The fizz, fuss and sugar in a flat BEER!

The Excise Ordinance was introduced in Sri Lanka on January 1, 1913. The title of the ordinance states: “An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the law relating to the import, export, transport, manufacture, sale, and possession of intoxicating liquor and of intoxicating drugs.” This ordinance is referred to as the Excise Ordinance. Section 2 of Chapter I states: “In this Ordinance, unless there be something repugnant in the subject or context—’be

More students exposed to universities’ sadistic rag culture

“He was stripped naked in public and they kept banging his head on one wall and the other. They have pricked him using a safety pin. Then he was thrown inside a cupboard.

May days from 1930s to 80s; battling Ideologies, entertainment and “Clean the Green”

Another May Day has come and gone, with the governing party commanding impressive attendance, filling the Galle Face Green for the second time in five years.

Moving Towards a Development Bank

Some ideas simmer in our national imagination for years, if not for decades, before they gain fruition.

Elections, broken promises and paid protests outside a High Commission

Tomorrow (6 May) Lankans of voting age, will once again wend their way to polling stations for the third time in seven months.

Why not go digital with Pandals?

As Vesak approaches, the familiar sight of pandals being put up in Colombo, including Kosgashandiya, Thotalanga, Maradana, Peliyagoda, Orugodawaththa, Dematagoda and other prominent places brings a sense of festive anticipation.

Will Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam be the Future Tamil Political Leader?

Island-wide local authority elections are scheduled for 6th May 2025. At the national level, the local authority polls will provide the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) government an opportunity to prove if it is still as popular as it was at the time of the Parliamentary elections in November 2024.

“Sarvajana Balaya will have a better future after this election’’ - Sharmila Gonawela

Former Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) member Sharmila Gonawela is on the reserved list of Sarvajana Balaya at the upcoming local government election.

MOUs with India and conflicting ministerial theories

The professed moral high ground of the National People’s Power (NPP) is being seriously questioned in respect of some of its actions such as the using the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against suspects and the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with India signed last month

Marx, Engels and Lenin would be rolling in their graves

Thank God Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Vladmir Lenin have passed on to a what we hope is a better place. Had they witnessed the May Day rallies in Lanka, especially that of the National People’s Power rally at Galle Face Green the trio would be turning somersaults in their graves.

A Call for Accountability and Better Planning During large scale Sacred Events

The recent Exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, a deeply revered and historic event, was sadly marred by the overwhelming mismanagement of crowds, queues, back door queues, sanitation, and garbage collection.

Brutal university ragging has to stop!

The news of a university student who was asked to take off his clothes as part of a ragging incident at the Sabaragamuwa University took his own life on Wednesday. Students enter universities with much hopes and aspirations, to fulfil their dreams and achieve their career goals. But, not many of them could get over the brutal ragging culture that had prevailed within the university system for many years. What began as harmless ways of having fun,

Why India and Pakistan won’t go to war

United States President Donald Trump is right when he said India and Pakistan would figure out the current crisis between them one way or the other. Then he displayed his historical illiteracy by saying that the two countries had been fighting over Kashmir for 1,500 years, putting history professors in a spin and making them scour the books they have read.

When the civilised society doesn’t fear the cane!

There is much debate taking place about the presence of corporal punishment and the laws being amended to stop children from being physically abused in the name of instilling discipline.

Interview with SJB Colombo Mayoral Candidate “We don’t want President’s money because Colombo generates Rs. 17 billion” - Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa (SJB)

Senior medical practitioner, lecturer at the medical faculties of Colombo and Kelaniya, former President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, social activist and policy maker Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa is the Mayoral candidate for Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) at the May 6 Local council Election. In an interview with Daily Mirror, Dr, Haniffa warns that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s statement of withholding funding to local government is a danger

Going beyond the calendar on Labour Day

Ever since the 19th Century, exploitation has been the order of the day for Sri Lanka’s working class. But two centuries later, the struggle to obtain better wages and a better standard of living has kept this segment of society on the edge. They are often at the receiving end of multiple crises, be it economic or political, falling from the frying pan into the fire, becoming vulnerable to societal pressure and discrimination with each passing da

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY

It is clearly visible that May Day is a European Festival of ancient origins, marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on the 1st of May, around halfway between spring and summer. Festivities may also be held the night before, known as May Eve

The Pahalgam terrorist attack: What Sri Lankans should know and ponder

Last week, terrorists associated with The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistani-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, attacked the scenic tourist spot of Pahalgam in Kashmir valley, massacring 25 tourists and a horse rider in the deadliest terrorist attack since the 2008 Mumbai attack.

April 30 marks fall of Saigon, ending Vietnam War and uniting the nation Victory of the resistance war against the US for national salvation

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong has penned an exclusive article for the Daily Mirror to mark April 30, a landmark date that commemorates the Fall of Saigon in 1975. The historic day brought an end to the Vietnam War and paved the way for the reunification of North and South Vietnam. This article is published ahead of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s official visit to Vietnam on May 3.

Indus Water Crisis Sri Lanka must tread carefully

Recent events in South Asia offer critical lessons for Sri Lanka as it navigates new energy and infrastructure agreements with India. While relations between India and Sri Lanka have historically been more cordial than the often-hostile India-Pakistan relationship, recent tensions between India and Pakistan illustrate how resource dependency can be weaponised during diplomatic crises, irrespective of existing goodwill.

Local government elections, rising poverty and need for transparency

Local government elections are around the corner. Our President, the Leader of the Opposition and all political parties big and small are busy canvassing our very important vote.

Regulating standards of confectionary items

A leading confectioner has recently warned about substandard products flooding the market. Children are a vulnerable lot in this situation as they are attracted to various kinds of chocolates and biscuits.

JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED AN APPEAL TO EXPEDITE CASES OF CHILD ABUSE

During the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children on 7-8 November 2024, the Government of Sri Lanka pledged to complete the legislative process to ban corporal punishment in all settings by mid-2025

The gaps in the higher education sector

The Education authorities announced the results of GCE Advanced Level examination on Saturday and mainstream media as usual have given wide publicity to the top scorers in various streams of the exam. Although earlier there were discussions whether media hype only on those who are successful would further discourage the low scorers, media continue to praise only the high achievers. Around 222, 800 school applicants and around 51,600 private can

A Closer Look at State-Run Lotteries

Sri Lanka currently hosts over twenty different lotteries conducted by the government-owned National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board. The enthusiasm with which people gather around sales kiosks to buy tickets and check results clearly shows how widespread the lottery culture has become. While each ticket is priced at an affordable Rs. 40 — making individual losses relatively minor — the sheer popularity raises concerns about poten

STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE INDO- PAKISTAN WAR AND SRI LANKA’S STAND

The growing tensions between India and Pakistan, fueled by historical disputes and recent tragic incidents in Kashmir, threaten to destabilise not just South Asia but the broader global order. Sri Lanka, as a strategically located South Asian nation, faces critical decisions in maintaining regional stability and balancing diplomatic neutrality with emerging security and economic realities.

Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC partners with Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd for the grand re-entry of the iconic Piaggio Apé Range of 3 wheelers

SINGER Sri Lanka PLC, one of the country’s most iconic and trusted retail brands, has announced its strategic entry into the mobility sector through a groundbreaking partnership with Piaggio, the globally renowned Italian manufacturer. With a long-standing legacy of delivering reliable products and services to Sri Lankan families, SINGER is now extending that same trust and dependability to the transportation sector backed by its extensive island

Bogambara: A sinister Bastille shared by Sardiel and Dr. Colvin R. de Silva

The name Bogambara evokes historical events, but it became best known for the prison by that name. Back in the 19th century, Ehelepola Kumarihami was drowned by royal edict in the Bogambara lake.

Vietnamese Spiritual leader forced to make U-turn in Sri Lanka

Minh Tue is a Vietnamese who describes himself as an ordinary learner and practising what Buddha has taught in scripture.

Of books in libraries and people who don’t use them

I was recently invited to give a talk as part of the centenary celebrations of the Colombo Public Library.