A country’s biggest resource is its people

South Sudan, the world’s youngest state, is only two years old. It’s an extremely fragile entity, threatened by a hostile big brother in the north and needs to run a race against time if it’s to survive against great odds

Editorial-Curb the narcotic menace

Amidst allegations and counter - allegations over the ‘heroin container’ dominating the news over the past few months,

If the party asks, I will contest for WPC chief minister post

In a recent interview, Former UNP parliamentarian and diplomat Karunasena Kodithuwakku spoke to  regarding the present political situation in the country, the upcoming provincial elections and the rumours about the presidential election

Election frenzy ferments in Southern and Western Provinces

The 'democracy gap' in our politics and elections spells a deep sense of powerlessness by people who drop out, do not vote, or listlessly vote for the 'least worst' every four years and then wonder why after every cycle the 'least worst' gets worse -

First death anniversary of Fr. Tissa Balasuriya Rebuilding society and religion even after death

Challenges faced by religion, its short comings, its role in Sri Lankan society in building unity and dealing with issues pertaining to reconciliation after the war were showcased at a ceremony on.......

The ‘trudge’ between scientific research and scientific knowledge

Science is a systematic and concerted effort rendered towards understanding the nature of all elements through observations and / or experiments. Following this definition, scientific research could be carried out through pure observations or experiments.

The election merry-go-round begins - Editorial

It is time now for elections again. In other words it is time now for lying in public forums, for deception of masses with false promises, for distribution of liquor to the supporters of political parties, for putting up posters even on walls of temples and for insulting, assaulting and even killing opponents.

UK parliament report reveals: Geneva efforts on war crimes

While a credible domestic inquiry into specific allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity as recommended by the LLRC and/or a structured dialogue mechanism with the TNA and.......

China will stand-by sl at all times: Envoy

In an email interview with Daily Mirror, Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao, says that China will stand-by Sri Lanka during the session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).  He outlines measures for further economic cooperation between the two countries and also the steps for signing a Free Trade Agreement.

Where are the Colombians?

Colombians, it is alleged, are becoming Mahindians? -Those in a hurry for the curry; the fickle, the worms of Colombo, in the vision of authentic Colombians. Is it a divided caste within a class? Let’s dwell deep.

Challenge of Human Capital Formation

Modern historians, who explored western colonial expansion and the related development process, recognised the then widening gap between settler and non-settler colonies.

Healing of memories - Editorial

One of the urgent cures that Sri Lanka needs to bring about reconciliation after a bitterly fought war is the healing of memories. Though the war ended in May 2009, Sri Lanka is still reeling from the long suffering wounds caused by the war as well as the historical factors that led to such a violent outcome.

the Vibrant Wife of Senior Tiger Leader Ezhilan

Controversial Northern Provincial Councillor Anandhi Sasitharan is once again in the news. Sections of the media reported that the Defence Ministry was pondering on the possibility of making   the 42-year-old......

Editorial - A test for dynastic politics

India’s ruling Congress Party appears to be in a dilemma. It was announced that though Rahul Gandhi would lead the campaign for Congress in the national elections he would not be the Prime Ministerial candidate.

Who is Ariel Sharon?

The Middle East has been living a nightmare, partly because of a man of Russian origin who became Israel’s greatest general and, later, Prime Minister of Israel: Ariel Sharon. What were the inner thoughts of this man?.....

Sharon An obituary in blood

Yet another Israeli leader dies and escapes from being tried for war crimes. Ariel Sharon could escape war crimes charges but in the world court of public opinion, he will remain a war criminal

John Amaratunga A blessed person now

United National Party (UNP) MP John Amaratunga was at the centre of controversy during the past week, since he joined the Presidential entourage on a state visit to the Middle-East, Jordan, Israel and Palestine.

Agriculture has become agribusiness - Editorial

As an online controversy or Facebook sarcasm provides palatable food for thought in Malaysia over Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak saying people should eat more of the low-cost and popular water spinach kangkung, Sri Lanka also needs to put jokes apart and reflect deeply on its food and nutrition policy or the lack of a policy.

A boost to diplomatic ties and ‘nude blushes’ to Basil’s cheeks

Recent years witnessed Sri Lanka attaching greater significance to its diplomatic relations with the countries in Africa and Latin America. Also focused were the countries in other regions little known to Sri Lanka hitherto.

‘Hirunika too knows which side her bread is buttered’

Many eyebrows were raised this week when Hirunika Premachandra, the daughter of slain Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) organiser for Kolonnawa and former parliamentarian Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra accepted a post as the party’s organiser for the Colombo Central electorate.

Do people have a choice? - Editorial

With the dissolution of the Western and Southern Provincial Councils on Sunday night, the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance and opposition parties will again give priority to the election campaign with the polls likely to be held in mid-March.

Press has obligation to foster respect for human rights

Following are excerpts of the keynote address made by Emeritus Professor of Law, Savitri Goonesekere on Monday at the inaugural session of the conference organized by the Sri Lanka Press Complaints Commission (SLPCC) on Self-Regulation and Ethical Reporting, to mark their 10th anniversary:

Bud­dha’s first vis­it to Lan­ka

Dur­u­thu Full Moon Poya Day is the first Full Moon Poya Day of the cal­en­dar year. It was on a day like this that the Bud­dha set foot on this land for the first time. This is the most im­por­tant in­ci­dent in the his­to­ry of Sri Lan­ka..........

The Mora Sut­ta

Ta­tha­ga­ta Gau­ta­ma the en­light­ened one em­pha­sized the sig­nif­i­cance, pow­er and vir­tues of cul­ti­vat­ing and prac­tic­ing no­ble qual­i­ties in the Met­ta­ni­san­sa Sut­ta. The Bud­dha ex­plained that a per­son who does not be­tray his friends could es­cape un­harmed even if he­ falls from a high moun

Aluth Sahal Man­ga­lya

The four fes­ti­vals of the Sri Da­la­da Ma­li­ga­wa, in­cludes the  "Aluth Sahal Man­ga­lya" held on Dur­u­thu Poya Day. Dur­u­thu Poya it­self has a spe­cial significance to the Bud­dhist So­ci­ety in  Sri Lan­ka, where it is re­cor­ded that Bud­dha vis­ited Sri Lan­ka to bring peace among war­ring fac­tions liv­in

If united, no power could touch Lanka

In spite of pressure, both local and international, the government is firm in its resoluteness to fulfill the chauvinist agenda of a certain section. It has shown no desire to pull the brakes on the Sinhala agitations and give the minorities their rights.

An unholy trip! - Editorial

At a time when the United National Party (UNP) is attempting to get out of the crisis it has long been bogged down with through a novel experiment called the “Leadership Council,” one of its leaders has created a fresh controversy by joining an official Presidential delegation to the Middle East.

‘Sri Lanka has not been defeated at the UNHRC’

On the verge of a third resolution being passed against Sri Lanka, at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris spoke to  on the government’s stance regarding the resolution.

CSR awards given to Tobacco Industry COVER its ‘ugly face’

A recent study conducted  by W.D.Aruna Shantha de Silva of the National Poison Centre of Malaysia, University of Sains, Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia and Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, appeared in Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Technology in December 2012.  It had said the following;

Thou shalt not lie! - Editorial

Fr Rayappu Joseph would know the full quote: ‘Thou shalt not give false testimony against thy neighbour.’  The good father has testified.