Muddy mess at Maligawatte Flats

During a recent visit to a close friend of mine residing in Block B47, adjacent to Block E1 of the Maligawatte Flats, Jayantha Weerasekera Mawatha, I observed a concerning situation behind the Maligawatte Public Market (near the Ruby Theatre). A large quantity of garbage has remained uncollected for an extended period. This is not only an eyesore, but also a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes and other health hazards.

UN Resolution 2803: Subterfuge outsourcing Israel’s unlawful occupation

On the elusive path towards peace in Palestine, any development that seems to trigger hope is hailed as significant, even if it is an outright subterfuge disguised as a peace proposal to prolong the Palestinian plight under Israeli occupation.

Let elusive mastermind to elude forever !

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his recent remarks to Parliament, outlined how the government acted on specific intelligence to pre-empt what could have been a terrorist attack in Arugam Bay. He described how security authorities had received advance information about a potential plot targeting this internationally renowned tourist destination and convened urgent meetings—even at 1.00 a.m.—to make rapid decisions and deploy preventive meas

Ethno-nationalism to raise its ugly head again?

Sri Lanka doesn’t seem to have taken certain lessons from the past. There was an ugly era that allowed ethno-nationalism to thrive, causing communal tensions and divisions in various parts of the country. There were Buddhist monks who threatened minority communities and politicians who convinced these communities to vote for Sinhala-Buddhist leaders by instilling a fear psychosis. In the North of the country, ethno-nationalism is an issue that pe

Middles classes join farmers at pawning counters

Sri Lanka has discussed rural indebtedness since independence, yet successive governments have failed to address this deepening crisis. What was once largely a problem among farming communities has now spread far beyond.

Toxic demography and ethnic time bombs: The Trincomalee temple fiasco: encroaching Buddhism and Tamil politics

Imagine that the recent incident in Trincomalee had happened inversely: A kovil, mosque, or a church is set up in Colombo, Galle, or somewhere in the South, and the Police storm the place, manhandle the clergy, and remove a statue of Jesus or Lord Vishnu. Social media warriors, NGO captains, and the Western embassies all would explode in outrage at this apparent act of religious indignation.

Architecture as an art AIA International Conference 2025 lights up Colombo

Colombo became the focal point of the global architectural world earlier this month as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) International Conference 2025, Sri Lanka was held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel from October 9-11.

Sri Lanka’s interest-rate trap

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has inexplicably maintained high interest rates in a deflationary environment, which increases debt-service costs and suppresses economic activity. It must change course now, because austerity in the name of fiscal sustainability is self-defeating if it destroys the conditions for growth.

“Sri Lanka has enormous promise, but effective tourism promotion requires both investment and continuous effort” - Zubin Karkaria, Founder & CEO, VFS Global Group

Over a year after the e-visa system handled by the consortium—comprising IVS-GBS as the primary partner and VFS Global as the technical partner—was suspended in Sri Lanka, Daily Mirror Editor-in-Chief Jamila Husain interviewed Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VFS Global Group,

Why sex education is a MUST for future generations

Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya recently said that discussions are underway to introduce age-appropriate sex education to the school curriculum and that a health module has been included for Grade 6.

Mamdani makes a historic breakthrough A People’s Victory in the Heart of America

It is no secret that the true power behind America’s political doctrine lies with its traditional capitalist elite. Within that social order, challenging their ideological framework is often seen as political suicide. In line with this doctrine, those who identify as socialists or communists are viewed as criminals, and Muslims are automatically branded as terrorists. This global narrative—constructed and propagated by powerful ruling elites—is t

Tourists should be treated with dignity!

It’s such a shame to see locals behaving in rather disgusting ways in front of tourists. Luckily, the lady who was travelling near Arugam Bay was recording her journey when she had to face the shocking encounter. It’s clear that locals continue to harass tourists who visit this country based on recommendations.

THE BBC, TRUST, AND THE GREY RHINO WE ALL SAW COMING

There are very few media organisations in the world that genuinely transcend their national borders. Many outlets are well-known globally, of course, but the vast majority are read primarily within their own countries or among their diaspora. Truly global news institutions, those that shape conversations in multiple continents simultaneously are rare.

The Finnish Formula for Joy: Lessons for a Happier Sri Lanka

Finland has consistently been ranked the world’s happiest nation, a title it has held for several years running in the UN’s World Happiness Report.

The Dawood Ibrahim–LTTE Nexus: Strategic Implications Across the Palk Strait

This analysis is inspired by a recent article published in the Colombo Gazette, which reported that Indian intelligence agencies have issued warnings about a possible alliance between the Dawood Ibrahim (D-Company) criminal syndicate and remnants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“Lion of Ruhunu” at 80: Political Journey of Mahinda Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka’s fifth executive president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, will celebrate his 80th birth anniversary this week. Mahinda, born on November 18, 1945, served two terms as president from November 2005 to

Is America in the grip of Christian religiosity?

Christian religiosity appears to be gaining traction in the United States partly because it is one of the defining features of President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) ideology. Trump

The gradual disintegration of Asia’s King among sports

In the countries of South Asia, cricket is looked on as a cultural phenomenon, far more than just another sport. It transcends class and party politics. It evokes images of cricketing giants of the past, and draws

MPs throw decency overboard Unacceptable language in Parliamentary proceedings

Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne on Monday has said that an investigation will be conducted by the office of the Secretary General of Parliament regarding the use of unparliamentary language used by some MPs

Treasury overflows: rupees earned, dollars spent, time to rationalise vehicle imports

In his 2026 Budget Speech, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake painted an optimistic picture of the economy, citing the steady recovery of state revenue and the restoration of macroeconomic stability. Yet, he did so with a cautious approach.

Dissecting BBC bias: From Trump’s speech to Gaza’s genocide

During our early days in journalism, we looked to the media in Western democracies as our guide and mentor. Western media appeared as a fearless champion of truth, unlike the government mouthpieces that spread propaganda behind the Communist Iron Curtain during the Cold War. In workshops we attended, Western experts lectured us on the importance of truth-telling and journalistic ethics. Little did we realise then that Western journalism had its o

Opposition rally and a note to people

The Opposition is planning to host a major rally on November 21. But what is quite obvious is the fact that the opposition seems to be divided on this matter. Namal Rajapaksa recently met with SLFP ministers,

Envisioning a disability-friendly Sri Lanka

Colombo Mayor Vraie Balthazaar recently attended a walk for visually impaired persons to raise awareness on daily challenges that they encounter when walking about in the city. In order to personally experience their struggles, Mayor Balthazaar walked through parts of Colombo while blindfolded, accompanied by Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Sri Lanka’s first-ever vision-impaired Member of Parliament. It is a wise move to get into their shoes and experi

Diversify exports without abandoning apparel: Time to Re-Stitch Sri Lanka’s Export Story

For five decades, apparel has been the backbone of Sri Lanka’s export story. It built factories, created jobs, and brought in precious foreign exchange. Yet the same sector that once powered Sri Lanka’s rise now limits its future.

Beware of Nursing services offered by the unscrupulous

I am writing to share my experiences with a so – called private nursing company in Ratmalana whose services are unprofessional with their Manager hoodwinking the patients.

The man who annihilated the LTTE: Mahinda Rajapaksa - Sri Lanka’s most successful president

Last week, Veteran journalist D.B.S. Jeyaraj, writing the first of a two-part article on Mahinda Rajapaksa turning 80, aptly surmised the protagonist as ‘demonised by the opponents and deified by supporters’.

Budget 2026 : What about relief to people?

Another bagful of promises was dished out to the public last week. But customary budget readings won’t suffice if these allocations don’t fulfil the demands of people.

Our public transport - a shameful story!

For most Sri Lankans, getting from home to work is not just part of the day, it is a daily battle. Every morning, buses and trains are packed to the brim, people hang from doors, and tempers flare as commuters push their way through a system that seems to have forgotten who it’s meant to serve.

Education reforms must aim to overhaul socioeconomic structure

There seems to be insufficient public discourse on the proposed education reforms, except for politically motivated or self-centred criticisms by political parties and trade unions. The students, who are the target group of these reforms and their parents seem to be in the dark.

Another bus tragedy

Despite the government’s efforts to minimise road accidents, especially due to speeding buses and three-wheelers, another tragedy occurred in Thalawa yesterday (10). A 17-year-old student who was going to sit for the A/L