National security: From the womb to the tomb

It may not be an exaggeration to say that national security has become the most politicised topic in Sri Lanka these days. In parliament and political platforms, much precious time is spent on the critique of and in defence of the government’s national security policy, but there is very little introspection.

HOW THE ELITE LOOK AT THE ELEPHANT MUST BE CHANGED!

Sri Lanka has always tried to showcase its rich culture for possessing elephants. From the elephants in the wild to the jumbos in domesticated set-ups, what Sri Lankans have tried to do over the years is associate this animal and the islander with pride

In Sri Lanka, reconciliation should no longer be treated as a buzzword -EDITORIAL

When the thirty year ethnic conflict ended in 2009, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ample opportunities to address the grievances of the Tamil minority.

Budget proposals, gangsters and unfulfilled promises

The month of February 2025 has been most eventful. One of the most anticipated events was the first budget to be proposed by our first-ever leftist government not in coalition with other political parties. With its overwhelming majority in parliament, there is little doubt the budget would be passed.

Does Sri Lanka really have a crime wave?

Last week, underworld kingpin Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne, alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’, was shot dead inside the Colombo magistrate court by a gunman disguised as a lawyer. The killing, as shocking as it was, also highlighted major security lapses: Producing a high-risk inmate before the magistrate was unwanted at a time when much of bail hearings are taking place over Skype.

“INDEPENDENT” PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE: MYTH AND REALITY

The institution of criminal proceedings is of vital concern to the public. Irrespective of the outcome of proceedings,

The solicitous and virtuous life of Professor C. C. de Silva

When I started my career in Paediatrics nearly 25 years ago as a Trainee at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, I learned gradually, one by one, the great professionals who developed the field of Paediatrics in this country.

Budget Blues and Violence against Judiciary

In a significant shift, the JVP has abandoned its ideological rigidities and embraced a more pragmatic approach, acknowledging the complexities of the country’s current politico-economic realities.

Underworld has many fathers - EDITORIAL

Exactly a month ago, on January 28 we editorially discussed some aspects pertaining to the ongoing crimes in the country while pointing out that minimising crimes should be one of the top most priorities of the government’s “Clean Sri Lanka” programme.

Killing in the Court house and political patronage

Three days after the so-called shocking murder in the courtroom at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, the alleged killer has been taken into custody, the man behind the killing identified but the female suspect linked to the killing still roams free. The ‘lady’ has been identified, but has not been taken into custody.

Impunity is worse than crime

The killing of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, who is described as an underworld leader at a courtroom of the country’s main Hulftsdorp court complex on Wednesday was not the first of its kind. The officer in charge of the Weerangula police station and his uncle was killed inside the Attanagalla Magistrate court in early 1990. In another incident, Dammika Amarasinghe, a witness of a case involving a high-profile businessman was shot dead within a Hulftsdorp

Was Ganemulla Sanjeewa involved in a Plot to Murder M.A. Sumanthiran?

Notorious drug trafficker and criminal gang leader Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathne known as ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa,’ was shot dead in the No. 5 Magistrate’s Court within the Hulftsdorp Court Complex this week. The suspected assassin was arrested in the Paalaavi area of Puttalam. It was announced first that the arrested person was 34-year-old Mohamed Azman Sherifdeen. Subsequently Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala disclosed that the suspected kil

Trump upends US policy on Ukraine

Donald Trump was right: Ukraine started the war. Again, Trump was right; if he had been in office, the Ukraine war would not have happened.

The impact is huge when good clashes with the bad - EDITORIAL

The present government has been tested to the brim these days. The Hulftsdorp Court shooting posed enough questions about security in this country.

Unlocking Sri Lanka’s Credit Markets The Case for a National Asset Management Company

Sri Lanka’s banking sector faces a paradox: despite ample liquidity, with banks’ liquid assets nearly doubling to 35.25% of total assets, credit growth remains stagnant due to high levels of non-performing loans (NPLs).

National security, more than a mere election promise -EDITORIAL

Sri Lankans were able to catch a glimpse of a real-life crime thriller following the attack on a notorious underworld figure alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’ on Wednesday (February 19) morning at the Hulftsdorp Court Complex.

Ambitious Budget 2025 Proof of the pudding is in the eating

Since assuming power, the National People’s Power Government has tried to strike a delicate balance between fiscal consolidation guided by the IMF reform formula and NPP’s expansive campaign promises and election rhetorics. During the first four months in office, it played within the confines of the IMF programme, which was the mainstay of Sri Lanka’s quicker-than-expected economic recovery. That not only helped assuage investor fears, but also m

Budget proposals, balancing the budget and IMF parameters

Two days ago President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had the somewhat daunting task of presenting his government’s first budget. AKD as the incumbent president, was voted into power by a population sick and tired of the corrupt rulers who promised much, but delivered only excuses for broken promises.

The Great Bank Heist in Feb. 2015: Ten Years On - Part I

A national betrayal was orchestrated in 2015/16 under the guise of good governance, executed by the Yahapalana administration led by Maithripala Sirisena’s SLFP and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UNP—with its present-day offshoot, the SJB, also bearing responsibility.

View the USAID controversy with an open mind - EDITORIAL

The US President Donald Trump’s announcement on a 90-day pause on foreign aid channeled through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in various countries under his “America First” foreign policy has sent shockwaves across the world,

Artificial Intelligence needs responsible users, or it will destroy us

We’ve already seen how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely used to fake anything from music to art. Researcher Sasha Luccione affirms that tech companies are violating copyright laws by plagiarising images and text by artists and authors.

NICD and the Co-operative Path of Education and Democracy

Sri Lanka mired in a deep economic depression requires mammoth efforts to lift itself out of the crisis.

A reserve rich in biodiversity and history, is burning - EDITORIAL

According to latest reports, the fire at the Ella Forest Reserve in the Uva province had been doused after two days.

An ill-wind seems to be blowing over Lanka‘

Truth, the idiom goes is often stranger than fiction. Our country seems to embody this truism. Days ago we were jolted when media reported the Attorney General -whose independent status has withstood numerous changes as per the Constitution- advised law enforcement authorities that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the three persons accused of abducting the driver of - Lasantha Wickrematunge- Editor of the now defunct ‘Sunday Leader’ n

Opposition fears the past, NPP fears the present

A bizarre situation has arisen in the country where Opposition parties fear to speak about the past while the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) fears to speak about the present. This is clearly evident during the talk-shows telecast in various television channels. The politicians of the Opposition parties during these talk-shows are very fond of discussing the current issues on the rice prices, coconut shortage and the island-wide power outag

Singing the National Anthem in Tamil is Being Sri Lankan and Being Tamil

The first part of this article published last week briefly outlined the history of Sri Lanka’s national anthem being sung in Tamil. In this second and final part, the focus would be on the regress and progress of the national anthem rendition in Tamil over the years. As stated earlier the Tamil national anthem issue is in a sense symptomatic of the escalating ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka.

Arabs reject Trump’s plan; Gaza faces darkness at noon

President Donald Trump first thought he could bully and get whatever he wanted from Arab nations dependent on US economic largesse.

Let’s celebrate the culture of giving away books! - EDITORIAL

There were past governments which tried to introduce tabs to be used in school education. Some schools benefited through this method, but not all.

On dilapidated roads do travel men with ambition

The government has approved the enhancement of rural roads in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The need to re-establish Sri Lanka’s legacy as a spectacular maritime destination - EDITORIAL

Emerging threats in maritime waters have posed significant challenges to the land-locked as well as littoral states such as Sri Lanka.