Psychological Support for flood disaster victims: Almsgiving, community meals, prayer, kindness - all this can help

The recent floods in Sri Lanka have left individuals and communities facing profound emotional, psychological, and practical challenges.

Post-cyclone reconstruction: Hold an international donor summit before the world forgets

As Sri Lanka assesses the scale of the devastation of Cyclone Ditwah, the worst-ever natural disaster since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, it should also plan for the next phase of reconstruction in earnest.

Is Sri Lanka’s national survival truly threatened?

Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, boasts of a history stretching back over 2,500 years, rich with cultural heritage and resilience forged through centuries, including foreign rule from 1505 to 1948.

The hidden crisis How floods, slides threaten health of Sri Lanka’s elderly

When Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka in late November 2025, the force of nature felt almost unreal. Hundreds of people died, thousands remain unaccounted for, and more than 147,000 were pushed from the places they once called home.

Review of the publication ‘Sinharaja’ A book that converts science into a story that nudges readers to visit Sinharaja

The legendary Sinharaja rainforest is one of the last remaining vestiges of widespread lowland rainforests that pay homage to an exceptionally concentrated biome consisting of endemic and threatened species.

Will Sri Lanka ever learn?

The era of global warming, no country is immune from extreme climate events such as cyclones, floods, or heatwaves. Yet nations with stronger disaster-preparedness systems consistently mitigate damage and reduce death tolls. The global lesson is clear: countries must learn from past catastrophes and adapt their response mechanisms accordingly.

Don’t blame Ditwah—blame our environmental sins

It goes without saying that Sri Lanka is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. In recent decades, the country has been regularly lashed by extreme weather conditions in the form of either prolonged droughts or relentless rains.

Extracts from a sad farmer’s diary

Sri Lanka’s rice industry is similar to Yo-yo dieting; sometimes it gains and it equally loses. Hence a close look at Sri Lanka’s rice industry merits an in-depth analysis, especially during adverse weather conditions experienced at present.

Cyclone Ditwah and her devastation

We Sri Lankans are reeling from the unimaginable consequences of what Cyclone Ditwah left in her trail. The human suffering through death and isolation, hunger and homelessness, loss of property and sources of income, the bleakness of any hope for tomorrow. In addition, the country’s infrastructure, such as roads, rail tracks, factories, water sources, agricultural lands, which are vital for the daily turning of the economic wheel have been ruine

Why disaster management should now be the govt.’s top priority

Cyclone Ditwah has passed. But the damage it has caused is irreversible. With over 400 recorded deaths and more people still marked as missing, the Cyclone had affected over a million people in the country. Following the 2004 tsunami, people became aware of the extent of a natural disaster. In fact the name tsunami itself was unheard of for a majority of people in the country. It was following the tsunami that policymakers started taking disaste

Not the blame game, but there are many questions to answer

As Sri Lanka reels from the worst-ever natural disaster since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, there are legitimate questions about whether a better organised pre-emptive disaster response could have saved many hundreds of lives lost to landslides and floods in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah.

Can we truly place a value on human life in Sri Lanka?

Judging by the conduct of our politicians and top administrators during major disasters in the recent past, the answer is a firm no. We had clear advance warnings before the 2004 Tsunami, yet over 30,000 Sri Lankans died because the system failed to act. The Easter Sunday attacks followed the same tragic script: credible alerts were ignored, and over 290 lives were lost. Most recently, despite more than 10 days of warnings, a severe storm devast

Tilvin Silva’s Encounter with the Tamil Diaspora in London Protests by a few sections had no impact

Everyone is climate vulnerable now Urgent need for better disaster relief

Cyclone Ditwah which created terror during four frightening days finally moved away. It made landfall on Wednesday, November 26. The death toll is now put at 300, with almost 200 missing, displacing 78,000 and causing enough destruction to bring back vivid memories of the 2004 tsunami.

Ditwah’s Fury Exposes...: Decades of Building Houses in Rain

Concerning disaster management, successive Sri Lankan governments have behaved like monkeys attempting to build houses during a rainstorm, a damning but apt comparison for decades of reactive, haphazard crisis response.

From Easter Sunday to Climatic catastrophe: The Deadly Symmetry of Inaction in Sri Lanka

The recent climatic disaster that ravaged Sri Lanka, causing immense human suffering and resource crises, has tragically exposed a familiar and dangerous pattern of negligence, incompetence, and failure of the government within the corridors of power. This is not merely a natural calamity but a devastating echo of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, a man-made disaster enabled by a systemic failure to act on ample and timely intelligence. The fundame

Make free education more meaningful!

The Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered on a Fundamental Rights petition filed by 66 graduates from foreign universities, observed that they too, are proud citizens of this country, just like those graduating from state universities. It is a landmark observation by the highest court of Sri Lanka. Education is a fundamental right of individuals. It is a universally acknowledged right. Whatever the background, anyone is entitled to pursue educa

Solidarity with Palestinians: UN Day demands justice despite NAM’s betrayal

Tomorrow is the United Nations Day of Solidarity with Palestine. Diplomatically, it delivers a powerful message, urging the world community to take the measures necessary to end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. Yet, in practice, the day passes without bringing any tangible change on the ground. In the early years, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Arab and Islamic states carried the Palestinian torch, burning with the zeal that fue

What is the purpose of massive drug hauls?

Despite headlines claiming that the “value” of drugs detected in Sri Lanka being huge, prompting us to think there is such a big demand, the reality is very different. These massive hauls do not reflect local consumption. Sri Lanka has become a transit hub on one of the world’s busiest narcotics routes linking South Asia, East Africa,

Sri Lanka’s sugar paradox

Sri Lanka has experienced the best and the worst when it comes to privatisation attempts. Privatisation affected many industries including the sugar industry which eventually led governments to import sugar, impose taxes and pushed farmers towards a crisis.

Human-Elephant Conflict: Time to Rethink Our Mitigation Approach

Sri Lanka’s human-elephant conflict (HEC) has reached a breaking point. In 2023, Sri Lanka became the deadliest country for Asian elephants, with 488 killed a 115% increase since 2010.

Make supermarkets accountable for polythene waste

From November 1, supermarkets began charging Rs. 3.00 for small shopping bags and Rs. 5.00 for large ones. While this token charge has reduced polythene use slightly, it has done little to change consumer behaviour. Many shoppers continue to pay these small sums without a second thought—while supermarkets keep profiting and the environment keeps suffering.

Commemorating JVP and LTTE ‘heroes’: Lessons the North could learn from Southern reconciliation with the JVP

I have an improvised gauge to predict when the JVP, the main constituent party of the National People’s Power government,captures the State. That would be the day you will witness astate-sponsored beatification of Rohana Wijeweera as the saviour of the nation.

Who cares for the poor? Your guess is as good as mine

It’s now a year since the NPP government was overwhelmingly voted into power at the 2024 general elections. The new government in the run-up to the general election promised much, but today has little to show.

What’s the govt.’s solution to recurring landslides?

Landslides have now become an everyday occurrence for people living in hilly areas. The tragic landfall in Kadugannawa, claiming lives of six people, speaks volumes about negligence of authorities to provide a solution.

Government threatening media is counterproductive

The National People’s Power (NPP) Government is under fire these days after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) summoned a Newspaper Editor to question him over a news item published in his paper. The Free Media Movement (FMM) and the Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), the leading media organisations in the country have decried the government’s move as a threat to media freedom.

In the West, even Protestant priests are switching to the Catholic church

Studies indicate a surge in the conversion of people from the Anglican and other Protestant churches to the Catholic church in the UK and the US. The converts are mainly young people but there is also a growing number of ordained Anglican priests among them.

Inclusive employment for persons with disabilities

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), in collaboration with GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH) embarked on a trailblazing initiative to explore avenues for gainful employment of persons with disabilities (PWDs). This well-thought-out plan was designed to facilitate a pathway that would create a fruitful relationship between PWDs and potential employers who are passionate about fostering diversity

The unpriced pillar of governance Recognising the invaluable social discipline rendered by Sri Lanka’s religious leaders

In the complex tapestry of modern nation-states, governance is often viewed through the narrow lens of policy, legislation, and enforcement agencies.

Bay of Bengal countries celebrate small-scale fisheries on World Fisheries Day

To mark World Fisheries Day 2025, Sri Lanka and countries bordering the Bay of Bengal came together to celebrate the contributions of small-scale fisheries to coastal livelihoods, food security, and sustainable development.