Minority women need to raise their voice to the UN special Rapporteur

UN special Rapporteur on Minority issues Ms. Rita Izsak is on an official visit to Sri Lanka from 10th to 20th of October 2016, at the invitation of the Government. During her visit she meets Government delegates, civil societies and other groups of people. Most importantly she meets women separately. 

Mosul: Secret motives amid human misery

Though initial battlefield successes have encouraged the Iraqi government and the United States to 

‘Drexit’ from the Bribery Commission – The good, bad and ugly

So the President has ended all speculation and accepted the resignation. If the exit of Britain from Europe was

President’s outbursts on CID, FCID and Bribery Commission Damage control underway

President Maithripala Sirisena’s outburst against the Bribery Commission, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Financial Crimes Investigation Department (FCID) rattled politics. It eventually led to Bribery Commission Director General Dilrukshi Dias Wickramasinghe tendering her resignation.   

MP’s blood-curdling encounter in spooky General’s House

The General’s House, a bungalow built in close proximity to the Nuwara Eliya city during the British rule and assigned for the chiefs of the forces, is today used by the parliamentarians as a holiday resort. 

From humiliation and exclusion to participation

This week the world marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – with special significance for Sri Lanka because the National Unity Government has declared 2017 as the year of poverty alleviation.

Rainwater Harvesting: The world relied on for centuries

Heavy rainfall and severe droughts are of common occurrence. We had heavy rains a few months ago and now we are faced with a drought causing immense problems to people in many parts of the country. Prof. Hettige in his piece on Rainwater Harvesting published in Daily Mirror on October 10, 2016 highlights a very important aspect in water sector.   

Unravelling of a Don(ald Trump)… a bizarre turn of US elections

“This is not something we can ignore…this is not something that we can sweep under the rug…the shameful comments of our bodies…it’s cruel and it’s frightening…and the truth is, it hurts”, no person has articulated the disgust, danger and degradation of one candidate of the United States Presidential Elections more accurately and so succinctly than Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the Nation.

Now get the lines straightened out Jayampathi

Dr Jayampathi Wickramaratne, who is described as someone playing a pivotal role in the constitution-making process in his capacity as a member of the steering committee on the subject, has offered some thoughts on the progress of the initiative in an interview with the Daily Mirror. He has offered a nutshell version in the following terms:  

Land grab in Ridiyagama

Certain lands said to belong to National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) are not owned by the Board. In fact some of these lands are still said to belong to the Land Reform Commission. Despite directives to hand them 

Protect Maithri for the survival of Unity Govt.

‘When it comes to individual behaviour, many things have puzzled me to the point that it seems 

I have self-confidence to perform the duties of Presidency well :Gota

Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a recent interview hinted about his future plans which included entering national politics if he was invited. The once-powerful Defence Secretary says he was not addicted to power but was willing to give it up when time was ripe. Excerpts: 

Health OR Wealth ? Changing tunes on the Glyphosate ban

The banned chemical Glyphosate made headlines recently as Minister of Plantation Industries 

Monumental deal to stop use of HFCs

In a monumental move in the life-or-death battle against global warming and climate change, nearly 

Vote to regret / rejoice Mahinda or Gota

Vote to Regret - be it North or South. Blame attaches to the Vote, tailed by regret,directed at the candidate that succeeds in....

Modi’s Comment on Ravana: No! Ravana was no terrorist as PM Modi says

It was with a sense of considerable anger that I read Prime Minister Modi’s comments on Ravana, the great King of Sri Lanka....

We should not cling to labels such as unitary or Federal: Jayampathi

MP Dr. Jayampathi Wickramaratne, who plays a pivotal role in the Constitution- making process, says he is optimistic about the process.....

If Unitary State compromised, country’s disintegration inevitable: Vasu

In what appeared to be a major policy shift, Democratic Left Front stalwart joint opposition MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara, who once....

The democratic transition: On-your-face crony capitalism Perhaps, the President is making a point

There were two disturbing developments last week. First, it was President Maithripala Sirisena’s speech at an event held.....

Mr. President please explain - EDITORIAL

President Maithripala Sirisena’s remark at a function held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on October 12 that the CID, FCID and....

The Sri Lankan “Kumarikawa” in China

What an exciting moment it would be if you met a friend or a relative after twenty five or thirty years? Then, how about personally....

Counterfeit Ayurveda in many colours

There was a commotion in the Perera house that morning. Shelton Perera, the owner of the Wallside Restaurant and Bar was....

‘We do not interfere’ - Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian FM

Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Szijjarto, in an interview with Daily Mirror, said his country looked forward....

Shouldn’t investigators have courage: to stand against political interference?

The President in a hard hitting speech denounced the steps taken by the CIABOC, CID and FCID to take the former Defence Ministry....

When the courts are silent…

The injunction order handed down against the public screening of Prasanna Vithanage’s latest movie Silence in the Courts has....

REFUGEES, MIGRANTS AND THE UN MANDATE FOR KEEPING PEACE - EDITORIAL

The United Nations (UN) established on 24 October 1945, was set up to promote international co-operation in the aftermath of World.....

The Four Noble Truths and practice of loving-kindness towards others

The Four Noble Truths are as follows;    The truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the cessation of suffering and the truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering.   

Futility of Abhi-dhamma in the Path of Emancipation

Buddha said,“Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire.” Pristine Dhamma defaced by fairy-tale writers, ‘scholars’ for academic purposes and ‘analysts’ for self-glorification.  

Unsung Heroes of the World

The contemplated hero here is neither a decorated warlord nor a blustery shogun that challenges the world to a duel. He does not strut the arena with a mighty weapon in his hand. There is no trigger at his disposal that can obliterate the face of the earth in a whiff. He is not of pomp and pageantry and has won no Purple Hearts. Neither does he mount pulpits to broadcast his varied accomplishments. No hordes of cheering men follow his every step.

Cataract lenses free of charge for needy people

Thursday October 13 was World Sight Day. It is the fourth year of the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s global action plan and the WHO affiliated International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) encourages its members and partners to continue with the rolling theme Universal Eye Health: A global action plan 2014 – 2019. This year, the ‘Call to Action’ for World Sight Day is Stronger Together.