Zebra crossing needed at this newly freed space

A section of R.A. de Mel Mawatha (Sri Uttarananda Mawatha) — from St. Michael’s Roundabout to Rotunda Roundabout along Temple Trees — was reopened to the public in October last year after being closed for nearly 19 years due to security concerns.

Needed: A society that tolerates in the name of religion

As much as religion or faith can grant you liberation, both these can land you in big trouble. History gives us enough examples of the latter happening. When thinking deep on these above mentioned two topics, it is heartening to know that today (August 22) is ‘International Day of Commemorating the Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief’.

When Arab silence becomes complicity, Palestine becomes the sacrificial lamb

What has happened to the Arabs? When fellow Arab Palestinians are being annihilated in a live-streamed genocide, why is the Arab world silent? Silence is certainly not a virtue when it emboldens wrongdoers to continue injustice and oppression. When more than 62,000 people—including 19,000 children—have been killed in the past 22 months, and children are reduced to skeletons draped in fleshless skin, Arab leaders’ condemnations appear merely perfu

Why ancient tanks need to be restored

Restoring Ancient Tanks is key for the advancement of agriculture. The deplorable state of ancient tanks in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa areas is a pressing concern that warrants immediate attention from the government.

The World Through a Nose: How Elephants Smell Their Way to Survival

Asian elephants are the quiet giants of the forest, but their most powerful tool is invisible. They have the strongest sense of smell of any land animal, far beyond that of dogs or humans. This super sense helps them find food and water, recognise friends and rivals, detect danger, and even make choices that require a kind of abstract thinking. Scientists are now beginning to uncover just how extraordinary this ability is. What they are finding r

RTI reveals details of existing vacancies at DWC

Vacancies for 150 wildlife rangers and 384 wildlife guards currently exist at the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). These details were revealed in response to a Right to Information request filed by the Daily Mirror to inquire about existing vacancies at the Department.

Shift in mindsets -- a main component of digitalisation

Digitalisation maybe an alien concept for a country that has deep-rooted colonial structures. For a people who have graduated from a colonial, archaic education system, it may be a challenge unto themselves. This is why digitalisation efforts in state institutions have taken years to be considered successful. Despite numerous trainings, workshops, meetings and conferences in lavish hotels and exorbitant expenditure, public sector employees are st

Why Households Must Be at the Heart of Disaster Risk Mitigation

As Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the growing frequency and severity of natural hazards—from landslides in the central highlands to floods in the south and droughts in the north—a hard truth persists. Despite policy dialogue and institutional effort, our disaster management systems fall short in protecting the most vulnerable.

Clean Sri Lanka – moving beyond one-off displays

The early enthusiasm that surrounded the Clean Sri Lanka campaign appears to be fading. The much-publicised images of ministers, MPs and their entourages cleaning beaches, bus stands and railway stations have now become rare. What is increasingly evident is that some of the worst offenders are not the public, but state institutions themselves.

Trump is very hard on India and Brazil, but for very different reasons

US President Donald Trump has slapped a punishing 50% tariff on both India and Brazil, both of which consider themselves leaders of the Global South in opposition to Western hegemony.

The Art of making promises and failing to fulfil them

It has been observed that the gamut of pledges disseminated to the people during election campaigns and then ignored after governmental power is secured seems to be common political behaviour followed by almost all political parties in the process of exercising Parliamentary democracy in this country.

Sri Lanka: The World’s Most Beautiful Island in 2025 A Tourism Opportunity at Risk

The global travel website Big 7 Travel has ranked Sri Lanka as the most beautiful island in the world for 2025. According to the latest news release, the country has already welcomed over 1.5 million tourists this year, a clear sign of recovery and international recognition.

The Politics of Hartals The ITAK is resorting to a well- used old tactic

Like a tiger on its prey, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) pounced upon the tragic death of a young man in Mullaitivu and turned it into grand political theatre.

Postal workers need to adjust to modern times

Postal workers in Sri Lanka are one segment of public servants who have been at the receiving end of injustices and short-sighted decision-making.

Can we handle so many tourists?

Tourism can be a significant source of foreign currency and contributes to economic growth of a country. Sri Lanka has seen a significant increase in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2025, exceeding even pre-pandemic levels and the aim is for 3 million tourist arrivals by end 2025 and 5 million by 2030.

New strategies needed to stamp out gun violence

All Opposition Parties are not in agreement on the no-confidence motion handed over to Speaker Jagath Wikramarathna by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya against the Deputy Defence Minister, retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara, on the grounds that conflict of interest is involved in the investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, as he was the commanding officer in the Eastern Province at the time of those terrorist attacks.

Managing The Stray Dogs issue

As we look towards finding solutions for managing the stray dog population in Sri Lanka, it’s essential to draw inspiration from our neighbouring country, India, where the Supreme Court has consistently upheld humane treatment of stray dogs. The Indian experience offers valuable insights into effective and compassionate management strategies.

Politics, Police Chiefs, Controversies and the new IGP

He joined the police force as a constable. While serving, he sat for his Advanced Level examination and earned promotion to Sub Inspector grade, subsequently gaining selection to the Law Faculty at university, and obtained his LL.B. degree. Promoted to ASP rank, he continued pursuing higher post graduate education, developing into a disciplined and exemplary police officer.

Clarification on the Sahasdhanavi Power Plant Levelized Tariff

As a response to the recent public discussions and media reports concerning the levelized tariff of the Sahasdhanavi Power Plant, Sahasdhanavi Ltd takes this opportunity to clarify several critical facts that might have been miscommunicated. Following is a release sent by Sahasdhanavi Limited.

The youth employment challenge in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s youth unemployment rate has consistently been higher than the national average. In 2022, for instance, the unemployment rate for those aged 20-29 was 16.2%, significantly above the national rate of 4.7%.

Not Too Late for a Winning Bet:The Need to Redraft the Gambling Bill

After weeks of discussion, the Committee on Public Finance approved the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) Bill last Wednesday. While the Bill faces its second reading in Parliament this Tuesday, its many deficiencies remain—helping create a regulator not worth its salt.

Politico-criminal nexus and the growth of lawlessness

In the period prior to the last presidential and general elections, lawlessness in the country had de-escalated from the point at its zenith during the regimes of presidents J.R. Jayawardene and Mahinda Rajapaksa..

Cannabis for Export: A Question of Morality, Practicality, and Policy

The government’s recent move to consider cannabis cultivation for export has sparked a heated debate across Sri Lanka. For over a century, the use and cultivation of cannabis have been prohibited here, and yet— much like illicit liquor or kasippu—the drug has remained freely available on street corners. Supply has never failed to meet demand, despite the ban.

What We Hear from Chemmani A Day of Grief, Evidence, Unanswered Questions, and the Living Proof That Remains

August 5, 2025, was not just another date in Sri Lanka’s calendar. It was a moment when the nation was forced, however reluctantly, to look again at one of its darkest, most unhealed wounds.

Addressing Future Demographic Challenges:Modern Skills of the Youth and Wisdom of the Elderly Must Meet

The countries of South Asia, with the demographic dividend of the highest proportion of youth in the region, is also experiencing a significant increase in their elderly population. What is more worrisome is that this trend is happening at a relatively earlier stage of economic development compared to Western countries.

SupremeSAT: Is it a Sri Lankan satellite?

The statement made by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on the controversial SupemeSAT satellite popularly known as “Chichi’s Rocket” has put the leaders of and the supporters of the National People’s Power (NPP) in a tight spot.

The Government, Opposition and dreams of Abou Ben Adhem

At the November 2024 elections, the NPP won a supermajority. The party secured 159 seats in the 225-member Parliament.

Postal delivery – at snail’s pace?

My grandson Hazim Shiraz, a Grade 3 student at Asoka College, Colombo 10 was eager to experience firsthand how traditional postal delivery works.

The Ceylon Journal III: A Review

The third installation of the bi-annual periodical The Ceylon Journal certainly continues the success of the two previous issues. Edited by Avishka Mario Senewiratne, The Ceylon Journal was first launched in July 2024. This unique journal, which in turn draws inspiration from Young Ceylon, a 19th-century Sri Lankan journal published by Charles Lorenz Ambrose and his friends, continues to publish immensely readable, yet well-researched and inform

India;s Maritime vision from sagr to indo pacific to mahasagar

A decade ago, on March 12, 2015, while commissioning in Mauritius the gleaming Offshore Patrol Vessel Barracuda, built in Garden Reach, Kolkata, to Mauritian specifications, Prime Minister Modi outlined India’s policy towards the Indian Ocean Region (IOR): Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). The Indian Ocean, he pointed out, was critical to the future of the world, bearing two-thirds of the world’s oil shipments, one-third of its