Ashara Mubaraka in all its glory

Known as the blessed ten, Ashara Mubaraka refers to a period of ten days at the beginning of the Islamic year. Hence, the first ten days of the month of Muharram (first month according to the Islamic calendar) is dedicated to the remembrance of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his Ahle Bayt (family and kin), specifically his grandson Imam Husain . The tenth day of Muharram, known as Ashura marks the day on which Imam Husain was martyred along with

Societal role in ending suicide

We all have good and bad days. But for some, a repetitive process of bad encounters, challenging life decisions and stressful events would be a burden on life. A person who has given up on life expresses various behaviours and emotions, mostly which are unnoticed by those around them. In most instances, people feeling suicidal have no one to talk to. Even if they do, others may not take them seriously. A common misunderstanding is that they are b

At the Presidential Poll Can EPDP chief Douglas get Tamil votes for Gota ?

Ever since the name of Gotabaya Rajapaksa began to be bandied about as a potential candidate at the Sri Lankan presidential elections, doubts have been raised as to whether the former defence ministry secretary could win at the hustings.

TRAPPED IN A DEBT CYCLE

The entrapment of rural communities, especially rural women, in a vicious debt cycle generated by thousands of unregulated microfinance organizations has reached epidemic proportions, affecting almost three million people island-wide.

Courage in the face of police brutality

Condemning the actions of the police, human rights activists, called for justice to be meted out to Anne Ranaweera. Having been subject to both physical and verbal assault at the hands of the police, in her home and at the police station, Ranaweera intends to legally pursue this breach of her fundamental rights.

DUBIOUS POWER PROJECT POLLUTES KUMBUKKAN OYA

As we members of Daily Mirror news team reached Moneragala early morning for a coverage, we noticed Hela bojun Hala (A trade store which sells traditional Sri Lankan food ) closed. We noticed a signboard which said that the place would remain closed till the water problem in the area is resolved. When we reached the hotel where we were going to stay at we asked the staff membe

Coastal Degradation threatens Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a coastline running approximately 1600 km where about one-third of the population lives. Of late, natural and man-made phenomena have heightened coastal erosion, causing danger and environmental degradation along many coastlines. Erosion takes place when wind, waves and long-shore currents move sand from the shore and deposit it elsewhere.

Captive elephants and the way forward As Tikiri continues to live..

Her worn-down, skeletal frame flooded social media posts in a matter of seconds. Online petitions were signed, others called for justice, some called to boycott peraheras while the international wildlife community criticised us once again. All this was for Tikiri – a 70-year-old female elephant who was seen parading a pageant organised by the Sri Maha Vishnu Devalaya, one of the

‘Flygskam’ Is it possible to be an eco-friendly flyer?

Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old climate activist and Olympic athlete Björn Ferry have stopped flying in an attempt to save the environment. This idea around reducing (or not flying at all) has become so well-known in their home country of Sweden that there is now even a word for it -- ’Flygskam’ (pronounced fleeg-skahm) or ‘flying shame.’

Sanitary project Aruwakkalu landfill another white elephant?

Sri Lanka is facing a garbage crisis among other crises. It’s clear that we haven’t learned any lesson from the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse which also claimed 32 lives. While the Government proposed the Aruwakkalu sanitary landfill project as a long-term viable option, it seems to be a threat to Puttalam,

Carbon and Energy Footprint of a Garment Manufactured in Sri Lanka

The apparel industry in Sri Lanka is –historically- a recent addition to the economy of the country, first showing significant growth in the 1980s and then grew much more significantly under the Multi Fibre Agreement that brought about quota restrictions to stimulate and rationalise the apparel industry throughout the world.

MMDA Reforms and Child Marriages in Sri Lanka

The calls to reform the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) in Sri Lanka have been longstanding. Drawbacks pointed out by the Muslim female activists in the much old community law are the minimum age of marriage....

University ragging intensifies ’Breaking a Slave’ to Obey the System?

“I have a squint by birth, but my seniors don’t understand that. They asked me to remove my glasses and look straight. Even though I did, they thought I was looking elsewhere. Then they referred to me as a ‘pottaya’ and questioned as to why I came to university if I can’t see properly. They said that I’m lying and hit me in my ear. After getting beaten up, I attended lectures.

Will Sajith remain or split from UNP?

There is political excitement in the air in anticipation of the presidential election before year end. Although no dates have been specified, there is much speculation about prospective candidates and their prospects. Among those being spoken of as potential presidential election contenders is Hambantota District Parliamentarian and Cabinet Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa who is also the United National Party (UNP) deputy le

The ‘not-so-white’ side of whitening creams cosmetics containing mercury still available in the market

Imagine a girl turning permanently pale just before her wedding? This is one of many reported cases that was a result of opting for instant whitening creams. Gone are the days when girls opted for herbal products to achieve a fair complexion. Also gone are the days when ‘sudu wunama lassanai’ (you are beautiful when fair) was a remark that girls longed to hear and lived by.

Presidents of Sri Lanka Will Ranasinghe and Sajith be first father-son duo?

The eighth Sri Lankan presidential election is expected to be held on or before December 7 this year. Although dates have not been announced yet, many names are being bandied about as potential candidates. Among them is Hambantota District Parliamentarian and Cabinet Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa who is also the United National Party (UNP) deputy leader.

Mass sterilization narrative taking ironic turns

Contradictory developments, difficulties in proving charges, glaring conflicts of interest and many factual disputes are emerging regarding the narrative surrounding Senior House Officer (SHO) Dr. Seigu Shihabdeen....

Global waste trade Is Sri Lanka the newest waste dumping ground

When it comes to handling waste, Sri Lanka stands at a primitive level. Or so we think. Waste is not just waste for some. It is big money. This is why waste has converted into a global trade, thereby allowing developed countries to export their waste to developing countries for further treatment, disposal or recycling. Hence, the burden of the toxicity of wastes from Western

The story of an unsung hero Will he be rewarded or duped ?

From housewife to Prime Minister: Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s political journey

Germany’s Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has been elected President of the European Union (EU) commission following a secret ballot among Members of the European Parliament. She is the first woman to be elected President of the EU commission and will replace incumbent President Jean-Claude Juncker on November 1 this year. With Ursula von der Leyen’s victory, another traditional male bastion has fallen.

Sorrowful recollections from Katuwapitiya

An unusual silence hovers around Katuwapitiya on an otherwise busy Friday morning. One cannot expect more from a venue that recently witnessed a horrific terror attack. As we enter the Katuwapitiya Church premises....

Countering violent extremism in Sri Lanka: A primer

Nearly three months since the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka, the forward strategies and policies of preventing future terror attacks are lost in fierce political debates, elections buildup and conspiracy theories which are further.....

How LTTE murdered senior Tamil leader Amirthalingam 30 years ago…

The cruelly tragic killing of five Tamil students by members of the security forces thirteen years ago in the Trincomalee town was revisited in these columns last week. This week’s column seeks to revive memories about a murder most foul perpetrated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Colombo exactly thirty years ago. It was on the fateful day of July 13, 1989 that foremost Sri Lankan Tamil political leader and former opposition lea

Coping with yet Another Dengue Outbreak !

After a particularly hot and humid May this year, many Sri Lankans would have eagerly anticipated the south-western monsoon to ease their discomfort. Each year, what Sri Lankans don’t expect however, seems to be the ensuing outbreak of the deadly dengue virus. 2019 doesn’t

SriLankan Airlines hits financial turbulence

After terminating its contract with Emirates Airlines in 2008, national carrier SriLankan Airlines (SLA) encountered various issues over liabilities. By 2010, the airline lacked funds to proceed with re-fleeting plans and was facing mounting challenges and a precarious future. Against this backdrop, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into alleged irregularities at SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka concluded session

Gruesome killing of five Tamil students in Trinco 13 years ago

Five Tamil students were killed near the beach in the Trincomalee town thirteen years ago on January 2, 2006. Two other students suffered injuries but survived. The names and dates of birth of the five victims were: Manoharan Rajiharan – 22.09.1985; Yogarajah Hemachandra – 04.03.1985; Logitharajah Rohan – 07.04.1985; Thangathurai Sivanantha – 06.04.1985 and Shanmugarajah Gajendran – 16.09.1985. The two injured youths were Yogarajah Poongulalon a

Union-Govt. clash derails train services

Of late, Sri Lanka’s widely-used train services have been hampered by a series of strikes as railway unions and the government tussle over promised economic demands. Inevitably, it is commuters....

Polythene not healthy for Pachyderms

Even though much has been spoken about garbage segregation and the responsible disposal of garbage, many Sri Lankans continue to dump garbage in a haphazard way. This is evident for those who travel along the Dambulla-Hettipola road. Not only could one see garbage piling up, but many elephants too have become dependent on these sites. Wildlife enthusiasts

Failure of NTJ’s second spate of orchestrated attacks

Much has been spoken of the Easter Sunday terror attacks and the network of National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ) – the hitherto little known terrorist outfit responsible for the bombings in three churches and several deluxe hotels on April 21. Two days subsequent to the dastardly suicide bombings, Indian security agencies alerted Sri Lanka that another attack could be carried out

The lottery business A case of probability over luck?

If you have ever purchased a lottery and have been disappointed, you’re definitely not alone. Daily, many people place a Rs. 20 bet on their luck, hoping that they would win the jackpot. It’s an everyday occurrence to see ticket sellers reaching out to you while you commute, shouting out attractive slogans such as ‘ada adina wasanawa’ (luck to be drawn today), ‘ada adina koti deke jayamalla’ (a twenty million super prize to be drawn today) etc, t