Unpopular Measures

It’s good to see the government taking some unpopular measures that hardly get highlighted in the media. Two examples to mention a few, the removing of unauthorised buildings along the Southern coast and up country, too.

When would there be the day when religion is safe from Politics?

It was so lovely to witness the concluding of the Pada Yathra (trek) pilgrimage for 2025 on July the fourth sans major issues. Why even talk about major issues during a religious event? We need to do that because Sri Lanka is one of those countries which has used religion as a tool to cause divisions within a community.

Sri Lanka’s private education crisis and Govt. impact

For middle-class Sri Lankan parents, small businesses, teachers, and other professionals, education is not just a right, but a lifeline to a better future for their children. They work tirelessly to save for college degrees that promise good jobs and social mobility. However, access is severely limited; only 17% of students who pass A/Ls gain admission to state universities, leaving many reliant on private institutions like KDU, ACBT, or SLIIT.

“A peace-building front-liner’s work often goes unnoticed” -Pushpi Weerakoon

Pushpi Weerakoon, a specialist in Peacebuilding, Transitional Justice, Migration Management, Development, and Diplomacy, recently made history as the first Sri Lankan to win the Rotary Alumni Global Service Award. This award recognises one outstanding Rotary alumnus from around the world and is presented to individuals whose service activities and professional achievements exemplify Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self, often impacting lives inte

Doctors in Hambantota hospitals face death threats due to drug shortage

Health authorities in the Hambantota district have expressed concerns regarding the shortage of drugs in hospitals and hardship created as a result.

How ‘Sri Lankan English’ adapted, borrowed and blended into the Oxford English Dictionary

Be it asweddumized fields or mallung in a rice and curry meal, kiribath for a special occasion, sizzling kottu, scrumptious watalappam or a happening baila song – each one of these examples provides a glimpse of Sri Lanka in a nutshell.

Blackout: Solar energy not to blame, grid development is solution- DG-International Solar Alliance

Director General of International Solar Alliance Ashish Khanna who is in Sri Lanka speaks to Daily Mirror on the importance of solar energy for the future.

The lessons Sri Lanka did not learn from the Easter Sunday attack, and will regret one day

Last week, Parliament erupted with allegations and counter-allegations in yet another adjournment debate over the Easter Sunday Attacks.

Perils of Sri Lanka tourism and the way forward

Tourists who fly down to Sri Lanka are often convinced by attractive promotional videos that are being made viral on social media platforms. Of course, the pristine beaches, breathtaking waterfalls, diverse cuisine and culture are worth the experience. But from a hospitality point of view, Sri Lanka is still lagging behind on a few priorities.

The Ripple Effect of the Sinhala-Only Act

We should not hastily place blame on Minister Sunil Handunneththi for the widely criticised interview at the recent World Economic Forum.

Let the law take its course

The fear expressed by several organisations of doctors to prescribe medicines and medical equipment to be purchased from private pharmacies after the arrest of Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne does not seem to be justifiable.

Is America moving towards the Far Right?

The United States stands at a political crossroads. The entrenched rivalry between the Democrats and Republicans, often indistinguishable in their elitism, may soon give way to a sharper ideological divide: the Far Right and the Far Left, currently embodied by President Donald Trump and New York City Mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani.

The Looming Crisis: How Economic Hardship and Stifled Entrepreneurial Spirit threaten Sri Lanka’s National Security

Sri Lanka stands at a critical juncture in its post-independence history. The echoes of past upheavals, particularly the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) insurgencies of 1971 and 1987-89, resonate with chilling clarity in the contemporary socio-economic landscape. These past rebellions, often attributed to the explosive combination of unbearable cost of living and the widespread unemployment among educated youth, serve as stark reminders of how ec

Will the UN go the same way as the League of Nations ?

The United Nations was established after World War II because its predecessor, the League of Nations, failed to prevent World War II from breaking out in 1939.

Degradation of the city of Colombo

The role that trees, green spaces and greenery play in our day-to-day lives is indescribable and inimitable. They are a balm to the soul of man, who goes in search of the miracles of Mother Nature - forests, wildlife, jungles - leaving behind, temporarily, the fast paced lives and concrete monstrosities in urban towns.

Bradman the Man for all seasons!

“Sir Donald George Bradman was, without any question, the greatest phenomenon in the history of cricket, indeed in the history of all ball games”.

Sri Lanka in Crisis: Hartal -1953 and Aragalaya– 2022

Sri Lankan politics shows a repeating pattern where established parties take over grassroots movements.

The ‘Aragalaya’ to fight corruption and assert political sovereignty

Three years ago –- on 13th July 2022 – Gotabaya Rajapaksa, president of Sri Lanka, fled the country as the economic crisis spiralled out of control.

Mountains of Filth -- A Plea for Action, and Restore chute facility

Every time I visit Masjidul Munawwara mosque at 169/10, M.J.M. Lafeer Mawatha, Colombo 12, I am disheartened by the sight of uncollected garbage piling up behind the wall of Kotahena Junior Sinhala School, No. 200, Maha Vidyalaya Mawatha.

Negombo Bharatha Association celebrates its centenary

The Mahavamsa indicates that a fairly small community of persons, predominantly Roman Catholics of Indian Origin have migrated to Sri Lanka from various parts of India in the course of its recorded history.

Morality in politics is no easy matter

So long as the National People’s Power (NPP) was not in power, its leaders claimed moral high ground over other major political parties, especially those that have ruled the country before or those that had clung to them during their administrations.

Trump’s tariffs and the need for diversification of markets

Today the most dominant topic of conversation media-wise, whether it be the BBC, CNN, rt.com, the Daily Mirror or the Ceylon Daily News, is US President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on goods entering the US.

Price hikes shouldn’t be the order of the day

Soon after US President Donald Trump announced a 30% tariff on Sri Lankan exports with effect from August 1, the price of imported milk powder increased. Milk powder is an essential item in any household especially if there are infants who need to be fed.

How much anti-Semitism is too much anti-Semitism?

Recently, there has been a growing sense of ill will in the local social media posts and newspaper articles towards Israeli tourists in the country. Whether this is a popular sentiment or amplified by a minority is open to question. However, some of the allegations made there are valid, some need government scrutiny, and others are exaggerated.

How Drone Technology Could Have Reshaped the Sri Lankan Conflict

It’s important to approach hypothetical scenarios with careful consideration, especially when discussing sensitive historical events and their potential alternate outcomes. Predicting the exact trajectory of a conflict under different circumstances is inherently complex. However, we can analyse the potential impact of drone technology on a hypothetical prolonged conflict between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE, assuming the conflict cont

Epstein files, Mossad and Kompromat diplomacy

Once again, it became evident this week that the Israeli prime minister is effectively the president of the United States when it comes to the Middle East. Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House—his third visit during President Donald Trump’s second term—ostensibly to discuss the Gaza crisis, the aftermath of the Iran war, and the so-called Abraham Accords, among other issues.

Could the new Mayoress revive the iconic Beira Lake?

The Beira Lake is considered a colonial masterpiece built by the Portuguese in the 16th Century. It is also one of the most iconic landmarks in Colombo. This lake was constructed to serve as a moat to protect the city from invaders and for transport of weapons and goods.

Immigrant workers need recognition and representation

Immigrant workers are our assets. And it’s important to use the adjective ‘immigrant’ here and not migrant. This is because migration is for those who go abroad illegally and for birds who fly from country to country to escape adverse weather conditions.

Metaphysical aspects of Buddhism

Cruelty towards animals in a so-called righteous world

The incumbent government has been scrutinised for its short-sighted efforts to revive an injured tusker who had been ailing inside a mud pit for several days. The tusker identified as ‘Bhatiya’ had suffered a gunshot injury in its front leg and collapsed near the Polpithigama lake bund in early February. The injured tusker is around 30-35 years old and the Nikaweratiya Wildlife Officials were the first to inform authorities about this tusker.