Alcohol: How much is too much?

“ I take a glass of arrack every day” “I take a 1/4 a bottle of arrack once in a month” “Taking a glass of wine at the end of the day relaxes me”

Pulwama leads to external mediation

Following the deadly suicide attack on a convoy of Indian buses carrying paramilitary personnel in Pulwama (Kashmir) on February 14, and the air strikes carried out by India and Pakistan on February 26 and 27, key players in the international scene appealed for de-escalation and talks between the estranged nuclear-armed neighbours. Saudi Arabia and Russ

Sri Lanka Second most vulnerable to climate change in the World

Most Sri Lankans consider themselves fortunate to be living in a country with more or less the same climate throughout the year. Snowstorms and volcanoes have not bothered us so far. Yet, heavy rainfall, floods and long droughts are frequent occurrences. Quite evidently, the rates of these natural hazards have been observed to have increased significantly over the past ten years, leading to

Does she travel safe?

Leading to this year’s International Women’s Day, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) together with the government authorities and Colombo Municipal Council launched an audio-visual installation to encourage the public to speak up, intervene and be part of the change that tackles harassment in public transportation in Sri Lanka. The exhibition at the Town Hall Grounds, Colombo features stor

Dr. Colvin R. de Silva’s 30th Death Anniversary: A statesman of indisputable honesty and integrity

Colvin was only 27 years old when he researched and presented to the London University ‘Ceylon under the British Occupation’ his thesis ; It proposed the position he was designed to take against British colonialism and its rule when he was back....

RTI activism in Sri Lanka and India: Can India continue to be an example in future?

The decomposed body of a 32-year old RTI activist who went missing in January was found in Pune, a city in the Indian State of Maharashtra early February. Such is the plight of a movement that was initiated to transfer power into the hands of the people.

US-North Korea summit flop - EDITORIAL

The second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, -- both of whom at one time insultingly described each other as a ‘little rocket man’ and ‘a mentally deranged US dotard’...

An aggregation of Tuk-Tuks

A recent article on tuk-tuks (three wheelers doubling as low-level taxis), claimed there was a registered population of two million. Tuk-tuks, starting life as disdained, mechanical bone shakers, rapidly metatasised into every village.

When the mentor scores a hundred the protege too is batting well at 68 Saga of RAF-SLAF nexus

His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cambridge KG GT, more familiar to us as Prince William, from Kensington Palace eulogizing on the Royal Air Force (RAF) Centenary, drawing attention to his great grandfather, His Majesty King George VI (then Prince Albert) who as an instructor at Cranwell in early 1918, mentions being the first ‘Royal’ pilot, forging a strong link with the service since then. Not only his great grandfather, but his own father, uncle

Listen to the ocean: “If you destroy me, you will destroy yourself” - EDITORIAL

Not only in sustainable economic development, but also in religion, highest priority is being given to the battle against global warming and climate change with its catastrophic consequences including the unbalancing of the delicate balance in the earth’s biodiversity. Launching a prophetic initiative, Pope Francis has called on religious leaders to come together and join forces in battling global warming.

The Trump-Kim summit in Vietnam

Kim Jong-un, paramount leader of the North Korean dictatorship, is in Vietnam ready to meet President Donald Trump.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Because why not?

Harim Peiris, in an article on Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidential ambitions (“Sinhala nationalist critique of democracy – a mistake”), conflates the man’s candidacy with what he refers to as “the new Sinhala nationalist political project”, which he views....

Gota’s Freedom to Live no joke

The Daily Mirror on 12 February 2019 carried an interview with Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who believes he is the ideal candidate for the next Presidential Election. He is being paraded by a few ex-military officers....

Indo-Pakistan tensions from a Sri Lankan perspective - EDITORIAL

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) showed its grave concerns about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and called for the two neighbouring nations to act in a manner that ensures security, peace and stability in the entire region.

UNHRC: The right road ahead for Sri Lanka

It is the time of the year when nations convene in Geneva to assess the world’s human rights situation. Can a nation escape scrutiny by saying “the rules of fair play do not apply in love and war”?

Cricket lovely cricket and games our politicos play

Despite the winds of adversity raging within the precincts of Parliament over the shocking allegations made by United National Party (UNP) member and State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake that some parliamentarians including ministers are known to be using cocaine, Sri Lankans, nevertheless have good reasons to rejoice in the wake of Sri Lanka’s Cricket Team beating South Africa in the Two Test Matches played on its home grounds. This time of plenty c

Abolishing Executive Presidency; only talk, no action

Once it appeared to be an arduous task for President Maithripala Sirisena to clinch the presidential candidacy. Sirisena apparently took an interest in getting the present executive presidential system scrapped –that

Samantha Power’s keynote address [a briefing note]

Samantha Jane Power, US Ambassador to the UN during the Obama administration is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at an event celebrating Mangala Samaraweera’s completion of 30

Overindulging in the art of whistle -blowing

State Minister of Highways and Rural Development Ranjan Ramanayake seems to encounter problems in what he wishes to convey to the media. Now the actor turned politician states that he was misquoted in the media with regard to the revelation he made about 24 ministers and members of parliament consuming narcotics. Ramanayake affirms that the statement he made to the media re

Chained jumbos a tourist eyesore

Sri Lanka, which came under the spotlight for its human atrocities during the civil war, is now accused of being cruel to elephants. Opposition to how Sri Lanka treats domesticated elephants was aired in British Parliament by MP Dr. Rupa Hue recently. The MP wants the British Government to take steps to discourage his countrymen from visiting Sri Lanka.

‘Don’t Let Love Disappear’

W.P. Ariyasena was last seen on the evening of December 12, 1989. Caught between the violence of two forces of the Government and rebels, Ariyasena was one among hundreds who never returned home during the reign of terror. “He left for the town, during the curfew, to bring home a bag of rice. He only wanted to feed our children. That was the last time I saw my

Cricket in the time of tweetstorms

Kusal Mendis is the prototype for a national cricket star in the making in the age of social media. When Mendis, the diminutive designated flag-bearer of the national cricket team hits the sweet spot, social media goes into top gear. When he fails, which he has shown the penchant of doing as often as he has smashed everything around in disdain, social media is on hyper-drive.

POLITICIANS, MADUSH, COCAINE AND MORE!

IWhat a potpourri!!! What a deadly combination!!! What a colossal amount of money involved??? YET, MADUSH IS LOOKING AT ONLY LIFE IMPRISONMENT!!! Jewellery heist of another enormous amount and the culprit/culprits are laughing!!! It would be interesting to know where and how this all began; the ending now seems to be in the hands of the authorities

Anti-gang Law before the Capital Punishment

In Sri Lanka, numbers of high-profile reputed criminal gangs are largely operating in the provinces of Northern and Southern with blessings of prominent politicians in power. The trend has led Sri Lanka to become the main illegal cocaine and heroin hub in Asia. Currently, some notorious criminal gang members are operating outside the Sri Lanka jurisdiction as well. The

Unity in diversity ; the need of the hour

The American Nobel literature prize winning author Ernest Hemingway in one of his bestselling novels, ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ says, “I belong to humanity and every person’s death diminishes me”. It is in the light of deep reflections such as this that the United Nations on March 3 marks Zero Discrimination Day.

A nit-picking nation

I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail– Abraham Maslow Sri Lankans had been a caring nation. People here used to help their neighbours and were hospitable to visitors. If someone was in trouble everyone rushed to help. They surely were not only minding their own business but they w

Another blunder in the offing: Abolishing Grade five scholarship exam

By the late 1940s,Sri Lanka had a formidable network of English medium schools operated by the colonial government, missionaries, Buddhist and other faith based organizations. Contrary to the bunkum that was later advanced as a means

Preservation of demographic pattern now an issue in India

For the past few decades, India has been witnessing internal migration from State to State and also unauthorised immigration from Bangladesh, both movements being driven by economic factors.

A Tale of Two Diplomats

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness.....

Do we hearken to the Cry of the People?

During the last few months, our dear motherland had experienced chaos and tragedies unprecedented. The constitutional crisis plunged this dear country in a 52-day cloud of unknowing and confusion.