Premier Tamil party ITAK is on top in Batticaloa but down in Jaffna

“Mata Allanda Bariwune,Madakkalappuwa vitharai” (I was unable to capture only Batticaloa) were the words with which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake smilingly greeted “Mattakkalappu” MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam in Parliament on November 21. The president was mingling with the parliamentarians at the inaugural session of the tenth parliament. Anura was of course alluding to the November 14 parliamentary election in which the AKD

Tilvin and provincial councils

Can anyone find any difference between the crux of the following two paragraphs?“If a constitution acceptable to all communities is adopted, the necessity for the Provincial Council (PC) system or the 13th Amendment to the Constitution would no longer be valid. The Provincial Council system is a failed system which is of no use at all. Yet, we would not abolish the Provincial Council system without presenting an alternative viable solution. This

Who are shooting the Messengers?

Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Ratnayake’s observation last Thursday over an arrest of an individual who had shared videos relating to recent ‘Maaveerar Naal’ commemorations without first investigating those who created and uploaded the original videos as an approach like ‘shooting the messenger’, is an eye-opener to the powerful National People’s Power (NPP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) government and its leaders.

Trump threatens to let loose hell on Middle East

The United States President-elect, Donald Trump, read the riot act this week, warning Hamas—by extension all Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip—that if the hostages are not released by the time he is in office, there will be “all hell to pay in the Middle East”.

Christmas decorations and poverty in Colombo! - EDITORIAL

The bus plying from Kaduwela to Colpetty- bearing the route number 177- stopped briefly at Rajagiriya to pick more passengers.

The NPP Must Know that ‘The Snow Falls Silently’

We were in a mighty hurry to vote for Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the President of Sri Lanka.

Preventing Racism Top Priority for AKD Govt

Addressing the first formal session of the new parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya reiterated that the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People Power would not allow any party or group to indulge in racial tension or violence.

Political Opposition is dead

The political Opposition in this country has yet again reduced to insignificance. This is a precarious existence for politics and the country at large, though this has been a recurrent phenomenon throughout the 2010s. Only the travails have incrementally worsened: In 2010, during the second term of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency, the UPFA won 144 seats, a tad short of the two-thirds majority, which was compensated with the pole vaulters from the

Makkah pilgrimage that never happened Reflecting on ‘Martinair’ 50 years after the plane crash

The most terrible plane crash in Sri Lanka which featured the Dutch Martinair DC8 aircraft and took place on December 4, 1974 marks 50 years today.

The carnival is over and government bares its fangs

Have some pity for our new government. They were voted into power amid such high expectations; backed by the trade and student organisations. The people gave them a two-thirds majority in parliament. What is sad is we have never asked how these expectations will be matched.

The death of Deega Danthu II Authorities in a race against time to reduce Elephant Deaths By Electrocution

The death of Deega Danthu II, an iconic tusker that roamed around Kala Wewa, Balalu Wewa and adjacent jungles in Kekirawa has sparked serious concerns about interventions taken by authorities including the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) to conserve and protect these majestic species.

UN Day for Solidarity with Palestine Bloodshed and Politics: Wake Up!

Twelve-year-old Mazyouna suffered devastating injuries to her face from an Israeli rocket and endured five months of unbearable pain before finally receiving approval for emergency surgery.

NPP’s Dilemma over the PTA - EDITORIAL

The obnoxious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has been used twice against suspects of unlawful activities after National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office as President.

Battling HIV/AIDS Through Awareness and Action

Resonating with the health and welfare of over 39.9 million HIV patients living globally, World AIDS Day, marked on December 01 every year is a timely reminder reflecting on the importance of raising awareness and prevention of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Deflationary Disaster and the Undemocratic Rule of IMF Experts

Sri Lanka has achieved another Staff-Level Agreement for the Third Review of the IMF program.

The Month of Christmas and Message of Christianity - EDITORIAL

As the month of December dawns, it brings to the minds of Christians the world over of the birth of Christ in a stable at Bethleham in Palestine.

Landslides, Floods and Government’s Pre-election Manifesto

The monsoon season is here again. This time heightened by the adverse effects of climate change. According to the latest reports, thirteen persons have lost their lives. Over 400,000 persons from over 132,000 families have been affected by overflowing tanks, landslides and or flooding with 102 houses completely destroyed and over 2,000 partially damaged.

LG Polls: Opposition at a Loss

The row in the New Democratic Front (NDF) led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) over the National List slot allocated for them at the November 14 Parliamentary election seems to prolong for another week or more.

Landslides, Floods and Government’s Pre-election Manifesto

The monsoon season is here again. This time heightened by the adverse effects of climate change. According to the latest reports, thirteen persons have lost their lives. Over 400,000 persons from over 132,000 families have been affected by overflowing tanks, landslides and or flooding with 102 houses completely destroyed and over 2,000 partially damaged.

“Ours isn’t a leftist Govt, but one of leftist, democratic and progressive forces’’- Tilvin Silva General Secretary of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna

Tilvin Silva, the General Secretary of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the core base of National People’s Power (NPP), shares his views on the government’s way forward and responds to social media criticism on his participation at ABBA Tribute Concert during an interview with the Daily Mirror.

Solidarity with Palestine or death warrant?

Today is the United Nations Day for Solidarity with Palestine. Exactly 77 years ago today, the international community—dominated by the West then as it is now—signed the death warrant for the Palestinian people by adopting a United Nations General Assembly resolution.

The Need to ‘relocate’ and the Might of Floods -EDITORIAL

The heavy rains and strong winds lashing Sri Lanka over the past few days have left us thinking deep and forced us to make our own analysis about adverse weather and how people respond to such calamities.

A Missed Opportunity Dr. Harsha could have been the ideal Opposition Leader

A coalition that previously held only three seats in Parliament has achieved a sweeping victory in Sri Lanka’s recent parliamentary elections. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP) coalition now controls over two-thirds of the legislature; a historic outcome unprecedented in the history of the Sri Lanka parliament. This political shift positions the leftist alliance to implement widespread policy changes, potential

Come Together to Confront Climate Change.

With about 200,000 people across 17 districts being affected by the Deep Depression in the Bay of Bengal, the government is moving fast to provide relief to them but in the aftermath, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People’s Power(NPP) government need to also look at the root causes of such a catastrophe. Clearly, one of the main reasons is the failure to effectively control climate change and we hope the government will give

Social Policies and the New Regime

The recently concluded Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka have resulted in a remarkable change in the composition of the political class that controls the State.

Global scrutiny of Adani Group puts pressure on Sri Lanka to rethink major deals

The Adani Group once hailed as a symbol of rapid corporate growth in India, now faces a storm of controversy that has impacted its global operations, including significant projects in Sri Lanka.

Hypocrisy and challenges facing commemorating the dead

November is the month associated, with the commemoration of the dead. It has its origins in the Mexican ‘Día de los Muertos’ (Day of the Dead) which evolved from Aztec traditions combined with Catholic beliefs brought by the Spanish to that land.

A Cabinet without Muslims is not meritocratic but discriminatory

For the first time in recent memory, Sri Lanka now has a Cabinet devoid of Muslim representation. That is a grave error which should be rectified.

Jaffna victory is the prized jewel in NPP electoral crown

The Anura “Alai” or wave that engulfed the Tamil nationalist stronghold of Jaffna was the focus of this column published last week.

Global Increase of ‘Grey divorce’

The phenomenon of ‘grey divorce’ or divorce involving a couple above 50 years of age, drew public attention globally in 2021 when the great entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates (65) and his wife Melinda Gates (57) divorced.