Don’t be an open-mouthed idiot

To be good citizens who make a substantial contribution to the sustainable, eco-friendly development of our country for the common good of all, we need to be healthy in addition to being creative, imaginative and enterprising.

How deadly is China’s killer coronavirus?

In mid-December 2019, a mysterious respiratory disease (now known as the coronavirus) was reported from China. The Chinese city of Wuhan appeared to be the epicentre of the outbreak. To date, the virus has killed more than a hundred people and infected up to 4,000 others worldwide. Around 3,000 of the those affected have been from the city of Wuhan in China.

Coronavirus, Panic and Racism

The media hype worldwide - created on newfound epidemic ‘2019-CoV’ and known to Sri Lankans as Coronavirus - seems to have both negative and positive impacts. Almost all local and international media outlets including CNN, BBC, ABC, DW, NHK, Al-Jazeera and CNA...

Attacks on Judiciary in Recent Times

The time has arrived for us to think of potential negative consequences of unbridled and unrestrained attacks made on the judiciary consequent to the release of many audio clips to the mass media.

Middle East peace plan from paper pharaoh and fake Moses

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu was slapped corruption charges this week while he was hobnobbing with US President Donald Trump in Washington. Bibi has, apparently, done his homework in psychology. He knew the quickest way to get round Trump was to flatter him.

Can Coronavirus strain SL-China relations? - EDITORIAL

The tourism industry in Sri Lanka seems to be experiencing a never-ending bad period. This is a nation where most television stations engage morning viewers with astrology programmes and most often than not so much negativities are inserted into their minds.

Coronavirus to have economic ramifications for SL

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s visit to Sri Lanka sheds light on his country’s interest in making sure that things agreed upon bilaterally are implemented on the ground. During the past five years, most bilateral projects did not take off the ground despite political will on both sides.

Renewed Calls to probe attacks on scribes

Engaging in the media business in Sri Lanka is not an easy task given that there is often an aggressive government to deal with and readers who at times wish to remain drifted away from the truth..

Looking for the nation in the wrong places and losing ourselves in the process

There are nationalists and they are vilified. There are people who vilify nationalism and nationalists and they are called traitors. It’s a pick-your-enemy kind of political culture that we live in. It makes for easy, convenient and in the cheap political engagement. People are spoiling for a fight. Perhaps out of boredom, but more likely because ‘fight’ is what makes certain people feel their lives are worthwhile. It’s the fighting that counts a

Vigilance is the Price we Pay to be Safe -EDITORIAL

Reminiscent of the Sena Caterpillar which devastated crops across the country leaving epidemiologists and health authorities helpless on how best to control it leave alone eliminate or eradicate it from Sri Lanka’s soil comes the more alarming news of the deadly Coronavirus, a bigger health risk lurking on the side-lines waiting to invade Sri Lanka from Wuhan in the Chinese Province of Hubei thought to be the epicentre of the disease which is spr

HOSPITAL HOAXES AND HAZARDS !!!

There is no other country in the world where ‘MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN’ is more explicit, more brazenly displayed than in this BUDDHIST COUNTRY of ours!!! The first HOAX is the Government promising FREE MEDICINE, FREE HOSPITALIZATION to its citizens.

Divisions which make us Ponder on Independence

The governments of Sri Lanka has thrived on the divide and rule policy. And the irony of it is that the people of this island have fallen for this trap for far too long. This is the practice that the British adopted....

‘Politicians should Appoint Historians as Advisers - Dr. Rupesinghe

While the Department of National Archives is currently undergoing a much-deserved facelift, its doors are open to many researchers, academics and students who walk day in and day out, accessing and perusing important documents of yesteryear.

No more false demi-gods in the age of phone recording apps

Journalists are generally a pompous lot. I have been one for long enough to know this. The arrogance comes with the territory. Most of my colleagues feel that the extraordinary work they do and possibly the really bad hours they keep, entitle them to be a cut above the rest.

Promises are Hanging on a Thread - EDITORIAL

Some of the promises given by the two main candidates of the last Presidential election had attracted the attention of even the people who are normally not concerned about them.

Try ‘Holy Basil’ to fight Coronavirus - EDITORIAL

One of the issues hitting the headlines these days is the possibility of China’s Coronavirus affecting Sri Lanka also. Various preventive strategies have been put in place by the authorities at airports and by SriLankan Airlines with various

Wuhan, the city of life, and the virus

Wuhan, the capital of the Central Chinese Province of Hubei and now the epicentre of the deadly Coronavirus was my home for four memorable years. It is a fabulous city! If you had not heard much of it before, that is because it is also a grossly underrated one. With a population of 11 million, more people than London, and a five-year infrastructure budget of $ 500 billion, it should ha

Our independence and sovereignty

Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, in an interview with speaks about the foreign policy of the new government, and how it will balance out strategic aspirations of the world powers. Adm. Colombage served the Sri Lanka Navy for a period of 36 years and retired as the

HOW LONG CAN THE TRUTH BE HIDDEN

Last week, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer that those reported missing from the war are “actually dead” and that the government would soon issue death certificates. Although the President has since clarified that death certificates will follow proper investigations, his remarks are an affront to mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters of the disappeared who have for years been demanding answers in monthly

Ekneligoda Disappearance: Decade of struggle for truth and justice

January 24, 2020, was 10 years since the disappearance of journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda. It also marked 10 years of struggle for truth and justice by his wife, Sandhya Ekneligoda and two young sons.

The circumstances that led to the birth of UNP and its survival:

SWRD Bandaranaike, Leader of the House was closely followed by a Rajapaksa when the former crossed the floor of House in July 1951, leaving the five-year-old UNP in the able-hands of the Senanayakes, Kotalawalas and Jayewardenes.

Another election is upon us - EDITORIAL

It is expected that Parliament will be dissolved in March this year (2020). Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya at a press conference held on December 4, 2019 said that if Parliament were to be dissolved in March 2020, general elections could be held on either April 25, 27 or 28.

Reducing road traffic accidents: Are we really doing enough?

Last year, 2641 people have died due to road traffic accidents. 7693 had sustained serious injuries and 10691 minor injuries. Of course, it was a drop from the last year but we must not assume that it is the beginning of the downward trend. The reason for the reduction may be due to some other reasons.

Sri Lanka: Religion, politics and democracy

Religion, politics and democracy might appear as three distinct realities; in fact, in many ways, both of a religious and secular nature. But strange as it may seem, they emerge strikingly intertwined in an exceptional way ever since independence.

Sajith Premadasa’s conundrum

The opposition desperately needs a thoughtful head, and it’s not going to get a thoughtful head with the mess it’s in right now. This leadership tussle was and is probably the worst the UNP has faced. But the stakes are too high. The people want Sajith Premadasa – or at least the populists in the UNP want him – and to reject calls to appoint him as not only the leader of the oppositional alliance but also the leader of the party that heads that

There is fire in smoking

For most people, the most dreaded disease is cancer. Even family members and friends are affected by it because in most cases it leads to death. On February 4, the United Nations marks World Cancer Day and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a statement says Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their u

A step in the right direction. What next?

Last week, the Cabinet decided to draft a National Intelligence Act. The Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena who announced the decision said the objective was “to mitigate the damage caused to the state intelligence agencies under the Yahapalana government, prevent repetitions and strengthen the State intelligence services to face any threat to National Security.”

Two “Unconventional” politicians and “Crisis” exposed

Two political personalities; wholly different from each other and different to all others as well, are in the limelight now. One is former State Minister and now Opposition MP Ranjan Ramanayake whose membership was suspended by the UNP leadership....

UNP on the Brink of Suicide

Apart from the United National Party (UNP) currently facing a severe problem caused by the phone-tapping by its Parliament Member Ranjan Ramanayake, the party seems to fail to resolve its infighting over its leadership before the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.

CHEC violates permit conditions for vehicles

China Harbour Engineering Company Limited- the contractual company of the Hambantota Port Project (Phase 1 and 2) has come under fire for allegedly violating conditions stipulated in the duty deferment permits granted.....