Who’s behind the April 2019 Easter Sunday bombings?

On Monday (21), Lankans will commemorate the sixth anniversary of the dastardly Easter Sunday bombings in our country.

Relics exposition and people’s expectations

The crowds that have flocked to Kandy to witness the sacred relics exposition speaks volumes about their devotion to Buddhism.

“We’re all human beings together in this common home” - Rev. Marc Billimoria

Celebrating 175 years in Sri Lankan education, S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia has gifted some of the most important citizens to the country’s history, heritage and development. As ‘the school by the sea’ celebrates dodransbicentennial (refers to the 175th anniversary),

Noise pollution and the religion of silence

These are irritably noisy days, especially when firecrackers are lit during the New Year. Firecrackers may be okay with noisy people who seek attention. But that is not so for people who seek a peace and quiet environment. Cats and dogs, who are terrified of crackers and creep under beds, will second what this writer has to say.

Trump talks war and peace with Iran over nukes

While the world’s attention is on the tariff war unleashed by United States President Donald Trump, causing major turbulence in the global economy, an equally dangerous situation is looming in the Middle East over Iran’s nuclear programme, with Israel all out to drag the United States into a war against Iran. But Trump is playing his cards close to his chest in a game of war and peace.

Balancing, independence, resources and global interests -Greenland

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It governs most of its own domestic affairs: Denmark retains control over foreign policy, defence, and security matters.

Repeal PTA now to save exports..

It was no surprise to see the Trump Administration raising tariffs. What no one expected was how big and how irrational they would be.

Patience – more than just a virtue on the road!

Avurudu (Sinhala and Tamil New Year) is that time of the year when a majority of the population return to their hometowns to spend quality time with loved ones.

Lighting Firecrackers – Turning Cash into Ash

The use of firecrackers is a common sight during the festive period. Consultant Ophthalmologist and Director of the National Eye Hospital in Colombo, Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara, recently issued a strong warning to the public regarding the dangers posed by substandard firecrackers currently available in the market.

Amidst Govt. restrictions….. Uncertainty looms over Kimbulapitiya’s creative fireworks industry

Government’s restrictions on the issuance of chemical components to licensed firecracker manufacturers have kept small and medium scale manufacturers in the dark over the past few years. For Priyantha Henry Peters (53), a medium scale fireworks manufacturer from Kimbulapitiya, these restrictions have taken a toll on his business.

Rice-Duck Integration: Hope for Sri Lanka’s Smallholder Farmers and Food Security

Agriculture in Sri Lanka is at a deadlock, and for the smallholder farmers, who constitute the backbone of the nation’s food production, it is a question of survival. Endless debates go nowhere, with a focus stuck on fertiliser subsidies and drones.

Lakshman Kadirgamar’s Letters: Love, despair, vision and integrity

Once again, I have been gifted with material that provides further invaluable insight into the nature of my father, Lakshman Kadirgamar. April 12, 2025, marks his 93rd birth anniversary, while August 12, 2025, will mark 20 years since his assassination.

Halting all routines to embrace refreshing ‘Avurudu’

Avurudu (New Year) presents us with an opportunity to connect with tradition. This is the time of the year when there is a longing to get back home, even if that means driving a distance of over a 100 kilometres. Avurudu is best celebrated at home. Last year, two days before New Year, this writer was at a bus stop and a passenger was seen boarding a crowded bus in a mighty hurry. He just managed to squeeze onto the footboard of the vehicle. He wa

Crosshairs: Trump’s “Liberation Day” Tariffs Call for National Unity

When U.S. President Donald Trump announced his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs, the world economy braced for seismic aftershocks. In a bold and controversial return to economic nationalism, Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to impose a baseline 10% duty on all imports,

Medical negligence threatens credibility of Sri Lanka’s health sector

The recent death of a Grade 1 student who was admitted to the Ratnapura District Hospital adds to the list of innocent lives that have succumbed to medical negligence in the recent past. Taking to social media, the father of the deceased described the events that unfolded after taking the child to the hospital due to a high fever. The doctor in question had requested the father to purchase a tablet from a pharmacy, and the child had subsequently

Noise pollution menace - despite lawsuits, lawbreakers continue with impunity

Carnivals and musical shows are a major attraction during the upcoming festive period, often accompanied with deafening music. But noise pollution caused by these events which sometimes run late into the night would be a burden to residents living in close proximity. Despite having a Supreme Court judgement on noise pollution with clear directions on specified time limits for nocturnal events, and duties vested on the police when it comes to in

Navigating Sri Lankan ‘canned fish’ through the Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka has potential to be self-sufficient in paddy and fish. One look at the island’s geography and this is confirmed. But we do import rice and fish; even if such business activities can embarrass ‘us’ in the eyes of the global world.

Why Does NWSDB Impose Sewerage Charges on Kolonnawa Customers but Not Colombo?

Residents of Kolonnawa and the suburbs are querying as to why the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) levies a sewerage charge in their area while exempting Colombo. Unlike a fixed fee, this charge increases exponentially with higher water consumption. Why are Kolonnawa’s NWSDB customers paying more than those in Colombo? Residents argue that, just as the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) covers sewerage costs for its residents, the Ko

The Burden of Bureaucracy in Sri Lanka’s Digital Era

Despite the much-touted digitalisation of the economy, Sri Lanka seems to be moving further away from the promised paperless, cashless future. Instead of simplifying business processes, we are witnessing an increasing number of bureaucratic hurdles that make the ease of doing business more difficult.

Good Health Habits: A Celebration of World Health Day

World Health Day, observed annually on April 7, is a global call to action to prioritise health and well-being. The latest evidence-based medicine provides a roadmap for maintaining fitness and vitality in an era where lifestyle diseases—such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension—continue to challenge global populations.

Real heroes aren’t hard to find in a world ravaged by war and earthquakes

In a deeply troubled world, the past week looked not just troubled, but traumatic—a 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated Myanmar,

Modi comes, Modi goes

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a three-day visit to Sri Lanka last week, his fourth visit to the country and the first since the election of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the JVP-led NPP government.

Easter Sunday bombings and an austere New Year

The leader of the Catholic Church in Lanka—Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith—while condemning the attack, added “... we have to be very clear about identifying who is behind this whole attempt and avoid falling into the trap of inter-religious violence”.

TIME TO RECOUP ILL-GOTTEN ASSETS

Recently the media reported that a former chief minister and his private secretary were sentenced to 16 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo High Court, on corruption charges levelled by the CIABOC.

Should Sri Lanka not Arrest Tamil Nadu Fishermen Poaching in Northern Waters?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s week-end visit to Sri Lanka proved to be quite a success according to print and electronic media reports. The highlights of the two-day trip from Friday 4 April to Sunday 6 April were the signing of a Memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation that recognised the inter-linked nature of national security of both countries and the conferment of the ‘Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana’ award upon the Indian P

Indo-Lanka and JVP-India relations come full circle

Pity Wijeweera, the late leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), whose life came to an end in 1989. The late Wijeweera feared our giant neighbour India. He claimed India had expansionist intentions and even wrote chapters on the subject in his own ‘little red book’. Members of his organisation took these anti-Indian essays so seriously that during the 1988-1990 reign of terror, our countrymen and women, on the pain of death, were forced

Road closures for VVIPs

Many Colombo 5, 7, Narahenpita and Rajagiriya main roads were totally closed (all 4 up and down lanes) for the VIP visit for 2 days at certain times for the VIP motorcade to move freely, without people or stray dogs jumping across. People were stuck at roadblocks for more than one or two hours. Little kids were stuck in day care centers for 1 or 2 hours as parents could not come in time to collect them. Many patients missed their Colombo 5 hosp

Feminist responses to decades of dispossession and global shocks

The Trump trade shock announced last week has unnerved the world. Sri Lanka can have a severe impact with about US$ 3 billion in exports to the US. If these exports are priced out of the US market with the 44% tariff on Sri Lanka, then a major shortfall in foreign earnings can even undermine the import of essential goods. Furthermore, the bulk of these exports to the US are from the garment sector, which directly employs close to three hundred th

Indo-Lanka Relations: Actioning the tryst with opportunity

Lakshman Kadirgamar once described India–Sri Lanka relations as one of “irreversible excellence.” Unfortunately, under some governments, they have been neither irreversible nor excellent.

Political opportunism and Premier Modi’s visit

By the time this editorial is published, Indian Premier Modi will have left our shores. During his visit Premier Modi signed a number of MoUs with our government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake; the most important among them being the Defence and Co-operation Pact.