HEC: A long-term solution for country’s sake

In 2019, the Department of Wildlife Conservation published its policy statement in the newspapers seeking public opinion. Since the long-term proposals that the writer submitted to the department,

The Presidential row over security and mansions

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s warning last Sunday that the security provided for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be removed if the latter grumbled further about his security was unbecoming to his stature and his professed promise to bring in a new political culture.

Tech Giants, Political Winds, and the Erosion of Digital Accountability

The podium crowd at the latest US presidential swearing-in ceremony does not bode well for keeping hate, vitriol, and fakes out of the digital information space. The presence of tech bro-billionaires hint at one thing, acquiescence to the new mode of play. And taking stock of what has happened to X (formerly Twitter) since the take-over by the tech-bro-in-Chief, Elon Musk, serves as a harbinger for similar chaos likely to unfold on other platfor

From the Rubber-Rice Pact to Oil for land deals

A plethora of changes are taking place in our land since the presidential election of September 2024 and general election which followed in November 2024. Yet, some things remain unchanged. Our country’s External Debt reached USD 56.6 billion in September 2024, compared with 55.9 USD billion in the previous quarter. This debt has to be paid off. The projected repayments in the period 2021 - 2025 is expected to be USD 4.432 billion. In other words

Beyond economic malaise: Charting Sri Lanka’s future for prosperity

Sri Lanka stands at crossroads in its economic history. Following a series of financial challenges, the country requires a robust and comprehensive policy framework to stimulate recovery and ensure long-term prosperity.

Manifest Destiny: Trump’s speech raises fears of fascism

Oh democracy, what crimes are committed in thy name? With apologies to French revolutionary Madame Roland for rephrasing her last words,

Fearing the Richard who died - EDITORIAL

When the much looked forward to film ‘Rani’ is released soon, it is sure to take us back to a dark past when youth went missing sans a trace. Richard de Zoysa was one such youth who went missing.

English Medium: Policy, Politics, Psychology and Potential

Gamini Akmeemana’s (GA) brilliant article, “English: What Our Politicians Failed to Understand” (13th January 2025), inspired me to offer both heartfelt praise and clarify a popular misconception.

Saving Sri Lanka’s biodiversity one nutritious meal at a time

As an island nation with a high population density, Sri Lanka is already grappling with multiple challenges concerning biodiversity conservation.

Can we enfranchise expatriate workers without biometric-based IDs?

Given Sri Lanka’s dependence on remittances from expatriate workers, there is strong justification for enabling them to vote.

The journey of Victor Ivan….From making bombs till the pen nib exploded!

Journalist Victor Ivan is perhaps one of the greatest examples of a person braving all odds and a partial disability to achieve lofty goals and most importantly leave an indelible mark in his chosen profession, the field of media.

Conserving biodiversity for future generations - EDITORIAL

Habitat fragmentation due to human activities has posed significant threats to biodiversity on this planet.

The second coming of Donald Trump and the electability of demagoguery

On Monday, the United States of America swore in as its 47th president, Donald J Trump, a convicted felon who made a remarkable comeback, ditching jail time by virtue of getting elected to the highest office of the most powerful democracy in the world.

Paddy cultivation and rice production: issues and recommended solutions

Paddy cultivation in the country is a peasant industry with no corporate bodies involved unlike in tea. The paddy lands are essentially family-owned or by a small group of farmers. This background taken together with the fact there is no agricultural banks in the country leave a massive vacuum in financing paddy cultivation which is eagerly filled in by the big-time rice millers.

Rohingya’s testimonies - Who are they and why are they in Sri Lanka?

Rohingyas are an ethnic community from Myanmar’s Rakhine province who have been facing severe persecution for decades. Myanmar’s government doesn’t accept them as citizens and hence, they are stateless. Many have been living as internally displaced in camps while others have gone to other countries as refugees. Bangladesh hosts most of the Rohingya refugees, numbering about one million. There are also Rohingya refugees in other countries. Sri Lan

Lankan Presidents wash dirty linen while the public starve

Today we are witnessing a rather vulgar sight of a past and sitting president of our country spitting venom and washing dirty linen in public. It would be comical, if it was not so shameful. The unfolding drama of the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States -replete with threats, imposition of tariffs and bad mouthing opponents which preceded the ceremony is in similar vein.

Lankan movement hails Trump for opposing LGBTQIA++ Woke values

On Tuesday, the Mothers’ Movement of Sri Lanka (MMSL) will submit to the US embassy here, a petition addressed to President-elect Donald Trump, urging him to keep up his fight against LGBTQIA++ Woke values and help restore traditional social and familial values in America, Sri Lanka, and the world at large.

Tariff reduction would not solve power related issues - EDITORIAL

There seems to be an issue with the government’s decision-making process which is sometimes manifested by conflicting statements or acts by government institutions or ministers on various issues.

How Tiger ‘Col’ Kittu lost a leg when a bomb was thrown at him in Jaffna

Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Jaffna District Commander Sathasivamillai Krishnakumar alias ‘Col’ Kittu was regarded as the uncrowned king of Jaffna in the mid-eighties of the twentieth century.

Finance Capital, GDP Growth and Sri Lanka’s Economic Depression

There is an emerging international debate about what is at stake with GDP growth. In Sri Lanka, not just nationally, but even at the provincial level, GDP growth and contribution are attributed to economic success.

The President eats his words, but with aplomb - EDITORIAL

Whether one reads the newspaper, switches on the radio or watches social media, one topic dominates. They all have one criticism or the other of our four-month old regime.

UNP-SJB rift, a matter of ego

Many political alignments are being planned in the North as well as South these days in view of the forthcoming local government and provincial council elections. However, the only proposed plan that might have a significant bearing on the political map of the country would be the one to unite the Main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP).

No end to killings in Palestine despite ‘Peace Agreement’

Yesterday, negotiations led by the US, officially brought the carnage unleashed by Israel on Palestine to an end. The Agreement sees an immediate stop to Israeli aggression in Gaza and the biggest release of Israeli captives since the last temporary truce in the early months of the war.

Ceasefire deal: Blessed are the Palestinians

We may die in our thousands; you may destroy our dwellings, hospitals, and infrastructure; and you may deny us access to food, water, and electricity, but never shall we let injustice triumph.

China’s inspirational tales of socialism have pulling power! - EDITORIAL

China’s President Xi Jinping might not be captured smiling on camera, but President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) has been grinning quite often during the latter’s ongoing official visit to China.

How to make Legal Education work for the 21st Century?

The legal education system in Sri Lanka, while rooted in tradition, faces significant challenges in preparing students for the rapidly changing demands of the modern legal profession.

Should we fear the unknown associated with this NPP regime?

After Ranil Wickremesinghe handed the baton over smoothly to the winner at the 2024 Presidential Elections, Sri Lankans still had ‘concerns’ if ‘worries’ wasn’t the best word to use at that period of time.

Could ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ eliminate the junk food menace? - EDITORIAL

The NPP government’s ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ campaign has already received mixed reactions from the public.

Democratic discipline How Sri Lanka’s political transformation strengthens ties with China

Sri Lanka has witnessed a remarkable political transformation. Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) has been elected as the country’s President. His party, the People’s Liberation Front (JVP), leads the National People’s Power coalition. Just four years ago, the JVP held only three parliamentary seats with 3% of the popular vote. Today, it controls the presidency and commands a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

RESPIRE 2025 to empower healthcare professionals, public to improve respiratory health outcomes

Dr. Neranjan Dissanayake, President of the Sri Lanka College of Pulmonologists said that Sri Lanka, despite being a unique country with good health indices, faces concerning issues regarding the respiratory health of the individuals suffering from Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Tuberculosis (TB) and Viral infections such as influenza and added that the consequential results could be disability and death, mainly among the el