“Black October”: Mass Expulsion of Northern Muslims by the LTTE in 1990

October 1990 is a cruel and unforgettable month in the history of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Muslims. It was in October 1990 that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forcibly expelled the Tamil-speaking Muslim people from the Northern Province in an atrocious act amounting to ethnic cleansing.

An Opposition detached from the people

Despite the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) having 40 seats in Parliament, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with only three seats seems to be the main Opposition for the past few weeks, due to the latter being in confrontation with the government than the former.

Lanka is aging fast with little care for the aged

On the first of this month, the world commemorated the International Day of the elderly (those who are 60 years and above). The number of people aged 60 years or more worldwide has more than doubled, from around 541 million in 1995 to 1.2 billion in 2025. This figure is expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050.

Why remove the BMICH police station?

The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) holds significant importance to Sri Lanka, serving as a symbol of the country’s diplomatic relations and cultural heritage.

Taxing plastic bags won’t untax the environment

The recently issued extraordinary gazette mandates that retailers can no longer distribute plastic shopping bags for free from November 1, 2025, which is a welcome move in principle, due to the serious harm posed by the bags to the environment. 

Israel-Hamas truce: Trump’s peace push-dividends or deception?

In wars, there are no victors—only victims. The truth of this statement becomes vivid only when war is viewed through a humanitarian lens. It does not matter whether Israel wins or loses, whether Hamas does, or who outfoxed whom. What matters most are the lives of the war-battered—the hapless and helpless people of Gaza and the Israeli hostages. The side that wages peace wins. As the late Pope Francis once said, “To make peace, one needs courage

Government at Odds with Itself

In what appears to be an instance that shows policy incoherence and administrative disarray, the government found itself entangled in controversy over its handling of an LGBTQ+ project. What began as an official endorsement of a tourism project based on LGBTQ+ rights turns into a hasty denial, with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and others making counter remarks after meeting with the members of the clergy, who protested the move over its imp

Revisiting the unparalleled role of postal services on World Post Day

Sri Lanka’s 200-year-old postal service now stands at a turning point as the government is keen to ensure that it doesn’t incur any losses or become a burden to the Treasury in future. This is why the government has allocated a sum of USD 7 million to modernise postal services in the country. According to Health and Media Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, this allocation was made despite postal services being a burden on state finances. However, des

Sri Lanka’s Future Lies Beyond Local Progress

The government is investing its time and money in northern development in a way that no previous government has in a long while. The topmost leaders of the government, no less, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake, have been spending a great deal of their time and effort in the north. During their visits, they meet face to face with people from different walks of life and launch new development projects that

Cryptocurrency: clear the grey areas

It was recently reported that Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, in his asset declaration to CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption), revealed ownership of 3,000 units of cryptocurrency, a digital asset that exists only online and is often referred to as virtual currency, such as Bitcoin. At present, Sri Lanka has no clear regulatory framework to confirm whether cryptocurrency transactions are legal or otherwise

President Dr. Muizzu’s Bold Vision for a Fully Developed Maldives by 2040

Blessed with immaculate beaches, clear blue waters and an abundance of marine life, the Maldives – a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean is gearing to transform itself into a fully developed nation by 2040 as envisioned by its President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Speaking about his vision at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Muizzu said that achieving this goal requires increased productivity, digital transformation, and leveraging the co

Sri Lankans feel it’s time to ditch traditions, norms

Sri Lanka was once a nation that was greatly influenced by tradition more than law. The arrival of the British added more customs to our traditions.

Lester and Ray:Two Masters with One Vision

Two great filmmakers emerged from Sri Lanka and India three-quarters of a century ago – Lester James Peries and Sathyajit Ray.

ARE WE LIVING IN MODERN TIMES, OR THE STONE AGE?

Anyone who thought that the Aragalaya had buried the old humbuggery for good alongside the ousted old guard has been proven wrong.

Supporting the ban on corporal punishment of children

n July this year, the parliament took a historic step. It amended the Penal Code, banning all forms of corporal punishment inflicted on children.

Let’s not give in to bigotry

It’s strange how Sri Lankans fear any departure from what they are always used to. Take the protests mounted over this government’s progressive attempt to introduce LGBTQ tourism to Sri Lanka and also to do away with caning in our schools.

Self-serving trade union culture has to be changed

Post Master General (PMG) Ruwan Sathkumara said on Friday that postal workers have fraudulently obtained overtime payments worth millions of rupees and that he is deeply embarrassed by the fraudulent and inefficient actions of some postal service officials.

Clear lack of scientific crowd management Why do stampedes occur so often in India?

Stampedes, in which scores of men, women and children are killed and many more grievously injured, are all too frequent in India. There were eight major stampedes so far this year. The massive stampede in Tamil actor and fledgling politico Vijay’s rally at Karur on September 27, in which 41 were killed, was the latest.

Sri Lanka’s Schools Need a Clear Mechanism of Discipline

Sri Lanka’s Parliament has taken a historic step. The Penal Code Amendment of July 2025 bans all forms of corporal punishment of children — not only physical violence but also psychological humiliation, however slight. For the first time, a teacher scolding a student, a prefect striking a classmate, or a principal shaming a child in public can lead to fines and/or imprisonment.

Do not ban Corporal Punishment

As someone who experienced corporal punishment in school (only on one occasion - 2 cuts by cane to the palm of both hands) by our Principal the late Mr. E A Wijesooriya in 1950s, at Mahinda College, I understand it’s impact. The cane punishment, administered by the principals and teachers those days had a lasting effect on us. While some may view it as harsh, it instilled discipline and respect for authority.

Betrayal of Palestinians’ right to their homeland

Days after Arab and Muslim rulers met and pleaded with President Donald Trump not to allow Israel to annex the West Bank, Trump announced on Monday September 29, 2025 a proposal to end Israel’s two year old on going genocidal war in Gaza.

LGBTQ Tourism in India:India is ahead of Sri Lanka dealing with LGBTQ+ recognition and tourism

India, long known for its cultural diversity, is now carving a place for itself as an emerging LGBTQ+ tourism destination.

Foreign policy mistakes of JRJ and AKD’s tilt to the US

It is becoming increasingly clear that President Dissanayake is following the missteps of late former President J.R. Jayewardene in his approach to international relations.

The Changing Debate on Homosexuality and LGBTQ Rights

In recent years, debates on homosexuality and LGBTQ rights have gained momentum worldwide, drawing in not only activists and policymakers but also members of the clergy.

UN Inquiry Commission report:‘Israel is Committing Genocide in Gaza’

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, released its report on September 16, 2025.

Has the government mixed up its priorities?

It is not clear whether it is due to a mix up of priorities or ideological obsession of certain ministers, or genuine intentions, that the government has created controversies on the so-called LGBTQ tourism and the action against corporal punishment of children, at this stage.

Fiasco and hypocrisy at cricket’s ‘Asia Cup 2025’

Cricket was popularised in our country as in most other parts of Britain’s colonial empire by the English. While the British were not looked on kindly by local populations because of their boorish behaviour, cricket was and is, still revered as a sport in most of Britain’s former colonies.

Clean Sri Lanka – A Concept in Need of Renewal

The Clean Sri Lanka concept, launched with much enthusiasm about a year ago, appears to have lost its momentum.

Growth needs reform, not rhetoric

Sri Lanka, having endured a severe financial crisis that culminated in sovereign default in 2022, is now at a critical juncture. The country is under the care of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which offers some breathing space. But this is by no means a permanent cure. The real challenge lies in whether Sri Lanka can generate sustainable growth and become a prosperous country. The reason for the current stalemate is not purely external.

The trouble with Trump’s Gaza blueprint

Those who believe that US President Donald Trump’s so-called 20-point peace plan is a workable solution to end the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip understand neither the sinister designs of the Zionists and their partners in crime nor the root causes of the Palestinian question in its full complexity.