Karuna broke away from LTTE after seeing life, development in Bangkok - Erik Solheim

Erik Solheim, a Norwegian diplomat and former Cabinet minister best known in Sri Lanka for his role as the chief international facilitator of the Sri Lankan peace process during the 2002–2006 ceasefire talks, shared his views in an interview with Daily Mirror about the pitfalls of the process .

Opportunity to Address Long Standing Injustice in Post-Cyclone Resettlement

Following the Ditwah Cyclone disaster, the National Peace Council has called for the setting up of a land commission to facilitate the vesting of land ownership rights with Malaiyaha Tamil plantation workers in their resettlement process so that post cyclone recovery is fair, inclusive and consistent with the principles of justice. The full statement issued by the NPC, an independent and non partisan organisation, is as follows:

Too Big for Our Maps, Too Small for Their Feet

Mankind cannot survive on its own. Coexistence matters, especially with nature. In a world that continues to cut down trees, kill animals and pollute surroundings, innovative initiatives are needed to educate people on the importance of environmental conservation.

From Oz to the ‘Pettagama’ : Why Everyone Counts

A messy book rack and a copy of The Wizard of Oz spark a profound reflection on modern management. Senior Lecturer Jeevani Senevirathne explores how workplaces function like complex ecosystems, part fairy tale, part farm, where progress depends on respecting the institutional memory of the old and the creative energy of the new

What can Turkiye and Sri Lanka do in a world which is in a flux in 2026?

The world steps into 2026 with uncertainty. It is witnessing prolonged crises involving Gaza, Ukraine and the Middle East. A possible U.S. strike on Iran looms.

‘17 Paintings’: An upcoming art exhibition by S. H. Sarath

Renowned artist S. H. Sarath warmly invites art lovers to immerse themselves in vibrant local colour and emotion at his upcoming art exhibition, titled ‘17 Paintings,’ which will showcase his most recent creations. The exhibition will be open to visitors from January 26 to 29, from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm at the JDA Perera Gallery, located in 46, Horton Place, Colombo 07.

Galle Face Green; Challenges in maintaining Colombo’s historic oceanfront promenade

The Galle Face Green isn’t always green, but it is sometimes the only open premises that provides some kind of recreation for people. On a given day, everybody from youth to elderly to couples to families would visit the Galle Face Green to enjoy the sea breeze and spend some time on their own. Occasionally, the premises gets packed during election rallies, carnivals and musical shows. However, many challenges persist in maintaining this five hec

THE PSYCHE OF AN EMERGING GIANT: CHINA

In the fast-changing world of the 21st century, few stories are as remarkable as the rise of China. Nations grow and decline, ideas change and societies transform. Yet understanding the inner character of a nation – its “psyche” – is never simple. It is shaped by history, culture, beliefs and the everyday lives of ordinary people.

Viet Nam’s success: Socialism embracing market reforms, not resistant

Viet Nam’s ruling Communist Party has gathered for its five-yearly National Congress, a pivotal event that will define the leadership and economic trajectory of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy. For observers in Colombo and beyond, Hanoi’s success offers a compelling proof of concept: that disciplined socialist governance can flourish alongside aggressive global integration.

We punish everyone for Lying, except those who govern Us

Every election season brings a familiar ritual: candidates make sweeping pledges about tax cuts, job creation, crime reduction, and economic prosperity.

A Spiritual Haven That Stands Strong Amidst Adversity

Following the recent severe cyclonic weather conditions that affected many parts of Sri Lanka, the Kandy district experienced significant damage. With the intention of observing the post disaster situation, we travelled to Kandy again a few days later.

Sri Lanka’s Power and Education Reforms: A Tale of Contrasting Outcomes

Sri Lanka’s path to modernization reveals a startling dichotomy. While power sector reforms surged ahead through the unbundling of the CEB, education reforms remain trapped in a cycle of delays and bureaucratic friction.

SL-born scientist’s breakthrough could transfer global cancer treatment

A Sri Lankan-born scientist has made waves in the global medical community with groundbreaking research that could revolutionise cancer treatment. Dr. Arutha Kulasinghe, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland, has unveiled a pioneering method that promises faster, cheaper, and more personalised therapies for cancer patients worldwide.

Iran’s troubles: The price of defying hegemons

Arguably one of the oldest, if not the oldest, continuous nation-states, Iran is facing yet another existential threat of tectonic-shift proportions, similar to the many challenges it has endured and overcome in its more than 3,500-year political existence.

To restore devastated agrifood sector FAO seeks international support

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Headquarters in Rome issued an appeal calling for international assistance of US$ 16.5 million to support the early recovery of livelihoods and food security for farming, livestock-keeping and fishing communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.

Can a song created by an AI app have copyright?

AI apps that allow music generation has taken the world by storm. It creates music which sounds similar to an original creator. While the users may be happy using AI to make the song they want, a pertinent question has been raised as to what would happen to the performer (that is the singer), the composer and the lyricist and for that matter the Record Labels and the Music recording industry itself.

Ravi K Warns: Sri Lanka’s Recovery Still on a Fiscal Knife-Edge

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake cautions that Sri Lanka’s 2026 recovery remains on a “fiscal knife-edge.” Despite IMF-led gains and restructured debt relief of $17 billion, rising pressures from natural disasters and rigid revenue targets leave no room for error.

The death throes of Ayatullah: The theocratic regime of Iran is killing for its survival

As of early this week, the Islamic Republic of Iran had slaughtered over six hundred protesters, terrorising with brute force into submission another cycle of widespread protests against the repressive theocratic regime. The regime sources put the death toll as high as 2000.

EDUCATIONAL REFORMS: THE NEED TO LOOK AT THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Sri Lanka’s latest educational overhaul aims to modernize the classroom, yet it remains anchored to a century-old legal framework. While the government pledges to treat education as a fundamental right, Attorney-at-Law Shantha Jayawardena argues that such promises lack teeth without constitutional amendments.

Assessing the geopolitical isolation of the United States and Israel in 2026

The dawn of 2026 marks a watershed moment in modern history. The traditional “Pax Americana” that defined the post-WWII era has fractured, replaced by a volatile landscape of unilateralism and aggressive protectionism.

Bringing back the ‘Ugly American’: Trump’s Naked Aggression: War for Oil Disguised as Justice

This is really about controlling the world’s largest oil reserves and keeping them away from America’s rivals. Right now, China buys 80 percent of Venezuela’s oil exports.

From valves and transistors to digital: SLBC: 100 Years of Broadcasting Excellence

The SLBC, the premier media institution, completed 100 years of unparalleled meritorious service on December 16, 2025. For an individual, it is a time period that renders him or her feeble, needing to be looked after with care and concern. However, for an institution like the SLBC, it is a time for reflection and renewal as its vibrancy remains intact. Hundred is a significant milestone and this flashback will reveal the tremendous efforts,

Venezuela: Beware of imperial America’s unholy Roman emperor

On January 3, under the cover of darkness, the United States invaded Venezuela and kidnapped its democratically elected leader, Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife. In doing so, it destroyed an edifice that, since the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, has symbolised the inviolability of state sovereignty. Following the West’s victory over Communism in 1991, Francis Fukuyama advanced his “End of History” theory, arguing that liberal democracy has reach

Always On, Always Exhausted: Reclaiming Self Through Boundaries

In the hyper-accelerated corridors of modern power, a quiet, corrosive fatigue has replaced genuine ambition. We have entered an era where “Success” is no longer measured by output, but by the performative display of availability. Beneath the glossy exterior of corporate recognition, professionals are being reduced to mere functions—absorbing the urgencies of others while their own identities drift into a digital quicksand. Reclaiming the self no

Sri Lanka’s collision with nature: Lessons from India to address the agrarian crisis

Nature seems to beat war with a market-driven investment pattern, slowly decaying the means of survival for the masses. In many ways, this ecological pushback expressed through Cyclone Ditwah mirrors the 2022 people’s uprising, which sought to overthrow an entrenched political establishment.

Trump’s way of making America great again

S President Donald Trump’s decision to kidnap Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro makes us wonder if Hollywood is running the United States. It’s an unprecedented cowboy act of derring-do.

World Braille Day: Reading equality, writing inclusion

Every year on 4 January, the world observes World Braille Day, a day dedicated not merely to a system of reading and writing, but to the fundamental idea that access to information is a human right.

Sqn Ldr Noel Lokuge’s 90th B’day Honouring an aviator’s distinguished legacy

On December 24, 2025, the family of Squadron Leader Noel Lokuge hosted a graceful luncheon at Cinnamon Red, Colombo, celebrating a remarkable milestone, his 90th birthday.

Food and Financial Self-Sufficiency: The key to survival in an increasingly unstable world

Sri Lanka is moving from crisis to crisis. Our country begins 2026 amidst a precarious recovery from the long economic crisis, aggravated more recently by the devastating cyclone.

2026 world order: More war than peace

Rationally speaking, January 1st is just another day. Scientifically, there is no evidence that time began on a January 1, whether millennia or billennia ago. Yet the turning of the calendar invites reflection. The spiritually inclined may take stock of themselves, and teenagers may pledge to give up or take up a habit. In general, the belief is that a new year brings new hope. But does it?