Election Diary Message from Northerners nudges lawmakers

The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has played a crucial role in the country’s politics despite Sinhala hardliners not willing to give members of this community much hope and opportunities.

Youth’s vote is Youth’s voice

Out of 15, 992, 096 eligible and registered voters, 30.8% are youth voters and 1.55% are first time voters. This year’s Presidential Election is coming months after the gruesome Easter Sunday attacks and a year after the constitutional coup, the first ever in Sri Lankan history. Due to these issues, political activism in youth and youth apathy are both prevalent regarding the

Will Sri Lanka elect A president by default?

Whatever the reason given, in 2005 the vast majority of the Tamils from the North and East and even in Colombo did not go to the polling booths to exercise their franchise. The result, as they say, is history. Yet it is imperative for that history to now be reflected upon seriously. The President who got elected partly due to the decision taken by Tamils not to exercise their franchise ruled over the entire country for the next 10 years, with gra

Artistes on the political ramp

The political stage is getting heated by the day as many faces continue to pledge their support for existing parties and new alliances. Recently several artistes, both veteran and amateur too pledged their support to various candidates and even went to express their views on the political stage. Hence, a few of them shared their views with the on why they decided to support a particular candidate.

MCC Deal Truth, false and opinions

Ever since the approval of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) USD 480 million grant for Sri Lanka, the country has been embroiled in a debate over it, with the government portraying it as something beneficial whilst the opposition is raising security concerns. This has left the common Sri Lankan citizen utterly confused. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), a

Implied or actual threat Ali Sabry’s address to Muslim community

As canvassing heightens, party supporters are doing the rounds convincing possible target audiences to cast their votes in favour of their candidates and manifestos. Recently one such canvassing video went viral on social media sparking debate among viewers as to whether its contents were an implied or actual threat.

Presidential Poll 2019 Kegalle, Kurunegala residents want safe environment and secure economy

Kegalle, a district in the Sabaragamuwa Province, comprises a largely agrarian society with rubber, tea and coconut being cultivated as main crops. Apart from that, minor export crops such as coffee, cocoa, pepper, clove and nutmeg also contribute to the district’s economy. Kegalle is also home to the country’s largest graphite mine situated at Bogala. During the 2015

Presidential Poll 2019 ‘sick and tired’ demand balm, not a president

With 1,751,892 registered voters as at 2018, Gampaha is described as one of the ‘swing districts’ and is also the second largest with 18 seats next to Colombo. Why it is described as a swing District is because 14 out of the 15 times there has been a national vote, people of Gampaha have voted the right way. Known to be a stronghold of the Blue Party, the District is also home to the Biyagama Export Zone, thereby attracting a migratory population

Presidential race: Ordinary People Expect Better Economic Prospects and National Security

This writer devoted several hours in the past fortnight to communicate with a cross-section of Sinhala media personnel in the Southern, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and North Central Provinces of Sri Lanka. A few journalist colleagues in Colombohelped to put me in touch with them. Our discussions were focused on the upcoming presidential election and about how chief presidential candidates were likely to fare. I was very much interested i

Flood alarm device invented by schoolboy

Another young student has emerged among the array of students who have showcased their talents in innovations and discoveries recently in the island. While engrossed in contemplating...

Kelum invents fan controlling regulator

Kelum Perera, who graduated from the Department of Physics and Electronics, University of Kelaniya, has invented a remote controlled regulator for ceiling fans. The device can be controlled using a mobile phone....

Tourism at a standstill in the South-It’s not the candidate that matters say residents

Following the Easter Sunday carnage, tourism was one of the main income generating sectors that experienced a thundering blow. Almost all tourists left the country while many bookings were cancelled. Although several tax concessions were given to hotels, particularly those registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, small scale hotels suffered badly.

Can challenging status quo be a criminal offence?

‘Niwahal Sithuvili Sithana Sithath Udarai’ reads the first stanza of Pandit W. D. Amaradeva’s popular track written by Dolton Alwis. It translates to “great is the mind of an independent thinker”. But for centuries, free-thinkers and those with creative ideas and rich imaginations were viewed as a threat to conventional society. Recently, post-modernist writer and poet Shakthika S

Bombshell on Easter bombings PSC final report reveals high-level failures

Six months ago the country was shaken by the dastardly Easter Sunday bombings carried out by Zahran Hashim’s terror outfit National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ). The April 21 blasts killed hundreds of innocent civilians and injured scores more, leaving people shocked and searching for answers. While the government and law enforcement agencies failed to explain why the attacks were not prevented, the people were demanding the truth. They wanted to know wh

Remarkable act of bravery of a Sri Lankan in Korea

The Sri Lankan armed forces have been under a cloud of allegations on extra-judicial killings, abductions and war crimes. Despite such allegations, there are instances that exemplify that Sri Lanka’s highly trained armed forces are empathic and humane. Altruism is one of the most highly prized qualities in society. The special qualities of people who act selflessly to try to find out what sets them apart, that they just have more empathy for oth

‘Gotaphobia’ - Who’s afraid of Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa?

“Onna Babo Billo Enawaa” was a familiar threat often used by grown-ups to frighten children into obedience in those days. Fear would be instilled into children that the kidnapper with the sack (Goni Billa) would grab them if the kids did not do as they were told. Nowadays, a few people resort to such threats in dealing with children.

Palaly comes to life again

October 17 is the scheduled date for Sri Lanka to re-open the Palaly Airport as its third international aerodrome. There will be many who would applaud and praise the refurbishment and upgrading of the new airport; and there will be others who would criticise and curse the very thought of another international airport.

Forsaken land Modara burdened by bad planning

Situated in Colombo’s northern border, Modara is today a neglected land. Infrastructural decay in this once-prestigious harbour city resembles more underdeveloped areas in Sri Lanka. Important trunk roads experience unending construction as major underground oil, sewerage and waste-water pipelines connect to the sea via this area. Further, constant electricity,

CMC’s costly affairs Third parties profiting from Colombo’s garbage crisis

New issues have emerged in Colombo’s garbage crisis. With an explosion taking place at the Aruwakkalu sanitary landfill site, signs of a second ‘Meethotamulla episode’ were seen last week. While the process of dumping garbage was disrupted on several occasions, the proposed landfill sites are exceeding their capacities. On the other hand, several allegations were levelled against the Colom

How Karu and Malik Helped Ranil and Sajith Make Peace

The political spectacle“Ekwa Idiriyata” (Forward Together) that unfolded on October 10 at Galle Face Green has elevated the morale of the green party to ecstatic heights. A mammoth crowd -- estimated by some of being in the range of six digits – gathered on the shores of the Indian ocean to see, hear and cheer the United National Party (UNP) leaders. A festive mood was much in the air as the DNF’s presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa launched

When religious euphoria blurs legal judgement

There was once a time in Sri Lanka when even despite the dictatorial rule of the Rajapakasas there was a glimmer of hope for the people because a law operated in the country. Continuing from that dark era, when democracy was virtually nonexistent, people saw the law receiving its deserving status as one of the three pillars on which democracy exists.

Habarana Suspicions raised over elephant deaths

Sri Lanka’s dwindling elephant population is facing severe threats. This was evident when seven more female elephants in Habarana instantly breathed their last during September. Although the incident once again nudged the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) officials to get their acts in order while the subject Minister pointed out that it was a serious offense, loopholes in laws printed in statute books need to be fixed first. Delays in pa

A tale of two VCs

The higher education sector is in upheaval over the arbitrary sacking of former Vice-Chancellors of the Jaffna and Visual and Performing Arts universities, Prof. Ratnam Vigneswaran and Prof. Sarath Chandrajeewa.

Gota faces legal hurdle

A three-judge-bench comprising Court of Appeal (CA) Justices Yasantha Kodagoda (CA/President), Arjuna Obeysekara and Mahinda Samayawardena will consider the writ application challenging Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship status today. Romesh de Silva PC, appearing for the former Defence Secretary and SLPP presidential candidate, is expected to object the

Bus drivers ‘slipping’ on ice?

Private bus drivers often get cursed by people for their haphazard ways of doing things such as excessive speeding, being negligent of road signs and violating traffic laws. Gemunu Wijeratne, much associated with the private buses, making a serious remark, said 50% of bus drivers and conductors islandwide were addicted to drugs. This issue is yet again another blow to the bus industry.

Today is International Day of Older Persons Moving from gold to silver age Let’s keep the senior citizens happy and active

Our grandparents have been an integral component in the home setup. But as priorities changed, the majority of today’s younger generation doesn’t have the luxury of growing up with them, owing to various reasons. While some of these elders require assisted care, others spend their time at elderly homes. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics the global population aged 60 years or above was 962 million back in 2017 and this number

Aftermath Of Bandaranaike’s Assassination: INVESTIGATION TO INDICTMENT

Sixty years ago on September 25, 1959, Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Bandaranaike (SWRDB) the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka then known as Ceylon was shot and seriously wounded by a Buddhist monk named Ven.Talduwe Somarama Thera. Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike succumbed to his injuries the following day. The fourth Prime Minister of Independent Ceylon/Sri Lanka passed away on September 26, 1959 exactly twenty-two hours after he had been shot.

Are the islanders utilizing their right to vote May be not and here’s why....

With the introduction of the Donoughmore Constitution back in 1927, all Sri Lankans were granted the right to vote amid a fully functional democratic structure. Prior to its introduction, the right to vote was limited to wealthy and educated males above 21 years of age. Over two million Sri Lankans live abroad while most of them directly contribute to the economy. But their

The Prime Minister Is Dead

“The Prime Minister is Dead” was the striking headline in extra-large, bold letters of a special edition published by the now defunct “Times of Ceylon” on the morning of Saturday, September 26, 1959.

How stock brokers misled investors in 2011

There were allegations that the Sri Lankan share market had reached its peak in 2011 due to various market manipulations. Possibly, a series of such illegal manipulations could unfold in the coming months, as four stock brokers including Lanka Kannangara had been named as suspects in a court case filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at Colombo Fort Magistrate