Shippers’ Council defends freight rule against calls for review

The Sri Lanka Shippers’ Council (SLSC) yesterday mounted a defence of the nation’s state-mandated all-inclusive freight regulation, as the government signals willingness to review the regulation.

Fifty years in Priesthood, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith

Sri Lanka’s second Cardinal after Cardinal Thomas Cooray, Cardinal Malcolm was ordained as a priest on June 29, 1975, by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter’s Square in Rome

Peace in Gaza? US, Israel and Hamas talk in Washington and Doha

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire. He had also asked Hamas to do the same or face the consequences. But, as both parties have set tough conditions, Trump’s diplomatic skills and America’s coercive power will be on test at the meetings slated to be held in Washington and Doha this week. President Trump and Israeli PM Netanyahu will be meeting in Washington, and delegations of the Israelis and th

Chess queen Devindya battles challenges to make Sri Lanka proud

For Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana (13), chess is something more than a board game. What began as a pastime to beat her sister at the game had transformed her life to a point where she now has no challenge in facing local chess competitions.

Understanding numerology: The power of numbers

Numerology is important to understand that everything in the world is dependent on numbers. Numerology can assist you to have a better understanding and further improve the relationships with your family members, relatives, friends and superiors, to lead a serene, tranquil, peaceful and fulfilled life.

What we hear from Chemmani… When the soil speaks for people’s justice

On the seventh day of the second phase of re-excavations at Chemmani in July 2025, I stood before a shallow grave where skeletal remains of a child were found, still carrying a UNICEF school bag, and within it, a tiny doll.

If you must fear anything, fear the law and nothing else!

Sri Lanka is an island which has one main law and several customised ‘laws’ or regulations to suit certain communities and religions. The latter are unofficial, l but have clout in their respective societies.

Krishanthi Kumaraswamy case and Chemmani mass grave : A landmark case and a prosecutor’s call for accountability

Ongoing excavations at the Chemmani mass grave reveal harrowing atrocities committed during the war. But this mass grave site would have been a secret buried under Lankan soil if not for a statement made by a death row convict. The convict, who is the main accused in the Krishanthi Kumaraswamy case, revealed the Chemmani mass grave in 1998 upon being sentenced to death. Recently, the Supreme Court rejected a petition filed by this convict and oth

Meritocracy and competency: Lessons for Sri Lanka from Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore

Sri Lanka, a nation blessed with abundant natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage, and a resilient populace, stands at a critical juncture in its development trajectory. As it navigates the complexities of economic recovery, social cohesion, and sustained growth, the quality of its

Electoral Irony A system JVP/NPP once championed stands in its way

Sri Lanka’s recent local government elections have laid bare a striking paradox. The JVP/NPP, the dominant force in national politics following their landslide victory at the last General election, has now run into unexpected headwinds—created not by their political rivals, but by an electoral system they themselves once strongly endorsed. Despite an overwhelming electoral performance across the country—where they secured the highest number of wa

In support of tortured victims Realities of torture in Sri Lanka

June 26 marked the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. It is a day dedicated to recognising and supporting those who have endured acts of torture and also calls for accountability and justice.

Crisis response needed regarding plastic pollution in Sri Lanka

Plastic waste is a growing issue worldwide. According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) a truck load of plastic waste enters the ocean every minute we spend on this planet.

How Sunil Handunnetti could become a guiding light in promoting English language education

Last week, Minister of Industries and Enterprise Development Sunil Handunnetti participated in the World Economic Forum in Tianjin and spoke in a panel discussion.

Two State Solution A PATHWAY TO LASTING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Middle East, a cradle of civilisations and a land of profound spiritual significance, has for decades been synonymous with conflict, particularly the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian struggle. The recent escalation, marked by the horrific October 7th attack by Hamas and Israel’s subsequent devastating aggression in Gaza, has plunged the region into an unprecedented crisis.

Trek from north to South Taking a peep into the history of Pada Yatra

Pada Yatra pilgrimage or the journey by foot from the North and East and the hill country to attend Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devala Esala Festival has a long history that dates back as far as the ancient times History has recorded that during the reign of Buwanekabahu IV, who ruled in Gampola, bands of pilgrims from India had ferried by sea to the North and from there proceeded by foot to Kataragama through thick jungles teeming with wild beasts.

Jaffna Islands expand as mangrove project thrives

My former Personal Security Officer (PSO), Commander Chatura Gamage, RSP and five Bars, injured Officer from elite Sri Lanka Navy Special Boat Squadron, who has MSc in GIS and Remote Sensing from Peradeniya University gave me a call with much delight. “Sir, it’s working ! I can see our Jaffna islands growing in size !. I will get you the google pictures soon.

A multipolar world, a vulnerable Sri Lanka

As the global order undergoes sweeping shifts, with geopolitics, trade tensions, and macroeconomic uncertainty converging, small economies such as Sri Lanka find themselves at a critical crossroads.

The poor and the representatives of the poor

On the 25th of this month Daily Mirror YouTube channel highlighted the clearing of a number of unauthorised structures in the Weligama area by the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CCCRMD) who were accompanied by the police. In the video, officers of the authority claimed that for the first time they had been permitted to carry out their duties without politicians interfering and obstructing their efforts.

Final approach: The Captain’s journey

Passengers on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-122 received a touching surprise on Monday as Captain Shiran Sylva announced his retirement mid-flight. Following 32 years of dedicated service, Captain Sylva’s final landing at BIA was honoured with a ceremonial water salute, a “shower of affection” marking a beloved pilot’s last journey in the skies.

British-Sri Lankan cardiologist chaired European Cardiology Summit Session

British- Sri Lankan Cardiologist, Dr Yanushi Dullewe Wijeyeratne, who is a Clinical Lecturer at City St. George’s, University of London and St George’s Hospital London, was recently honoured with an invitation to serve as a Session Chair at the EHRA Young EP Summit 2025 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

“No reason why SL should not fare well in the international film scene”

Versatile Hollywood actor Jeremy Irons, known globally for his performances in Lolita, The Lion King, Damage, Die Hard with a Vengeance, is currently on his first visit to Sri Lanka, giving life to a new role in a Sri Lankan production. The production, ‘Rizana – A Caged Bird’, another cinematic masterpiece by internationally acclaimed director and producer Chandran Rutnam, sheds light on the story of 17-year-old Rizana Nafeek, a Sri Lankan migran

K.A. Edwin Perera 53rd Anniversary The Hidden force in the reawakening of “Arya Sinhala Natya Sabhawa”

As the 1960s dawned, the Tower Theatre troupe and stage performers had scattered into isolation, with no hope for the future of the industry.

How Exposed is Sri Lanka to the Iran-Israel Conflict

According to various news sources, Israel currently employs around 20,000 Sri Lankan workers. Remittances from Israel accounted for 2% of the total remittances received in 2024. Iran hosts only 35 Sri Lankans, rendering its direct remittance channel negligible

Corporate earnings jump 57.4% in March quarter

Listed companies posted 57.4 percent year-on-year increase in earnings for the March 2025 quarter, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of growth. This is as banking and consumer-led sectors

Poverty alleviation Sri Lanka’s failure, India’s success, fresh challenges

Poverty alleviation presents a critical global challenge, particularly in South Asia. While India has achieved remarkable success in reducing extreme poverty through strategic, digitally-driven initiatives, Sri Lanka faces a contrasting reality. Its 2022 economic crisis plunged a third of its population into poverty or vulnerability, necessitating urgent, data-backed policy reforms.

Sri Lanka enjoys the fragrance of Indian yoga

Many moons ago, this writer was part of a conversation in which the discussion was on how to mint money. The person who was in control of the conversation was a self-made man who was running a chain of hotels. In all his hotels, wellness centres and yoga retreats were a big part of the culture. He went on to mention that wellness, weapons and drugs (as in narcotics) were the three businesses people can engage in and make money fast. Fortunately o

SL Railways huffs and puffs through logistic issues

It is reported that there are over 200 vacancies for engine drivers at Sri Lanka Railways at present.

Sri Lanka’s Silence on Chemmani Mass Grave: A Call for Justice and Unity

Imagine a loved one goes missing: your child, sibling, spouse or parent, you would do anything in your power to bring them back, or at least find out what happened to them.

Agile outcome-based procurement vital for digital economy growth: Dr. Hans

A fundamental shift from traditional, process-heavy public procurement to an agile, outcome-based model is paramount to accelerating Sri Lanka’s digital economy, according to Chief Advisor to the President on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya.

Israel-Iran rapprochement not farfetched

Given the ferocity of the on-going Israel-Iran war, and the hyperbolic declarations of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, any talk of a rapprochement would seem farfetched.