For Bangladeshis, the pressing issue is not political, but rape and harassment of women

Bangladeshi politicians are hotly debating post-Hasina political reforms, elections, and ways to neutralise ousted Premier Sheikh Hasina.

Today is World Water Day : Water, Green Entrepreneurship and Youth Development in Sri Lanka

World Water Day is celebrated on March 22, every year. It is an initiative of the United Nations, started in 1993.

What can the government do with the Batalanda report?

One of the best cases in point for the massive wastage by successive governments on so-called commissions of inquiry is the Batalanda Commission which has resurfaced after 27 years, following former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s interview with Al Jazeera that was aired on March 6.

Water, an invaluable resource for mankind

Sri Lanka was known as a hydraulic civilization where villages and communities were built around water sources.

Changing the breakaway culture of old Ceylon

A good number of Sri Lankans have a problem in understanding the word ‘perspective’. After 77 years of celebrating independence, most Sri Lankans complain that all past regimes collectively put this country in a financial mess. We can also opine that for the past 77 years, ambitious and destructive individuals channeled all their energies and time in toppling governments rather than enhancing productivity.

Gaza: The Ramadan massacre and a hellish spirituality

The Gaza genocide is far from over. The continuous process only has pauses called ceasefires. Hell-bent on finishing the job, the corrupt and murderous Benjamin Netanyahu government,

Early Childhood Education and Development: The government’s best investment decision

The government recently launched the first phase of the formulation of a national policy on Early Childhood Education & Development (ECED). The new initiative aims to establish a comprehensive policy that applies across central and provincial governments, which is accessible to all children, offering a structured approach to early childhood education, and complements wider educational reforms. While the shift from a fragmented policy approach to

What’s in store for the suspended Police chief?

The mouse hunt on former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon concluded yesterday (19) when he surrendered to the Matara Magistrate Court after evading arrest for more than two weeks. In February this year, the Matara Magistrate Court issued an arrested warrant on the former IGP and eight others in connection to a fatal shooting that took place in Weligama in December 2023 which claimed the life of a Police sergeant while injuri

Sri Lanka should protect its sovereignty above all

Growing cases of Israeli tourists showing aggressive behaviours towards locals have been reported, especially from the country down South. Certain areas in Ahangama have been dominated by Israeli-run hospitals

THE PRESIDENTIAL YOUTH COMMISSION AND CURRENT SOCIAL CHALLENGES

My tenure of office as Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo coincided with the most turbulent period in the history of the university system in our country.

Batalanda is only the tip of the iceberg Three presidential commissions found 16,800 enforced disappearances

The history of Presidential Commissions in Sri Lanka is one of brazen political opportunism and travesty of justice. They were the oft-deployed tools in the government’s arsenal before local and international outcry,

Growing serious crime and tackling crimes against Women

The past few years has seen a spike in serious criminal activity in our country. Statistics reveal that in 2021 alone, 522 murders were reported.

Sri Lanka’s hoodwinking commissions

The “Commission of Inquiry into the Establishment and maintenance of Places of Unlawful Detention and Torture Chambers at the Batalanda Housing Scheme,” commonly known as Batalanda Commission is making headlines these days, eclipsing almost everything in the country.

Rape at Anuradhapura hospital Lax security gives criminals a free hand

As news of the shocking rape of a young doctor at the Anuradhapura hospital broke out, the General Medical Officers’ Union (GMOA) threatened a strike action if those responsible weren’t arrested immediately.

Bureaucratic Hurdles in Change of Address at IRD

The ease of doing business is often touted as a key driver of economic growth. However, businesses continue to face unnecessary administrative burdens, particularly when dealing with regulatory agencies such as the Department of Inland Revenue (IRD).

Phallic symbols and graveyard humour - a breakthrough for Lankan film industry?

Ilango Ram’s ‘Nelum Kuluna’ (Tentigo) looks like the shot in the arm the limping Sri Lankan film industry needs just now – but it could be sending the wrong message.

Discipline or Arrogance? UNP’s Rise and Fall

It is a tragedy that Ranil Wickremesinghe, widely regarded as one of South Asia’s most astute politicians, who managed to steer a bankrupt nation back from the brink of collapse, failed to revive the United National Party (UNP) and restore its former glory.

Democratic space amidst Sri Lanka’s current conjuncture

Sri Lanka has historically signalled what other countries can expect to face amidst global economic and political shifts. For better or worse, it is often the first country for many feats in South Asia: universal suffrage in 1931, liberalisation in 1978 and, most recently, the first country to default on its external debt in 2022.

The New Year, Batalanda Report and an end to abuse

In less than a month, we will be celebrating the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. It will be the the first under the National People’s Power (NPP) government. It is also the first time that a national political party was able to gather the regional political parties in the Jaffna District.

Will The Jvp-Led Npp Do Well In The Jaffna Local Authority Elections?

“The national people’s power will win all 17 local authorities in the Jaffna district and form administrations” was the confident assertion of Ramalingam Chandrasekar in Jaffna on Thursday (Mar 13).

A Lesson for local politicians from AL Jazeera

Although belatedly, we raise this question for two reasons, firstly, the interrogating style of the programme which is conducted with no holds barred, aggressively and without caring who the interviewee is, seemed to be too much for Wickremesinghe. Secondly

Underworld characters seem to rule the roost

For instance after a US underworld figure Sam Giancana, was subpoenaed to appear before the ‘Church Committee on Assassinations in 1975’, Giancana was found murdered at home; killed with a wound at the back of his head, and five bullet holes around his mouth. A message, and warning to others not to talk.

Education reforms and dealing with charismatic teachers

Charismatic author and speaker Joyce Meyer once said, “Teachers can change lives with the right mix of chalk and challenges”. She wasn’t talking about reforms in education.

Highs and lows of Trump’s fentanyl war

During the Prohibition era (1920-33), when alcohol was banned in the United States, the American Mafia, along with other ethnic gangs like the Irish, Jewish, and Polish, dominated the bootleg industry. Their operations involved alcohol from Canada and other countries.

Rani: How History is written inside Class Warfare

Though the film’s advertisers seem to have avoided this definition, what else is Rani except a biopic? ‘Bio’ comes from biography, and ‘pic’ comes from picture (film). A biopic is a film depicting or dramatising the life of a real person, contemporary or historical.

Beyond Books Can Education Heal Sri Lanka’s Divisions?

Education can transform society by inculcating values and promoting integration within pluralistic societies. In a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Sri Lanka,

Premadasa style propaganda and AKD’s digital world

Just the other day, this writer read somewhere in the social media a fantastic saying, ‘Earlier weapons were manufactured to fight wars.

Could the new govt. guarantee the safety of all Sri Lankan women?

Two days after gala International Women’s Day events concluded, a dark day dawned in Sri Lanka when a female doctor was allegedly sexually assaulted at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital on Monday (March 10).

A messy fishy problem sours Indo-Lanka relations

There is a war-like situation growing in the Palk Straits. It is a battle for fish and livelihood, especially affecting our Northern fisher communities. The demarcation of the maritime boundary agreements of 1974 and 1976 between India and Sri Lanka made it illegal for fishermen from either side to cross over into each other’s waters to fish.

Trump made English the official language of USA what about ‘Hispanic Eelam’?

Donald Trump last week issued an executive order making English the official language of the United States of America. The order rescinded a previous presidential decree issued by former President Bill Clinton requiring federal government agencies to provide assistance programmes for people with limited English proficiency. Instead, it now allows the agencies to decide whether they want to offer documents and other services in languages other tha