They called power to account

We focus today on journalists, Maria Ressa and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov, who were awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace”.

Sahithyaratne Winner Namel Weeramuni’s literary pace continues

Receiving the coveted ‘Sahithyaratne,’ the Lifetime Award of State Literary Awards 2020 at 87, will not slow down the literary pace of Namel Weeramuni.

‘52-day coup’ – an inerasable stain in the Sri Lankan political history

It is absolutely correct if we say that Sri Lanka’s democracy received its worst ever blow on October 26, 2018. The then President....

T20 World Cup and rise of the ‘No-hopers’ - EDITORIAL

When the Sri Lankan team left for the T20 World Cup series in Dubai earlier this month, the team left without much fanfare....

We Resolve to Fight against All Forms of Caste Oppression

The Jaffna People’s Forum for Coexistence strongly condemns the casteist violence unleashed on the oppressed community....

Ending university ragging: An urgent appeal to take the bull by the horns

Ragging in Sri Lankan universities has overshadowed many bright futures and even cut short young lives full of potential. Deaths...

There is more the Tamil Diaspora can do for Sri Lanka - Suren Surendiran

A recent speech made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and a comment made later by Foreign Minister, Professor G.L Peiris....

Political ignorance and electoral seesaw

The Opposition parties in Sri Lanka seem to be banking on the failures of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) government to come to power at the next Presidential as well as Parliamentary elections. It is natural, and it has to be so, but it would be the people who are going to lose again, as happened after each election since the Independen

Counterfactual history Ratwatte’s drunken prison escapade: If it happened this way

It has been more than six weeks since that epic moment when a ruling party politico who happened to be the state minister of prison reforms stormed the Anuradhapura Prison, and forced a group of Tamil inmates on their knees, threatening them a

Commemorating The Charismatic Sir Cyril de Zoysa Pioneer Buddhist Revivalist, on his 125th Birthday

Born on the 26th of October 1896 to a distinguished family in Balapitiya, Sir Cyril as a young boy had his education at St. Thomas’ College, Matara, then at Richmond College, Galle and finally at Royal College, Colombo

Sri Vikrama Rajasinha wore royalty on his sleeve even after losing his Kingdom

The British, who had dubbed him the devil-incarnate, became his guardian after overthrowing him

Failures; Pillars of Success or successive pillars? - EDITORIAL

On November 16, 2019 Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was declared winner at the presidential election and assumed the presidency....

From Cycle Chains, Bullets to Pay Packs

Suppression of worker struggles in SL has evolved from Cycle chains, Batons, Bullets, Bombs; Tear gas & Water Canons.....

How and why the TNA was formed twenty years ago

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is now twenty years of age. The premier political configuration of the Tamil people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka came into being on October 22, 2001, a few weeks ahead of the 2001 December Parliamentary Election. Much water has flown down on either side of the Elephant Pass Isthmus since then.

Unending saga of Indian fishermen fishing illegally in SL waters

Until Monday when the northern farmers joined their southern counterparts in protesting against the government’s untimely decision to ban chemical fertilizer, the northern people were more concerned about the protests by fishermen in the region against the plundering of their wealth by the Indian fishermen.

Going back and forth with the Diaspora

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last month said in New York that Tamil Diaspora would be invited for discussions. And his Foreign Minister now says that the government has ruled out talks with banned Tamil Diaspora groups.

Govt. must notice its disgruntled youth - EDITORIAL

It has always been a challenge to deal with the youth of this county. Most of them receive free school education and nurture....

The Sunni-Shiite schism and Afghanistan’s bloody Fridays

Last Friday’s suicide bomb blast in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar was the second such attack on a Shiite mosque....

India lays emphasis on culture diplomacy with Sri Lanka

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to inaugurate the Kushinagar International Airport with the landing of an aircraft from Sri Lanka with a high profile delegation on board.

What happened in Afghanistan under US command?

Former US President George Bush’s and then British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s post 9/11 ‘War on Terror’ cannot go on, without resuscitating the dying ISIS and Al-Qaida.

Sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind

The harrowing fertilizer crisis with farmers, who are a vital cog in the country’s food chain, being ploughed deeper into the mud have no relief in sight apart from worthless words being spewed out by government members.

‘Diplomatic’ forays into the North and East

If you browsed the internet using the search words ‘terrorism + USA’ you will find lots of information including lists of ‘foreign terrorist organizations,’ terrorist attacks in the USA and US travel advisories, among lots of other things.

Violation of Fundamental Rights and impunity - EDITORIAL

The Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion, the Freedom from Torture, the Right to Equality, the Freedom from Arbitrary....

#Pandemic Journalism; there is no otherness, no more

The otherness has been removed from journalism. The otherness that helped us to stick to or at least maintain a thin veneer.....

How are you?

If there’s one question that we rarely give a genuine answer that would be it. ‘How are you?’ as a greeting therefore is quite stumping.

The Last King of Scotland The new normal of Sri Lanka is both Grimmer and ludicrous than dark comedy

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the eighth executive President, and the incumbent in the office seems to believe that the next thing Sri Lanka needs right after the pandemic is a new constitution and a new electoral system. At a ceremony to

Need for a Constitution to ‘Neuter’ the Politician: Power back to people!

The present framework restricts the sovereignty of the people merely to the day they go to the polling booth to change or retain....

Broken promises, Cost of Living and Covid-19 - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka today, is probably facing one of the most critical phases in its post-independence period. On the one hand, the country....

Agrarian Markets and Co-operative Challenges

Co-operatives are gaining ground in the North. The co-operative movement serving small producers grew into a rural giant...

Sri Lanka will not bow down to the sword of Damocles - Prof. G. L. Peiris

Sri Lanka’s foreign policy has been inconsistent over the past few years under successive Governments and its dealings.....