Clinical waste washed ashore in Jaffna and Puttalam Districts

The Daily Mirror of 15 August 2018 reported that the Maritime Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) would request the Ministry of Environment to discuss with the Indian High Commission to urge India to prevent clinical waste from India “being released towards Sri Lanka”. It was also reported that MEPA had “started collecting and sorting the w

Maldivian election It is a contest between constitutional change and economic development

In the Maldivian Presidential election to be held on September 23, the contest is between the need for a sweeping change in the country’s constitution to make it more democratic on the one hand, and the need for rapid economic development under stable and orderly conditions, even if these conditions do not accord with notions of democracy prevalent in the West, on the other.  

Construction of knowledge through Scientific method Scientists go on guessing until they come across

In western science, induction is called into play in generalizing from a limited number of observations of a property of a sample (s) to the entire population very often infinite in numbers. These are usually

To Dr. Ramya Kumar’s Article Doctors, MOH, Free Education et al

Read with much interest a response to my article of July 27, 2018, in particular and to most other articles of mine on the health sector and medical profession in the DM, titled “Do away with Medical Officers of Health? A response to Kusal Perera” by Dr. Ramya Kumar, an academic in the Medical Faculty of the University of Jaffna. Appreciate very much the initiative to en

Imran Khan - On the cusp of greatness or... - EDITORIAL

Twenty-two years ago Pakistan’s flamboyant world cup winning cricket captain Imran Khan exchanged his cricketing flannels for the rough and tumble of Pakistani politics.

Return to the Rural

From Gramashakthi to Gamperaliya, major rural investment over the next few years is now Government priority.

The 3D’s Development, Devolution and District Councils

This article reflects on an important news item that appeared recently referring to the move made by the State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wasantha Senanayake, to revive the now defunct District Councils.  

Death penalty is not the answer

It was reported that President Maithripala Sirisena’s proposal to implement the death penalty to drug traffickers, put to the Cabinet of Ministers last week was received with almost unanimous applause by the ministers. The sole exception was Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who openly stated he was principally opposed to the death penalty.  

How human are we; to our own selves, let us be true - EDITORIAL

As human beings, our humanity is often measured by our care for others, and how we respond to a crisis such as a war, a major internal conflict or a lesser issue like a road tragedy, a fire in a building or a robbery involving our neighbour.

The big American mistakes with Russia

Two mistakes, committed on President Barack Obama’s watch, were the triggers for the end of the long post-Cold War period of good relations with Russia. They were the attack on Libya by the US, France and the UK and the subsequent killing of its long-time dictator, Muammar Gadhafi. The second was the crisis in Ukraine.  

Discipline these errant bus operators!

Sri Lankans in general wish the law to have loopholes. In places where the law is effective they’ll try to bribe government officials and in some instances even the law enforcement officers. 

Recording war history : a challenging task Or just an opening of a can of worms?

It is not clear as to what exactly prompted President Maithripala Sirisena at this juncture to think about compiling the history of the three-decade war.....

“Universal Rights” challenged “People” and their “Politics”

In post WW II modern world, democracy is accepted as an uncompromising way of private and public life.

The dangers of Trump’s worldwide trade wars

Trade between nations makes them interdependent and lessens the propensity to war. 

Safe Space For Youth; Vital For Stable Society

Last Sunday August 12 was International Youth Day and the United Nations revealed some figures which were staggering or shocking and need to be redressed effectively and urgently. The UN says, there are now about 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in the world. This is the largest youth population ever. 

Ranil Wickremesinghe: A gruelling journey in politics

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has struggled somewhat to carryout his business and economic ideas for the betterment of the nation during the Yahapalana Regime due to many decisions taken by President Maithripala Sirisena. 

Right of reply Do away with Medical Officers of Health? A response to Kusal Perera

Two weeks ago, the , on July 27, 2018, carried yet another article by Kusal Perera slamming the medical profession. In this piece, Perera argues that increasing the number of medical doctors by establishing new state medical faculties will be useless because the doctors they produce will occupy redundant administrative positions in the public sector.

Notes for a Manifesto The state

Last week I wrote a brief note to presidential hopefuls (if) as they ponder manifestos. I pointed out that there’s been a lot of hot air and little substance when it came to programmes. The basic thrust was that we need to move beyond rhetoric and the easy default option of cannibalizing old texts and slogans. 

A trumpet call; save the elephant

The elephant is one of Sri Lanka’s most majestic creatures and acclaimed as the king of our jungles. It is unfortunate that we are still embroiled in what is called a human-elephant conflict, which was created after we robbed the elephants of their lands and called them rogues when hungry animals

UNP has two choices: Name Presidential Candidate now or Perish

“Doubt increases with inaction. Clarity reveals itself in momentum. Growth comes from progress. For all these reasons, BEGIN.” ~Brendon Burchard

LEARNING TO BE DIFFERENT

A most informative message on my phone started me thinking of how different our country could be if we took examples from some of the other countries in the world, who have made their mark in world history!!! Apparently, the difference between poor and rich nations does not lie in the age of the nation

GMOA Doctors at it again, while the poor suffer in pain

The GMOA is at it again, making thousands of the poor and under privileged , who are unable to afford private medical care suffer. The GMOA demands are ridiculous , when one thinks of other categories in Government service. Having enjoyed the benefits of a free education and taken the Hippocratic oath

Stop this crime of wasting public funds

One of the best cases in point in respect of arrogant attitude of politicians’ towards public funds is the attempt by the authorities of Western Provincial Council to purchase 125 chairs each worth Rs. 640,000 for the new chamber of the council at the new building complex of the council in Battaramulla. Upon a request by Janatha Vimukthi Peramun

Strikes: Why the Govt. should sell off SOEs ?

It is not always easy to tell whether a wildcat work stoppage is an act of deliberate sabotage or a desperate act of last resort. Often, trade union activism in this country tends to have shades of both. 

Lessons to learn from B’desh turmoil Roots of Bangladesh turmoil lie in economic issues

Peace has returned to Bangladesh after ten days of a student agitation, which was brutally quelled by the police and club-wielding thugs of the ruling Awami League. But the issues underlying the stir remain and might re-surface in other forms as the country heads towards parliamentary elections likely to be held between October 31 and December 3

Learning Process and Western Science

People and animals learn by trial and error if left to themselves. It is revealed by experiments done with mice when they are left to find their way through a mesh with blocks and openings. T

Strikes - EDITORIAL

On Wednesday July 8, at around 3.00 pm, the engine drivers, railway guards and a few other affiliated trade unions -- with no prior notice -- suddenly went on strike.

Geo Politics of Energy and Sri Lanka’s energy security

Sri Lanka’s energy demand has seen significant increases in the last decade, by 2020 it is predicted that the demand will be almost double from where it was at 2010.

THE UBIQUITOUS UNIVERSITY PROBLEM

The sad, bad state of our Universities and University students has been an ongoing problem for the last 40 years. Time has not solved anything.

Social Media: The inevitable source in modern days’ life

Overheard during school pick-up run. “You will have two hate marks on your Facebook page,” a young kid obviously annoyed at something tells his mother.