Long-term wellbeing vital for street cats and dogs

I read an article published in the Daily Mirror online dated April 23, under the title ‘If only every street dog in the world was treated like Aloka.’

Dusk of a new order: Absolute surveillance, absolute servility

You are reduced to an account in a system that scores you and controls you. You are allocated, by your gracious masters, who themselves are mastered, quotas of what used to be human freedom; soil and oxygen are taxable. You exceed your electricity quota, your supply ceases. Travel further than allocated or attempt travel where prohibited, and you will be halted. Exceed your milk quota? You will be constrained at the cashier, who accepts no cash.

President’s May Day remarks an assault on judicial independence

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s remarks at the May Day rally regarding a court judgment expected on May 25 have triggered a controversy that goes far beyond day-to-day politics. What may have appeared to supporters as a politically charged statement has instead opened a serious debate about judicial independence, separation of powers and the constitutional limits that should guide those who occupy the highest office in the country. Addressin

Iran war undercurrents: Trump as peacemaker, Trump as saboteur

Since the April 8 ceasefire agreement, US President Donald Trump has stirred hopes of an end to the Iran war, only to shatter them—often within hours—with warnings, deadlines, and military escalation. This pattern has led critics to wonder whether Trump’s announcements were part of insider dealings to help his Wall Street allies, as peace-promoting words drive stock prices up. Will his latest announcement of a peace deal—said to be a one-page doc

Disparities in rising cost of living

It is rather unfortunate that a government that assumed power on a promise of equality is unable to impose maximum retail prices on essential items such as keeri samba and even gas. Eateries using Laugfs gas have announced that they would increases prices of food due to the price variations between Laugfs and Litro gas. This is quite unfair from a consumer’s perspective. It is in such instances that the Consumer Affairs Authority for instance sho

Vijay’s rhetoric cannot undermine India’s realpolitik

There was a time when the State assembly election in Tamil Nadu drew much enthusiasm from the Sri Lankan people as politics of the State held a profound and consistent bearing on the of its southern neighbour while the latter was engaged in a bitter war with the separatist Tamil armed group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

$2.5 mn fraud, abetment of suicide law and public finance

In an era of rapid social and technological change, legal systems and governance structures are under increasing pressure to evolve. Traditional frameworks, once considered sufficient, are now often inadequate to address the complexities of modern society.

How seismic shift in Tamil Nadu politics matter Sri Lanka

India has just concluded a shock election season. With the counting drawing to a close, the biggest shocker of all, subject to interpretation, comes from Tamil Nadu, where a two-year-old party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay had shattered decades-old duopoly in state politics, and is set to govern the state for the next five years.

Gen Z Tsunami hits Tamil Nadu electoral arena

It was a Gen Z- led Tsunami which hit Tamil Nadu’s electoral arena on Monday the fourth of May. The stunning victory of matinee idol Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) in the State Assembly elections was as unexpected and as unsparing as a deluge.

Beyond the Scandal: The True Cost of Coal

The Government has been facing major allegations almost every week since its inception. Before one issue is properly analysed and discussed, another emerges.

Political meddling in the legal system should be a relic of the past

Addressing the National People’s Power’s May Day rally in Nuwara Eliya, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that a significant number of individuals accused of fraud and corruption would be imprisoned in 2026 and that the year 2026 will be remembered in Sri Lankan history as the year corrupt individuals, fraudsters, and thieves were sentenced to prison.

SL’s strategic inflection point: Learning, failing, and choosing the future

Sri Lanka stands today not merely as a nation recovering from crises, but as one being tested quietly yet profoundly on whether it has truly learned from them. The past two decades, culminating in the Easter Sunday attacks and the recent economic collapse, have exposed both the strengths and fragilities of the State’s defence architecture, intelligence systems, political leadership, and governance processes. What emerges is not a story of total f

Harness the sun: Don’t burn electricity on dryers

With the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approving an increase in electricity tariffs, it is time for households to rethink everyday energy use.

Rescuer risks life to save a cat

This is a heart-warming story of a cat rescue in Kottawa. Sameera Ramanayake of Sameera Pet Services got a call from a resident of Kottawa. A young cat had fallen into a well, and no one had any idea how to get it out.

Across Mountains and Seas, Let Our Youth Walk Side by Side Toward a Shared Future

Amid a period of profound changes unseen in a century, a nation’s future increasingly depends on the values, mindset and creativity of its younger generation. In Sri Lanka, I am often moved by the talent and vitality of the young people here, and I can genuinely sense their affinity for China and their enthusiasm for deepening

Workers’ day and the state of SL workers

The first of May, more commonly referred to as May Day -- is set apart worldwide to celebrate the contribution workers of the world play in keeping the cogs of this world’s economies turning smoothly. More importantly, it commemorates the struggles of workers all over the world to obtain a just share of the profits of their production, and demand conditions to enable their families with the means in which they can grow and develop.

Adapt a unique model to replace hybrid MMV and ‘manapey’ systems

At the outset, the writer wishes to allude to the following recent statements in the press.

Ehipassiko and Sati: Rethinking humanity through Laika and Aloka

There is a Pali phrase at the heart of the Buddhist tradition, ‘Ehi passiko,’ meaning simply, ‘come and see.’ It is an invitation, not a command. Rather than asking followers to accept doctrine on faith, the Buddha urged each person to examine the Dhamma through lived experience: To observe, reflect, and verify truth within their own life.

Turned away at the gate: A tourism failure at Moon Plain

What should have been a memorable holiday outing turned into a frustrating ordeal for my cousin’s (Abdullah Lafir) family and many others, at Moon Plains on April 13, the eve of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Despite travelling to this much-promoted scenic and agricultural tourism zone, visitors were denied entry at the gate and advised to return around 2 p.m., as the park had reportedly reached capacity. This was not an isolated inconvenience.

MPH expresses concern over change of Vesak dates clashing with Islamic Udhiyah

Issuing a statement, the Minority Professional Hub, a think Tank of Minority Groups, has expressed concern over the government’s decision declaring “Vesak Week” from May 27 to June 2, 2026 and the adjustment of public holidays under Gazette Extraordinary No. 2485/14. ‘’The Minority Professional Hub (MPH), comprising members from across all districts of Sri Lanka and reflecting minority perspectives within the national context, wish to point

Provocation and retaliation in Sugeeshwara’s incident

The incident involving Sugeeshwara Bandara and the so-called “shit attack” that followed his protest outside the Finance Ministry Secretary’s residence is a worrisome trend in Sri Lankan politics. Sri Lanka was notorious for political violence at one point. However, the country’s image has improved since, and violence was almost absent at recent elections. What makes it worse this time is that both sides involved in this incident have serious

NPT Review Summit: Confronting nuclear hypocrisy amid Iran war

Nuclear weapons are not humane and do not belong to humanity. Yet nations continue to possess them, pursuing their deterrence value as much as their use as tools to dominate and bully weaker nations. As nations meet in New York this week for a United Nations summit reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, disarmament activists insist, “A world free of nuclear weapons is both possible and necessary.” The 1968 treaty is premised on the princ

Govt. should be accountable for its actions

Another May Day comes by. According to the news, there will be 21 rallies held by the NPP. People don’t need any more promises, but they want to see that these promises already made are being delivered. The government reiterated the fact that it would retrieve money allegedly stolen by the Rajapaksa regime and hidden in foreign countries. They said they would eliminate corruption, but they seem to be unable to walk the talk. A number of case

A.E. Goonesinha: Father of the Labour Movement and a democrat at heart

Writing about a historical figure is no easy task. Readers could tire of reading about the same feats year after year. However, every year there are readers who could gain knowledge of history created by our own men and women. Today is 1st May, Labour Day (May Day), the day the workers celebrate their rights, their dignity and the appreciation of the work they do for man and country. Labour Day was first held in Ceylon in 1927 under the leadershi

Buddhist approach to human challenges

Life, by its very nature, invariably presents a myriad of challenges that are fundamental to the human experience. The various social ills that afflict humanity cannot be understood without recognising the profound human dynamics at play. Navigating these challenges according to Buddhism involves shifting from attempting to control external circumstances to mastering one’s internal responses. Central to these challenges are certain detrimental d

Sri Lanka cricket gears for a fresh innings, at last..

Sri Lanka Cricket Board Chairman Shammi Silva’s resignation came in at a time when the most popular sport in the country is gasping for breath. Cricket, once a much-celebrated sport in every nook and corner of the country, gradually became unpopular among the masses due to its corrupt nature. With players showcasing poor performances and sometimes losing matches at a rate, much to the dismay of fans who were ready to support the team despite the

NPP in a bind over Theepachelvan’s books

The National People’s Power (NPP) government, since it was voted into power in 2024 thanks to the unprecedented economic crisis the country underwent four years ago, is gradually learning to mend the gap between theory and practice in politics, yet giving ammunition to its adversaries.

America’s FBI affirms, reaffirms Zahran as mastermind behind Easter Sunday attacks - Udaya Gammanpila

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila released his book titled In Search of a Mastermind recently, rebuffing the conspiracy theories related to the ‘so called elusive mastermind’ of the Easter Sunday attacks. He argues that Zahran Hashim who led the serial bombings on the day is the mastermind, and conspiracy theory does not hold water. Excerpts of the interview:

Alarming concerns on accountability

Recent events compel us, as Sri Lankans, to confront an uncomfortable truth: we have repeatedly failed to act, even when forewarned.

Echoes of ‘The Walk for Peace’ Buddhist philosophy and the path to lasting peace

In an era increasingly defined by the race for advanced weaponry and escalating social unrest, Ven. Dr. Kirinde Assaji Nayaka Thero reminds us that true peace is not merely the absence of war, but a profound state of mental harmony.