Some little known facts about a popular saint

The Portuguese missionaries introduced the Catholicism to Sri Lanka in the mid 16th century. Therefore it could be presumed that the.....

Crisis due to impunity

A report issued by the UN during the former regime had pointed out that the criminal justice system in Sri Lanka was ineffective in combatting a.....

Whither Sri Lanka’s long term energy security?

Islandwide blackouts, planned and unplanned breakdowns of service, price hikes, price manipulations, service lapses, service ignorance, accidents.....

Why war crime trials and a political solution cannot go together ?

President Maithripala Sirisena has once again ruled out foreign judges to probe the allegations of war crimes in the final phase of the.....

To be a child is a right - EDITORIAL

Spiritual leaders have told us that if anyone harms a little child he or she should be thrown into the deepest ocean with a millstone.....

New Cold War between Russia and the West?

George Orwell, the author of “Animal Farm” and “1984”, was the first person to use the phrase “Cold War” in a

Let’s rise against harassment of children by forced labour

According to the United Nations’ Charter, every child has the right to a healthy start in life. Fathers, mothers,

PM should be commended

Earlier this week, the Daily Mirror joined other independent media groups, civic action movements and the people in protesting strongly against the government supplementary estimate for a huge Rs.1.17 billion 

Brexit: Yes or no, European integration at crossroads

A villager in a British colony who knew no English picked up only two words – yes and no. But he did...

EDITORIAL : Muhammad Ali: This was a Man

Tens of thousands of people from all over the world will gather at Louisville in Kentucky today not just...

Jeyalalitha: the Tamil Nadu champion of the Lankan Tamil cause

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran seems to be fond of doing what could be irritating...

Flood Waters Recede, but Women Remain Vulnerable

As the flood waters recede and the supermarkets recover from zealous good Samaritans picking...

Kudiramalai and the buried city

According to ‘Discovering Ceylon,’ a book authored by R.L. Brohier (first published in 1973), there had...

Lankan delegation visits Pakistan to promote religious and cultural tourism

A Vesak ceremony was held last week in Islamabad with the participation of  a Sri Lankan delegation who 

The Principle of Culpability

There is a useful rule of thumb with respect to institutions and corruption.  If the person at the top is corrupt,

Why did Wild Life Department chief resign?

Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya a leading environmental specialist in the South Asia Environment, Water Resources

LEST WE FORGET

The world moves on, but often with short memories;  horrors caused by the previous regime, are forgotten 

Where are the people being driven?

In the aftermath of two disasters which have left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and without

Tobacco: A loyal killer ?

Tobacco, alcohol and other drug users have always been a topic of concern in various platforms. Over the years, there have been fluctuating trends in rates of tobacco and alcohol consumption. However, with the government 

Water: Freely we receive, freely we abuse

In this World Environment Week when we need to reflect deeply on vital issues which have brought about the catastrophe of climate change and global warning, one such vast area is water -- the mighty oceans, rivers and streams.

A house for family of Royalist in vegetative state

Two weeks ago the Daily Mirror raised concern about the plight of a young royalist Sasanka Jagath Alwis who nearly drowned in the college pool while taking part in a scouting activity in 2013, and now in a vegetative state and in desperate need of a house as their current house would be demolished to facilitate the Marine Drive Extension Project.

Sooriyakanda: ghosts, scapegoats and real killers

The Sooriyakanda trial should have been a landmark in the judicial history of Sri Lanka. Nine individuals including army officers and soldiers were tried for kidnapping and disappearing more than 30 Advanced Level students from two schools in Embilipitiya during the anti-JVP crackdown in 1989-90. Only seven were convicted, and got away with relatively light sentences. A sculpture was created in Colombo in memory of the disappeared by a group of a

Ramadan fasting - The fourth pillar of Islam

“O you who believe! Observing the fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become the pious.” 

Special Courts, Special Prosecutors and Constitutional change in the Real Country

The UNP leadership is accelerating on two tracks: accountability and constitutional change. Will the political ammo dump explode?

Yahapalanaya, its enemies and sympathizers…

“How can one absolve intelligent men for engaging in arrogant and demented folly?” - C.R. Strahan Yahapalanaya or good governance is no new concept. Its origins could be found in our ancient scriptures; its inherent qualities are still shaking the modern concepts of governance to their core and questioning their validity; its singular appeal to fair-play and justice is casting aside all mundane excuses of attempts at alternatives and

Flood relief distribution: Is it in safe hands?

The recent floods and landslides devastated many innocent lives. Many are still languishing in refugee camps. However, foreign aid started pouring in as the country was in dire need of funds as well as various supplies to be distributed among the affected people. Although the floods have receded and the cleaning process has begun, people are longing to return to their normal livelihoods.

Salawa Army Camp fire: A mystery yet to unfold

An explosion at the Salawa Army Camp has raised concerns among those with vested interests.  According to residents, the fire.....

An Electric End to Vankalai Sanctuary

A poorly-researched Initial Environmental Examination Report (IEER) poses a serious threat to Vankalai Sanctuary, situated near Mannar, an....

Disorganised lives, disorganised societies

But it is also the other way around. Features of a particular society, impact on its constituent parts, namely, individuals and groups. In.....

People taken for a ride? - EDITORIAL

Ministers of this Government also have started to insult the intelligence of the people as happened during all other regimes in the....