How Sunil Handunnetti could become a guiding light in promoting English language education

Last week, Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development Sunil Handunnetti participated in the World Economic Forum in Tianjin and spoke in a panel discussion.

Genocide in Palestine and government’s slowly changing stances

For some time after Israel commenced attacking Palestine in October 2023, our government, though of socialist bent, had been following a somewhat ambiguous policy on events taking place there.

Profits over society’s well-being

While profits are important for business success, focusing solely on maximising profits at the expense of human lives can be harmful to a country and its citizens.

Fear to change will ruin the nation

Against the backdrop of the National Transport Commission (NTC) having announced that it will be mandatory for bus drivers to wear seat belts starting from today, July 1, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) has urged the Government to provide standard seat belts to private buses at concessional prices before enforcing the regulation that makes seat belts mandatory for bus drivers.

Attachment to the machine and detachment from family

It’s time we move beyond the once-revered motto from Silicon Valley to “move fast and break things”. This quote-turned-operating mode is widespread across the world; you might even see it on the office walls of some IT companies in Colombo. The result? The digital products rolled out fueled by this idea have successfully broken our societies, democracies, planet, and our willingness to experience life or, at the extreme, to live at all. Yet, thes

For the attention of CMC’s new leadership

Galle Face Green, a treasured landmark of Colombo and a symbol of environmental beauty for over a century, is now facing a serious and growing health hazard. Once admired by both locals and foreign visitors for its open spaces and oceanfront charm, the area is increasingly overrun by rodents of various kinds.

Leftist Mamdani is the answer to New York’s poverty, but political skills are needed to solve its problems

Zohran Mamdani is the 33-year-old Democratic party candidate for the November New York City Mayoral election. If he wins, history will have been made. Mamdani will be the first Muslim, an Indian immigrant from Africa and that too of recent origin, a hard core socialist, and an unabashed supporter of the Palestinian cause, to occupy the coveted position of Mayor of the financial capital of the US, which is also home to the largest Jewish populati

Two State Solution A PATHWAY TO LASTING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Middle East, a cradle of civilisations and a land of profound spiritual significance, has for decades been synonymous with conflict, particularly the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian struggle. The recent escalation, marked by the horrific October 7th attack by Hamas and Israel’s subsequent devastating aggression in Gaza, has plunged the region into an unprecedented crisis.

A multipolar world, a vulnerable Sri Lanka

As the global order undergoes sweeping shifts, with geopolitics, trade tensions, and macroeconomic uncertainty converging, small economies such as Sri Lanka find themselves at a critical crossroads.

Colombo City is challenging as it is beautiful

First of all congratulations on your appointment, which was won despite the many challenges. In a nutshell Colombo City is still one of the greenest anywhere, and it has its own beauty and ambience.

Downside of tourism: No support for local tourists

Discrimination against Sri Lankan visitors was reported recently from Ella area, a former backwater whose tourism potential was suddenly discovered 15-20 years ago.

The poor and the representatives of the poor

On the 25th of this month Daily Mirror YouTube channel highlighted the clearing of a number of unauthorised structures in the Weligama area by the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CCCRMD) who were accompanied by the police. In the video, officers of the authority claimed that for the first time they had been permitted to carry out their duties without politicians interfering and obstructing their efforts.

Is school killing future leaders?

In a nation that hopes to evolve and remain stable, whether or not children should learn politics at a young age is an issue that is timely and pertinent. But, by providing political education to children in an elementary, age-appropriate way, we establish the foundation

Will Israeli PM Netanyahu be Convicted of Charges of Corruption?

It is no secret that US president Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are both members of an exclusive mutual admiration society.

Cutting your feet to fit the shoes

The procedure for the election of the chairman and mayors in local government bodies where no party has secured an absolute majority is something amusing.

A film on a horrible death sentence

These are times when the Sri Lankan cinema is making a resurgence. This is positive news for the cinema industry. After ‘Rani’, a film based on slain journalist Richard de Zoysa, we now get to know about a cinematic production by Chandran Rutnam.

Increasing Tax compliance through transparency and encouragement

I wish to make some suggestions for the consideration of officials of the tax department and the state to look into, they go as follows:-

Iran wins: Israel hit hard, fails to achieve its war objectives

With a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel holding, the world may heave a sigh of relief that the conflict ended within 12 days and did not spread to the wider region, thereby averting a global economic downturn far worse than that caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Environmental groups demand accountability for Plastic pellet pollution along Sri Lankan shores

When questioned about the spread of plastic pellets following the recent shipwrecks, Prof. Sanath Hettiarachchi, Chairman of the National Aquatic Resources and Research and Development Agency (NARA), said that they started observations as soon as the incident occurred. “We have noted that areas such as Jaffna, Mannar and Puttalam were affected around seven days after the incident. The plastic nurdles are drifting towards Delft, Nagadeepa and Pung

LIOC dealers blow fumes as commission margins are slashed

Petroleum dealers of Lanka Indian Oil Company PLC (LIOC) are up in arms against its management for the failure to ‘raise the dealer commission’ that was pruned, despite gaining profits in billions of rupees annually. Following the new scheme implemented by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to withdraw the 3% dealer margin, paid over the past several years as and when the retail price was determined, LIOC too followed suit although the other

It’s time to keep those cameras rolling on Sri Lankan shores..

People mostly remember Sri Lanka for its refreshing Ceylon tea, cinnamon and spices, cuisine or for its pristine beauty. But Sri Lanka is increasingly becoming a go-to destination for something more interesting --

How Exposed is Sri Lanka to the Iran-Israel Conflict

According to various news sources, Israel currently employs around 20,000 Sri Lankan workers. Remittances from Israel accounted for 2% of the total remittances received in 2024. Iran hosts only 35 Sri Lankans, rendering its direct remittance channel negligible

Abuser Transferred, Victim Dead—Is This Justice?

A deeply disturbing case of sexual abuse at a leading Colombo school has shocked the nation. A male teacher, accused of sexually abusing a female student, reportedly drove the child to take her own life. Yet, the Department of Education’s only disciplinary action was to transfer the perpetrator to a boys’ school—a grossly inadequate response to a grave crime.

WINNERS AND LOSERS OF THE IRAN-ISRAEL WAR

After bombing the deep underground nuclear facilities of Fordow and then loudly musing over the regime change of Iran, America’s President Donald Trump on Tuesday mediated a pre-dawn ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

Equality in digital education for children—dream or myth?

A few days ago, on the 22nd of this month, Prime Minister and Minister of Education Harini Amarasuriya addressed a discussion held with the Task Force appointed by the Cabinet to oversee Digital Education Transformation, emphasising that digital education systems should be introduced nationwide, ensuring fair distribution of human and physical resources across all schools.

“Turning ‘green Deserts’ into natural Ecosystems”: A Response

I, as a retired tea planter, was surprised at the Heading of this particular article. Sanjeewa Chamikara tells his readers how growing tea started in 1867 by James Taylor in Loolkandura in the Kandy District. All this is correct.

Looking at the war through lopsided world media

“We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.”

Pakistan’s Nobel Prize nominee and war in Middle East

On 21 June 2025, Pakistan quite unexpectedly nominated US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The announcement according to the ‘Dawn’ newspaper caught ordinary Pakistanis by surprise. Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize has come in the midst of the ongoing slaughter of innocents in Palestine by Israel which is enabled by theTrump government’s supply of arms to the genocidal Israeli regime.

The Gathering Storm: Impact of US Involvement in Iran-Israel War on Sri Lanka

As of June 22, 2025, Sunday morning hours, the United States has launched strikes against three Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. President Trump confirmed the “massive precision strikes,” stating they “completely and fully obliterated” the facilities, aiming to dismantle Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity. This decisive action inserts the U.S. directly into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. While Iranian authorities

Out of Sync with Our Anthem? Let’s Make Every Voice Count!

It is customary — and indeed meaningful — to begin any national event or public function by playing or singing the National Anthem, which pays homage to the beauty and spirit of Sri Lanka. Yet, it is disheartening to witness how few actually join in when the video is played.