Pilots’ plight at SriLankan Airlines

In recent times, the skies above SriLankan Airlines, the national carrier of Sri Lanka, have become clouded with concerns expressed by pilots and their union. As the aviation industry continues to deal....

Purchasing of medicine: How Health Ministry initiated ploys to enjoy lofty commissions

The country’s health sector has recently witnessed allegations of massive corruption involved in the purchase of medicinal drugs and medical....

“Our education system should cater to the child of the 21st Century” - R. M. M. Ratnayake, Royal College Principal

Having passed the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service Exam in 1988, Mr. R. M. M. Ratnayake had initially assumed duties as principal of a national school in the Kandy education zone.

Gary Anandasangaree Canada’s First Sri Lankan Tamil Cabinet Minister

History was made on July 26, 2023, when Sri Lanka-born Gary Anandasangaree was appointed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations to his Cabinet

Mishaps on Sri Lankan roads : Inadequate road safety measures contribute to increasing accidents

Sri Lanka has lately witnessed a vehicle accident spree that has resulted not only in the loss of precious lives, but also caused significant trauma to the victims left behind. The latest in its wake is a bus- carrying a group of ten employees of the Uma Oya project- that skidded off the road and fell into a 10-metre precipice at Idda Ara in Wellawaya on 18 July, claiming the life of the driver and injuring six passengers. Last week, similar acci

Let Leopards Live

With the recent sighting of a melanistic (black) leopard cub in Yala National Park, interest in the island’s apex predator– which happily never flags! – has again surged. In March, the inaugural Global Leopard Conference (GLC) (leopardconference.org/), a virtual extravaganza of leopard research and conservation reporting from around the world was held, hosted out of South Africa.

Unearthing grave realities of Sri Lanka’s mass graves

On a dark day in 1983 *Rajeshwari from Jaffna saw her husband for the last time in her life. But even after that day she has been wearing a pottu with hopes that he would return one day. Forty years later, this pottu...

Spotlight on Peradeniya Hospital : Hospital boasts of great service and best vaccine, but Sandeepani still died

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of death of 21-year old Chamodi Sandeepani who died under mysterious circumstances on July 11following the administration of two doses of vaccines while being admitted to the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital. Sandeepani was admitted to the Peradeniya Hospital after she complained of a stomach ache. Sandeepani, a resident of Poththapitiya, Alagalla was initially admitted to the Ketapitiya Teaching Hos

‘Dingiri Dingaale’ The Tamil film song liked by many Sinhalese

This article focuses on the evergreen ‘Dingiri Dingaale’ song from the Tamil film ‘Anbu Engey?’ (Where is love?) that was first screened 65 years ago. Although a Tamil film song, the number was hugely popular among Sinhalese too. I have written about this song in my blog earlier.

No quality drugs, lack of medical experts SL health sector on life support!

Patients have suffered severe complications, including vision loss, due to contaminated eye drops and substandard anaesthetic drugs. The incidents highlight the prevalence of low-quality drugs, a struggling....

Dr. Aurangasri Hinriksson : Brave Lankan lady knighted for her battle against baby farm racket

In early 1980s, Dr. Aurangasri Hinriksson decided to settle down in Isafirdi, Iceland with her husband and little son. Her interests to serve the community were such that she not only taught English and Mathematics to her community, but even went to the extent of reuniting adopted children from Sri Lanka with their families. Back in the ‘80s, Sri Lanka was infamous for its baby farms and baby smuggling rackets. According to Dr. Hinriksson, during

A long journey in tea dotted with nothing but stains

Perhaps you readers may be getting ready to enjoy this piece with a hot cuppa of Ceylon tea in your hand. But what you are about to read is as bitter as a strong black tea without sugar.

The story of Priyangika Samanthie: From Norway’s comforts to Amma’s little island

Priyangika Samanthie was another ‘brown child from abroad’ when she landed in Norway, seven weeks after she was born. Even though many Sri Lankans thought that she grew up white for a better opportunity....

Hill country leopard ordeals and a survivor’s tale

Dusk had already set in when we reached Bogawantalawa last Friday (June 2). What’s unique about the Central Highlands is that by about 5pm the climate turns misty and dark. We were on our way to meet...

Religion: Not for public debate

Unlike in the case of social media activist Sepal Amarasinghe, the issues with regard to Pastor Jerome Fernando and standup comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya seem to be quite tricky for the authorities to handle, despite all three have been accused of insulting the Buddha or Buddhism.

Driving into Colombo’s money spinning car parks!

*Shiva has been collecting parking tickets at the Galle Face Green for the past five years. His job is to earn Rs. 2000 during week days and Rs. 7000 during weekends to be remited to his company. But the uncertainty....

The runaway prophet?

‘Prophet’ Jerome Fernando, the man in the middle of controversy over his statement on other religions including Buddhism, is reported....

Veil of uncertainty covering naked truth behind death of schoolgirl

The death of the 16-year-old girl in Kalutara has been mired in controversy. With various allegations, suspicions and assumptions, the truth is yet to be revealed. What has been made public is that the deceased....

Unwanted attention

On April 23, a Facebook post was shared by Shiromal Cooray which drew public attention to an incident of sexual harassment.

Lurking predators make some temples unsafe for novice monks

Sri Lanka boasts of a 2500 year old Buddhist culture. This culture also includes the ordaining of novice monks which has been a practice followed for centuries. But some children as young as six or seven years are now being ordain

Reforming abortion law in Sri Lanka

Abortion is illegal in Sri Lanka unless the life of the mother is at risk. Regardless of the law, Sri Lankan women still have access to illegal abortion services. Rights groups have been demanding authorities to decriminalize abortion in ord

Discrepancies and doubts associated with WFP initiative

Recently, the “Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Sri Lanka” was approved by the Executive Board of the World Food Program (WFP) for the period....

Fake drama with a Fake account holder to distract disaster damage?

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s controversial statement in the Parliament on April 25 that US dollars 250 million has been deposited to an account in connection with the X-Press Pearl disaster....

Ranasinghe Premadasa’s rocky road to Presidency

Former President Ranasinghe Premadasa was killed 30 years ago on 1 May 1993 at 12. 45 p.m. along with 17 others in a bomb explosion that also injured 38 more persons at the Grandpass Road – Armour Street Junction in Colombo.

Ignatious Joseph: Journey from the Hill Country to top of world’s fashion industry

He was born in Sri Lanka, studied in Switzerland, worked in the hotel industry and stitches some of the most beautiful hand-crafted shirts in Italy and settled in Germany, Ignatious Joseph has come back....

All roads lead to politicians’ houses

The national coffers are reported to have incurred huge losses when implementing Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s rehabilitation/improvements of the 100,000 km road programme,

X-Press Pearl compensation: Experts smell a rat

The MV X-press Pearl disaster is considered one of the biggest disasters in maritime history. The expert committee that investigated the extent....

How the Wanda Pethi canard fomented 2018 anti - Muslim violence

Five years have passed since anti-Muslim violence erupted in the Amparai/Ampara Town in February 2018. Soon afterwards, in the first week of March, there was anti-Muslim violence in Digana.

UN probe on Lankan women auctioned as sex workers in Oman

Shanthi Pushparaja (Real name withheld), mother of three children who was taken to Oman promising a job as a house maid is one of those nearly 90 Sri Lankan women who went to the Middles East and ended up in Oman with no way to come back home. Shanthi’s husband who was living in the North and looking after the three children, died suddenly leaving no one to look after the three kids.

Sajith, SJB face gathering political storm

The leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and his party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) are very much in the news lately.