these pilgrims, preparing for the journey to India, travelling on the roads of Sri Lanka and attending to the calls of everyday life.

YMCA Moratuwa conducts Annual Carols Service

Moratuwa YMCA conducted its Annual Carols Service-2024 recently at its main hall.

Dancer Ravibandhu Vidyapathy turns 65 On the trail of a maestro’s footsteps

He had arrived at the venue agreed upon for the interview and was early. That’s perhaps how dancer and percussionist Ravibandhu Vidyapathy works and organises himself.

From Magi’s Trials to Christmas’ Glow: A Journey of hope with joy to follow!

The modernist poet T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Journey of the Magi’ is a profound dramatic monologue that intertwines the Biblical narrative of the Magi’s journey to witness the Birth of Christ with a deeper exploration of spiritual transformation.

Samaritan Dagmar Wöhrl intends to increase charitable projects with a new local office

On December 26th 2024, a special commemoration ceremony of the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Tsunami was conducted at the Dormero Hotel in Hikkaduwa under the patronage of Dagmar Wöhrl, a German who has a special place in her heart for the island nation.

Deshabandu Alec Robertson’s Twenty Second Death Anniversary

The Twenty second death anniversary of Deshabandu Alec Robertson falls on the 31st of December, 2024. His passing away was widely lamented by all Sri Lankans as well as his numerous foreign friends and acquaintances who had at some time or other benefitted from his guidance, friendship and exemplary life, and more than anything else from his deep understanding and propagation of the Buddha Dhamma. Sri Lanka has no shortage of Buddhist scholars, a

Demand to address the unjust backlog of Foreign Service recruitments

Sri Lankan Foreign Service Grade III candidates seek justice following the authorities’ oversight in appointing only 20 candidates among the eligible 40 professionals who had qualified, depriving them of their rightful positions.

Tsunami Survivors of Hambantota still relate tales of trauma and communal harmony

Twenty years ago on a day like today (December 26), people in Hambantota were getting ready to go to the Sunday fair during the early hours of the morning.

Two decades after the wave: Building resilient coastal futures

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic Indian Ocean tsunami. As we honour those lost, we are also humbled to reflect on the progress made in creating resilient coastal communities.

The memory and legacy of Lakshman Wijewardene

It is two decades since my father Lakshman Wijewardene passed away and today as I pen this appreciation of him on his birthday, nostalgic memories come rushing to my mind.