Ukraine’s umbilical cord to Russia

Thank heavens for the Sochi Olympics. Russian President Vladimir Putin was committed to ensuring they showed Russia in its best light - and they did. Who would have wanted to take the world’s eyes off that to back a President in Ukraine who, to Putin’s annoyance, had made too many bad moves?

Religious unity for economic stability - Editorial

In the afterglow of Maha Sivarathri, the holiest day in Hinduism, we should reflect deeply on the urgent need for religious unity in diversity to build a tolerant society that will guide us to a real and lasting peace. Presently Sri Lanka is the home of people of four major religions – Buddhism, Hinduism.....

Geneva and the PC Elections campaign Govt. learns from Africa Glut of suitors for southern chief m

As international pressure builds on Sri Lanka over allegations of human rights violations, a governmental delegation led by the Leader of the House and Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva headed for South Africa to study the work of the post-apartheid  period in that country for reconciliation .

Lovers, couples, good behaviour and the law

Official cultural Puritanism has always been a fact of our daily life. It’s nothing new. This regime has been rather schizophrenic on the politically important issue of public and private morality in its drive to ‘safeguard culture’. Not content with mere moralising, it empowers various ‘citizens groups’ to.....

Mahasivarathri Religious ceremony of Day time Fast and night vigil

Mahasivarathri is purely a religious ceremony of day time fast and vigil throughout the night. Hindus world over observe special religious rites on the fourteenth night of Phalguna (February /March ) which is the longest night in the year according to the Hindu calendar.

Be engrossed in Lord Siva

“Be engrossed in Lord Siva at all times”. --This is in essence is the message of Nanthi to us. His posture facing the sanctum and sanctorum of Siva temples reminds us of this message.

Jayalalithaa’s acrobatics bodes ill for Sri Lanka

Among those jumping on the anti-Sri Lankan bandwagon, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jeyaram made world headlines last week with her decision to release those convicted of assassinating former Indian Prime Rajiv Gandhi in a May 1991 suicide bomb attack in Tamil Nadu.

Who is running WHO? - Editorial

From birth to death, food and nutrition are vital for good health and to produce healthy citizens who will play a key role in building a just and fair society with sustainable development and an equitable distribution of wealth and resources.

I will never let Hashan contest through the UNP - Apsari Tillekaratne

The wife of former cricketer Hashan Tillekaratne spoke to Dailymirror on her sudden decision to cross over to the SLFP, the alleged injustices faced by her husband in the UNP and of her future plans in politics. . .

Election laws dumped in western and southern PC election campaigns Brazen foul play likely to tip t

When issuing the latest figures on complaints received on election law violations and incidents of violence, the Elections Secretariat yesterday expressed concern over the marked increase in the misuse of state property and resources by candidates contesting the upcoming provincial polls for their campaigning activities.

Stigma thrives for India’s 60 million disabled

More than 20 families came to Shanti Auluck’s home in New Delhi with their sons, keen at first to arrange a marriage with her daughter in an age-old Indian custom. But with each visit came apologies and a change of heart. All of the families were turned off by the fact Auluck also has a son with Down Syndrome.

Those were the good old days

Our batch get together was a partial success. Some of us met after nearly 45 years. We were the first set of engineering graduates to pass out from the Peradeniya Engineering Faculty. That was in 1965 - a long time ago. It was the first batch to include students from the Sinhala and Tamil streams.

Parents, build good families - Editorial

Discipline, responsibility and commitment to duty and obligations ranging from small matters like arranging the bed when we wake up to bigger community, social and national issues, need to be urgently revived.

THE UNQUENCHABLE THIRST FOR POWER

What is it that drives a politician?  The answer is as simple as it is tragic. It is the love, and an unquenchable thirst, for power.  What should be the reason for any politician or other person seeking power?

My service is for the people

Former Journalist, Susil Kindelpitiya who contested the Parliamentary elections in 2010 from the United National Party (UNP) is contesting the upcoming Provincial Council Elections from the Democratic Party.

Educating Muslims is my priority

Journalist and a human rights activist, Murshideen Badurdeen is contesting the upcoming Western Provincial Council elections from the Colombo District. In an interview with Daily Mirror.....

Pit bulls in glass houses are hurling stones at us

“Ac­cord­ing to some ‘Whites in the West’, our gov­ern­ment is re­spon­si­ble for war crimes and dis­re­gard­ing hu­man rights dur­ing the last three days of the ‘war’ against the LTTE. And they are hop­ing to use their pet tool the UNHCR.....

SHAME ON JAYALALITHAA SHAME ON TAMIL NADU!

We in Sri Lanka are shocked beyond belief that Jayalalithaaa and her Mongrels have had the brass to want to release the assassins of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the son of Prime Minister.....

Editorial - Facing the reality of Facebook

There are signs that the authorities are contemplating on blocking or banning social media networks such as Facebook within Sri Lanka following two schoolgirls committing suicide after incidents related to Facebook.

The elections will be a historical turning point I’m not a stooge of Wickremesinghe

The newest member of the UNP’s Leadership Council which was at one time hailed as a revolutionary change within the party, but in essence is currently perceived as another ‘white elephant’ although intended to circumvent the fortunes of the ‘Grand Old Party’, Wijedasa Rajapakshe spoke to the Daily Mirror on issues.....

Gender Based Violence Abuse of women an all too common pandemic across the globe

Justice  Shiranee Tilakawardane sent out a warning note on ' Facebook ' and its users, where she  said that parents and children should be very wary about Facebook and especially to have their photographs on it.  She said that in certain instances they could blackmail and also threaten one's life. She said a certain old man is....

Reduce the gap between the rich and the poor

Election propaganda meetings do give an insight into the attitudes of certain politicians. A few days ago a senior Minister of an earlier UNP government who has now crossed and is yet a senior Minister of the present government was exhorting with total conviction that though the people were complaining about the ever.....

Disillusionment with the Public Education System in Sri Lanka

I recently had the opportunity of interviewing a cross section of undergraduates in Colombo. I asked how they felt about the school education that they had gone through. Their overwhelming response was that the way the schools imparted knowledge on various subjects was highly ineffective and counterproductive.

Politics or no politics, sports is the loser -

Last Monday we warned about the serious consequences that were imminent unless Sri Lanka’s sports authorities moved quickly to change the sports law. It was no secret that the threat of an international ban on Sri Lanka was very real.

Water pollution and chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka

To prevent the chronic kidney disease of multi-factorial origin (CKD-mfo) affecting the North Central Province (NCP; Rajarata), it is essential to: (a) embark on a country-wide awareness programme on environmental protection......

‘Following the inner voice whatever the consequences’

If we want to take appropriate action to fix something that is not working properly, then it is necessary to understand, precisely, the nature of the problem. Obviously, if our diagnosis.....

Editorial - Time to move towards ‘inclusive growth’

Economic growth is the buzzword that has come to epitomize post-war Sri Lanka. It should correctly be so for a country coming out of a 30-year war that saw the large scale destruction of human resources and property.

Govt’s PR skills can’t fill empty stomachs - Tharaka Deshabimana Nanayakkare....

As the provincial council election campaign is getting sharper each day, public attention on the candidates contesting these elections get equally sharp. It is more so when the kith and kin of former prominent politicians contest to follow the footsteps of their family legacy.

Ukraine Flashpoint for a new Cold War

Who said the Cold War is over? Look at the crisis in Ukraine. It indicates that the Cold War embers are still smouldering, though they are unlikely to engulf the whole world as a major fire, as had been the case prior to 1991 for some four decades, during which the nuclear clock had been often set at five-minutes....

General Election in India Congress still in with a chance

The drum beats are already sounding for the soon-to-be-held general election in the world’s largest democracy, India- the country that shows China how it should be done. There is a sense in the country that the ruling Congress Party and the influential Gandhi/Nehru core of it is on its way out after 10 years of a.....