Media, Social Justice and Rule of Law

Yesterday was World Press Freedom Day and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which coordinates the event said every year May 3 is the date on which we celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom. 

Nuke-liar Netanyahu setting stage for a war party

Israel’s hardline Prime Minister, known for his theatrical stunts that have now become a kind of cliché, was at it again on Monday. 

That’s the beauty of the man, Lester

A birthday cake was cut on his 99th birthday that fittingly celebrated with wife Sumithra’s film “Vaishnavi” premièred at the Regal Cinema Colombo on 05 April (2018), attended by the most elite and the celebrated audience one could ever expect in Colombo. 

Cabinet Reshuffles

This week saw another Cabinet reshuffle which was the fourth of the sort for the past three years after the present so-called Yahapalana government assumed office and the third this year.

Reshuffling incompetency, inefficiency and insecurity

Exactly one year ago, just after the joint opposition picked up the gauntlet thrown by the Yahapalana Government (that of filling Galle Face Green on May Day) and put up an unprecedented show of force, I posted the following comment on Facebook: “pef,akaÊ tlla wjYH kï fukak( tcdmfha fyda cúfm fyda Y%S,xksmfha 2018 uehs Èk fIda tl f.da,a f*aia tfla ;shkak (If you are looking for a challenge, here’s one: let t

Superior man and common man

Three wheelers, no doubt have become much of a headache to motorists and pedestrians. The haphazard driving of three-wheelers often makes the others hope for a day that the government organizes alternative routes for these auto-rickshaws so that the other vehicles can travel on the roads peacefully. Despite the challenges that this small man’s transport system poses for motorists one often finds oneself flashing a smile on seeing the funn

Impact of gas price increase on cost of living

Cost of living is proportionate to, and depends on the prices of the consumer items and the management of the economy and trade by the governance. Gas plays a main role in cost of living. This is because the use of gas is fast increasing due to the shortage of traditional wood and want of 

Lester; Sri Lanka’s greatest story ever told

One of Sri Lanka’s greatest stories of recent times-- a story that may never be told again—comes to a sublime end today when a grateful nation and the government give a state funeral with full honours at Independence Square to Dr. Lester James Peries,

THE BURNING QUESTION when

1 We have talked about so many burning issues including the ones of UDAYANGA, MAHENDRAN and JALIYA, but we haven’t seen a single brought to conclusion. Either we await action from INTERPOL or our own sleuths. Going back on the local scenario, what happened with the findings on 

UNP changes: Band-Aids or a surgery?

The United National Party (UNP) needed surgery. A creative experienced surgeon would have used his scalpel with precision and cut and sutured the fragments that have been malignant, creating a dangerous disease that shrouded the whole body, paralyzing the limbs, penetrating into the marrow and benumbing the critical chunks. 

Govt: Stop squabbling, get down to business

Another Cabinet reshuffle is scheduled for today reportedly after intense discussion between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. This is going to be the third change in the Cabinet this year and there is no assurance that it would be the last for the year, as there are reports that the United 

Independence of Indian judiciary at stake with Govt. breathing down its neck

The framers of the Indian constitution were wedded to the concept of separation of powers and wanted the judiciary to be independent of the executive. But within two decades of independence, the higher Indian judiciary h

PEACE IN KOREAS - REALITY OR PIPE DREAM?

On Friday, April 27, at the ‘Truce Village’ of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone, the two Korean leaders - North Korea’s President Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae In - held an historic meeting to discuss ways of bringing peace to the Korean peninsula.   

Age limitations for teens on Social Media

Social media sites have taken over our lives and it’s hard to imagine that 10 years ago there was no Facebook. 

“To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one’s own in the midst of abundance.” -

Dammachakka pawathwana Suttha is the first and the foremost sermon delivered by The Buddha after His Enlightenment, to his old colleagues, five ascetics at Migadaya, Isipathana, Baranasa presently Known as Varanasi for purpose of achieving liberation by ending the suffering in the circle of life (samsara).

Buddha introduced mental culture to humanity

Two hundred and sixty decades ago, the above mentioned unprecedented and unheard of words profoundly resounded and tremendously resonated in our human society. 

Instead of dates, let’s focus on and live the Buddha’s teachings

Sri Lanka celebrates Vesak Poya tomorrow though some confusion has been created over this thrice-blessed day marking the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama the Buddha. Some Buddhist prelates say Vesak should have been celebrated on May 29 as several other Buddhist majority 

A WAY TO LIVE AND A WAY TO DIE

A true Buddhist would accept the basic Buddhist analysis of life as one that accommodates the teachings of the Buddha.

Comprehending Dhamma is Nibbana

On Ves?k Day, Buddhists of the world commemorate three events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions and sects.

Will America go to war ?

A speech by General George Patton, a famous World War 2 warrior, has an uncanny resemblance to the philosophy of Donald Trump. “All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser -- Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win -- all the time. That’s why Americans have never lost, nor ever will lose a war, for the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans.” 

Occupational safety and sincere work

In the aftermath of the Horana tragedy where five people were killed allegedly due to negligence in the maintenance of ammonia and other gas tanks at a private rubber factory where export quality shoes are manufactured, 

Yahapalanaya works for MR comeback

A fortnight ago a video clip went viral on social media that left the whole of the Judiciary, the prosecuting agencies and the legal profession stark naked.

Where goes Korea after the crucial talks?

When Donald Trump after his 2016 election victory met President Barack Obama in the White House, the outgoing President in a parting advice to Trump said: North Korea should be a foreign policy priority.

Sampanthan’s Dilemma

The Joint Opposition, the Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalists in the Parliament, seems to aim currently at three main positions in and outside of the Parliament.  

The consequences of building Port City

We make reference to the statement above to clarify some issues muddled by the CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd in response to the joint seminar held on February 28, 2018 by the Creation Care Desk of the Methodist Church and the PMAPC.   

The lost art of photography

“The old-fashioned camera was clumsier and harder to reload than a brown Bess musket. The modern camera is trying to be a ray gun.” (Susan Sontag, On Photography)

The SLFP is all but yelling ‘Mayday! Mayday!’

‘Mayday’ is a signal. The term indicates a life-threatening emergency usually used by aviators and mariners, but also in some countries by firefighters and other working in difficult conditions. Apparently it was coined by a senior radio officer at Croydon Airport, London in 1923. He had been asked to come up with a ‘distress-indicating word’ and had drawn it from the French word m’aider which means ‘help me&

What on Earth is happening?

Sunday April 22 was World Earth Day – a day of vital importance for the people of Sri Lanka and worldwide because our failure to act as responsible citizens and get involved in the battle against global warming could lead to catastrophic consequences. It is a sacred duty. Thus all religions and all races need to work together 

Where have all the suspects gone- Far, Far, away!!!

1. Do we hear loud whispers asking where have all the suspects gone? Far, far away we are told!!! Should we ask why??? Arjuna Mahendran was last known to have been in Singapore, Udayanga in Dubai, Jaliya only the good Lord knows!!! We’ll definitely need to keep an eye on that since it was the director of the National Eye Hospital who gave him the green light saying that the surgery could not be performed in our island home!!!

Unheard sounds and faint memories of ‘bloody’ white vans…

In the questionable days of the Rajapaksa regime, the most dreadful sound, amongst many a sound of shooting in Rathupaswela, Katunayake and post-war Jaffna, was the one that you did not hear: A white van parked outside your home.