Buddhist way or the other way… a moment of reckoning for all Buddhists

“Building Buddhist temples, placing statues under Bo-trees have negated reconciliation efforts”, making a very potentially-unpopular observation, Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and 

POLITICAL ETHNOCIDE, STATE SUICIDE?

How is it that the much-celebrated peace agreement heralding national reconciliation in Colombia between its

Vague promises of greener pastures for migrant workers

However, in more recent times, labour migration in Asia meant more and more women to take up paid 

Let not the truth go missing

Yesterday August 30 was the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances -- an 

No serious discussion on reconciliation in society: Rajitha Dissanayake

Rajitha Dissanayake’s latest play ‘Nethuwa Beri Minihek’ (A Much Needed Man) will hold its premiere at the Lionel Wendt in Colombo on September 2 and 3 at 7.00 pm.  

The plight of an Olympian

She doesn’t mind losing the marriage now, but her biggest worry is the lack of recognition as an Olympic and World Championship medallist.   

Miguel Silva of Ceylon Observer’s Editorial staff, Ordained Ven. Migettuwatte Gunananda: ‘Pan-tura C

Miguel Mendis Silva studied at Wesley College, Colombo, where he excelled in Christianity (Methodist), English and....

CROSS BORDER ADDICTION: IS SRI LANKA THE HUB OF HEROIN

The ever increasing narcotic drug trades across borders, have raised concerns globally. Making matters worse, quite a number of these....

This is how SWRD ‘gave the country back to its people’

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga says her father the late Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike brought the....

Sampanthan goes South with hand of friendship - EDITORIAL

While the national government is taking practical and concrete measures for reconciliation and the rebuilding of a....

The secret ritual held after the Esala Perahera

The thousands of devotees, who frequent the Kandy Esala Perahera, see that the perahera come to an end only after the....

Triangle of conflicts in Tamil Politics

An elderly Tamil gentleman, who in his retired secluded life in a rural village seems eager for company, surprised me with his perfect Sinhala....

An Internal Security Act seems the need of the hour

Considering the law and order situation in the country, may I suggest that our government seriously considers introducing an.....

Do we have the political will for zero tolerance for corruption?

While addressing an event held to mark the National Youth Day in May last year; organised by the National Youth Services....

International Day against nuclear tests - EDITORIAL

The International Day against Nuclear Tests observed on August 29, was established at the 64th Session of the....

Crucial to the country’s democracy

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Duminda Dissanayake and his United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) counterpart Mahinda Amaraweera saying that the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his loyalists had been invited for the 65th SLFP convention scheduled to be held on September 4, supporters of President Maithripala Sirisena would prefer the invitees would not attend  the event.  

Over-hyping the ISIS

Politicians have it in their DNA to hype our supposed present dangers. So do journalists. So does the military-industrial complex. So do certain think tanks and university professors who depend on sounding the alarm about this and that to gain grants from foundations.  

Need for SL to tread with caution

The Joint Opposition must surely be faulted for having neglected to challenge the constitutionality of the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Bill in the Supreme Court during the time available to do so. 

Ban’s visit; some reflections on the UN

Next week’s three-day visit to Sri Lanka by the United Nations outgoing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gives us an opportunity to reflect on the ties between our country and world body and the role the UN is playing or not playing in international politics and socio-economics. 

Enacting Animal Welfare Bill vital for SL: Ven. Athuraliye Thera

The Animal Welfare Coalition of Sri Lanka, set up to advocate a new Animal Welfare Bill, recently organised a consultation in Colombo to raise awareness on the subject matter among community service organisations, policymakers and the general public. The event was attended by veterinary doctors, lawyers, policymakers, activists, animal shelter groups and media personnel. “It is vital for the parliament to pass the Animal Welfare Bill as it

A powerful voice for theatre

Safeer’s book comes across as a must read for theatre artistes, most particularly to those in the South Asian sub continent. Addressing itself to a specificity born out of concerns in the context of Sri Lankan theatre, the book makes a take off point to expand into questions relating to theatre. In the very beginning, Safeer focuses on the problem of dwindling audiences, the concomitant depression and melancholy they give rise to, but haste

Our judiciary is capable of conducting any inquiry: Prof. Ravindra Fernando

An international conference on ‘Human Rights, Citizenship and Democratization’ is scheduled to be held in Colombo this Saturday (27) and Sunday (28) with the participation of both local and foreign 

The pogrom of children: The picture behind the pictures

A chilling picture of a child – identified as Omran Daqneesh from Aleppo in Syria - is making 

The trumpet has sounded, at judgment we stand

On the railway track last week in Chettikulam there was a horrible elephant tragedy which needs to be a trumpet call as to how serious Sri Lanka is in its commitment to protecting and promoting 

A Burning issue over coal tenders

Coal is inherently dirty. Once you add allegations of fraud, manipulation, illegality and wastage of 

Worsening MR, MS antagonism over the removal of 41 SLFP organisers

In the aftermath of the removal of 41 members from the organizers posts of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), a rift between party leader President Maitripala Sirisena and his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa looked widened, and antagonism worsened.  

End of the “Hora Police” era

The revival of a people-friendly, efficient, honest and independent Police Service is widely seen as an important dimension of the national government’s mission to rebuild a just society with interracial and inter-religious unity in diversity.  

The Bellanwila Esala Perahera: Colombo’s Cultural Pageant

The greatest Cultural Pageant of the Colombo District -- the 66th Annual Randoli Maha Perahera, of the historical Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya will be held on August 27, 2016.  

excessive spending over the years results in FOREIGN BORROWING

The following is an extract from the speech delivered by Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama at the inauguration of the CIMA Business Leaders’ Summit on August 23:   

Indo-Lanka Relations: history and reality

A lot is often made of alleged historical ties between India and Sri Lanka. Too much and too often, perhaps. ‘Historical Ties’ is an oft used sweetener to help one force unpalatables down the throats of another party, typically by the stronger on the weaker. It is not for nothing that democracy has been described as the opportunity for the downtrodden to choose the sauce with which they are to be eaten by the oppressor in a capitalist