If Trump is joking, the joker is knave

Until Monday, the debate used to be whether to take Donald Trump seriously or not. Notwithstanding...

EDITORIAL - Invent, produce, use and recycle

As one of history’s most important meetings, the Climate Change Conference, reaches...

Criticised the govt are like watch dogs - Kabir Hashim

While there are on-going efforts by a united government comprising the SLFP and the UNP to ensure progress, there seem to be some ministers within the same party at loggerhead with each other. 

Budget debate proceeds in Parliament despite resistance outside

A wide cross section of society, from professional groups right down to farmers, resists the budget with vigour. Yet, it was approved with a two-thirds majority after its Second Reading in Parliament.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

In this day and age, women are seen representing different fields such as politics, business, arts, education and law. Unlike earlier days, we witness the efforts taken and contribution made by women towards the sustainability of their country’s economy.

Saudi support for extremism must be halted

On Sunday the German Vice-Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, publicly accused Saudi Arabia of financing Islamic extremism in the West and warned that it must stop. He said that the Saudi regime is funding extremist mosques and communities that pose a danger to public security. 

Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always - EDITORIAL

Of the many events celebrated annually by the United Nations, one of the most important is today’s golden jubilee of the day on which the UN General Assembly adopted two international treaties that would forever shape international human rights. 

Mega Cor ruption Everywhere - Real Action Nowhere ?

Commencing from as far back as 1970 with the Kyoto Declaration, the process for the formulation of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) commenced in December 2000, 

he is suffering from a mental illness - Chathura

Within a short stint as a politician, Minister Rajitha Senaratne’s son, Chathura Senaratne has got involved in a number of controversies.

Enemy in action

“Daesh [ISIS] is a two faced monster”- French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian “Sri Lanka to launch a special court to probe war crimes”, screamed an AFP story. 

Police Commission ideal to decide on VVIP Security - EDITORIAL

The controversy that sprung last week regarding the security of former President and current Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa merits serious discussion on the provision of security to VIPs and VVIPs.

Budget 2016: some mould to reckon with

Whether Budget 2016 was presented by the ‘Good Governance’ government, would bear the fruits of prosperity or take the country’s economy down the drain is yet to be seen. However speaking to the.....

Let’s be the voice for the voiceless

The President and the Prime Minister in Parliament said numerous steps have been taken to save millions in the Presidential Secretariat.  This no doubt is a loud message to the......

Shilpa 2015: An innovative experience blended with Sri Lankan Culture

Giving a memorable experience  for those who appreciate the traditional  handicraft industry,  and also to those who would like to explore the  rich Sri  Lankan Culture and Heritage, Shilpa......

A Buddhist Scholar’s Perspective on TRENDS AND PATHWAYS

A Copy of ‘Trends And Pathways’ written by Bishop Valance Mendis, gifted to me by a very special friend who also shares my views on philosophy as well as on Buddhism though a strong Christian.....

So this is Christmas....

The song is simply haunting. It is certainly worthwhile pondering on its lyrics that the legendary John Lennon added to the everlasting list of Christmas carols that ring out with the arrival of......

Corruption: Let’s break the chains that bind us - EDITORIAL

In the aftermath of a regime where corruption and fraud, wasteful expenditure, luxuries and extravagance reached their worst-ever proportions, Sri Lanka joins the world community in marking the.....

The Thomas Jefferson theory is arguable People don’t get governments they should

Internal politics at places of work, in associations, schools, universities, trade unions and various kinds of coalitions, are insignificant when compared with national politics and politicos who.....

Dr. Leel Gunasekara-A Happy Birthday To You, Little unremembered acts of kindness and love

A Civil Servant of great repute both national and international, an award winning writer, a veteran literary critic, a professional social service administrator, a great lover of art, music and drama and.....

Justice Ramanathan: A genial judge

I thought I would try, on the anniversary of his death, to say something which late Justice Ramanathan himself will appreciate - going a little outside the ‘box’ when writing a review of a.....

Our woman in Saudi jail Should we blame ourselves for our plight?

A  Saudi Shari ah court has sentenced one of our women there to death by stoning. Her offence was indulging in a sexual liaison out of wedlock with a fellow Sri Lankan......

Super Jumbo Jets, but no plain sailing - EDITORIAL

When the American brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright invented and built the world’s first successful aircraft and made the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human.....

Govt officials need not be afraid of me” - Sunil Handunnetti

The Committee on Public Enterprises, popularly known as the COPE has taken a centre stage in reporting cases of corruption and malpractices at the institutional level. However over the years it has been......

War on Terrorism: Some unknown truths

In the aftermath of the collapse of  the former Soviet Union in 1979, and the emergence of the United States as the most powerful military power in known human history, people worldwide dreamt that.....

The Paranagama Report: Who’s discrediting it, and why?

The speaker of these words was not former president Mahinda Rajapaksa or anyone in his government, but British Prime Minister David Cameron, expressing solidarity with French President Francois Hollande in the wake of the recent terror attacks in Paris. 

Dr.Harsha de Silva on new foreign policy initiatives or ‘ Economic Diplomacy ’

Sri Lanka’s foreign policy was misaligned with the economic policy in the recent past. the country lost the qualification to be a beneficiary of the ‘GSP Plus’      facility due to short sighted foreign policy.

Sex trade is an inevitable social fact

?A proponent of  the legalized sex trade argued, “You will find incidents of ‘raping’ reduced by an alarming rate, if the ‘way is cleared.” A meretrix is a licensed/registered professional sex worker who is under periodical examination by health authorities.

‘Poets Translating Poets’

Among foreign cultural missions in Sri Lanka the Goethe Institute of Colombo is undoubtedly the most active and imaginative. Its ‘Poets Translating Poets’ project currently under way is both eclectic and exciting...

Excruciating wait for the hangman before own destiny

Every human, when he/she was born, came with a strong, firm and unerasable message: That is death. One day or the other; death is most certain to embrace all of us. 

Right to Information Bill – A culture of openness - EDITORIAL

After delays and dilly-dallying for more than 13 years, the Cabinet this week approved a draft Right to Information Bill and put it for public dialogue and debate before it is presented in Parliament.