Was water acidity in Weliweriya ‘hand in glove’ with industry?

This was one of the hottest topics discussed everywhere in Sri Lanka recently after the unfortunate incident that occurred there a couple of weeks ago

MORALITY OF NAVI PILLAY’S VISIT

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navineetham Pillay is now in Sri Lanka.  For Tamil separatists and the opposition, she is the saviour

Fifty years ago King had a Beautiful Dream

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. delivered in Washington, on August 28, 1963

75th birth anniversary of the late Maamanithar

In this month, two meetings were held, one in Colombo and the other in Jaffna to observe the 75th birth anniversary of the late Maamanithar Kumar Ponnambalam

Editorial-Independent Police Commission vital

On the eve of the long-awaited and crucial visit of the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navaneethan Pillay,

Kachchativu was part of Sri Lanka even before the Agreement of 1974.

It is reported in the print that the Hon. Foreign Minister, Prof. Peiris has made certain comments to questions raised by the journalist in Delhi to the effect that the 1974 Agreement determined the demarcation of Kachchativu in terms of....

Sunshine Camp For the differently-abled

“The Sunshine Camp for the Differently Abled was organised for the forty-first year this time by the Dehiwela YMCA from August 24 – 25,” Suzanne Therese Paiva, co-chairperson and consultant for media, communication and fundraising said.

The world of steam, whistles and railways

Written by a railway enthusiast, ‘The Viceroy Special’ tells the tale of the creation of a very special relic in the history of Sri Lankan Railways. In his memoirs, Hemasiri Fernando narrates how his childhood passion about everything connected to....

THE FOREIGN SERVICE GETS A BLOOD TRANSFUSION

I need to flag some good news which was that the government had recruited twenty seven into the Foreign Service as Cadets after holding an open competitive examination.

Deadly unseen HR violations by TNCs - Editorial

While the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navaneetham Pillay makes a first-hand probe of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, a civic action group has sought a meeting with her to highlight other major though largely unseen areas of human rights violations.

Commonwealth Youth Forum 2013 set to make a crucial turn

Salma Yusuf in conversation with Layne Robinson and Francesca Danmole, Youth Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, in London

Popular Protests A Manifestation of Institutional Failure

Popular protests over diverse local issues frequently figure in the media today. These protests are often spontaneous and attract many local people who are directly affected by the issues concerned. When one or more television stations show live pictures of people protesting, public officials and politicians often cannot ignore them.

Editorial - If austerity is the answer, let it begin at the top

While government leaders and so-called financial experts continue to boast about Sri Lanka’s high growth rate or per capita income and while multi-million rupee beautification projects are continuing, our sister paper the Sunday Times yesterday revealed a shocking and dangerous truth about the economy.

‘Sri Lanka Economy Beyond 2014’ “SRI LANKA NEEDS A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM PRESENT ECONOMIC PATH”

In the aftermath of the military conflict of May 2009, the country was expecting an economic take off sustainable over a decade.  That was possible only by building on the reforms of the liberalization of the late 1970’s

China – India: Old Ties Lead To New Model Of Mutual Trust

It is fashionable in China today to speak of a “new type” of great power relations, indeed of international relations as a whole. In Chinese terminology, this approach is based on three key concepts:

Bellanwila Esela Perahera a Religious, Cultural and Social Awakening

The annual historic Bellanwila Esela Pageant commenced for the 63rd year on 15th August and will culminate on 1st  September.

A Commission needed for Education Reforms

It appears that once again politicians and bureaucrats are attempting to interfere in educational planning and reforms. The recent directive by an educational Director stating that Grade 5 tuition classes  should be stopped by 12 midnight on a certain day appears to be...

Inclusive Development: Stronger Together

In parallel to the Twenty-Third Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM),  which will be hosted by Sri Lanka during 15-17 N0vember, 2013 at the BMICH Colombo, the 9th Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) is scheduled to be held from 10 – 14 November, 2013 in Hambantota.

White is right, the delusion of white lies - Editorial

The Daily Mirror in its Editorial yesterday and on several other occasions spotlighted the subtle and sophisticated strategies through which rich and powerful countries are continuing to plunder the remaining wealth and resources of third world countries like Sri Lanka.

Democracy must quickly be returned to Egypt

The military’s crackdown in Egypt was foolish. Democracy is not. Without democracy there is no way of arbitrating...

Editorial : Economic armies of the colonial powers

Billions of people in the Third World, either due to lack of awareness or ignorance, presume that wide-scale...

Egypt’s democracy goes from womb to mummy’s tomb

It took 60 years for the Central Intelligence Agency to admit this week that it was behind the coup...

Key Indian deals and low-key backslapping

Straight after landing at the New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport at 5.45 am on Sunday, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris went to the residence of Sri Lanka High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam in New Delhi.

SL continues to woo Indian PM

This week, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh again emerged as a key figure factor in Sri Lankan politics as Colombo continued to woo the Indian leader, with External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris personally visiting New Delhi to invite Singh for the upcoming Commonwealth Summit.

The End of War and The Provisions of the Public Security Ordinance

The war is over. Normalcy has been established and no proclamation of the state of emergency exists. People are the recipients of peace and order. Many hail the government and the armed forces for restoring peace and order.

Media Freedom: Rights and responsibilities. - Editorial

In various spheres or areas of life, rights are linked to responsibilities. To the extent we fulfil our responsibilities, to that extent only could we claim or exercise our rights. To the extent we fail in our responsibilities, to that extent we forfeit our rights.

The story of Esala Perahera and Golden Casket

There is a fallacy that the Golden  Karanduwa or Casket that is being taken during the Kandy Esala Perahera is kept as security on the last night of the Randoli Perahera Finale at  Gedige Vihare in Aadahana Maluwa.

Making perfect sense of literature

Talking about literature, we tend to get divided and hover between extremes

Leprosy poses serious challenge for Sri Lanka

Most Sri Lankans including the professionals believe that Leprosy does not exist in Sri Lanka today. Some believe that it has been eliminated.

Building regional cooperation in South Asia at grass-root level

Q. What is the reasoning behind the SWAN- South Asia Women’s Network