‘Suriya Kanda Vinsathiya’: An in-depth focus on the Embilipitiya terror in the late 1980s

‘Suriya Kanda Vinsathiya’ is a book on the tragic Sooriyakanda tragedy that happened during the 1980s terror period. Written by veteran journalist and writer Ravi Prasad Herat, it is out now.

From Mumbai to the World: The Journey of Divia Thani Global Editorial Director, Condé Nast Traveler.

It isn’t every day that you prepare to meet one of the most influential figures in global travel media. We were first introduced several weeks earlier through a mutual friend at an art exhibition

Young Contemporaries 2025 Spotlights Sri Lanka’s next wave of artistic talent

The George Keyt Foundation returns with Young Contemporaries 2025, a landmark exhibition spotlighting 12 rising Sri Lankan artists at Barefoot Gallery, Colombo, from September 24–28. Showcasing diverse practices from painting to multimedia, the exhibition celebrates new voices in contemporary art while continuing the Foundation’s 35-year legacy of nurturing talent and preserving Sri Lanka’s artistic heritage.

ILLEGAL SAND MINING and impacts on farmers in Kilinochchi

Farmers in Kandawalai and surrounding areas in Kilinochchi have been impacted by illegal sand mining activities that have been taking place since 2015. They complain that permits have been issued illegally, and many individuals have been mining sand beyond the designated areas mentioned in the permits. As a result, farmers experience soil erosion, flooding and other environmental issues due to unregulated sand mining taking place in these areas.

Legacy of Social Justice Legend Lasantha Wickrematunge

I was one of the lucky ones who met Lasantha Wickrematunge for a brief moment in 2007 at a lobby when I was attending a homecoming at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. Amongst a group of eager fans, all clamouring to shake his hand, I just couldn’t believe my luck when I found myself in his presence, the invincible energy that surrounded him and the aura of his charisma left me in awe. His humility made the impossible feel tangible. I had crossed paths

Fight for the lakes: Sri Lanka’s war on invasive fish begins

Sri Lanka has banned four predatory fish species, including piranhas and alligator gar, to protect native biodiversity. Authorities are combining strict regulations with community initiatives, encouraging responsible management and public participation to safeguard rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

SLBPA braves all odds to launch Colombo International Book Fair 2025

The Colombo International Book Fair 2025 will be held at the BMICH from September 27 to October 6th, from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm daily. The event is once again expected to draw large crowds comprising eager readers. However, with the newly imposed 18% VAT, this year’s book fair raises an important question: will the joy of buying a book remain within reach of everyone’s purse?

The death of Ruchika Induma Perpetrators who exerted exam pressure still at large

Parents entrust their children to schools with a great deal of faith in the principal and teachers. A school, therefore, should never be a place where a child feels unsafe.

Tiny papers, big stories

In an age when messages vanish with a swipe and correspondence is reduced to fleeting lines of text, Royal College, Colombo, has chosen to celebrate a quieter, enduring tradition.

Timber smuggler attacks regional reporter who exposed illegal felling

The Free Media Movement (FMM) has strongly condemned the attack on Ridimaliyadda regional reporter Vimukthi Sanjaya Perera who is responsible for exposing illegal tree felling and other nefarious activities in the area.

Preserving the soul of classic Sri Lankan cinema

Sri Lankan cinema is currently at a critical juncture, and we are faced with the challenge of preserving our films for the future.

New media bill strengthens press freedom in Maldives

On September 18, President of Maldives Dr. Mohammed Muizzu signed and ratified the Maldives Media and Broadcasting Regulation Bill (Act No. 16/2025), bringing the legislation into effect.

From Colombo to New York: Why Sri Lanka needs its own stage at the UN

As Sri Lanka marks 70 years as a UN member amid shifting global power, the global south must stop waiting for invitations.

CPF’s Child-Friendly Space, a milestone for child protection in Sri Lanka

In a concerted effort to minimise secondary victimization of children and women subject to various forms of harassment, trauma and abuse, the Child Protection Force recently launched a Child-Friendly Space in Pelawatte, Battaramulla. The model brings together legal aid, psychological care, and protection/safe housing and coordinated referrals under one roof, reducing repeat interviews, speeding up protection and ensuring survivor dignity.

From snared to swimming: A breakthrough tale

This is the success story of a young male Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya), the islands apex terrestrial predator, a threatened and endemic subspecies, who was rescued and treated after being caught in a wire snare, who defied the odds and successfully returned to its home range not just by walking, but swimming.

Centre-Right forces rally against Centre-Left NPP

The UNP convention last Saturday showcased a potential realignment of Sri Lanka’s centre-right opposition. With parties including SLPP, SLFP, SJB, SLMC, PA, and TPA present, leaders signaled willingness to cooperate in countering the ruling NPP amid legal actions and rising political challenges.

Advances in child cancer care bring ray of hope this September

In the heart of Sri Lanka, September is more than just another month – it’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the realities, challenges and triumphs of children and adolescents battling cancer and to rally families, communities and healthcare providers around early detection, care and hope.

Eladetta Village holds fond memories of Robert Knox

Eladetta village is located in a lovely and attractive countryside in the Udunuwara Division in the district of Kandy. This village has a long tradition behind it.

SL’s cannabis call: short term pleasure for long term pain

Sri Lanka, scripting history for the first time, green lighted the first-ever Cannabis cultivation only last month.

They did it once What’s to stop nuclear weapons from being used in a future world war?

There has been much speculation ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 that a third world war would break out. The involvement of regional powers such as Iran after the Israeli invasion of Gaza added more fuel to this speculation.

Ex-Presidents’ perks gone: Penny Wise but Pound Foolish?

Sri Lankans have a somewhat skewed sense of victimhood. No wonder every conman, wheeler-dealer and corrupt politician, when hauled before the court, cries loud that they have been politically victimised.

Rising Representation, Rising Abuse:The Digital Battle Faced by Sri Lanka’s Women Politicians

The 2024 parliamentary and local authority elections in Sri Lanka marked a notable shift in women’s political participation.

Disaster Management regional policy dialogue concludes

The South Asian Policy Dialogue 2025 on Early Warning and Anticipatory Action for Accelerating Risk Mitigation concluded on a high note recently in Colombo with the participation of regional and local experts in the field.

Belt and Road Joint Collaboration China–Sri Lanka ties Strengthened with Guizhou University Scholarship Awards

The China–Sri Lanka Belt and Road Joint Laboratory of Tea Green Prevention and Control Technology reached a key milestone with the Guizhou University PhD/MSc Full Scholarship Awarding Ceremony, held on August 22, 2025, at the Board Room, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.

Zoologist unveils solar electric barricades to protect farms at Industry Expo

Dr Wijeyamohan, a senior zoologist from the University of Vavuniya has unveiled a series of solar-powered electric barriers designed to safeguard farms from a variety of wildlife,

Experts flag delays, push for reforms in MDB projects

The World Bank (WB) last week announced that Sri Lanka has made remarkable strides in stabilising its economy, undertaking one of the largest fiscal adjustments in its history, equal to nearly 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over three years, and doing so faster than most countries. While this signals remarkable economic progress, development and public finance experts caution that the effectiveness of Multilateral Development Bank (MDBs)

Youth who opposed Dambulla land grab comes under attack

Dambulla has become a hotbed for illegal activities, especially for grabbing land in the most shocking manner. Wasantha Kumara Herath’s (Wasantha Kumara) right hand was severely injured in a brutal, Chicago-style attack in broad daylight on the afternoon of July 30 on the road adjacent Thimbiriatthawala Wewa in Kumbukkandanwala, Sigiriya. Although more than 20 days have passed since the incident, there has been no progress in identifying the susp

Fulfilling the dreams of the youth NSBM Green University: A Decade of Vision

The NSBM Green University has emerged as a landmark institution in Sri Lanka’s higher education sector, blending innovation, sustainability, and academic excellence. Marking ten years of growth, it continues to uphold its mission of nurturing talent and virtue while preparing students for global challenges. Its story reflects a commitment to education as a driver of opportunity and transformation

World Ozone Day: Sri Lanka among top ten countries at risk

Observed annually on September 16, World Ozone Day commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, an important international treaty aimed at protecting the ozone layer from substances that deplete it. In order to protect life on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation, every nation endeavored to ‘fix the hole in the sky’ through a global partnership. Thus, the Montreal Protocol became the first treaty to achieve universal ratificatio

WAYA InnoFest 2025: A Journey from Ideas to Innovation

Wayamba University of Sri Lanka will host WAYA InnoFest 2025 on 19th September at the Kuliyapitiya premises. The event will have two main parts: a Symposium where senior students will present their final-year projects and research, and a Project Showcase where junior students will display their creative ideas and practical solutions.