The Four in one man Frederick Forsyth: Pilot, Journalist, Spy and Writer

Is there a connection between popular English novelist Frederick Forsyth who breathed his last on 9th June 2025 and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that was militarily defeated by the Sri Lankan armed forces in May 2009?

Sebastiao Salgado (1944-2025) Photographer who captured diversity of life makes final ‘click’

The great Brazilian documentary photographer Sebastiao Salgado died on May 23, 2025 at age 81.

Arms trade Middle East war splits Trump base

The arms trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry that profits regardless of whether peace or conflict prevails.

Sri Lanka Railways stuck in a political quagmire

Sri Lanka Railways is in the news for neglect and shame, and an underlying reason for this state could be political in a way.

Anura scores own goal, but succeeds in netting the corrupt

Not so long ago, when comrade Anura Kumara Dissanayake was an ordinary MP in the last parliament before presidential elections were held.

Applause to the govt. for timely attempts to resolve HEC

Successive regimes failed to address the human-elephant conflict (HEC) which in turn has claimed the lives of many elephants and humans over the years.

Displaced families in Northern Muhamalai return following landmine clearance project

Rasadurai Rasendram (64) from Intherapuram, Muhamalai, was displaced with his family of 9 on multiple occasions, once in 1996 and then again in 2000 as a result of the protracted civil war.

NPP caught in the crossfire between theory and practice

How the National People’s Power (NPP) which had failed to secure absolute power in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) at the May 6 local government elections finally captured power of the council last Monday is still a secret.

Sri Lanka needs to introduce laws on Health Literacy and Patients’ Rights

Even though Sri Lanka has been acknowledged as a country with a satisfactory literacy rate, time has come to question whether the average Sri Lankan also falls into the categories of literate, educated and knowledgeable.

Impose maximum punishment

It is a known fact that the former Health Minister has been named a suspect in procuring toxic medicines which were used on people.

URGENT NOTICE – DOGS MISSING FROM VIHARA MAHA DEVI PARK

Half the dogs at Vihara Maha Devi Park are missing. Our staff discovered this today when they went to feed them.

Trump’s Madman Theory fuels Iran-Israel war

Will the United States join Israel’s war on Iran? This is the biggest question today, as Iran and Israel continue their war of attrition. On the eighth consecutive day of escalating hostilities—with missiles and drones striking each other’s cities—the US president’s decision could alter the course of the conflict. It could either de-escalate tensions or add fuel to the confrontation that risks engulfing the entire region for months to come. Which

Sri Lanka enjoys the fragrance of Indian yoga

Many moons ago, this writer was part of a conversation in which the discussion was on how to mint money. The person who was in control of the conversation was a self-made man who was running a chain of hotels. In all his hotels, wellness centres and yoga retreats were a big part of the culture. He went on to mention that wellness, weapons and drugs (as in narcotics) were the three businesses people can engage in and make money fast. Fortunately o

The new mayor’s task is Herculean

The task before you is Herculean and your main priority will be to root out the rampant corruption that is manifest in many forms in that institution. “Clean Sri Lanka” will mean far more to you than merely cleaning the garbage on the streets.

What went wrong with Air India plane that crashed Veteran ex SriLankan pilot responds

Days after the crash of an Air India flight, former SriLankan Airlines pilot captain Sri. Segaram speaks to Daily Mirror on the possible causes that might lead to an air crash.

Sri Lanka’s Silence on Chemmani Mass Grave: A Call for Justice and Unity

Imagine a loved one goes missing: your child, sibling, spouse or parent, you would do anything in your power to bring them back, or at least find out what happened to them.

On media freedom and regime change in Iran

In grim video footage, a female anchor was live on air, passionately espousing, when debris filled the studio with thunder in the background as the Israeli military attacked Iran’s State-run Television network.

The Mayoral stakes, crossovers and slum dwellers in Lanka

At the recently held local government election, National People’s Power (NPP) captured power in 266 out of 339 local government bodies.The election was held on May 06.

So Much for Ease of Doing Business

The Inland Revenue Department recently announced that all individuals over the age of 18 are required to obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

Israel-Iran rapprochement not farfetched

Given the ferocity of the on-going Israel-Iran war, and the hyperbolic declarations of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, any talk of a rapprochement would seem farfetched.

Request for Night Patrol at Wilson Street–Oilman Street Junction

The Board of Trustees of Jamiul Ashroff Jumma Masjid, located at No. 99 Belmont Street, Colombo 12, together with concerned residents of the area, wish to bring to the attention of Mr. Sujith Priyantha, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Keselwatte Police Station, a matter of growing public concern.

104th Birth Anniversary Celebration of M H Mohamed: Karu Jayasuriya shares reflections on the life of former Mayor of Colombo

Former Speaker of the Parliament, Karu Jayasuriya, conveyed his thoughts at the 104th Birth Anniversary of the 14th Speaker of Parliament and former Mayor of Colombo, M.H. Mohamed, which was attended by family members and well-wishers, prominent ministers and the current Speaker of Parliament.

The ragging epidemic: Sorry seems to be the hardest word

Barely a month after the suicide of Sabaragamuwa University student Charith Dilshan, the entire episode seems to be forgotten. There are new scandals and shocks almost on a daily basis. A disastrous bus accident, cyclonic weather and a new Covid variant have dominated the curriculum of daily worries. This is precisely the climate in which raggers and their obnoxious subculture of ragging thrive. They know that public outrage won’t last, and they

SAC ART Amsterdam Bridging Europe and South Asia with contemporary and modern art

In the heart of Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, lies a cozy art space dedicated to South Asian Contemporary Art.

Respect for judiciary an essential component for peace and democracy

The case against certain prison officials including the Prisons Commissioner General for allegedly releasing prisoners illegally in the guise of a presidential pardon is not merely a corruption case, it is a matter of paramount importance as it concerns rights of the judiciary.

Iran-Israel war a looming storm for Sri Lanka’s economy and national security

The recent, dramatic escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel - with reports of 200 Israeli fighter jets striking Iranian military and nuclear facilities on June 13 and Iran responding with 100 drone attacks and vows of harsher retaliation - signals a perilous new phase in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

The Attack on Iran and the Unravelling Global Order

The Israeli attack on Iran is the most significant military development so far with the unravelling global order. This act of war by Israel on Iran is an escalation of the military conflagration in the Middle East.

Israel’s dangerous attack, Lanka’s economy and a nuclear fallout

In the early hours of 13 June 2025, Israel without any warning launched a large-scale strike targetting Iranian nuclear facilities. The aim of the sneak attack according to the Israeli premier was to protect Israel by preventing Iran from manufacturing nuclear weapons.

Has the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ Drive Lost Steam?

The initial enthusiasm surrounding the Government’s much-publicised ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative appears to be fading. In the early days, we saw ministers, MPs, and party supporters actively participating in beach cleanups and workplace sanitation drives.

Sumanthiran Goes to Court Over Gazetting of 5941 Acres Northern Lands Issue

A controversial issue of grave concern to the Tamil people of the northern and eastern provinces in recent times has been the seizure of privately owned lands by the Sri Lankan State and some of its organs.