Just when you thought tensions between the US and China couldn’t get any worse, Donald Trump did the unthinkable. It’s a mistake, however, to view or rationalise the ban on Huawei, the world’s second most popular smartphone.....

Our temple was empty! Except for a few elderly devotees loitering about aimlessly or seated perplexed than in silent meditation…..a few young priests busying about in an attempt to decorate and inject some festivity to an otherwise subdued surround

Two of the Buddha’s teachings on racism are applicable today. The first is, there’s nothing about birth or social position that makes a person good or bad. Men are good or bad exclusively in terms of their actions, and that’s how they should b

Abbas Ahmadi (33), wife Hakkima (30), and four children aged 12 to 6, came as refugees to Sri Lanka from Afghanistan 5 years ago. Their cases were processed by UNHCR hence they have papers to live here until the UNHCR finds them a country to settle i

Following the Easter Sunday massacre more than 1000 refugees and asylum seekers were evicted from their rented houses in Negombo and they had to seek refuge in two mosques and the police station in Negombo. With barely minimal possessions and minimum

Sri Lanka marked 10 years after defeating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) on May 19, making the island nation reflect on what a deterrent an armed conflict can be to a country’s progress.

With over 900 million eligible voters, India, the world’s largest democracy, is awaiting its 2019 poll results on May 23. With the main two parties, Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rahul Gandhi’s Congress Party in the for

An American study of the role of the internet in Islamic radicalization finds that while the internet most certainly plays an important role, other factors do play an equal or even a greater role. The study conducted by Ines

Between 1796 and 1803, the colonial administration in Ceylon experimented with various forms of administrative changes in the interests of greater efficiency. The Portuguese and the Dutch had left the administrative machine more or less as it was; th

Paralleling the Himalayan foothills that define the modern India-Nepal border is a strip of terrain called the Terai. The whole region is flat and the soil is rich fertile alluvium. The numerous rivers and streams that flow down from the hills in the

I.M. Pei, the brilliant and controversial American architect of Chinese origin who based his design for the new Louvre Museum on his fascination with pyramids, has passed away at the age of 102.

At the instigation of the late foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Vesak Full Moon Poya day has been declared as an international religious day. This was done because it is the most important day for Buddhists world over due to several religious i

Millions of devoted Buddhists worldwide annually celebrate the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day as an event of sacred triple significance. Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born 2,483 years ago on Vesak Full Moon Day at Kapilawastupura.

Selvadurai Loganathan, popularly known as ‘Loga’ among his colleagues and official circles, has left an indelible mark on the progress of Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman Memorial Foundation (STMF).

It is with profound grief that I heard of the demise of my good friend Mervyn. In fact, we had a lunch date on May 7. Mervyn, Doris and I had planned to go to Uswetakeiyawa for a drive and have lunch there. I had booked lunch and waited for Doris to

Arrangements have been made to hold the State Vesak Festival at the ancient Thotagamuwa Raja Maha Viharaya in Galle District and it is for the first time that the state Vesak festival would be held in the Galle district.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world consumed both for its medicinal properties and its recreational taste. “Ceylon” tea has made its name throughout the world of tea-drinkers for its quality and unique taste.

Wellampitiya Police OIC Gamini Senarath Hewawithana had complained to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) early this week demanding an inquiry against Colombo Magistrate Court Judge Priyantha Liyanage over the release on bail of nine employees of t

As mob violence erupted in Minuwangoda on May 13, fire ripped through the country’s largest pasta manufacturing facility, endangering the lives of seven employees present at the time. Diamond pasta, a sister company of the PMM Group of companies..

The anti-Muslim riots in different parts of the country have led to at least two killings and wrecked the lives of thousands of innocent people. These riots have taken place more than three weeks after the Easter Sunday bombings for which the Islamic

This is high time for all the Sri Lankan politicians to work towards speedy recovery and development of the sentiments as patriotic Sri Lankans with allegiance beyond every religion, race and caste. It is the responsibility and dire need of every one

The most obvious consequence of the Easter Day calamity is the fear psychosis which has gripped our society. Arguably, not even at the height of the war was this feeling as strong and pervasive as it is today. The need of the hour, then, is the re

Though not an avowed Buddhist, I’ve come to understand that the words of the Buddha, the Buddha Vachana, have in them a profound meaning which gets lost and obscured in the fog of ideology. Put simply, they are more adhered to in the letter than th

Tears in the eyes of the families mourning the loss of Easter Sunday terror victims had not dried up when Sri Lankans heard that another group of citizens- Muslims- had come under attack by angry mobs on Monday (May 13).

Mrs Ishvari Corea, former Chief Librarian of the Colombo Public Library, who passed away on Tuesday (14) at the age of 94 had been a towering figure in the public and library service for more than 35 years.

Sirs, in January 2015, you were given a mandate and appointed the custodians of this nation by its people for the safety, security and prosperity of Sri Lanka. But the horrendous tragedy that unfolded on Easter Sunday has brought to light the nature

Daylight in Wayamba gives its residents the opportunity to assess the situation of their neighbourhood, following a grim and fearful start to the holy Vesak week. The Police curfew enforced early Monday (May 13) evening in the North Western Province

Submerged in our current encounter with terrorism, devastation and anger provoke us to impulsively ascribe suicide bombing to the lunacy of the bombers themselves, or to something inherent in the ‘ideals’ of the bomber’s ethnic or religious gro

I came across a book called “Sufism -A Celebration of Love” published in India in 2012. It’s a collection of articles on the subject in English, published by the Foundation of SAAARC Writers and Literature, which is an Apex body of SAARC in New