In relentless pursuit to snuff out the cigarette

From all the days that we celebrate, ‘World No Tobacco Day’ takes great importance for many reasons. One reason could be that we must protect the fathers who indulge in smoking products made of tobacco. There are many who say that ‘World No Tobacco Day’ is more important than ‘World Mothers’ Day’ because the former can be used to save the lives of those addicted to tobacco and also millions of rupees. ‘World No Tobacco Day’ falls on May 31 (Satur

Rash Decision on KDU Medical Intake to Cost Billions and Block Local Talent

The sudden decision by the Government to suspend admissions of local G.C.E. (A/L) qualified students to the Medical Degree programme at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) this year is deeply concerning. This abrupt move not only bars hundreds of capable students from pursuing a medical career locally but also results in a projected revenue loss of nearly Rs. 2 billion.

Could Sri Lanka become a disaster-resilient nation?

Following the 2004 tsunami, which swept away the lives of over 35,000 people, Sri Lanka expedited its approaches in disaster risk reduction and disaster management. One of the main priority areas had been to upgrade existing infrastructure into disaster-resilient infrastructure to withstand natural disasters in the face of adverse climate change conditions. But 21 years later, people continue to be affected by heavy rains and winds.

Why a Top-Down Approach to Development Projects Will Always Fail

Hubris. That is why there are over 900 kilometres of fibre optic cable laid in rural Wisconsin—one of the Midwestern states of the United States—that remain mostly dark while many rural residents still lack access to broadband internet. Laid at a cost of USD 32.3 million with support from the federal and state governments, this project was meant to connect Wisconsin’s rural areas to high-speed internet. Yet more than a decade after construction w

Proposed system changes to achieve the real objectives of LG machinery

I was energised to pen this piece after having read with interest several articles in the press. One of them was an article by veteran journalist Kusal Perera which exposed the manoeuvers by power hungry political party leaders abusing the very objectives of the LG machinery, to achieve their selfish and ulterior political motives, underscoring the need for ‘System Change’.

‘Cassandras’ and the upcoming crisis

Those like me who warned of the prospect of ending up like Lebanon were called Cassandras by government apologists in 2021-22. The crisis came. Those then in government who ignored the warnings paid the price. But the Sri Lankan public did not suffer as much as the citizens of Lebanon where the manifestations of the crisis such as unannounced load shedding continue. Those who replaced the politicians and officials who crashed the economy heeded t

Establish In-House CIABOC Units to Clean the Augean Stables of Public Institutions

The recent raid conducted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) at the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) unearthed Rs. 4.1 million in cash from the office of a Deputy Commissioner. Reports suggest that the money was allegedly collected from private parties over the course of the week and was intended for distribution among selected staff.

Ragging and its ugly history in Academia

University is an institution for academic development and the promotion of a critical learning environment.

IPKF could have finished the war long ago, Premadasa and JVP made us fight it and die

Last week, Sri Lanka commemorated the servicemen and women who paid with their life and limb, defending the territorial integrity of this country, so that the next generations could live in peace.

No ‘natives and dogs’ permitted at Kotelawela Defence University!

The country learned with shock that the Kotelawala Defence University is to ban the entry of local medical students into that institution.

Typical Sri Lankans—they talk about system change. But no one thinks of self-change

Catering to large numbers of devotees daily in Kandy for the exposition of the sacred relics of Buddha would have been a challenge, especially when their sanitary needs have always been a concern for the hill country capital.

SriLankan Airlines: A testament to excellence in aviation safety

Transportation plays a crucial role in connecting people and places worldwide. While road transport remains the most commonly used mode, air travel stands as the safest, with air traffic management systems ensuring security and efficiency.

Lal Kantha’s outburst and where things went wrong

It is an irony that Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister, K. D. Lal Kantha, calling the public sector in this country a den of thieves, after the National People’s Power government gave the employees of the public sector a thumping salary increment last month.

Minerals and rare earths factor in US stance during India-Pakistan war

To the Indians’ dismay, the US equated India and Pakistan during the three-day air war over a terror attack in Kashmir

South Asian Youth: Learning and Leading the Charge for Biodiversity

South Asia region—steeped in history and brimming with natural resources, faces unprecedented threats. From the snow-capped Himalayas to the lush rainforests, dry arid plains, wetlands and under ocean coral reefs, the biodiversity of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives is increasingly imperilled by human activities. The crucial role of young people in this region comes into sharp focus when we talk

Mayor Brown and the Tamil genocide monument

Earlier this month, many in our country were unpleasantly surprised when we learned that Canada—a country built on genocide and the violent dispossession of its indigenous people—had declared open a monument commemorating ‘Tamil Genocide in Lanka’.

Do We Really Deserve These MPs?

The saying “We get the government we deserve” is often traced back to the French philosopher Joseph de Maistre, who wrote, “Every nation gets the government it deserves.” Over time, this notion was reshaped and echoed by thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville and even Abraham Lincoln, eventually evolving into the familiar adage, “People get the government they deserve.” At its core, the phrase suggests that the nature of a government reflects the ch

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN A SOLDIER AND A TERRORIST

The scars of conflict run deep in Sri Lanka, a nation that endured decades of brutal civil war. As we reflect upon this tumultuous period, it is imperative to clearly distinguish between the forces that sought to uphold the integrity of the state and those that aimed to dismantle it through violence and terror.

‘Ranaviru or Soldaadu’? History Remembers Their Deeds, Not Your Words!

Last week, President Dissanayake and former President Rajapaksa took turns paying homage to the members of the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives or were disabled during the Civil War, referring to these brave men by different epithets or labels.

The monsoon will soon be with us -are we prepared?

The south west monsoon period will commence during the last week of this month.

Dearest Malini…

Words fail to describe your demise. But that is the ultimate reality we all have to face. From humble beginnings to being acknowledged as the Queen of Sinhala cinema is a feat in itself.

Reimagining National Security ; from rhetoric to reality

What is National Security? It is a question many ask. It was asked before and was always being asked. Quite recently when it was asked ‘rhetorically’ the question was too artificial, too oblique. However, the question is important because we live in a moment of human history where there are exponential changes and transformations into our way of life.

ITAK’s Success at North-Eastern Local Govt. Elections Vindicates Sumanthiran

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP) recorded a landslide victory at the Parliamentary elections held in November 2024.

Controversial commemoration

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has caused a controversy with his apparently reluctant participation in the National War Heroes Commemoration held at the National War Heroes commemoration cenotaph near Parliament in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte on May 19.

Drug mules and the rising spectre of drug usage

Two days ago, the British tabloid ‘Daily Mail’ highlighted a story of a young British woman who was apprehended at the Katunayake airport with 46 kg of ‘Kush’—a potent strain of cannabis—in her possession.

From Sacred Ground to Dumping Site: The Tragic Transformation of Oddamavadi Burial Site

It was with great sorrow and reverence that my friends and I recently visited the Oddamavadi burial ground to offer prayers for those laid to rest there—individuals who tragically lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gaza: The West’s warning of concrete action against Israel rings hollow

After 17 months of appalling complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Western nations are finally condemning the horrors inflicted upon Palestinian civilians. Their sudden transformation from sociopathic bystanders to paragons of virtue seems too good to be true—though it is shocking, to say the least. Was this unexpected turn of events a spiritual reawakening, or does it signal the softening of their once stone-like hearts?

Galle city and the hand of friendship

Galle is a celebrated tourist destination for both local and foreign tourists. Very recently a partnership that Sri Lanka and China entered into added to the importance of Galle, which is already a UNESCO heritage site. This week, China and Sri Lanka set up a bilateral cooperation focusing on Galle

Unhygienic Eateries and the Price of Inequality

Recent inspections by health officers in Colombo have uncovered troubling conditions in many local eateries — unhygienically stored food, dirty refrigerators and freezers, kitchens doubling as bedrooms, and poorly maintained premises. These raids, while not carried out regularly, are often given wide media coverage, complete with TV crews, to showcase the enforcement action to the public.

’’Ocean is a shared resource, if one country pollutes, others get affected’’ - Norwegian ocean scientist

Peter M. Haugan, the policy director at the Institute of Marine Research, Norway and a professor at the Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen in Norway, shares his vision on the blue economy and what the ocean holds for the benefit of mankind. He has more than 30 years of experience in marine scientific research and international ocean science coordination covering ocean, climate and energy issues. His professional merits include fi