Disruptive activities of a Coal Power Plant; ‘Norochcholai’ too hot for marine life

Whilst the world’s coral reef sanctuaries are facing the threat of being destroyed due to rising sea temperatures, local environmental groups.....

PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks: THE END OR ANOTHER BEGINNING ?

For more than a year, the Daily Mirror reported on the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to inquire into the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks.

Are we activists for justice or religious hypocrites?

As we celebrate our Independence Day on February 4 -- though there are many questions as to how independent we are or will be after the 20th Amendment -- the United Nations also marks the International Day of Human Fraternity.

Government’s self-inflicted misfortune at the UNHRC

Ms. Bachelet’s report is unusually blunt. It’s a cut and paste job of Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch, etc, probably with some input from types of transnational govt. of Tamil Eelam and likeminded groups

Consequences of the military coup in Myanmar

Myanmar is seeing its fourth military coup since independence from the British in 1948. On February 1, the Myanmar military called the “Tatmadaw” was in the process of taking over the country from State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.

Ven. Prof. Bellanvila Wimalarathana: A Valiant Priest of our Times

I have been wanting to write about Ven. Prof. Bellanvila Wimalarathana for a long time. But having worked with him closely it was difficult to bring myself to write about him as the grief was so great. I still wonder whether I have fully come to terms with this loss. His untimely demise was a great loss to the entire nation. Personally, I valued

Criticism against Govt. an urban phenomenon - G.L. Peiris

Education Minister Professor G.L. Peiris, in an interview with the Daily Mirror, responds to queries about plans for revival of the education sector amidst the pandemic. Also, he shares his views on some criticism of the government in the realization of public expectations. The Excerpts:

Virtual education, CoVID-19 and dumping of our children - EDITORIAL

In 1945, the system of free education was introduced into our country. Since then. every child over the age of five, and not more than sixteen has been entitled to free education.

When Informality Kills

What happens to most working people’s income when they fall sick or become too old to work? What does an economic depression....

Dharmasena Pathiraja: “Enfant Terrible” of Sinhala Cinema

January 28, 2021 was the third death anniversary of famous filmmaker Dharmasena Pathiraja. The renowned academic cum film director, referred to as “Pathi” by almost everybody he interacted with, breathed his last on the morning of January 28, 2018 at the Lakeside Hospital in Kandy.

UNHRC: Govt. between the devil and deep blue sea

The Government on January 22 announced one of its countermeasures against the possible resolution that would be adopted in the UNHRC sessions in Geneva.

Growing dissatisfaction in Lanka

The Covid-19 pandemic has shaken the economies in countries the world over. Sri Lanka too has been shaken as the pandemic worsens and the numbers of those contracting the disease and the death rate rising rapidly.

Demanding a change in the face of politics - EDITORIAL

During the COVID-19 pandemic several Sri Lankan expatriates chose to return home and they were brought back in batches.

Vaccine the new bio weapon

Here’s a story. Two men have been walking for days in search of food and water after surviving a plane crash in a desert.

It’s the season of condescension

Come January and sometimes even late December, we notice an outpouring of ‘concern’ for Sri Lanka. There are countries, which were to help Sri Lanka. There is much noise and much of it comes in the form of threats, sometimes veiled and sometimes not, sometimes with a smirk and sometimes sugar-coated. And there’s also nauseating condescension. The year 2021 is not an exception.

‘This is Democracy’s Day’

Finally, at last, ultimately Donald J. Trump, the second one-term president in US history, left the White House and his presidency without even having the courtesy to attend the inauguration of his successor Joseph R. Biden, who was sworn-in at an impressive ceremony at the Capitol, as the 46th President of the United States of America and Kamala Devi Harris as its Vice President.

It’s natural for U.S. ambassador to stand for Indian involvement in ECT

The business model proposed by the Government for the development of the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo in partnership with an Indian company has come under severe criticism by the trade unions including those affiliated to the government.

Salaam Shukra!

When the schools were reopened on Monday (January 25) for students in western Province there was another reason for them to celebrate other than getting back to a classroom environment.

Annus Horriblis

It was exactly a year ago that news emerged in Australia of the first COVID-19 patient. On January 25 last year, a recently returned traveller from Wuhan....

An uncrowned king - EDITORIAL

He is everywhere nowadays. On television his humble voice offers a palpable respite to those who have got fed up with the cacophony of political rhetoric.

COVID-19: Ridiculing patients

While the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit has been claiming that there is no community spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, citing World Health Organization’s criteria, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) citing the same WHO’s analys

Victims, culprits of ‘Dammika Paniya’ and false national pride

Less than two months ago, a self-professed holy man ( Kapuwa) from Kegalle became the embodiment of the Sri Lankan ingenuity. The man who had no medical background concocted a miracle COVID-19 cure after being told of its recipe by

‘What I do in my bedroom shouldn’t be State’s business’ -Rosanna Flamer-Caldera-

LGBTIQ rights have been and are still a very sensitive topic in Sri Lanka. The topic is sensitive mainly because of Sri Lanka’s strong cultural background, a culture which refuses to accept gay rights. Rosanna Flamer-Cald

Crimes without Criminals

Parliamentarian Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan has been discharged and released over the Joseph Pararajasingham murder case.

137 Shot Dead on July 29, ’87: India Arm-twisted JR to Sign the Indo-Lanka Accord

The report reminisces the unprecedented July 29, 1987 turmoil on the day Indo-Lanka Accord was signed under curfew in Colombo.

Health Minister and the failure of COVID syrup - EDITORIAL

Irony at its best -the Minister of Health, one of the chief proponents of the locally developed ‘COVID syrup’ better known as the ‘peniya’....

Amazon boss made $11.7m per hour while WORKERS GOT LESS THAN A DOLLAR AS PAY RISE IN 2020

In some parts of the world, authorities have used COVID-19 regulations as an excuse to curb calls for greater democracy and freedom.

Core-group working on SL seeks consensual resolution at UNHRC - Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will have its 46th session between February 22 and March 19. Sri Lanka is on the agenda this time.....

Acquittal of TMVP Leader “Pillayan” From Murder Charges

On January 12, 2021, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court imposed a sentence of four years rigorous imprisonment on Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjan Leo Sylvester Alphonsu alias Ranjan Ramanayake finding him guilty of the offence of Contempt of court.

Given America’s Past and Present, Biden’s call for unity was timely

America is known as the world’s first democracy and as a country where different ethnicities coalesce to constitute the quintessential “American”. But closer scrutiny would reveal that, from the beginning to the present day, its history has been pockmarked by disunity, violence, racial discrimination, economic inequality, and even secessionist tendencies.