Let’s not create a paedophiles’ paradise

In 2006, the Sri Lankan Government ratified the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and accordingly committed itself to combat sexual exploitation of children (SEC).

What’s Next Mr Minister? Mangala’s Tobacco Tricks Vs Rajitha’s ‘Health’

The subtitle is not in any way intended at the two gentlemen politicians, but to quote the contemptuous description of a lighted fag .., “A Flame at one end; a Fool at the other”, a creation of mischievous anti-tobacco campaigners.

Is war between Iran and the US looming? - EDITORIAL

The warmongers in the United States are hard at work once again. On 20 June the world learned the US was on the verge of unleashing its air, sea and military might against Iran for the shooting down of a US drone in the Persian Gulf.

Future of Sri Lanka: The right moment to make wise decisions

Have you ever thought about how we will be living in the year 2030 or beyond in our Motherland. Simply speaking, the changes that may take place within another 10 to 25 years.

the Premadasa Vision National development via development of human settlements

The United National Party (UNP) which came to power in July 1977 with an unprecedented majority set about the task of transforming the hitherto closed, inward-looking and stagnant economy of Sri Lanka into an open, outward-looking and vibrant economy with a view to stimulating the growth process and enhancing the quality of life of the ordinary masses.

19A – Chaos or nepotism?

The declared aim of the 19th Amendment was to curb executive powers of the President with the lofty ideal of creating better governance to achieve the ultimate goal of “Good Governance.”

Take a step on refugees or Internally Displaced People

To willingly and lovingly give shelter to homeless people and especially strangers is a deeply spiritual act. It is in such an enlightened perspective that we need to reflect on the United Nations World Refugees Day, which was marked on Thursday. In this modern world with high technology and globalisation enabling people to get to know things in a split second, the UN has revealed some shocking facts which are a disgrace to humanity because what

Hatred stands in the way of peace and harmony

Despite the noble thoughts found in the four great religions practised in Lanka - Buddhism, Hinduism (Saivaism), Islam, and Christianity (Roman Catholicism and Protestant and the like), why is it that some people professing such religions have scant disregard for the philosophical gems contained in these religions? Are they true believers of these religions or are they masquerading themselves as devotees but in fact have criminal minds while nu

Heading for a Sinhala South presidential poll without ‘solutions’

Asgiriya chapter high prelate Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera went on record five days ago endorsing Chamal Rajapaksa as the “choice” of the Sinhala Buddhist people for the next presidential election....

Meting out justice to victims of Easter Sunday attacks

Although exactly two months have lapsed since the suicide attacks on Christians by the National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ) terrorists, their impact is still felt in every sphere of the society. The media is hardly in a position to discuss anything devoid of it.

How Sri Lanka brings the ‘best’ out in Modi - EDITORIAL

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an expert in international relations and can also become the ideal statesman who must act aggressively when there is a need to return ‘fire for fire’.

Death of Morsi and democracy in Egypt going the ISIS way

Mohammed Morsi died on Monday inside a soundproof glass cage in a courtroom. His death symbolizes the chokehold on democracy in Egypt, which appears to be still under the spell of the Pharoah’s curse.

World Refugee Day and RefugeeS in Sri Lanka

June 20 is World Refugee Day, coinciding with a time Sri Lankafaces it’s most serious refuge crisis since 2014. Although not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, Sri Lankais bound by international customary law and human rights treaty obligations to respect the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of persons to a country when

Presidential candidacy: Three-pronged battle in UNP

As the presidential election period approaches day by day, the mainstream political parties are fully occupied with their internal discussions, manipulations and manoeuvrings on the selection of their candidates to be fielded.

The enemy at the gate could be a blessing

Ranjan Ramanayake is an outspoken UNP parliamentarian. He is so outspoken that sometimes he gets into hot water. Occasionally, though, he is spot on. Just the other day, he was at his blunt best when he took on Mahamood Hizbullah and other Muslim politicians who are all of a sudden playing ‘Representatives of the Victimized Community’ and worse, issuing threats to one

Good Governance Began with a bang, now just a whimper

The drubbing, which the Sri Lankan cricketers received at the hands of the Australia, would have left millions of cricket fans in Sri Lanka dejected and despondent. But sadly though, this is a reflection of the mess and muddle that governance in Sri Lanka has got itself into. Some 6.2 million people voted for the then common candidate Maithripala Sirisena to elect him President in

Dr Dennis Aloysius: The Ideal Doctor and Friend

Dennis’s demise was a shock to family and friends, but as he never recovered from the death of his beloved wife, Chrissy, a few years ago, I’m glad for both of them that they are reunited again in Heaven. They were an example of an ideal marriage; soul mates, partners, a model of a lifelong devotion to each other, always together, Chrissy never sat down to eat till she had

HONESTY!

HONESTY is lost - in thought, word and in deed! HONESTY is such a LONELY word and hardly ever heard today!!! The great Nelson Mandela was quoted “As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself.

State of our ‘State’… pathetic and dangerously close to collapse

The state of our State is fast approaching a collapse of dangerous proportions. It is not an overstatement, nor is my attempt to sensationalize a lackluster performance of a government and make it look like a potentially shattering event. Yet realization on the part of a greater majority, especially amongst Sinhalese Buddhists, that the present coalition government has failed miserably to deliver what it promised on before the last the Presidenti

Keeping a tab on China, India and Sirisena’s travels

Sri Lanka is at a crossroads whether to support the USA in a trade war against China or whether to stand firm and support the rising tide created by two Asian superpowers.

Sri Lanka has a ‘minority problem’

What could Sri Lanka’s independent leaders have thought as key challenges that awaited them, when the country received independence some seven decades ago?

This is the age of deepfake

I first paid notice to a deepfake about three years back when an adult video with the superimposed image of an Indian journalist began to circulate.

Next Boris to fore…. - EDITORIAL

Boris Pasternak, the Russian novelist won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958 for his famous work Doctor Zhivago. While the book was banned....

Procrastinating polls put country’s future in dilemma

Despite there being laws pertaining to various elections in the country, Sri Lankan politicians have always attempted to by-pass those laws to push the former Elections Department or the current Elections Commission to hold the elections they prefer at a time more favourable to them. The ruling United National Party (UNP) and its coalition partner, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) some time ago wa

Social Engineering and the psychology of becoming the other

All things are subject to interpretation whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power...

Central Asian gatherings signal Asian challenge to US

Last week, there were two very important international gatherings in the Central Asian region with the involvement of a large number of Asian and Eurasian countries including Russia, China, India and Sri Lanka.

The 48-hour notice to Jaffna Muslims

Around the 1980s Tamil people believed they were given step-motherly treatment by all Governments: there was a simmering discontent in the North-East over policies; they thought the ‘Sinhala Gove

Bharhut Stupa; Majesty and Mystery

The British major had ridden for days from Allahabad while on his way to Nagpur and had arrived in the small village of Bharhut just before sunset. That evening while resting in a villager’s house he noticed some carved stones paving....

Fighting indebtedness and co-operative alternatives

Household indebtedness is now a critical factor in disrupting social life. Furthermore, rising and unsustainable household indebtedness has also contributed to national economic crises, including the global economic crisis of 2008.

Mass resignation of Muslim Ministers and an analogy of parochialism

It does not take a political scientist to feel that the mass resignation of Muslim Ministers is in bad faith. More so when they took place barely six weeks after Islamic terrorists unleashed a serial carnage, killing over 250....