We’re still concerned about ongoing Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka:

Human Rights Watch (HRW), one of the world’s leading human rights organisations that had been active in Sri Lanka, on Wednesday (October 15) released a report as to how the country’s disruptive economy affected the education system, which was considered as one of the best in the word. The report described how Sri Lanka’s successive governments have adopted policies that resulted in inadequate revenues contributing not only to Sri Lanka defaulting

Daily wage of plantation workers still hangs in the balance

When the New Vithanakande Tea Factory recently broke the Guinness World Record for their premium Ceylon Black Tea sold at the highest price of 125,000 Yen or USD 835 per kilogram at a Japanese tea auction, it didn’t come in as a surprise for many. Ceylon Tea has earned global recognition for its distinct flavours and rich aroma and is a beverage celebrated the world over.

Beyond Compliance: Sustainability as a Driver of Competitiveness

Sustainability is increasingly becoming non-negotiable in international trade and supply chains. Companies and countries are integrating sustainable practices into their policies and mandates. For smaller developing countries like Sri Lanka, the shift poses both a challenge and an opportunity. The primary challenge is higher compliance costs, which can restrict market access, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Don’t Leave Without Your Receipt – It Could Cost You!

Recently, I had an unforgettable experience (on my way home!) at a leading supermarket close to my residence, which I believe is worth sharing for the benefit of other customers.

Learning the Art of Negotiation

For years I mistook people pleasing for diplomacy. It took time, training and humility to realise that negotiation is not conflict but connection.

Sri Lanka uniquely placed to benefit from growing maritime cooperation under BIMSTEC- General Secretary Indra Mani Pandey

General Secretary of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Indra Mani Pandey, in an interview with Daily Mirror, shares his views on the importance of the organisation and Sri Lanka’s significance in it.

Deshabandu Tennakoon and the Weligama Hotel shooting incident

The Committee of Inquiry appointed in terms of Section 6 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act No: 5 of 2002 to investigate and inquire into the allegations levelled against Deshabandu Tennakoon (Full name Tennakoon Mudiyanselage Wanshalankara Deshabandu Tennakoon) and to remove him from the office of the Inspector General of Police,

Sri Lanka’s future does not revolve around the UNHRC

Another session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which concerned Sri Lanka, concluded last week, this time thankfully without making a spectacle at home.

Rural women and their contribution to the economy

Women in rural areas make a huge contribution to the economy, but their contributions often go unnoticed. Hence, since today (October 15) is ‘International Day of Rural Women’, let’s focus on rural women and their work.

Gullies sans Covers: Deadly Hazards in Armour Street Flat

Several uncovered gullies along Sri Sumanatissa Mawatha, Armour Street, Colombo 12, have become serious death traps for pedestrians and motorists alike.

For better for worse, whose decision was worse

In our history we have innumerable instances of politicians making pre-election promises which they have never kept after coming into power. Perhaps they never intended to keep those promises or were forced into the realisation that implementation of the same would be detrimental to the good of the country.

Parliamentary protection laws now tools for abuse

The Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act 1953 was designed to protect lawmakers from political intimidation and ensure legislative freedom. However, this is increasingly being used as a blanket privilege by MPs to slander their spouses and children, spread false statements about Government officials, to leak ongoing investigations and misinformation about business tycoons without consequence.

The politics of Nobel Laureate Maria Machado Will take Venezuela to the US camp if elected President

Maria Corina Machado (58), who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, got it for her indefatigable fight for democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. This South American country, like many others in the Global South, has had elected leaders who turned out to be dictators, including the current President, Nicolas Maduro.

LGBTQIA+ Deserves Empathy, Not Judgment

Following last week’s discussion on India’s LGBTQA+ tourism, I wanted to explore the deeper question many readers raised: what does science tell us about sexual orientation itself?

VIP security should not be politicised

Public security Minister Ananda Wijepala has stated that former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena have requested the bullet-proof vehicles they had returned to the state following the passage of the Presidents’ Entitlement Bill on September 10.

Lies and Damn lies!

With reference to Mr. A. Ratnayake’s letter to the Editor, I wish to set the record straight. His assertions are baseless, misleading, and far removed from the truth.

“Black October”: Mass Expulsion of Northern Muslims by the LTTE in 1990

October 1990 is a cruel and unforgettable month in the history of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Muslims. It was in October 1990 that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forcibly expelled the Tamil-speaking Muslim people from the Northern Province in an atrocious act amounting to ethnic cleansing.

An Opposition detached from the people

Despite the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) having 40 seats in Parliament, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with only three seats seems to be the main Opposition for the past few weeks, due to the latter being in confrontation with the government than the former.

Lanka is aging fast with little care for the aged

On the first of this month, the world commemorated the International Day of the elderly (those who are 60 years and above). The number of people aged 60 years or more worldwide has more than doubled, from around 541 million in 1995 to 1.2 billion in 2025. This figure is expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050.

Why remove the BMICH police station?

The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) holds significant importance to Sri Lanka, serving as a symbol of the country’s diplomatic relations and cultural heritage.

Taxing plastic bags won’t untax the environment

The recently issued extraordinary gazette mandates that retailers can no longer distribute plastic shopping bags for free from November 1, 2025, which is a welcome move in principle, due to the serious harm posed by the bags to the environment. 

Israel-Hamas truce: Trump’s peace push-dividends or deception?

In wars, there are no victors—only victims. The truth of this statement becomes vivid only when war is viewed through a humanitarian lens. It does not matter whether Israel wins or loses, whether Hamas does, or who outfoxed whom. What matters most are the lives of the war-battered—the hapless and helpless people of Gaza and the Israeli hostages. The side that wages peace wins. As the late Pope Francis once said, “To make peace, one needs courage

Government at Odds with Itself

In what appears to be an instance that shows policy incoherence and administrative disarray, the government found itself entangled in controversy over its handling of an LGBTQ+ project. What began as an official endorsement of a tourism project based on LGBTQ+ rights turns into a hasty denial, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and others making counter remarks after meeting with the members of the clergy, who protested the move over its imp

The Currency of Influence

Last week in New York, I found myself watching the dance of influence at the United Nations General Assembly. Delegations swept into meetings with carefully chosen phrases. Leaders leaned into the right photo opportunities. Civil society groups worked the corridors, and corporate chiefs reminded everyone that markets can move faster than treaties. It looked like theatre, yet it was also something older and more human.

Revisiting the unparalleled role of postal services on World Post Day

Sri Lanka’s 200-year-old postal service now stands at a turning point as the government is keen to ensure that it doesn’t incur any losses or become a burden to the Treasury in future. This is why the government has allocated a sum of USD 7 million to modernise postal services in the country. According to Health and Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, this allocation was made despite postal services being a burden on state finances. However, des

Sri Lanka’s Future Lies Beyond Local Progress

The government is investing its time and money in northern development in a way that no previous government has in a long while. The topmost leaders of the government, no less, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, have been spending a great deal of their time and effort in the north. During their visits, they meet face to face with people from different walks of life and launch new development projects that

Cryptocurrency: clear the grey areas

It was recently reported that Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, in his asset declaration to CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption), revealed ownership of 3,000 units of cryptocurrency, a digital asset that exists only online and is often referred to as virtual currency, such as Bitcoin. At present, Sri Lanka has no clear regulatory framework to confirm whether cryptocurrency transactions are legal or otherwise

President Dr. Muizzu’s Bold Vision for a Fully Developed Maldives by 2040

Blessed with immaculate beaches, clear blue waters and an abundance of marine life, the Maldives – a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean is gearing to transform itself into a fully developed nation by 2040 as envisioned by its President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Speaking about his vision at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Muizzu said that achieving this goal requires increased productivity, digital transformation, and leveraging the co

Sri Lankans feel it’s time to ditch traditions, norms

Sri Lanka was once a nation that was greatly influenced by tradition more than law. The arrival of the British added more customs to our traditions.

Lester and Ray:Two Masters with One Vision

Two great filmmakers emerged from Sri Lanka and India three-quarters of a century ago – Lester James Peries and Sathyajit Ray.