Sri Lanka’s new e-passport to secure gateway to the world

This article is based on an interview done with Immigration and Emigration Department Controller General Harsha Ilukpitiya on the new e-passport system and new visa services that would be introduced to place Sri Lanka on the world map.

Marine expert calls for sustainable shift in SL’s tourism focus

Sri Lanka’s tourism industry requires a major shift towards long-term thinking and a collective approach to protect and promote the country’s natural resources, a prominent marine scientist said.

Animal lovers eager on Parliament to pass Animal Welfare Bill

Animal lovers across the country are eagerly anticipating the passage of the Animal Welfare Bill in Parliament, Veterinarians for Humane Management of Animal Population Association said.

Would saner counsel prevail? Proposed illegal bus route via Wilpattu National Park

For any nature lover, a path off the beaten track is an adventure on its own. An occasional call of a Malabar hornbill, a leopard’s footprint and elephant excreta add more depth to the lush terrain along this scenic route via the Wilpattu National Park. Hence, environmental groups have been fighting to protect this route, known as the Puttalam-Marichchikadai route or B379 from being vulnerable to further destruction and chaos. But the Daily Mirro

Prabhakaran’s nephew demands respect for slain uncle and his family

Fifteen years after the death of the entire family of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the elder brother of Prabakaran and the family relations of the deceased rebel leader have urged the Tamil people in the world not to be deceived by fraudsters belonging to sections of the Tamil diaspora who are said to be minting money by selling the ‘brand name’ Velupillai Prabhakaran and the names of his fam

Experts call for structural reforms to boost Sri Lanka’s trade success

Amid the intensified government efforts to capitalise on trade liberalisation through new preferential agreements, international trade experts stress the need for structural changes in Sri Lanka’s production sector before pursuing new pacts.

Running, panting and showing perseverance: ‘Flower Boys’ promote Sri Lankan hospitality in the hills

The windy roads that meander through Sri Lanka’s hill country are home to the ‘flower boys’ who gained popularity....

Action speaks louder than words: Will the Economic “Good News” Help Ranil in 2024 Poll?

Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister on 12 May, 2022 by the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka was...

How healthy wetland ecosystems could reduce risk of dengue

When Nirmala Priyanthi’s daughter (L. D Randima Gimhani, 13) succumbed to dengue in 2015, she said that life....

Insensitive leaders be aware that history can repeat!

Sri Lankans are very concerned about the much looked forward to Presidential Elections and the proposed tax reforms by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Both are factors which will shape our futures. Though we cannot be proud of the post D.S. Senanayake era, we did have a past where Sri Lanka, or Ceylon then, was very much on the world map for all the good reasons. Other than the nation’s port facilities, ‘Ceylon’ was known for its Kings and prospe

Suwaseriya Foundation recalls ambulance: Police instructed to apprehend all culprits

Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of medical officers attached to the Suwaseriya ambulance service following a recent incident of assault that had transpired in Thabbowa. On June 14, officers attached to the Suwaseriya ambulance service, stationed at the Karuwalagaswewa police station had received a call regarding an incident. This call was received at around 12.56am. By 1.00am the ambulance had reached the location. However there h

Easter Attack could have easily been avoided if SIS and DMI hadn’t misled CID - Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne

Five years after the Easter attack, former Senior DIG, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Ravi Seneviratne in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, said that he and his most senior officers could have avoided the attack if the State Intelligence Services and Directorate of Military Intelligence provided accurate information to the CID without misleading them. Seneviratne further said that his team could have concluded the investigat

Spotlight on Kalpitiya Illegal bottom trawling ban a victory for small-scale fishermen

For Kingsley Croos, a fisherman from Palgahathurai, one of 14 islands that shapes the Kalpitiya peninsula, illegal bottom trawling has been a curse that wreaked havoc in his life. As populations of shrimp, sea crab and other fish species found along the sensitive Puttalam estuary declined, Croos and fellow fishermen knew that their livelihoods would be threatened forever. It was after January 2021, that these fishermen breathed a sigh of relief w

Sri Lanka is an unsinkable aircraft carrier--The country manufactures poverty as politics is more profitable than its industries- Maj. Gen. Dr. Boniface Perera

Maj Gen. Dr. Boniface Perera a battle hardened Infantry officer served the Sri Lanka Army for more than 36 years dedicating 20 years in the battlefield. He was the former Security Forces Commander of the Wanni Region and Eastern province in addition to being the Competent Authority to resettle 300000 displaced people in the North.

Matara hospital rocks parents’ world misplacing stillborn

Kavindya Madushani and her husband Sajith Chathura from Kotawila, Weligama were anticipating the birth of their firstborn with much hopes and dreams. But their world came to a standstill after May 22, when the hospital staff at the New District General Hospital, Matara, popularly known as ‘Labeema’ failed to show them the body of their stillborn child. Contradictions and communication gaps in mentioning what happened to the infant’s body complica

Did BASL misappropriate monies sent by JICA for anti-corruption programme?

What can the citizens of this country expect from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), which plays a crucial role in administering justice and upholding the rule of law when its principal office bearers....

Proposed wage hike Estate workers appreciated or trapped in election promise?

Nallusamy Seethaletchami, an estate worker from Bogawantalawa worries about being paid a minimum salary for her work. Female workers like Seethaletchami comprise a greater percentage of the economically active population within the labour force. Sometimes they are the sole breadwinners in their families and have to brave many social and economic challenges to provide a stable environment for their children and sometimes their spouses, who also de

Partially blind acid attack victim believes he’ll see again

When Sanjaya Sandaruwan awoke on the morning of October 18, 2010, the world lay before him like an open road, full of promise and possibility. At 27, he was in his youth, employed as a coach at a sports club nestled within a picturesque tourist hotel, and deeply in love. However, the course of his life took a tragic turn in a matter of seconds when he fell victim to a brutal acid attack by those who opposed a romantic relationship in which he was

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

In 2020, six people from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India were arrested by the Ramanathapuram Police for attempting to smuggle....

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

For a long time, accusations have been made against Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, alleging that he forcibly acquired a plot of state-owned land in the Thalawathugoda area and also conducted reclamation and development activities there. The Minister’s daughter resides in a house on a land adjacent to Perera Mawatha in Thalawathugoda where the Minister’s house is located. There is no access to that house directly from P

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

The state-run loss-making State Mortgage & Investment Bank (SMIB) has revealed that there are political interferences....

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

US authorities are currently reviewing the manifest of every cargo aboard MV Dali, the Singapore-flagged containership that wreaked...

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

On March 26, a couple arriving from Thailand was arrested with 88 live animals brought into the Bandaranaike International ....

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

According to villagers from Naula-Moragolla out of 105 families 80 can afford to have just one square meal a day. This unfortunate circumstance, according to what villagers say, stems from the loss of their paddy fields due to the Moragahakanda Development Project. This was the situation in this village when media personnel visited this village on March 19. The Moragolla village, situated within the Naula Divisional Secretariat, stands as on

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Is the situation in Sri Lanka so grim that locals harbour hope that they could lead a better life in a country that is affected by war? Two suspects operating a foreign employment agency in Kadawatha were arrested this month on charges of trafficking a group of 55 Sri Lankans to conflict zones in Ukraine. The group, comprising former soldiers as well as civilians, had been lured by the promise of jobs in Georgia, Poland and Ukraine. Out of the 5

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

A recent post on social media revealed that three purple-faced langurs near the Thalangama Lake were shot at; allegedly...

Spotlight on Uda Walawe National Park Jumbos starve due to scarcity of fodder, grazing cattle

It was a little past noon when we reached the Uda Walawe National Park. We were excited to see elephants in their natural habitats, but serious concern was bothering everyone of us at the same time. In the backdrop of battling with an aggravating human-elephant conflict, environmentalists have speculated whether elephants at the Uda Walawe National Park are starving due to a massive shortage of food. As we entered the Park, we noticed speculation

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other essential goods, books were spared for all these....

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s context. For centuries, women have been at the forefront in managing energy in households. Perhaps....

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of Ramadan. For Muslims, Ramadan is not merely a ritual fast from sunrise to sunset, but a time for spiritual revival, sharing and thanksgiving. It is a time where families, friends and neighbours stand side-by-side during night-long prayers or huddle together over Iftar (fast-breaking meal) get-togethers. However, has the high cost of living in Sri Lanka deflated the Ramada