No chance for revival of armed elements

Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lt. General Daya Rathnayake in an interview with the Dailymirror shared his views on the recent violence in the South-western region of the country and asserted that the Sri Lanka Army is a reflection of the vibrant cultures that exist in Sri   Lanka ......

Ethno-religious violence and its consequences

It was only a few weeks ago that I wrote an article in this column pointing out that there was a likelihood of ethno-religious violence breaking out around certain flash points in the country.

EDITORIAL-MDGs failed: New policies needed

For more than 35 years different Governments in Sri   Lanka have been essentially following the globalised capitalist market economic system. Whatever its advocates may claim and whatever the apparently spin-doctored figures about growth rates, per capita income and...........

story-based curriculum for ELT

So far, the theories of the nature of language and language teaching have been developing in parallel to the theories in Psychology. If one looks at the history of the development of language teaching theories, one would see this parallelism very clearly.

Collapse of Schools’ Science Education

The Science Education Committee of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science conducted a survey on science education at the G.C.E. (O/L) in 2013. The survey was done in leading schools in the western province. All the schools surveyed had:

Tweets and ‘mechanisms’ will solve no problem STRONG AND CONCERTED ACTION NEEDED

The Friday Forum is appalled at the violence in Aluthgama, Beruwala and other areas over the period June 14-16. Three deaths, an estimated 80 injured and extensive damage to houses and shops have been reported in the international and private media creating fear and tension in the country.

Is the law applied equally everywhere? - EDITORIAL

The incident in which Deputy Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade Hemal Gunasekara’s driver was imposed a spot fine by a policeman for driving the vehicle with the Minister in it at high speed and the follow-up incidents are a good case study to identify the way the law is

Iraq may split into three with sectarian bloodbath

The military success of the hardline Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq was shocking although it was in the making. The signs of a Sunni rebellion were there before Iraq exploded last week with ISIS capturing key Iraqi cities.

The Islamic militants’ advance into Iraq

Is it “you reap what you sow”? The US electorate that voted twice for President George W. Bush should ask itself the question. The growing strength of ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, represents a grave threat to the future of the Middle East and the US has no one to blame but itself.

Thousands of illegal pharmacies doing big business - EDITORIAL

One of the dangerous scandals or the biggest farce in the health sector – which has boomcd into big business, is the little-known fact about pharmacies. There are about 3,500 registered or legal pharmacies in Sri Lanka, but the poisoned pill is that there are at least 5,000 if not more.........

Slip of the tongue has House in fits

As the government tried to move a Parliamentary motion on non-co-operation on Tuesday  with the investigation team appointed by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Opposition was initially thought to be in a spot.

Prince Zeid, the new force to reckon with

Sri Lankans who have for years become familiar with Navaneethem (Navi) Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, would have heaved a sigh of relief as the retirement of the South African diplomat was announced this week. She will step down from her post in August.

People’s welfare going with the wind - EDITORIAL

he supply of electricity is one of the most highly charged fields in Sri Lanka and an area with powerful cross–currents of corruption and malpractices. According to reports, the latest storm is in the relatively new field of wind energy.

Jolie’s commitment

A global summit on sexual violence, co-hosted by Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, focused on sexual violence against women as war strategy...

Police Ordinance: is it adequate?

On Sunday 8 June 2014 it was reported that the Ministry of Law and Order of Sri Lanka had begun the process...

EDITORIAL-Tweet is not always sweet

Aluthgama’ is now semi-officially a name for many things such as inter-religious tensions, inciting violence and failure of state authorities.

What we need is a change of mindset

According to Bloom’s taxonomy, a comprehensive education should encompass three key aspects: knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Govt. has failed to address plight of milk farmers

Sri Lanka is a country which has an abundance of cattle for milk. Unfortunately none of the governments managed to make the maximum use of it. The farmers were in a continuous struggle to get a reasonable price for their milk but they never got it.

“BOAT PEOPLE” TO AUSTRALIA………NO CHANCE OF REACHING THE SHORE!

The sorry saga of numerous Sri Lankan people being duped into making the treacherous life threatening journey by sea to Australia appears to be on the rise once again. The many who think that they could find the end of the rainbow.......

Govt. playing politics with national question: UNP

The following is a statement issued by the United National Party (UNP) on the appointment of an investigative team to inquire into allegations of violations of human rights by both parties during the last stages of the war:

EDITORIAL - Great religions are torn apart by shortsightedness

Responding to criticism against the 14th Amendment to the Constitution that provided for the awarding of citizenship to people of Indian origin in Sri Lanka in 1988, the then President J.R.Jayawardene questioned whether his critics wanted him to dump those people into the Indian Ocean.

We are under threat and pressure

Rumy Marzook, the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) told Daily Mirror that he was under pressure and threats of many companies in performing his duties.

Playing with the lives of young people

Unrest among youth leading to political violence has been a major feature of the political landscape in the country over the last several decades. A National Youth Commission comprising several distinguished persons was appointed in....

EDITORIAL-Restore Police honour

It is indeed depressing to continually bring out the appalling actions by Sri Lanka Police. The most recent incident is the gunning down of a 24-year-old youth for no apparent reason. According to Police the reason for shooting was that the........

Between vengeance and forgiveness

In his first public comments on his role in Sri Lanka since being appointed as President Jacob Zuma’s special envoy to Sri Lanka, Cyril Ramaphosa has said that South Africa’s post-Apartheid success in building a new nation that embraced democracy and human rights had endeared the....

‘Mankading’ the almost invincible

In recent weeks, Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake has leapt into the limelight from being a relatively low-profile national sportsman into the newspapers, websites and television screens of the international media.

Education: The only way forward for our politicians - EDITORIAL

The standard of politics has declined so much in Sri Lanka that we must seriously consider the need for high educational qualifications for those who wish to enter politics at parliamentary, provincial and local council levels.

Al-Baghdadi’s ISIL redraws Mideast map

Iraq is in the midst of mayhem and bloodshed. It has been so for the past few months though in April the Nouri al-Maliki government managed to hold general elections. With the attention of the world’s big powers and the western media being focused largely on the.....

Thanthirimale Ancient temple in a valley of scenic beauty

 The ancient place of Buddhist worship, Thanthirimale Raja Maha Viharaya is situated in a picturesque valley in the North Central Province, not far away from Anuradhapura, the glorious ancient capital of Sri Lanka.

Seed Act: A shame on our kings - EDITORIAL

For centuries, our plate of rice or ‘Buth Patha’ has provided us not only a wholesome meal but has become part of our culture and traditions. Now unknown to most people, often because they are not bothered to know, a serious danger is lurking and it might affect not......