Political meddling in the legal system should be a relic of the past

Addressing the National People’s Power’s May Day rally in Nuwara Eliya, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that a significant number of individuals accused of fraud and corruption would be imprisoned in 2026 and that the year 2026 will be remembered in Sri Lankan history as the year corrupt individuals, fraudsters, and thieves were sentenced to prison.

SL’s strategic inflection point: Learning, failing, and choosing the future

Sri Lanka stands today not merely as a nation recovering from crises, but as one being tested quietly yet profoundly on whether it has truly learned from them. The past two decades, culminating in the Easter Sunday attacks and the recent economic collapse, have exposed both the strengths and fragilities of the State’s defence architecture, intelligence systems, political leadership, and governance processes. What emerges is not a story of total f

Harness the sun: Don’t burn electricity on dryers

With the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approving an increase in electricity tariffs, it is time for households to rethink everyday energy use.

Workers’ day and the state of SL workers

The first of May, more commonly referred to as May Day -- is set apart worldwide to celebrate the contribution workers of the world play in keeping the cogs of this world’s economies turning smoothly. More importantly, it commemorates the struggles of workers all over the world to obtain a just share of the profits of their production, and demand conditions to enable their families with the means in which they can grow and develop.

Adapt a unique model to replace hybrid MMV and ‘manapey’ systems

At the outset, the writer wishes to allude to the following recent statements in the press.

Ehipassiko and Sati: Rethinking humanity through Laika and Aloka

There is a Pali phrase at the heart of the Buddhist tradition, ‘Ehi passiko,’ meaning simply, ‘come and see.’ It is an invitation, not a command. Rather than asking followers to accept doctrine on faith, the Buddha urged each person to examine the Dhamma through lived experience: To observe, reflect, and verify truth within their own life.

Turned away at the gate: A tourism failure at Moon Plain

What should have been a memorable holiday outing turned into a frustrating ordeal for my cousin’s (Abdullah Lafir) family and many others, at Moon Plains on April 13, the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Despite travelling to this much-promoted scenic and agricultural tourism zone, visitors were denied entry at the gate and advised to return around 2 p.m., as the park had reportedly reached capacity. This was not an isolated inconvenience.

MPH expresses concern over change of Vesak dates clashing with Islamic Udhiyah

Issuing a statement, the Minority Professional Hub, a think Tank of Minority Groups, has expressed concern over the government’s decision declaring “Vesak Week” from May 27 to June 2, 2026 and the adjustment of public holidays under Gazette Extraordinary No. 2485/14. ‘’The Minority Professional Hub (MPH), comprising members from across all districts of Sri Lanka and reflecting minority perspectives within the national context, wish to point

Provocation and retaliation in Sugeeshwara’s incident

The incident involving Sugeeshwara Bandara and the so-called “shit attack” that followed his protest outside the Finance Ministry Secretary’s residence is a worrisome trend in Sri Lankan politics. Sri Lanka was notorious for political violence at one point. However, the country’s image has improved since, and violence was almost absent at recent elections. What makes it worse this time is that both sides involved in this incident have serious

NPT Review Summit: Confronting nuclear hypocrisy amid Iran war

Nuclear weapons are not humane and do not belong to humanity. Yet nations continue to possess them, pursuing their deterrence value as much as their use as tools to dominate and bully weaker nations. As nations meet in New York this week for a United Nations summit reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, disarmament activists insist, “A world free of nuclear weapons is both possible and necessary.” The 1968 treaty is premised on the princ

Govt. should be accountable for its actions

Another May Day comes by. According to the news, there will be 21 rallies held by the NPP. People don’t need any more promises, but they want to see that these promises already made are being delivered. The government reiterated the fact that it would retrieve money allegedly stolen by the Rajapaksa regime and hidden in foreign countries. They said they would eliminate corruption, but they seem to be unable to walk the talk. A number of case

A.E. Goonesinha: Father of the Labour Movement and a democrat at heart

Writing about a historical figure is no easy task. Readers could tire of reading about the same feats year after year. However, every year there are readers who could gain knowledge of history created by our own men and women. Today is 1st May, Labour Day (May Day), the day the workers celebrate their rights, their dignity and the appreciation of the work they do for man and country. Labour Day was first held in Ceylon in 1927 under the leadershi

Buddhist approach to human challenges

Life, by its very nature, invariably presents a myriad of challenges that are fundamental to the human experience. The various social ills that afflict humanity cannot be understood without recognising the profound human dynamics at play. Navigating these challenges according to Buddhism involves shifting from attempting to control external circumstances to mastering one’s internal responses. Central to these challenges are certain detrimental d

Sri Lanka cricket gears for a fresh innings, at last..

Sri Lanka Cricket Board Chairman Shammi Silva’s resignation came in at a time when the most popular sport in the country is gasping for breath. Cricket, once a much-celebrated sport in every nook and corner of the country, gradually became unpopular among the masses due to its corrupt nature. With players showcasing poor performances and sometimes losing matches at a rate, much to the dismay of fans who were ready to support the team despite the

NPP in a bind over Theepachelvan’s books

The National People’s Power (NPP) government, since it was voted into power in 2024 thanks to the unprecedented economic crisis the country underwent four years ago, is gradually learning to mend the gap between theory and practice in politics, yet giving ammunition to its adversaries.

Alarming concerns on accountability

Recent events compel us, as Sri Lankans, to confront an uncomfortable truth: we have repeatedly failed to act, even when forewarned.

Did the Finance Ministry fall prey to North Korean hackers?

The recent exploit of US$ 2.5 million from Sri Lanka’s external resources department, tricked into funding a US$ 2.5 million sovereign debt payment to a malicious third-party account, is embarrassing enough.

NPP’s PC election dilemma

Although Opposition parties so far have not proven their allegations of corruption against the government, they have succeeded in creating considerable suspicion among the people about the moral high ground the National People’s Power (NPP) has been laying claims for.

White house shooting, bombs in Middle East and Ukraine

To the dismay of the whole world, a shooting incident occurred near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., prompting the immediate evacuation of President Donald Trump and other officials off the stage to safety as attendees were advised to take cover under their tables on Sunday. Accordingly, most people were seen lying on the floor or running in panic.

The Indispensable Island: Sri Lanka’s blueprint for sovereign survival

Sri Lanka occupies a position on the global map that is disproportionate to its physical size. Often described as a ‘teardrop’ off the coast of India, a more strategic assessment reveals it to be the ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ of the Indian Ocean. While the nation has recently weathered the storms of economic bankruptcy and political upheaval, its fundamental geographic, ecological, and strategic foundations remain not only intact, but unparal

When dealing with bullies use logic, not anger

Bullying is a term usually reserved for schools. Many of us have experienced some kind of bullying at school, but it doesn’t stop there, extending to our institutions of higher learning. The dreaded ragging phenomenon so prevalent in our universities is a kind of extreme bullying.

S.J.V. Chelvanayakam: Visionary and statesman

S.J.V. Chelvanayakam KC Memorial Lecture Delivered at Jaffna Central Collage on Sunday 26 April by Professor G. L. Peiris D. Phil. Peiris is an(Oxford), Ph. D. (Sri Lanka); Rhodes Scholar,Quondam Visiting Fellow of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London; Former Vice-Chancellor and Emeritus Professor of Law of the University of Colombo.

A sad tale of lowering costs and eliminating corruption

It’s over a year-and-a-half since the National People’s Power (NPP) Government captured political power in this country. Over four years have passed since the country declared itself bankrupt in 2022 following an unprecedented economic crisis.

Domestic violence in SL: Intersection of gender norms, culture, and legal responses

The landscape of domestic violence in Sri Lanka is defined by a profound tension between progressive legislative frameworks and deeply entrenched patriarchal social norms. While the State has made significant strides in codifying protections for women, the lived reality for many survivors is governed by a ‘culture of silence’ and the social pressure of ‘lajjawa-baya’ (shame and fear). This cultural weight often reclassifies criminal acts as priv

Restore Col 15 bus services: Even at a premium

Residents and visitors to George Pieris Mawatha, Colombo 15, accessed via Ferguson’s Road, continue to face significant hardship due to the complete absence of a bus service along this stretch. Whether approaching from Raasamunakande (Kanda Uda) or Nagalagam Street (Thotalanga), commuters are compelled to walk considerable distances, an inconvenience that disproportionately affects the elderly, schoolchildren, and daily-wage earners.

Sri Lanka’s tea turning point

Few agricultural products in the world carry the prestige and recognition of Ceylon Tea. For more than a century, the emerald hills of Sri Lanka have produced a beverage that has travelled from misty plantations to the tables of millions across the globe. Tea has shaped the country’s landscapes, built communities, and created livelihoods for generations. It became not merely a crop, but a national identity.

Dada

It has been one year since you passed, and we all still miss you more than ever. I wish you were here to watch Amelia and Lily grow into the mischievous little ones they are. I am so glad that Amelia got to spend time with her Seeya. She adored you and loved every moment she spent with you.

Former Political Leader Mangala Samaraweera’s birth anniversary fell on April 21 The ‘Mangala’ signature in my life

In a moving tribute to the late Mangala Samaraweera on what would have been his 70th birthday, reflecting on a man who was both “aging and ageless.” Mangala was a rare political creature -a pragmatist who abhorred racism and a free-thinker who obeyed his conscience above all else. His life was a stupendous party of ideas, defined by a radical openness that welcomed all “birds” to his tree. Years after his passing, his vision for a liberal, global

$2.5M Treasury Heist : Urgent questions on access governance

The diversion of nearly USD 2.5 million from Sri Lanka’s Treasury highlights a dangerous evolution in financial crime: the manipulation of trusted communication over traditional hacking. With investigations pointing toward compromised emails and “privilege creep,” the incident underscores a global reality where 80% of breaches involve identity misuse. As Sri Lanka’s digital transformation accelerates, this heist serves as a critical wake-up call

Ranil Wickremesinghe case: Interest groups question legality of setting up Trial-at-Bar

The Joint Opposition has raised concerns regarding the government’s proposal to setup a three-judge Trial-at-Bar to take up the case against former President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The case against Wickremesinghe is the alleged misappropriation of state funds during a visit to Britain to attend his wife’s doctorate graduation.