Driving smoothly with corruption

The Department of Motor Traffic in Werahera, popularly known as RMV, has been one of the main destinations visited by many individuals with a dream of obtaining a driver’s licence. But lately, there have been rumours about bribing activities that have been going on within and outside the premises. In an attempt to shed light on this issue, the  herewith exposes certain observations made during an attempt to find out the sums

CUBA LIBRE: IMBIBING A LESSON FROM HISTORY

Driving along the Malecon, Havana’s landmark seafront esplanade, an unusual monument comes into 

Reconciliation:  Progress made, More action needed – Douglas

As usual, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) promised to do a lot to the people. People expected the 

Political tailwinds backing the UNP and the headwinds buffeting the SLFP

One does not have to look anywhere else. Daily headlines in the mainstream newspapers have been 

Breathalyser tests standardized Guild wants pilot reinstated

Breathalyser tests are administered to ensure the safety of airline, the passengers as well as the 

The truth after tall-stories about coconut oil

Some decades ago, transnational food corporations apparently sponsored studies by some world food scientists who claim that our good old coconut oil which has kept us healthy for centuries could 

UNP AT THREE SCORE YEARS AND TEN

The Grand Old Party has just celebrated its 70th anniversary, a historic event attended by President Sirisena and former....

Inauspicious VAT and Press Takeover Bills - 52 years Apart

The VAT Bill was placed before Cabinet for approval. Earlier the Supreme Court blocked the attempt to legalize the...

Beware Don’t invest hard-earned money on some broke pyramid scheme

Pyramid schemes are illegal and perilous ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes that can end up costing you a lot of money. You may....

Godage Literary Awards 2016 a surge in applicants

Dr. Harischandra Wijayathunga, Pannamaththu Kavirayar and Padma Edirisinghe were this year’s Godage Literary Award....

GMOA: Doctors are more equal than others

The grade- one school admission is high-stake business. Parents play every magic and trick to get their kids to a good...

Hypocrisy at its best - EDITORIAL

The just-concluded 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Margarita Island in Venezuela, has placed a....

Elephants take top berths as status symbols

“Social status can be determined in two ways; one way is through personal achievements and the other is through....

Enforce death penalty

On September 10 the Daily Mirror reported that between January and August this year a total of 334 murders had taken place....

They get corrupt as value system intrinsically weak

Since Independence, we have not been able to make a tangible improvement in the Public Sector. At the same time....

Kathikawath must be formulated by monks of each Nikaya

The government stated that the Bill was brought forth in order to address several 

Time we tell mea culpa - EDITORIAL

The International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. The United Nations General Assembly.....

Assault on Lankan Envoy Ansar in KL Airport by Malaysian “We Tamils”

An official Ambassador is defined as a diplomat of the highest rank accredited to a foreign Government as the resident representative of his or her Motherland. The equivalent designation to an Ambassador among Commonwealth Nations is High Commissioner. Since an Ambassador or High Commissioner is the premier representative of his or her country any honour bestowed upon him or her in the host country is a respect afforded to the envoy’s count

Party anniversaries over; What’s good in them for People?

Anniversary celebrations of the two main political parties were held in two consecutive weekends this September. Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in Kurunegala on Sunday 4, and the United National Party (UNP) in Colombo on Saturday 10. The UNP was formed in 1946 to take over from British colonial rule, celebrated 70 years. Bandaranayake and his Sinhala Maha Sabha clan broke off from the UNP in 1951 to form the SLFP. The party thus celebrated 65 yea

Battle global warming the way we saved the ozone layer

Yesterday September 16 was a vital day for the world but unfortunately most people were not even aware of it though at one point it meant life or death for millions of people. In 1994, the United Nation’s General Assembly proclaimed September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. It marked the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.   

J.R. A revered statesman, an iconic gentleman

The declaration of Martial Law and imprisonment of National Heroes in 1915 intensified the political struggle for national independence in Sri Lanka. 

Aspects of Buddhism as I understand them: The five precepts and the four Brahma Viharas

When I was small, my grandfather would read and explain poems to me. One day, we were both having a nice time doing poetry, when a mosquito landed on my little arm. My immediate reaction 

It is the power that matters

The two leading political parties - the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP) - undoubtedly overshadowed the usual practice followed by them throughout the past six 

9/11: The beginning of bad world order

It may be a cliché to say that the world will never be the same again. But it needs to be said again to 

Talking spiritual abilities of women as envisaged by Buddha - in ‘...Binara mahe meda’

“O Gotami,” said the blessed one, “perform a miracle in order to answer the misconceptions of those badly informed men who do not recognize the spiritual abilities of women.”  

Work harder and promote religious unity

The Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera, chief priest of the Gnagaramaya temple, has urged Sri Lankans to work hard, honestly and with commitment in whatever they do and to be ready to work 

Democracy is a vehicle for discussion for and by the people

Eminent social and political thinker, Ernest Barker, in his ‘Social and Political Theory’ describes political democracy as a system of government by which each citizen lays his/her mind alongside other minds in a voluntary process of common debate and mutual persuasion. This is the principle of toleration and compromise which form part and parcel of political democracy. All the citizens put together their views and values relating to

‘Unnecessary’ fear and tall-tales about constitutional reform

The Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter of the Siyam Nikaya, the Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera was spot on about proposals to change the constitution. The Venerable Thera is reported to have observed the following: ‘Causing unnecessary fear among the people on the Constitutional proposals and then saying tall tales is unacceptable and unhealthy.”  Correct.  

Medical student’s death: Was it exam pressure or a mystery

There can be many possibilities as to what happened to medical student Harindra Seneviratne, who was found dead on September 11 in his room at the Medical faculty hostel in Maradana.  But the tragedy that occured will hover in everyone’s mind especially in that of   Harindra’s parents, who are trying hard to come to terms with what happened that day.  

Democracy: A just and inclusive society

Today is the International Day of Democracy with the theme this year being Democracy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The link between democracy and all-inclusive development is vital and challenging.