Vesak Pandol Service

I saw the recent announcement that the Ceylon Tourist Board is once again organizing a “Pandol service to view the pandols and decorations for vesak.

Four Noble Truths -- the essence of Buddha’s teaching

By Gamini Jayasinghe Gauthama Buddha in His very first sermon to the five Brahamin ascetics, Kondanna, Vappa, Baddhiya, Mahanama and Assaji at Isipatana near Benaris expounded the four Noble Truths which are regarded as the essence of Buddhism.

Terror war: The thunder, blunder and the plunder

A year ago, the United States’ President, Barack Obama, announced that his country’s most wanted man had been killed in Abottabad, Pakistan. That the...

Energy crisis

The two main sources of energy that we depend on are fuel and electricity. Electricity again is dependent mostly on fuel due to limitations of hydro-power...

When hunger strikes

Perhaps the one positive aspect to an otherwise grim story of chronic hunger in India is the more frequent public acknowledgement of this sorry state of...

A bash without the B’day boy

They came: They paraded: They cut the cake without the birthday boy and ate it. The far side of the Viharamaha Devi Park looked as if it had snowed the previous night. 

‘Don’t Take Away Our ‘Morrow’

After the defeat of the LTTE our leaders declared that Sri Lanka was a free nation. Doubts crowded my mind when I heard the news about a mosque being...

Editorial: Hail the hand that writes

If not for them, the newspapers would be just papers. If not for  their passion and hunger for truth, all news would be as mellow as fairytales. It is their perseverance that uncovers the truth buried in high-safety zones, away from the public’s reach. Yet, with the bravery, there comes   the eternal risk of death, intimidation and abduction, to which a journalist cannot simply shake his/her head and say, ‘No, thank you

Suu Kyi’s gesture

It’s politics of high compromise in Myanmar. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s gesture to agree to take oath on the same format of wordings, to which she had earlier objected, as a matter of principle, will long be debated.

Going against the Buddha’s word

 Last weekend, I was in Dambulla. A chance conversation at a local shop whilst having lunch revealed to us that the very mosque that had been vandalised by a violent mob  was just behind us. It was barricaded and there was a lone policeman seated on the opposite side of the road watching over the alley entrance.

The right to press freedom

The 20th century American politician Thomas “Tip” O’Neill once famously said that “all politics is local.”  That was often true of the news in the last century as well.  With the advent of so many technological changes, however, the truism for information in the 21st century has become “all news is international.”  Local stories quickly become international and the citizen’s right to

Road to reconciliation: The Sri Lankan way

Less than 3 years ago, as Sri Lanka emerged from its 30 year long struggle against LTTE terrorism, there were many ‘prophets of doom’, including in this Parliament, who misjudged both Sri Lanka’s will and capacity.

Your Voice - Should education be a commodity? .....

If all the children are educated and if their brains open there will be no place for corruption Government and their leaders So This Government should stop the free education then only you can read about the rapist and drug dealers in the lanka News or other.

A litmus test bond between Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to summon a meeting shortly to discuss a matter of vital national importance. This follows a discussion he had with Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem on Monday, during the course of which the President promised to resolve the dispute that has arisen over the Dambulla mosque, without harming the interests of the Muslim community.

Ragging in universities should be stopped

I have been a Doctor in Sri Lanka and overseas for the past 49 years and I have always detested and condemned the despicable practice of ragging in our universities. Sadly, since my university days ragging has become even more dastardly resulting in serious physical and psychological injury to some victims.

Power tussle in Egypt

 Egypt is seized with a parallel decorum of governance. The newly elected parliament and the military junta are in a crisscross and nobody knows what the format of decision-making would be if this dual-track complicity goes on.

‘No evidence of returnees abused’?

BY L. Jovian I too am one for ‘taking the positives’ but the Daily Mirror’s reporting of the release of the UKs annual Human Rights report for 2011 on Monday (30th April) stretched the  term silver lining to absurd levels. The  truth is, if we  unpick that lining just a little the whole thread comes loose.

Let him act ‘Sri Lankan’

Up to date, the lines uttered by Kumar Sangakkara in his Cowdrey Lecture, remain the most quotable ones on reconciliation in Sri Lanka. However, instead of being garlanded on his return home, he was subjected to the wrath of high heads who even went to the extent of calling for an explanation from the former Sri Lankan Captain.

Uncensored teledramas

Almost all local television channels screen tele-dramas each lasting half an hour from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm daily.

UNP’s End Game

By Udara Soysa The 1994 Parliamentary elections marked an important watershed in the course of the United National party. Ranil Wickramasinghe became the un-elected yet unanimous leader of United National Party due to the assassination of all prominent UNP leaders of leadership quality. This was the start of defeatist Ranil era of the UNP.

May Day workers vs. rulers

By  Upali S. Jayasekera The workpeople have come to observe May 1st as an event to further working class unity and solidarity. The choice of this day derived from the historic struggle launched by the American workers to win an eight hour working day and the attack by the Police on a worker's protest meeting held at Haymarket Square, Chicago on 4th May 1886.

Pakistan, US discord

 One single word is widening the breach between the two allied allies. And that is a proposition to say: sorry. Pakistan-United States relations are at their lowest ebb. Islamabad, which demands an apology from Washington for the air strike that killed more than 24 soldiers in November last year, is refusing to resume supplies to the stranded NATO forces inside Afghanistan through its territory.

CBCSL urges Govt. to implement LLRC Recommendations

Much has been written and discussed since the publication of the Report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka CBCSL wishes to look at the Report of the Commission mindful of this biblical imperative and invitation to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation in this post-war society of Sri Lanka.

Thoughts on Constitutional Reforms

By Kasi Silva Dr. B. R. Ambedkar respected as the architect of the Indian constitution, in some of his addresses, mostly to the All India Scheduled Castes Federation spoke on the concepts of the proposed Indian constitution and on the subject of the treatment meted out by Indians to the 60 million ‘Untouchable’ community. Four of his addresses prior to Indian Independence have been published by Penguin.

Eastern issues, a new chance, a new can…?

The ‘Dambulla mosque issue’ could not have come at a worse time for the country, just as it was limping back from the not-so-unexpected shock administered by the UNHRC vote in Geneva. Opening a non-existent issue after a mosque had existed for 60 years in a locality ear-marked as sacred for the Sinhala-Buddhist majority has the potential to split the fractured Eastern community three-way, with consequences for their fractured polity a

Taylor found guilty of war crimes

The International Criminal Court at The Hague has pronounced former Liberian president Charles Taylor guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The five-year long trial finally culminated with the judges deciding against Taylor, who is the first head of state to be charged by the ICC since the Nuremberg trial post World War II.

Let the pensioners live with dignity!

I refer to the interesting letter written by “A Pensioner” that appeared on page 19 in the Daily Mirror of 10th April, 2012. He refers to a commitment made by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government that appears in their Policy Document well known as the Mahinda Chinthanaya 2005, put out by the Present President. It reads……

DMK CHIEF KARUNANIDHI REVIVES TAMIL EELAM DEMAND

Muthuvel Karunanidhi the Octogenarian leader of India’s Dravida Munnetra Kazgagham (DMK)  has a flair for creating controversy through provocative pronouncements. Karunanidhi known widely as “Kalainjer” or Artiste has been the chief minister of Tamil Nadu state for nearly 19 years serving five terms in office.

Karunanidhi wants Eelam, but Sampanthan doesn't

The visit by the Indian joint Parliament delegation to Sri Lanka was no doubt a novel experience not only for the members of the delegation but also for the Sri Lankan politicians as well as the general public. It was novelty for the Sri Lankans since the delegation was led by the Opposition Leader of India and not by any government minister of that country.

After the verdict

A judicial conviction in Pakistan has made history. The fact that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has convicted no other than the Chief Executive, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani - for contempt of court under Article 204 (2) of the Constitution- is shocking news in itself but the post-verdict scenario is likely to see bigger news being made as the state descends further into political uncertainty. Not to forget the hobnobbing in the ruling circle