Improving livelihoods of coastal communities in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, an island nation graced by over 1,600 kilometres of coastline, is home to thousands of families whose lives are deeply intertwined with the sea.

Malini Fonseka : Why the Movie Queen Became a National List MP

The first Sinhala language feature film “Kadawunu Poronduwa”(Broken Promise) premiered on 21 January 1947 at the Kingsley theatre in Colombo.

Gaza food aid sham: Crumbs from the master’s table

The right to food is a universal human right. Yet this fundamental right is denied to Palestinians in Gaza. It is not only Israel that is inhumanely starving 2.2 million Palestinians; with the exception of a few countries such as Ireland, Spain, and Norway, the entire Western world is complicit in Israel’s crime of genocide, having failed to take meaningful action to stop the Zionist state’s barbarism.

Could the incumbent govt. resolve deep-rooted land conflicts in the North and East?

When incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited Jaffna in January this year, he said that land belonging to people should rightfully remain with them and that the issue of land disputes in the Northern province is being reviewed. However, in March, the government issued a gazette notification (No. 2340) which gave three months’ time for people to claim their lands in what was termed as a land settlement gazette. If the ownership of 5941

IPKF could have finished the war long ago, Premadasa and JVP made us fight it and die

Last week, Sri Lanka commemorated the servicemen and women who paid with their life and limb, defending the territorial integrity of this country, so that the next generations could live in peace.

World’s longest Monkey Tapeworm found in a Lankan child in Kurunegala

An extraordinary discovery was made by the Parasitology team of the Medical Research Institute (MRI) when they found a parasitic worm belonging to the Bertiella genus. Commonly known as ‘Monkey tapeworm’ the parasitic worm which rarely infects humans was found in a 10-year-old boy in Kurunegala, and is the longest Bertiella worm (70cm) reported globally, according to available data.

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN A SOLDIER AND A TERRORIST

The scars of conflict run deep in Sri Lanka, a nation that endured decades of brutal civil war. As we reflect upon this tumultuous period, it is imperative to clearly distinguish between the forces that sought to uphold the integrity of the state and those that aimed to dismantle it through violence and terror.

ITAK’s Success at North-Eastern Local Govt. Elections Vindicates Sumanthiran

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP) recorded a landslide victory at the Parliamentary elections held in November 2024.

’’Ocean is a shared resource, if one country pollutes, others get affected’’ - Norwegian ocean scientist

Peter M. Haugan, the policy director at the Institute of Marine Research, Norway and a professor at the Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen in Norway, shares his vision on the blue economy and what the ocean holds for the benefit of mankind. He has more than 30 years of experience in marine scientific research and international ocean science coordination covering ocean, climate and energy issues. His professional merits include fi

Finding a practical purpose in most things termed ‘political’

Sri Lanka got through the Local Government (LG) Elections sans much difficulties. Now we have to see whether these LG bodies serve a practical purpose as boasted before the elections. The phrase ‘practical purpose’ is a nice phrase to be used as a yard stick for judging performance.

How Indian lorry chassis and multi-sectoral lapses crashed Sri Lanka’s public transport sector!

Despite repeated revelations of importing lorry chassis for public transport, successive governments have turned a blind eye to this issue, reportedly in place of obtaining financial gains.

Operation Sindoor not yet over, it is now India’s established policy against terrorism -Indian High Commissioner

In an interview with the Daily Mirror in the wake of tension between India and Pakistan, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha warned that India would not treat another terror attack as a law-and-order issue, but as an act of war.

Bus journeys that whisper death!

Hopping aboard a bus to travel to a destination may not be the best option for Sri Lankan citizens anymore. Reckless driving coupled by disrespect towards passengers, racing with other buses to reach their destinations

Govt. reviewing COSTS before renovating ‘dilapidated Parliament building’

The old Parliament building, located at Galle Face in Colombo and facing the ocean, was officially opened on January 29, 1930 by the then-Governor, Sir Herbert Stanley. Due to the limited space within the old Parliament building and the lack of available land for expansion, then-Prime Minister Ranasinghe Premadasa presented a proposal to Parliament in the late 1970s, specifically on July 4, 1979, to relocate Parliament to a new location.

Devotees at Relic Exposition saddened due to Police negligence

The Dalada exposition, held after 16 years, offered a rare opportunity for the general public to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic.

“Brigadier” Balraj - adored by his men but admired even by the army

Former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) deputy military chief Kandiah Balasegaran alias ‘Brigadier’ Balraj is regarded as the finest military commander the Tigers ever had.

People and peace Egypt’s UNESCO DG nominee Dr. El-Enany speaks about his vision

Egypt has nominated Dr. Khaled El-Enany as its candidate for the position of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2025-2029 term. El-Enany is a former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt. He is also the UN Tourism Ambassador for Cultural Tourism.

Govt’s Decision To Reopen Route Via Wilpattu NP hits a snag

The much disputed Mannar-Puttalam road via Wilpattu National Park yet again made headlines when President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently said that the government is considering ways and means of reopening this road. The road, which was initially built by the Army during the war, was utilised for logistical purposes. Right now, this road, which is in a dilapidated state, has been closed due to a court order following complaints filed by the Env

Water from Mahaweli, Badulu and Kelani rivers unsuitable for consumption

Sri Lanka’s main water sources that supply drinking water have become polluted. Recent findings indicate that consuming water from these sources without proper treatment could lead to serious issues.

The fizz, fuss and sugar in a flat BEER!

The Excise Ordinance was introduced in Sri Lanka on January 1, 1913. The title of the ordinance states: “An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the law relating to the import, export, transport, manufacture, sale, and possession of intoxicating liquor and of intoxicating drugs.” This ordinance is referred to as the Excise Ordinance. Section 2 of Chapter I states: “In this Ordinance, unless there be something repugnant in the subject or context—’be

More students exposed to universities’ sadistic rag culture

“He was stripped naked in public and they kept banging his head on one wall and the other. They have pricked him using a safety pin. Then he was thrown inside a cupboard.

Will Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam be the Future Tamil Political Leader?

Island-wide local authority elections are scheduled for 6th May 2025. At the national level, the local authority polls will provide the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)led National People’s Power(NPP) government an opportunity to prove if it is still as popular as it was at the time of the Parliamentary elections in November 2024.

Interview with SJB Colombo Mayoral Candidate “We don’t want President’s money because Colombo generates Rs. 17 billion” - Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa (SJB)

Senior medical practitioner, lecturer at the medical faculties of Colombo and Kelaniya, former President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association, social activist and policy maker Dr. Ruvaiz Haniffa is the Mayoral candidate for Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) at the May 6 Local council Election. In an interview with Daily Mirror, Dr, Haniffa warns that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s statement of withholding funding to local government is a danger

STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE INDO- PAKISTAN WAR AND SRI LANKA’S STAND

The growing tensions between India and Pakistan, fueled by historical disputes and recent tragic incidents in Kashmir, threaten to destabilise not just South Asia but the broader global order. Sri Lanka, as a strategically located South Asian nation, faces critical decisions in maintaining regional stability and balancing diplomatic neutrality with emerging security and economic realities.

Bogambara: A sinister Bastille shared by Sardiel and Dr. Colvin R. de Silva

The name Bogambara evokes historical events, but it became best known for the prison by that name. Back in the 19th century, Ehelepola Kumarihami was drowned by royal edict in the Bogambara lake.

How and Why the Banda-Chelva Pact was Signed by Bandaranaike and Chelvanayagam

Today, the 26th of April, is the 48th death anniversary of respected Tamil political leader Samuel James Veluppillai (SJV) Chelvanayagam.

Mounting uncertainties put renewable energy sector in a spin

Sri Lanka’s energy sector is at a critical juncture due to the growing friction between conventional and non-conventional energy sectors. While the world is moving away from fossil fuels, coal and is looking at depending on renewable energy, Sri Lanka is challenged by various obstacles.

Missing golden opportunities and the ‘Walampoori’

There is a frequently used quote “I missed that great teacher or philosopher because he lived before my time”. This could be one reason why devotees are flocking the streets of Kandy to get a glimpse of Gautama Buddha’s tooth relic which is being exhibited to the public.

Dubious appointment of unqualified officer as NLB General Manager raises eyebrows

Speculation is rife why the Additional Secretary Ministry of Finance has ignored Bribery Commission’s directive to conduct an inquiry into an appointment made during the former regime to the National Lotteries Board.

Repeal of the Online Safety Act vital for the Economic Salvation of Sri Lanka

While the economy of Sri Lanka has achieved some degree of stabilisation after the most dire crisis in history, progress along a growth trajectory remains a clear imperative. Fragility of the current situation has been massively increased by the devastating tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration, making our country’s exports to the United States—especially apparel and rubber products—starkly vulnerable.