Lebanon factor piles pressure on Trump, F-word tirade at Netanyahu

Did it really happen? Yes, US President Donald Trump insulted and reprimanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and for good measure, he even used expletives.

A call to ensure safety of elders’ homes

At least 12 elderly persons succumbed to injuries following the fire that engulfed an elders’ home in Batagoda, Horana. The incident raises questions regarding the safety of individuals residing in elders’ homes. These issues have come to light on many occasions but the authorities have turned a blind eye. This incident calls for a national level initiative to regulate elders’ homes and even children’s homes because their safety needs to be ensur

Child abuse crisis, an overwhelming burden to the state

Sri Lanka’s children are increasingly becoming vulnerable to various forms of violence, abuse and harassment. From infants being abandoned by the roadside to parents attempting to sell off their children due to abject poverty, children and youth continue to be at the receiving end of various societal pressures.

That English Gag

While Sri Lankan universities have integrated the language of global higher education reform into strategic handbooks, a critical gap persists between institutional policy and actual classroom capability. Merely exposing students to English-Medium Instruction (EMI) does not guarantee professional communicative competence

A cross-over ban alone will not result in principled politics

The government’s announcement to enact a law to prevent members of Parliament, provincial councils and local government bodies from crossing over to other parties from the parties they were elected from does not seem to have evinced much interest from political circles.

Ensure stability of the rupee

It appears that the Central Bank may not have fully learned the lessons of the disastrous exchange-rate management of 2021–2022. During that period, the rupee was artificially maintained at around Rs. 210 despite growing market pressures.

What happened to safe working environments?

At least 22 female employees were hospitalised on Wednesday (3) morning following a fire that broke out at a garment factory in the Embilipitiya area.

Thousands of Leukemia patients have only four specialists for BMT treatment

Medical professionals warn that if urgent action is not taken to enhance specialist capacity, the country’s growing blood cancer issue will go beyond control in near future, with only four leukemia specialists in hand presently.

From Eelam War Heroes to Disposable Mercenaries: Sri Lankan Combatants Fighting in the Ukrainian War

The onset of the Ukrainian war in 2014 created significant manpower challenges, prompting both Russia and Ukraine to recruit former soldiers from various nations.

govt. is not heading towards a Gotabaya style economic free-fall but a Yahapalanaya-themed stagnation

Government’s critics warn, some with smug satisfaction, that Sri Lanka is yet again heading towards an economic crisis reminiscent of the one during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration.

The promise that never comes true

In Sri Lanka, there is one promise that keeps coming back during every election. It is the promise to abolish the executive presidency.

Another tragedy due to drunk driving

Even though liquor shops are usually closed on poya days and during festival seasons, there’s hardly any impact on people.

An intellectual discourse is needed on religious issues

The United National Party (UNP) has criticised the government for its move to establish a special court or a Dharmadhikaranaya to resolve issues among the Buddhist clergy, claiming that government cannot establish such a court.

Time for honest appraisal of religion

Regarding the present dialog on discipline among the Buddhist clergy, I am reminded of the famous words of Pastor Martin Niemöller: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist...” His message was that silence in the face of wrongdoing ultimately harms everyone.

Work on a vaccine for latest Ebola variant is in progress

A new type of Ebola called the “Bundibugyo ebolavirus” is spreading rapidly in Central Africa, worrying international health organisations as there is no vaccine for it yet. Work on a vaccine is in progress in the UK, US and India, but it will be a while before the vaccine can be used on humans. Since the first Ebola outbreak in 1976 in what’s now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, the virus has killed over 15,000 people acr

The Scalloped Hammerhead: The shark with the strange head and the missing labels

The Scalloped Hammerhead is not simply a strange-looking shark. It is a test of how well Sri Lanka can see what moves through its seas, fisheries, markets and public records.

Vesak: Beyond Celebration, A Return to the Dhamma

The arrival of Vesak brings with it an atmosphere of devotion, reflection, and serenity. Across Buddhist communities worldwide, homes and streets are illuminated with lanterns, temples overflow with worshippers, and acts of generosity become expressions of faith. Yet, Vesak is far more than a cultural or religious celebration.

The high cost of a weak rupee

For many Sri Lankans, the idea of travelling overseas carries with it a quiet anxiety that often overshadows the excitement.

Towards a more constructive Dansal culture

Towards a more constructive Dansal culture During Vesak and Poson we see dansals everywhere. Ice cream, rice, sweets, kottu, noodles and soft drinks are distributed to all along the roadside.

ENGLAND: FROM A TWO-PARTY SYSTEM TO A FIVE-PARTY ONE

Going by recent media analyses, some Sri Lankan commentators seem to think that gains by England’s far right Reform Party, and losses by the ruling Labour Party, point to Nigel Farage’s Reform being the dominant force in British politics from now on. But a closer look at elections results shows that this isn’t a foregone conclusion. At first glance, the results of English Council elections held on May 07 look shocking. Labour lost more than half

Dialog Powers National Vesak Zone 2026 as Official Digital Partner

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, has partnered with the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs as the Official Digital Partner for the National Vesak Zone 2026 in Matara. As part of the partnership, Dialog has launched the National AI Vesak Greeting Card Competition 2026, powered by Dialog 5G Ultra, enabling communities nationwide to creatively celebrate Vesak through next-generation connectivity and AIpo

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE WITHIN RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS

Child sexual abuse has become an urgent concern, with a troubling number of children subjected to physical and sexual abuse within religious institutions. In recent decades, reports of such misconduct have emerged across various faiths, including Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. Often, those in leadership roles within these organisations have either hidden the incidents or used their authority to impede investigations, allowing the pe

Time to build climate - economy nexus

If there is one lesson Sri Lanka should have learnt from the catastrophic economic collapse of recent years, it is that shallow development gains are easily erased by sudden, external shocks. Yet, as the government tries to deal with the complex conditionalities of fiscal restructuring, an existential, parallel threat continues to be relegated to the margins of state planning: the macroeconomic devastation of climate change. The country is curren

TRUMP’S DEVIL IN THE IRAN PEACE DEAL

War and peace are both ablaze in West Asia. War is too serious a business to be left to men who vacillate. So is peace. United States President Donald Trump is incapable of winning wars or making peace. The world is paying a heavy price for his misadventures. Wars bring suffering; the poor suffer most, while military contractors thrive. Besides these agents of death, one figure stands out as an obstacle to peace in West Asia: Benjamin Netanyahu,

The need to protect our children

On Tuesday, two children from Badulla succumbed to injuries after inhaling smoke from a fire that broke out in a hotel room in Batticaloa. It was reported that the mother of the two children was diagnosed with cancer and was receiving treatment at the Batticaloa hospital. They had come along with their father to see the mother. When the accident happened the two children were locked inside the room. Children are now being treated as an after-thou

Playing the cards right with social media

Much has been spoken about the alleged sexual abuse of a child by a monk holding a position of authority in the country. However, the public continues to be divided with regards to how the state handled the above matter. Some have scrutinised state actors for shielding a monk while others continue to demand a thorough investigation. It is ironic that over 20 lawyers appeared on behalf of the monk in question while there were a handful of lawyers

PC polls haunt the NPP

Tilvin Silva, the General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has stirred up a hornet’s nest by claiming that the provincial council elections which had been last held in 2014 would only be held next year, if any new issue is not cropped up.

A Humble Plea for Compassion and Humanity

It was somewhat comforting to learn that the humanitarian volunteers who travelled on the Global Sumud Flotilla have now been deported from Israel and have safely arrived in Türkiye.

The Cost of Mobility: Sri Lanka’s Vehicle Import Dilemma, Fiscal Realities, and Compromises

The relationship between the Sri Lankan citizen, the state, and the automobile has long been defined by structural contradictions.

Buddhism disgraced: These disturbing allegations are a symptom of a larger decay

The arrest and subsequent bail release of Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, on alligations of raping a minor girl has shed light on the dark underbelly of sexual abuse in the clerical order.