A country’s healthcare system should always be a national priority

It is normal for patients to spend almost an entire day at a government or private hospital in Sri Lanka. It takes hours to complete their registration, doctor’s consultation and then obtain medicines from the pharmacy. Even for a common sickness like a fever, it is quite difficult to grab the attention of nurses or the supporting staff to get the temperature checked as they stick to ‘strict’ procedures at times.

It’s time to move beyond coal

MP Ramanathan Archchuna’s decision to raise the alleged coal procurement irregularities with the IMF delegation, during his recent meeting alongside Opposition MPs, brings renewed attention to a deeper and more pressing concern Sri Lanka’s continued reliance on coal.

Let the courts decide who the mastermind is

Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila has stolen the limelight at least for a few weeks by launching his book ‘Searching for the Mastermind of the Easter Sunday Attacks’, despite it disappointing many

How America’s war on Iran has shattered the myth of a multipolar world

Donald Trump’s deadline for ‘power plant day’ and ‘bridge day’ to blow up Iranian civilian infrastructure if Tehran refused to open the Strait of Hormuz was set to pass 8 p.m. on Tuesday, setting the stage for a dangerous escalation in the Middle Eastern conflict.

Mahinda Wijesekara: a fisheries minister who did not achieve much!

In Sri Lanka, we have a habit of remembering our politicians with more emotion than honesty. When a public figure fades from power or passes on, the narrative often shifts quickly from scrutiny to sympathy.

Holding Police officers accountable for rights violations

Recent court rulings have repeatedly found Police officers guilty of violating the fundamental rights of citizens. In several of these cases, the courts have imposed fines to be paid personally by the offending officers and have directed that the judgements be forwarded to the National Police Commission for appropriate disciplinary action.

Our leaders never viewed the Easter Sunday crimes as a national disaster

Another Easter Sunday -- the seventh after that fateful Easter Sunday which fell on April 21, 2019, has passed two days ago. Ironically, people still debate many unanswered questions about that fateful day when over 270 innocent men, women and children were killed by a group of fanatical Muslim terrorists.

Bicycles can bring relief during this crisis

With a looming fuel crisis, the question is simple—why are we not using bicycles more?

From Space, One Radiant Planet: On Earth, a Bleeding World

The four astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission will follow a “free-return” trajectory around the Moon, giving humanity images of Earth as a single, silent, luminous jewel. From space, our planet appears whole, and without borders, an elegant sphere of life floating in vast darkness. But the view from above belies a far more troubling reality on the surface.

Retirement age for judges; innovation and policy

Independence of the judiciary is, without question, an essential element of a functioning democracy. In recognition of this, ample provision is made in the highest law of our country, the Constitution, to engender an environment in which the courts are able to fulfil their public responsibility with total acceptance.

US-Israeli adventure in Iran has backfired: It’s strengthened Iran’s hand

Thirty seven days ago the US together with its partner in crime –Israel- launched a sneak attack on Iran. The attack targeted several civilian as well as military sites.

Mastermind or not, Zahran Hashim had pivotal role in the Easter bombings

‘Pasku Praharaye Mahamolakaru Soyayema (In Search of the Mastermind of the Easter Attacks)’ is the title of a book written by ‘Pivithuru Hela Urumaya’ party leader and former Cabinet minister, Udaya Gammanpila.

The secret of Iran’s missile power

Iran has surprised or shocked the world by the display of missile and drone power against the US and Israel when the latter thought that their airpower would crush Iran, which has no air force worth the name.

The doctors strike: A symptom of a much larger problem

Since the end of March, doctors in our country have been involved in trade union action. Doctors launched a nationwide token strike on March 31.

Concerns on three-wheeler regulation in tourist areas

The continued inaction by authorities regarding the growing influence of informal three-wheeler taxi groups is deeply concerning.

Will Russian oil be a reality?

Sri Lanka’s renewed engagement with Russia in the energy sector comes at a moment of considerable uncertainty in global geopolitics and energy markets. With the deadline for sanctions-related waivers for Russian oil approaching on April 12, Sri Lanka finds itself traversing a delicate diplomatic and economic path. The prospect of deeper energy cooperation with Moscow is often presented as a pragmatic response to Sri Lanka’s vulnerability to glob

War is too important to be left to Caligula

No sooner had US President Donald Trump ended his special address to the nation on Wednesday—Thursday around 6.50 a.m. Sri Lanka time—than War Secretary Pete Hegseth took to X to post a hubristic message. Echoing Trump’s warning to Iran, he tweeted with a mix of megalomania, perversion, and sarcasm: “Back to the Stone Age.”

Water, a basic human necessity

It’s funny how a country that once boasted about tank cascade systems and engineering marvels related to irrigation is now struggling with a water crisis due to the prevailing heat. This goes on to show why these resources need to be protected. The tank cascade system was a special water harvesting system that allowed farming communities in the dry zone to harvest rainwater and store it during the drought period. It was associated with water catc

Easter Sunday carnage and the psychology of closure

Since 2019, there’s just one topic that almost every Sri Lankan is interested in particularly in April, other than the Sinhala and Hindu New Year. Seven years have elapsed since the Easter Sunday carnage but the mastermind has not yet been revealed. This means justice has not yet been done to victims and survivors of the deadly attacks. This also means that it would take many more years or even an entire lifetime to bring closure to these victims

How a national pride became a national disaster

I just asked Google AI what really prompts the US to attack Iran. It gave a list of reasons. Here are some of them, which it attributed to US President Donald Trump:

Dubai’s strategic realignment and perils of modern geopolitics

For decades, Dubai has stood as the ‘Singapore of the Middle East’ - a glittering, safe harbour - carved out of the desert, through the visionary leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

War mongers short of remorse

The protracted war between Iran and Israel backed by the USA, has created an unprecedented upheaval in the whole world, causing inexpressible insecurity, mental and physical suffering to the civilian lives. The war has affected people not only in the war-torn lands but also in neighbouring countries and throughout the world.

America’s war on Iran and the emerging Thucydidean world order

In 416 BC, Athenian historian Thucydides enacted a dramatic negotiation between Athenian invaders and the leaders of the neutral small state of Melos.

Should Minister Kumara Jayakody resign?

Unlike so many other allegations leveled by the Opposition against the government, the allegation of corruption by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was no doubt a slap in the face of the ruling National People’s Power (NPP).

Nuwara Eliya, a place in your imagination

Visiting Nuwara Eliya after a considerable lapse of time, I had almost forgotten how derelict the Nuwara Eliya town was.

Shadow of “Epic Fury” Navigating the path to peace in the 2026 Iran War

The world stands at a terrifying precipice. The events of February 28, 2026, have fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape, perhaps permanently.

Trump’s War Talk vs Iran’s Strategic Depth

War has entered the second month. Donald Trump repeated his assertion that he is in talks with Iran to end the ongoing war, a claim Tehran denies.

Is Sri Lanka ready for an El Niño heat wave?

Sri Lankans are used to talking about floods and heavy rains. When rivers overflow or roads go underwater, the danger is clear and immediate.

It’s time to make use of our resources

Recently, Industries Minister Sunil Handunnetti was advising the public about doing laundry in an efficient manner. He asked people to try and use the washing machine once a week.

US Access to the Persian Gulf Region, and the Strategic Importance of Iran

The war of aggression waged by the US and Israel against Iran seems very likely to intensify in the next few days. Washington has threatened to escalate and expand the war further if Iran does not comply with US demands.