‘Drug’ is a substance which is especially addictive and hallucinogenic i.e. something causing illusion. It is a chemical people use to enjoy pleasant and exciting feelings. In many countries the use of such drugs is illegal while other

We believe the only way to bring about peace and harmony among the various religious and ethnic groups in Sri Lanka is via education.   

Sex and sexuality – two things which were very personal to both males and females- are no longer personal. The patriarchal cloud still hovers around the deeply grounded conservative background we Sri Lankans come from. Therefore even if a woman

An evening of poetry and prose reading with interludes of music by Sureka Amerasinghe will be staged by the English Writers Collective (EWC) on Monday December 3, 2018 in the Auditorium of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), No 2, Kyn

The tea plant, known as Camellia thea or Thea sinensis, is not indigenous to Sri Lanka. It comes in two varieties: the Chinese (Bohea) and the Indian (Virindis). The former has a hard leaf and grows in the shape of a low bush or hedge, while the latt

There are many in our small island who are passionate about music. But only a handful make a living out of it. It is sad that most passionate and very talented young individuals end up in vocations that are completely inconsistent with their identity

Niranjali Motha, the author of ‘Mute Squalls’, who won the State Literary Award in 2017, has been accorded the ‘Raj Mal Ana Swarna Bhooshana’ Award by the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat. She also was accorded the ‘Vish

The sentencing of the two senior most living leaders of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime of Kampuchea will probably be the high water mark of a controversial trial, which has lasted 12 years and cost $320 million.

Today November 26 marks the day when Maha Adikaram Keppetipola and Maha Nilame of the Uva Madugalle were executed on the banks of Bogambara Wewa on the orders of the British Governor.

Sathiyamalar Sinnappo, affectionately called ‘ Sathi Acca’ is known to me intimately for over half a century. She was my lecturer at Palaly specialized Teacher College in 1965. She is also a relation of my wife. From Palaly she went on pr

 The untimely demise of professor M.T.M. Jiffry (former senior professor of Physiology of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Sri Jayawardenapura University and Ex- Vice Chairman of UGC) on September 17 2010, caused a deep void in our hearts and

Chief Incumbent of the Deegala Pothgul Vihara, Katugasthota Thri Sinhala Seemaramya, Ulapane Isipthanaramaya and Rajangana Sri Sumangalaramaya temples, Ven. Deegala Sri Sumanajothi Thera who received credentials as Pathadumbara Chief Sanghanayake fro

In May this year, Sri Lanka will be completing its 50th year of planned tourism. Although the influx of foreign visitors to Sri Lanka had started during the latter part of the British rule, Sri Lanka was known to travellers all over the world for man

Ven. Makehelwala Vimaladhamma Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the historic Bambaragala Raja Maha Vihara at Waduwawa, Polgahawela and the Ihala Walakumbura Temple in Alawwa, completed the fiftieth year....

The hospitality industry in Sri Lanka must take serious note of water safety in the pools they promote to safeguard their guests from hazardous situations. But today’s competitive tourist industry prompts certain hotels....

‘Do we need any foreward when we all cry over the farewells in life’, Sanjeewa Moonamalpe captures the reader with these lines as the foreward of his poetry collection ‘Obata Nowe Batiththanta’ (Not for you, for Chaffinches)

I am sure you will all recall times when you have had multiple questions on anything and everything – some small and easily resolved, others complicated and needing extensive exploration – the latter being successful, only if you are op

The time for offering of Katina Cheevera - thick robes for the rainy season to Buddhist priests who observed “Vas” or the rainy season sojourn ends on Il full moon poya day. Thus a series of meritorious activities connected with “

Dhamma is a very simple procedure, which is taking place everywhere and every moment in every being, which anybody can comprehend as soon as it is uncovered of the veil of mystery in which it was encircled by the attitude, thinking and way of life.

If you hear the throb of drums in the early hours of the morning during the period before Il Poya, then you can rest assured that the most important period of a monk is been brought to light by his followers. That then is the first indication that

The legacy of freedom people experienced in Sri Lanka for more than 2000 years was threatened by the European colonizers. The Sri Lankans resisted the European colonizers for more than 300 years. The independence of Sri Lanka was confined to the Ce

The majority of people in the world today who wish to learn how to meditate do so because they want to relax. In a world of constant demands, where everything appears to happen at lighting speed, people want to learn the technique of freeing themse

According to the UNICEF, Corporal Punishment is any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light. Most involves hitting (“smacking”, “slapping”, “spa

The events that unfolded on October 26 have led the country towards unprecedented instability. Almost a month later, we are still awaiting the correct interpretation of the decisions and the credibility of actions while pondering if such changes ha

Engulfed in social stigma and discrimination, HIV/AIDS is an issue society still addresses in hushed voices despite the progression we claim to have achieved globally.  In honour of World AIDS Day 2018 (Celebrated on December 1) the National STD

A mega beach clean-up campaign carried out by Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC in collaboration with ‘Seth Sarana’, Sunday Schools and Parish Youth Societies under the theme of ‘God’s Love for All’ and covering a stretch of 34 km

As the world marks the anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child on World Children’s Day, we must ensure every child in Sri Lanka has the same opportunity for success.

Elections to Bangladesh’s eleventh parliament are to take place on December 30 and they are going to be very different from the elections to the tenth parliament which took place in January 2014.    

Budding artistes from all over Sri Lanka participated at Shankar’s International Children’s Competition-2019 organized by High Commission of India.    

Udena Wickremesooriya, talking about his father’s work, the evolution of Sooriya, and the resurgence and upsurge of popular music in this country during the latter part of the sixties, suggested that when compared to the deterioration on almost