Literacy in a digital world

Today is International Literacy Day and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says it will be celebrated across the world on the theme, ‘Literacy in a digital world’.

Geopolitics allows Myanmar to cover up Rohingya massacre

A humanitarian crisis of near genocidal proportions is taking place in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, yet the world’s reaction is confined to mere condemnation instead of sanctions or direct intervention. 

Numbers game, Not policies that matter

Two months ago, the supporters of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament, who call themselves the Joint Opposition, claimed that 18 Parliament members of the Maithri faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) were to join hands with them. But nobody has defected from the incumbent President’s faction to the former President’s faction yet. And interestingly, neither they ?continue with their claim nor do their adversa

e-NIC threatens Sovereignty of People

The decision to introduce an electronic National Identity Cards (NIC) is now legally on the way with the Minister for Internal Affairs S.B. Navinna introducing amendments to the Registration of Persons (Amended) Act No.08 of 2016. 

Molding kids into leaders the scouting way

Janaprith Fernando, an Attorney-at-Law, was recently made a member of the ‘World Scout Committee’ of the World Organization of the Scout Movement 2017-20. This is the biggest achievement by a member in the 105-year history of the Sri Lanka Scout Association The following are excerpts of an interview done with Fernando. 

POLICE-PUBLIC RELATIONS: A MODERN, SACRED AND HUMANE VISION

I am fully convinced that, at the outset, a brief introductory word is invariably called for. When the State, graciously asked me to take over as Inspector General of Police (IGP), I accepted the order, with due humility and deference, as in my mind, this assignment assumed the stature of a sacred trust.  

Arbitrary demarcation Of peak, off peak hours by TRC to the detriment of Consumer

Technology advancement in the field of Telecommunications over the last 2-3 decades is so vast that practically every human being in this world has become more and more dependent on some form of telecommunication tool in his/her daily life . In order to promote economic development and to reduce the gap of the digital divide broadband plans will have to be developed to increase availability and affordability. 

For a time of confidence and confidences

'“Time it was…and what a time it was…it was…a time of innocence…a time of confidences. Long ago it must be…I have a photograph…preserve your memories… they’re all that’s left of you.”

SF’s accusations: Govt. needs serious dialogue within

Former Army Commander Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka seems to be an interesting person. Having told many a time that the Army that he commanded during the extremely successful last lap of the war against the LTTE, never committed war crimes or violated international human rights or humanitarian laws, he occasionally opens a Pandora’s Box by accusing one of his comrades-in-arms of committing crimes during the same military campaign.

‘I don’t rule out the possibility of MR and MS patching up differences’-Basil

Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, in an interview with Daily Mirror, spoke about his plans in view of the next elections. Rajapaksa, who spearheads Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna under the Flower Bud symbol, said that his side will win at future elections under any circumstances. Following are excerpts of the interview.  

‘Unity Govt. will be extended even beyond 2020’

Highways and Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella, in an interview with Daily Mirror aired his views on the current status of politics in the country and the progress made in constitution making. He also made his stand clear on the SAITM issue. Following are excerpts of the interview. 

We fear whether judicial independence will be at stake - Udaya Gammanpila

Joint Opposition MP Udaya Gammanpila in an interview with the Daily Mirror, spoke about the current political situation in the country and his plans for future activities. Udaya Gammanpila is also the leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), says his party has fears whether independence of the judiciary will be at stake. The Excerpts :

Forfeited Wellawatte Residence Case Plight of the Citizenry under Emergency Laws

The recent Supreme Court order handing over a Wellawatte property -- forfeited during the Rajapaksa regime on the instruction of the Police and taken over by the Terrorist Investigation Division -- to its rightful owners, is a typical indicator of the manner in which emergency regulations impinged the legal rights of the citizenry and the excesses that could be carried out with seeming impunity. 

‘Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe supported the Joint Opposition indirectly’-Perera

Deputy Minister of Power and Renewable Energy, Deputy Whip of the Government, UNP Leader of Kalutara District and UNP Working Committee Member Ajith P. Perera in a candid interview with the Daily Mirror acknowledged offering jobs of the Power and Renewable Energy Ministry to his UNP supporters. 

Assault on the Theory of Evolution

The Theory of Evolution has hardly seen calmer seas ever since its formulation in Charles Darwin’s 1859 book ‘On the Origin of Species’. Just like HMS Beaglewhich went through the stormiest seas in its five-year long voyage with Darwin on board, the Evolution theory too has been going through many a tempestuous sea.   

When a politico-god’s existence is in question

Human misery is an unequalled equaliser. Its presence, almost in every corner in this vast and speckled globe, is reminding each of us that human life could be incredibly unfair. The unending drama mostly ends in unspeakable tragedy. 

Bribery and corruption -The main Enemy of the nation

Bribery is omnipresent with a long history starting from the time immemorial and spreading fast at all levels of the community.  

LOOKING FOR Mervyn

Papa was a rolling stone. I did look for Mervyn de Silva quite a bit as a boy, disembarking from my mum’s car and popping into every watering hole in town, from posh pub to seedy bar, occasionally encountering him and consenting to a cover story which would enable

Sarath Fonseka’s war crime rhetoric is self-harming

When Yasmin Zooka’s International Truth and Justice Project (ITJC), known for its dalliance with LTTE loving fringe Tamil groups, selectively raises the human rights card on Sri Lanka, it can be dismissed as sour grapes. 

The Rohingya issue will have far reaching consequences

The Rohingya Muslim humanitarian tragedy in North Western Myanmar, which has displaced more than 300,000 people, has metamorphosed into an armed conflict between the Myanmarese army and Rohingya insurgents, believed to be foreign funded and equipped now.   

Visions and designer budgets: From paper to the people

In September 2015, the two major parties the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) came together for the first time to form a National Unity Government to work for the common good of the country.  Whatever the disputes or drawbacks -- which were not unexpected -- the National Unity Government has made progress, though most analysts say there is a long way to go before the vision is reached by 2025.  

Whither Sri Lankan cricket - EDITORIAL

This has been a bad year for Sri Lankan cricket. Our defeat by India at the 4th ODI match means that we may now have lost the....

Individual Desire and Collective Welfare: understanding present wave of social and political turmoil

Sri Lanka is not the only country that is hit by social and political turmoil today. In fact, almost the entire world is going through a....

Between Neoliberalism and Authoritarian Populism

The Global Economic Crisis of 2008 continues to ravage the world. The economic fallout is evident from the decline in global....

WANTED! Competent and duty conscious People’s Reps

Citizens of Sri Lanka living both in and out of the country are longing for credible, competent and far-sighted public servants, office....

President Sirisena wishes to see an undivided SLFP

President Maithripala Sirisena was candid and open minded during an interview with the Daily Mirror two days before the 66th Anniversary Celebration of the SLFP, scheduled for September 3  (tomorrow) at Campbell Park, Borella. President Sirisena discussed a range of issues from giving him the party leadership, the world’s view  on Sri Lanka after the establishment of the ‘Yahapalana Government’ and domestic issues face

Conserve water through dry land farming

In most countries, young people especially are being encouraged and given incentives to find creative, eco-friendly solutions to various dimensions of the climate change crisis. Though the United States President Donald Trump is still insisting that climate change is a Chinese hoax, his ideas may have been drowned in the catestrophic floods, which have hit Houston and other Texas cities for the past weeks with weather experts describing it as the

Get out of Afghanistan

It’s the most repeated maxim in all the reporting on Afghanistan: “The Americans have the watches, the Taliban have the time”.  

Wigneswaran’s ever opened can of worms

On August 23 and 24, two Ministers in the North and the South were sacked from their ministerial portfolios. One was former Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and the other was the former Transport and Fisheries Minister of the Northern Provincial Council P. Deniswaran.  

Whole country totally corrupt

Recently in a live TV panel discussion, Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harsha de Silva said this country as a whole is totally corrupt.