Covid war: Aggressive diplomacy by China

There is a bizarre connection between a Reuter news agency picture of a Chinese female athlete winning a gold medal in the weightlifting....

Question to political leaders, are you a humanitarian

Sacred scriptures tell us that the entire law is fulfilled by obeying one commandment—loving your neighbour as you love yourself. Neighbour means not just the people who live next door but who are in need of food, shelter, clothing, proper education in life and other essential facilities. We are also told that those who have the greatest love are those who risk or give their lives to save others.

Seeds of discontent, seeds of change

Seed; technically it refers to ‘the unit of reproduction of a flowering plant, capable of developing into another such plant.’ As such, it has immense metaphoric applications. Just google ‘seed + quotes’ and you will get dozens. By and large it has positive connotations, after all anything that can generate ‘more of the same’ does sound rich. ‘Seed’ is a wholesome word because it is all about renewal, regeneration.

Crocodile tears and the plight of Afghanistan - EDITORIAL

In July this year, the US, like many imperialist states before them, pulled their troops out of Afghanistan. The Americans....

Let’s talk digital hygiene

About ten days back, I started receiving a flurry of messages from colleagues in Sri Lanka. I am generally not in many of the messaging groups....

The plight of an invisible workforce

The death of the teenage housemaid who had been employed by the family of former minister Rishad Bathiuden on July 15 has been politicized in both mainstream and social media and communalized for some extent in social media.

Folding up KNDU Act leave anything worth for Sri Lanka?

The debate that is being hyped and ballooned at present among Colombo “Yahapalana groups” is on “militarisation of higher education” with “Sir John Kotalawela National Defence University” (KNDU) Draft Bill in parliament. While the common allegatio

Police ‘excesses’ - EDITORIAL

Police brutality sometimes euphemistically referred to as ‘excesses’ committed by individual or rogue bands of law enforcement officials....

‘Variants’ - NCM, sexual abuse, homicide, teacher-principal acrobats and KDU

The Delta variant is on the verge of going out of control. The 24 letters in the first alphabetic script in history, the Greek alphabet....

JR Jayewardene and the July 1983 Anti-Tamil Violence

July 24, 1983 was the day on which a destructive spree of anti-Tamil violence commenced in Jaffna in the early hours of the morning and began spreading to Colombo in the later hours of the evening on the same day.

Back to the period before Black July

Against the backdrop of the arrest of trade union and political activists who demonstrated against the proposed General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill, the main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) launched a picketing campaign against the suppression of dissent and spiraling cost of living at the Independence Square on July 9.

To the youth we say, ‘let your greatness blossom’

Political and other leaders need to remember what they do or fail to do will have a positive or negative effective on the younger generation and generations to come.

BEWARE OF SPYWARE; YOU ARE BEING WATCHED

A man tells his wife that he thinks their electronic items are spying on them. “Nonsense,” said the wife. The man laughed. His wife laughed. Siri laughed. Alexa laughed.

BYPASSING NYSC AND STRAIGHT TO REALITY SHOWS - EDITORIAL

Upcoming singers singing the songs of veteran artistes at reality shows has produced mixed....

Trust of all communities and ethnicities is important

‘Moncada Day’ of Cuba and its Global Relevance

The Europeans began actively colonising Latin America ever since Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba in 1492. The Spanish were the first to colonise Cuba, by bringing in Africans to work in the sugar and tobacco plantations.

Reading ‘re-election’ statement

“The boss has said it loud and clear that he will contest a second time! Now the other side (opposition) would have to nominate Basil. If not, even someone from the tuk-tuk party could also do the job!”

Human trafficking a scourge against humanity

We have often heard of trafficking in narcotic drugs, weapons and other forms of smuggling. Though less known human trafficking is a graver crime because it often involves innocent, helpless people and even children.

The sad fate of sports in Sri Lanka - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka, or Ceylon back then, first took part in Olympic Games in the 1948 London Olympics, where Duncan White won a Silver medal....

Tharindu Jayawardhana: Does he deserve a ‘Prabhakaran’s fate’?

Tharindu Jayawardhana is the latest victim of threats, intimidation and hatred directed towards journalists and all those who express...

Free expression at stake in critical Sri Lankan intimidation case

Tharindu Jayawardhana is one of Sri Lanka’s most outstanding and promising young journalists. His writings and MediaLK, the news....

‘FALL OUT OF THE KDU BILL’

The political storm created by the arrest of teacher trade union activists and political activists on July 8 is still continuing. Demonstrations are being held even after the release of General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), Joseph Stalin and the politburo member of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Duminda Nagamuwa on July16 from quarantine centres in Mullaitivu and Pallekelle respectively. The facts that they were taken to qua

Indians torn between law and “morality” on live-in relationships

Live-in relationship is legal, but sections of the judiciary and society are still not reconciled to it

We cannot develop country by giving into protests SB

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP S.B. Dissanayake expressed concerns about not getting a Ministerial post in the current....

Tales from a ‘failed State’ and the world’s richest State - EDITORIAL

On July 11 thousands of people took to the streets in cities throughout Cuba. They were demonstrating against food shortages...

KNDU and the Future of Education

The crisis is devastating. Sri Lanka is in danger of defaulting on its international loans for the first time since....

Pavithra’s Marx, Lenin, Stalin & Keheliya’s ‘Kalakanni’

Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, addressing the media briefing last week....

“Medamulana Dynasty”: Four Sons and Three Grandsons of Don Alvin Rajapaksa

Basil Rohana Rajapaksa was sworn in as Finance minister in the Government of Sri Lanka by his brother President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on July 8, 2021.

Quarantine, Stalin, Wigneswaran and Ponnambalam

However much the government leaders justify the arrest and subsequent detention of trade union and Student union activists in a quarantine centre in Mullaitivu after they launched a demonstration at the Parliament junction on July 8, it has left so many unanswered questions.

Peace be with you my friend

A friend in need is a friend indeed. It is an inspiring and encouraging virtue when the words turn into deeds though it is sometimes categorised among clichés when it is not practiced.