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.

Tamil Political Leadership criticised by Tamil Civil Society

In a significant political development last week, some influential members of Tamil civil society in the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka took the initiative to write directly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking India’s help in urging the Sri Lankan Government to hold Provincial Council elections as early as possible

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

The inglorious exit of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa known as Gotabaya or Gota Rajapaksa made a glorious entry to the pinnacle of political power through a grand victory at the presidential election held on 16 November 2019.

Black Tiger Day murder of Trinco District’s Golden Lord

Sri Lanka experienced its first suicide bomber attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on July 5, 1987.

‘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

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Matale District JVP Insurgency

Former Sri Lankan President and ex-defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa known generally as Gota figured prominently in an Associated Press (AP) news report dated June 22, 2023.

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.

Zero Plastic National Movement: Envisioning a plastic free Sri Lanka

20 million. That’s the number of plastic bags (or shopping bags) that are dumped into the environment on a daily basis in Sri Lanka. These bags....

BBS, Gnanasara Thera and the Kalutara Violence

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga recently raised a pertinent question on Twitter about Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and others of his ilk. She asked in her tweet why no action had ever been taken against Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera and others, who had insulted other religions practised in the country.

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...

The Tamil Leader who refused to Kowtow before the Tigers

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization ceased to be a functional entity in Sri Lanka after being militarily defeated by the armed forces in May 2009. The LTTE known widely as the Tigers was a powerful armed militant group which ruled over swathes of land in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the Island for several years.

Strengthening food safety in Sri Lanka: Empowering consumers for a safer future

Food safety goes beyond individual well-being; it plays a crucial role in a nation’s overall welfare and economic progress. The imperative lies in prioritizing the modernization of food safety policies, which not only unlocks the immense potential of the food industry but also safeguards the health and safety of all Sri Lankans.

The coming witch-hunt by religious paranoia?

I have written on these pages that when the fuel queues disappear and a semblance of old times dawns, Sri Lankans themselves will return to their old habits. The usual charlatans would crawl back from their hiding....

Karunanidhi; From Film Script Writer to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

If cinema and politics are intertwined in Tamil Nadu, then Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s family continues to be immersed in both with great rewards. This is due to the patriarch’s path-breaking venture from films into politics in the past

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....

What It Means To Be a WOMAN Embracing Diversity,Empowerment,And Identity

Last week, I decided to involve my friends and family who follow my private Instagram account by sharing an article from the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper. The article focused on the public’s strong reaction to an Adida

The Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE

Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on 21 May 1991. He was killed at a place called Sriperumbhudur in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Death came in the form of Dhanu a young Tamil woman from Sri Lanka. Dressed in a churidar she came up to the smiling Rajiv and garlanded him. The girl bent low to touch his feet as a mark of respect. Then came the deadly explosion. Rajiv Ga

The runaway prophet?

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

Little-known facts about LTTE leader Prabhakaran

The name Prabhakaran means the Sun or Sooriyan. Later his sycophants and acolytes began calling him Sooriyathevan or Sun God. Being the youngest in the family he was called Thambi or younger brother. This pet name continued to be in vogue when he entered militant ranks as he was then perhaps the youngest of all

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....

Lankan Actor Ramdas gained fame for his “Marikkar” Role

Ramdas, who worked for many years at Colonial Motors in Union Place, used to live in Polhengoda then. He rode a scooter and used to give me a few rides those days. We have enjoyed each other’s company at gatherings hosted by members of the Sri Lankan film fraternity

Why does President Wickremesinghe prefer presidential election to any other poll?

Ranil Wickremesinghe, a lawyer-turned-politician is deemed to be the smartest and shrewdest politician in Sri Lanka with a career spanning more than four decades. Wickremesinghe won his first parliamentary election in 1977 and became prime minister for the first time in 1993 – a post he has held six times overall. Despite having contested in several presidential elections, he could not fulfill his aspiration of becoming the head of the State.