Beyond Red Tape: How Digitalization Can Save Sri Lanka’s Economy

Outdated, manual systems have become breeding grounds for corruption, where bribery and inefficiency rule, bleeding exporters dry and stifling economic growth.

Weaponising Non-Violence: Tiger Leader Thileepan’s Fast Unto Death

September 26th is of particular significance to a substantial number of Sri Lankan Tamils. For it was on this day in 1987 that a senior member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Thileepan died in Nallur after undertaking a fast unto death.

Mismanaging of workers’ trust Lanka Transformers Ltd in the spotlight for transferring funds, shares

Lanka Transformer Limited Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Ceylon Electricity Board has come under criticism for allegedly committing one of the largest financial frauds in the country by transferring its shares and dividends illegally amongst its top management.

Is ‘Mental Health’ political

Mental health has an invisible role in economic growth and development. Sound mental health allows an individual to possess cognitive and emotional flexibility and resilience, the qualities that armour one with skills to face challenges in life.

How will 1.65 million Muslims vote on Saturday?

Statistically Muslims constitute only 9.3% of the national population. They are a close second to the Sri Lankan Tamil strength of 11.1% according to the 2012 Census. The statistical difference is only 1.8% unlike the figures before the July 1983 racial riots. The anti-Tamil pogrom led to Tamils emigrating from the island in noticeably large numbers. It must be added that Tamil migration increased the statistical percentages of both Sinhala and M

“This could be the last democratic election in Sri Lanka” Patali

United Republican Front (URF) Leader MP Patali Champika Ranawaka who is backing Presidential Candidate and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa shares his views on current political developments ahead of Saturday’s poll. He fears whether this will be the last democratic election that will be conducted in Sri Lanka.

Why Ranil is so Confident of Winning the Presidential Election

Sri Lanka’s ninth presidential election will take place one week from now on 21 September 2024. Among the 38 contestants, three are regarded as the top contenders.

Women’s representation and the future of Sri Lankan politics

Women’s absence in Sri Lankan politics has been subject for debate despite Sri Lanka being the first country in the world to have its own female Prime Minister.

Empowering Nations:The India-Sri Lanka HVDC Connection

Sri Lanka and India are engaged in a decade-long discussion of linking their power grids, which would be beneficial for either country as energy consumption in both nations is expected to grow in large proportions.

Sri Lanka has a black economy, three- four times the size of actual economy- Dilith Jayaweera

Sarvajana Balaya’ Presidential Elections candidate Dilith Jayaweera, in an interview with Daily Mirror, outlined his vision for a entrepreneurial Sri Lanka.

Who will get the bulk of Tamil votes in the 2024 Presidential Poll?

The Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) regarded as the premier political party of the Sri Lankan Tamils has declare its support for Samagi Jana Sandhanaya (SJS) leader Sajith Premadasa in the Presidential election scheduled on 21 September 2024.

Vehicle import companies, ministers deny Rs 53,867 Mn worth taxes to Govt.

According to the Excise (Special Provisions) Act No. 13 of 1989, taxes are not imposed on essential goods. The Act specifies that, “There shall be a charge, levied and paid on every article manufactured or produced in Sri Lanka, or imported into Sri Lanka, in the form of excise duty.

Governance is second, building economy comes first President Wickremesinghe

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his ‘Ask Me Anything Session’

How JVP/ NPP govt begins… and ends

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National People’s Power candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake rides high on opinion polls, social media posts, Twitter and Facebook likes and the crowd size.

The other three candidates come with serious, troubled pasts, I do not - Namal

SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa, who stepped surprisingly into the Presidential race, said that although he comes with the ‘Rajapaksa’ tag, his thinking is new and different and that he would try to win back their voters who had been hurt during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa era.

Elections,Debt Sustainability and IMF Blackmail

The presidential election on September 21st is gaining momentum, and the candidates are debating the future of the IMF agreement.

The Common Tamil Presidential Candidate Controversy

The eagerly anticipated 2024 presidential election is scheduled to be held on September 21, 2024. Initially, 39 candidates were in the fray.

Presidential debates and promise audits: Sri Lankan democracy’s missing links

Spotlight on OUSL VC for facilitating exam for overseas LLB students

Local students of the Open University of Sri Lanka are up in arms against the Vice Chancellor’s unprecedented move to hold an alternative examination for those who could not sit for the final LLB degree.

Spotlight on Aruwakkalu : Exposing loopholes, unfounded fears in Colombo’s waste management crisis

On Saturday (August 24), during the wee hours of the morning, a group of residents from Puttalam staged a protest at the Noor Nagar Railway station against the transportation of waste via train to the Aruwakkalu Sanitary Landfill site. A total of 20 containers of solid waste were dumped at the Aruwakkalu site as a trial under the Metro Colombo Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Plan.

Presidential Elections Realistic approaches matter more than ever

Political campaigns by the respective presidential candidates are gathering momentum in the run up to the presidential polls, scheduled for September 21. As usual what is again being heard from the election stage are promises aimed at giving concessions for people who endure hardships due to the high cost of living and lack of income generation opportunities.

Spotlight on Polonnaruwa Gal Vihara Traps await roaming deer inside sacred city’s sanctuary

Recognising the archaeological and historical significance of the area around Polonnaruwa Gal Vihara, the British rulers designated it as a reserve and sanctuary on May 27, 1937 to protect it for the future.

Ukraine’s new gamble: Taking the war to the Russians

Almost all analysts were unanimous that Ukraine was beaten two years after the Russian invasion. They said Ukraine should negotiate peace with Russia while it still had a chance.

Covid-19 policy, a breach of trust

Quo vadis domine? ‘Where are you going, Lord?’, Peter asks the risen Christ whom he meets along the Appian way. ‘Romam eo iterum crucifigi’, Christ replies. ‘I am going to Rome in order to be crucified again.

A response: Dentsu Grant Pvt Ltd has drawn our attention to the news item headlined

We wish to state that we take strong objection to the wrongful manner in which we have been portrayed in the article published by your newspaper on 21st August. This article has given a completely incorrect representation of the facts which is damaging to our agency.

Will Gen Z Vote decide Sri Lanka’s next leader?

As many as one million new voters will exercise their right to vote at the upcoming Presidential Elections. According to the Election Commission, 76,000 fresh voters have been registered to cast their vote from January to June this year.

Economic crisis, policy choices, anti-incumbency shape Lanka’s presidential race

The presidential race kicked off last Saturday by four main candidates- President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Namal Rajapaksa– stoking voter enthusiasm to participate in the presidential poll to be conducted on September 21 to elect the next executive president of Sri Lanka.

Police Department under scrutiny for allegedly killing beloved ‘Raja’

While several elephants are parading the streets at the Kandy Esala Perahera, a 35-year old male elephant named ‘Raja’ breathed his last in Bakamuna last Thursday (August 15).

Compensation and Economic Justice for Torture Victims

Victims of torture can include those who survived torture, were killed and also their family members; survivors of torture suffer from effects of torture for prolonged periods, often for the rest of their lives, physically, mentally, socially and financially; education of child victims of torture is negatively affected and is one of the cases mentioned below.

‘My next dream’s to conquer the highest points of the world’s seven corners” - Johann Peries

Johann Peries is a name familiar to Sri Lankans. As the second Sri Lankan to have sumitted Mount Everest, Johann’s journey is a testament to his unyielding spirit, passion and dedication.