Justice delayed, justice denied and a mockery of justice

On the morn of Easter Sunday 21 April 2019, suicide bombers exploded their deadly payloads of explosives in three Churches and three luxury hotels in the country killing over two-hundred civilians and injuring over five-hundred others.

Inequality at the Sacred Tooth Relic: A Reflection of a Deeper Malaise

The recent scenes at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, where thousands gathered to pay homage, offer a sobering reminder of the entrenched inequalities that continue to plague Sri Lankan society.

How and Why the Banda-Chelva Pact was Signed by Bandaranaike and Chelvanayagam

Today, the 26th of April, is the 48th death anniversary of respected Tamil political leader Samuel James Veluppillai (SJV) Chelvanayagam.

Masterminding the mastermind

n spite of more than ten local and foreign investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terrorist attacks targeting Christians which have been conducted for the past six years, the victim community has not been content yet.

Indo-Lanka defence, Indo-Pak conflict and growing Indian footprint

Pakistan and China have traditionally been among Lanka’s most loyal friends, defending it at sittings on the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), when our country was accused of a plethora of rights violations.

The Dalada Vandanawa chaos

When the government announced an exposition of the sacred Tooth Relic after a lapse of 16 years, it may not have imagined that a mass exodus of people is likely to visit Kandy – a heavily congested city on a usual day and that proper planning is required to curtail the crowds.

Mounting uncertainties put renewable energy sector in a spin

Sri Lanka’s energy sector is at a critical juncture due to the growing friction between conventional and non-conventional energy sectors. While the world is moving away from fossil fuels, coal and is looking at depending on renewable energy, Sri Lanka is challenged by various obstacles.

Spiritual ecstasy in Kandy and a death in Rome

Sri Lankans have been in spiritual mode since April 18, the first day of the special exposition of the tooth relic of Gautama Buddha to the public. The exposition of the tooth relic will continue till April 27 (Sunday).

Pope Francis and Gaza: Whither the papal power?

As the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics mourn and tens of thousands of people queue to say their last goodbyes to Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, orphaned are the many causes that the pontiff championed throughout his papal mission.

Forgiveness over Retaliation: Easter Sunday attacks

Six years have passed since the devastating Easter Sunday attacks. And yet, justice remains painfully out of reach. Despite numerous investigations, commissions, and public outcries, the masterminds behind the planning and execution have still not been conclusively identified or brought to justice.

Citizens need credible information, not misinformation or fake news!

Sri Lankans faced a dilemma on Tuesday evening when the Police media division made contradictory statements regarding an assassination of an individual in Kolonnawa. The official media release indicated details of the incident which also added that the corpse had been sent to the mortuary of the Colombo National Hospital. But the Police media division later contradicted its official press release and went onto claim that the individual was in fac

Missing golden opportunities and the ‘Walampoori’

There is a frequently used quote “I missed that great teacher or philosopher because he lived before my time”. This could be one reason why devotees are flocking the streets of Kandy to get a glimpse of Gautama Buddha’s tooth relic which is being exhibited to the public.

Are Sri Lankans safe at this juncture?

The government is maintaining a deafening silence on the shooting incidents happening around the country. Three incidents were reported on Tuesday (April 22). In one incident the targeted victim grabbed the pistol from a suspect who walked into his house and averted a deadly encounter. One of the suspects later fell off a wall while attempting to run away and injured his leg. Several ammunition and weapons were recovered while in his possession.

Student Insurance Distribution: Timely Welfare or Election Strategy?

Students of a leading government girls’ school in Colombo 12 received their ‘Suraksha’ Certificate of Insurance, covering health, life, and personal accident on April 22, 2025. The initiative, with the Ministry of Education (MOE) collaborating with Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation General Limited (SLIC), a state-owned entity, is a noteworthy step in safeguarding student well-being, especially as rising medical costs continue to burden many familie

Dubious appointment of unqualified officer as NLB General Manager raises eyebrows

Speculation is rife why the Additional Secretary Ministry of Finance has ignored Bribery Commission’s directive to conduct an inquiry into an appointment made during the former regime to the National Lotteries Board.

A dangerous attempt to rewrite the history of the Easter Sunday Attacks

For several years since the tragic Easter Sunday attacks, which marked their 6th anniversary this week, a section of the Catholic church and assorted groups wanted us to believe that nine suicide Islamist terrorists—who pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State—blew themselves up,

LG elections and silence of the Commissioner of Elections

In mid-March this year, the Commissioner of Elections announced the long overdue local government (LG) elections would be held on May 6 this year.

Hold Leaders Accountable for Their Words

President Anura Kumara, while addressing the public during his campaign, made a bold promise to reveal the masterminds behind the tragic Easter Sunday attacks.

Easter Sunday Probe outcome should not be predetermined

There is no denying that justice must be meted out to the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks that took place six years ago. Yet, what does it mean? Also there is no denying that lives lost in the macabre terrorist attacks would not return, or that nobody is capable of breathing life to those approximately 270 people killed in the bombings. Only thing the authorities can do is to bring those who have planned and executed the carnage before

Heroes of faith

Whilst welcoming the Vatican’s decision to declare those who died in bomb attacks in churches on Easter Sunday six years ago as ‘Heroes of Faith’ (referring to men and women who have sacrificed their lives for Jesus Christ) on Monday April 21, I would suggest a few other meaningful ways in which the Sri Lankan government could honour the victims.

Importance of BIMSTEC for Sri Lanka in the era of Trump’s tariffs new ways to get out of the jam

In the emerging era marked by Trump’s tariffs and politically motivated sanctions, the Global South, which has been struggling to come out of isolation and poverty, has no option but to reduce its dependence on the Global North. It has to seek ways of banding together and helping each other grow. For this, they have to suspend mutual animosities, rivalries and reservations.

Repeal of the Online Safety Act vital for the Economic Salvation of Sri Lanka

While the economy of Sri Lanka has achieved some degree of stabilisation after the most dire crisis in history, progress along a growth trajectory remains a clear imperative. Fragility of the current situation has been massively increased by the devastating tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration, making our country’s exports to the United States—especially apparel and rubber products—starkly vulnerable.

Easter Sunday carnage : Interest groups question why crucial information on extremists was ignored by authorities

Six years have elapsed since the deadly Easter Sunday carnage left a permanent scar on the country’s political and national security domain.

Defence Pacts with India and Need for Openness

In April 2025, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka resulted in the signing of seven Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between New Delhi and Colombo.

Bandung to Colombo: Non-Aligned Movement and our Times

The excitement around Sri Lanka’s World Cup victory in March 1996 that created overwhelming interest in cricket. The great Aragalaya protests in July 2022, when hundreds of thousands of people on the streets of Colombo chased away an authoritarian president.

Six Years Gone..., Yet Justice Worn...!

Six years have elapsed since the horrific Easter Sunday carnage on April 21, 2019, that ripped through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, leaving a trail of devastation and loss.

The US tariffs and Lanka’s weak-kneed response

During the past weeks the US began imposing unprecedented tariffs against all countries big and small. It cares not, what the fallout of its action would have on the countries concerned or on the global economy.

Biases on Political Violence

Terrorism, in any form, is a threat to democracy. Whether it comes from the north or the south, whether it wears the guise of ethnicity or ideology, the act of terrorizing a democratically elected government must be condemned equally and unequivocally.

Bishop Rayappu Joseph was the Voice of the Voiceless Who Spoke Truth to Power

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. These words written by St. Paul in his epistle to Timothy (2.Timothy 4.7) are a fitting epitaph to the life and service of former Catholic Bishop of Mannar, the Most Rev. Rayappu Joseph whose 85th birth anniversary was on April 16 this year.

How the JVP shed ‘Indian expansionism’ 53 years ago

It is strange that the political analysts - both so-called and serious - have pathetically failed to note that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) had dropped the concept of “Indian Expansionism” some fifty years ago in 1972. Hence, they find a contradiction in current NPP government’s relationship with India.