E PLURIBUS UNUM - (Out of many, one)

Liberal democracy is rooted in the rights of individuals, and not the rights of groups or fixed communities. Liberal democracy cannot exist without a national identity that defines what citizens hold in common with one another.

Commercial projects leave Sinharaja ‘gasping’

The ‘lungs of Sri Lanka’ are gasping for air. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1988 and is arguably the most important biodiversity site in the country.

toxic Colombo air that we breath

It’s a crystal clear fact now. Colombo’s air quality index improved by leaps and bounds during the COVID lockdown phase. But this jubilance is short-lived as it’s predicted that the pollutants will again encroach the city when traffic returns to normal. Both public and private institutions including schools invite more than 1.9 million people and over 500,000 vehicles to this city daily. Colombo w

Bracing the estate workers to meet stings of fury

All isn’t well for the estate worker in the Hill Country – the land of tea. Reaching out to every tea bush on the mountainous terrain amidst nasty leech bites and threats from leopard and wasp attacks is a fraction of the effort that goes into making the perfect cuppa. So far, four people in the Hill Country have succumbed to wasp attacks while 800-900 of them have been hospitalised; just for this year. These include people in areas such as Abor

Did Sumanthiran Win In Jaffna By “Stealing” Sashikala’s Votes?

The one-word answer to the question “Did M. A. Sumanthiran of the Tamil National Alliance win in the Jaffna Electoral district by “stealing” the preference votes cast for another TNA candidate Ms. Sashikala Raviraj?

With great power comes great responsibility

Sri Lanka has elected a new government from a newly-formed party to rule for the next five years. The new and the not-so-new, young and old and a variety of elected lawmakers will soon fill the 225 seats in Parliament.

TNA suffers electoral setback in North and East polls

The long awaited 2020 Parliamentary Elections has concluded with a 71% voter turn out despite the difficulties imposed by the COVID -19 Pandemic threat. Appropriate health procedures were followed by the authorities with enthusiastic cooperation of the people.

A fully-fledged budget the priority of new Govt.

Sri Lankans went to polls yesterday (August 5) in adherence to the health precautions outlined by the respective authorities to make sure that COVID -19 will not spread as a result of the polling process. Every election has its own significance, and so is the case of this election. Polling was conducted primarily to elect members to the Legislature that has remained defunct since its dissolution on March 2, 2020 by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Indian connection in Sri Lankan drug trade

The death of a notorious Sri Lankan born gangster in India opens a window for us to peep into the past and observe how our closest neighbour offers us both the good and the bad.

Economists opine Sri Lanka should focus on international market

The recent United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) report titled, “Tackling the COVID-19 economic crisis in Sri Lanka...

Sri Lanka’s children fast becoming victims of adult industry

Sri Lanka has become an unsafe place for children. Even with a National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Women’s and Children’s Affairs Ministry and a Child Protection Unit at the Attorney General’s Department the number of child abuse cases reported for 2020 has exceeded 5000.

Why EC needs to come clean on its working arrangement with FB

In the run up to last year’s Presidential Elections, Facebook visibly increased its interactions in Sri Lanka. Officials from the social media platform were in the island meeting with government officials as well as those working outside of government.

General Denzil Kobbekaduwa: An outstanding leader with incomparable integrity and moral courage

“I have had the privilege of working closely with the late General Kobbekaduwa when he was the Security Forces Commander in Wanni and subsequently at the Joint Operations Command in Colombo.

A case against 2/3 majority

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the fellow travellers of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) are asking for a two-thirds majority in the general election. For what? They want to abolish the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, one

Conservationists take lead to raise awareness on protecting Sri Lankan leopard

Sri Lanka lost seven leopards within seven months of 2020. The main cause was snaring – an offence under Section 30 of the Flora and Fauna Protection Ordinance.

TNA Must Seek India’s Help To Protect 13th Amendment

The Rajapaksa regime is all out to get a two-thirds majority in parliament through the forthcoming elections on August 5. The avowed objective of such a steam-roller majority is to promulgate a new Constitution or enact Constitutional amendments unilaterally.

Another long walk to the polls

Cooler climes have returned to the hill country. Mist-draped mountains reflecting on clear waters, endless greeneries and picturesque tea estates present a magical landscape.

FORGOTTEN HEROES BEHIND THE TRUE STORY OF FREE EDUCATION AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN SRI LANKA

Much has been said and written about the great C.W.W. Kannangara for his salutary role in the introduction and implementa

Presidential pardons in Sri Lanka: An unchecked executive power?

On March 26, 2020, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa granted a presidential pardon to former Lance Corporal Sunil Rathnayake, a prisoner on death row for the murder of eight persons in Mirusuvil in 2000.

What’s wrong with bribery? How the law should deal with it?

A subsistence-level carpenter contemplating suicide in rural Sri Lanka and a multi million-dollar power plant bribery scandal cannot possibly be connected. Or could they?

Democracy or a Police State? Bathiudeen and Karunanayake Harassed

We have the police to uphold law and order, and to support democratic institutions. Unfortunately, there are dangerous signs that they, the police

CWC, Jeevan Thondaman and Nuwara- Eliya Tamils

The hills of Nuwara Eliya are vibrantly alive with the hectic sounds of parliamentary electioneering! Nuwara Eliya district with its picturesque landscape and salubrious climate elects eight members in the 225 member parliament of Sri Lanka. 577,717 registered voters in the district are eligible to cast their ballots at the forthcoming elections scheduled for August 5.

Northern politics revolve around only one issue

There is no difference in essence between the politics and particularly the election campaigns of majority Sinhalese politicians and minority Tamil and Muslim politicians. No political party, be it majority or minority....

The UNP is a party that can stand on its own - Ruwan Wijewardene

Former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene says that the incumbent government will not survive for long, especially when looking at what they have done to control the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Mr. Wijewardene.....

Elections and voter behaviour Upcoming election a turning point, says analyst

With as many as 7452 candidates competing for 225 seats at the upcoming Parliamentary Elections, both candidates and voters have high hopes.

Preschool teachers earning a pittance

Dr. Maria Montessori’s method of education concentrated mainly on developing a child’s natural curiosity by means of individual freedom and development according to the needs of the child. Hence she prepared many activities to imp

Sexual bribery frequent in some communities - Asoka Obeyesekere

Corruption in the State sector in Sri Lanka is a norm and does not come as a surprise. While some State officials accept bribes to get the work done, there are those in the public willing to offer a bribe just to get things expedited.

Comrade Shan and the Tamil Militant Armed Struggle

The China of today is vastly different to the China that I knew of in my younger days.

Stripping the environment naked in the guise of development

Sri Lanka’s wildlife and environment are experiencing a rough patch and environmentalists have been up in arms ever since.

What is ailing the UNP? Lack of Sinhala Buddhist-ness or something else?

The United National Party is in the throes of an existential crisis. The Grand Old Party in its present self is no stranger to crisis. But the cu