The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, voted 141–8 to adopt a landmark resolution endorsing the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which states that States have a legal obligation to address clima

Sri Lanka’s renewed pressure on foreign exchange is once again exposing the delicate balance between fiscal gains and external stability.

“Do not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for the country.” This famous quote was made by the late American President John F. Kennedy at his inauguration.

Sri Lankans are beginning to fear they are heading into a similar nightmarish period along the lines of the economic crisis of April 2022. The era which marked the country’s first ever sovereign debt which led to shortages of basic foodstuffs, medi

Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948 after four and a half centuries of colonial rule by the Portuguese, Dutch and then finally the British. Despite this colonial legacy and attempts to keep the country in the Western orbit, most notably by the Unit

Malini Fonseka, the Queen of the Silver Screen who passed away a year ago leaving behind a legacy of over hundred and fifty films, was a symbol of perseverance. Tilak Kuruvitabandara, Editor and commentator on literature and the arts is someone who w

It was reported in an English weekend newspaper recently that Mr. Sriyan Cooray, Chairman of NDB, has assured customers that their deposits remain fully secure, with the financial impact of the recent fraud being absorbed through the bank’s capital

HelpAge Sri Lanka (HASL) on May 14 welcomed 35 fourth-year undergraduates of the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences of Sri Jayewardenepura University, for attending an orientation session, conducted by HelpAge to create the awaren

As developing and least developed countries struggle with rising fuel import bills, hostilities between the US-Israel alliance and Iran show no signs of abating despite peace efforts. While the US, aligned with Israel, expects Iran to concede to its

Sri Lanka is often vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations like what it is experiencing at the moment. For the common man, a depreciating rupee means that the cost of living is expected to be much higher than his or her income. This is also bad news

People don’t seem to listen to warnings issued by the Police. Despite repeated awareness, drowning deaths are reported from various parts of the country. It is common sense that there are rough water currents during heavy rains and especially when

The end of the war between the armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was remembered in the country in two major events during a two-day period.

Seventeen years ago, on May 19th, a protracted civil war in Sri Lanka came to its bloody conclusion.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is widespread across the world, making it a significant international public health issue impacting life-long health and economic opportunities. Even more disturbing is the fact that it is linked to suicide.

There are moments in the life of a nation when ordinary men and women are called upon to bear extraordinary burdens. In times of uncertainty, conflict, and sacrifice, it is the members of the armed forces who stand between peace and chaos, stability

In the traditional discourse of international relations, “national security” is often visualised through the lens of hardware: main battle tanks, fighter jets and the strength of the standing army.

The murder of Francis Attygalle (21), the only male heir of a wealthy family, shocked colonial Ceylon in 1906. The handsome millionaire, linked by marriage to the families of D. S. Senanayake, Sir John Kotelawala, and J. R. Jayewardene, died from a g

For many Sri Lankans, the struggle today is not theoretical. It is lived daily, in grocery bills that keep rising, electricity tariffs that strain monthly budgets and salaries that remain largely unchanged.

Another shortage of medicines has been reported in the news, much to the dismay of patients. People receiving treatment from main hospitals such as the National Hospital will be inconvenienced due to this crisis if it is not addressed immediately. Th

It has been around 19 months since the present Government was elected into power. To be perfectly frank, the present National People’s Power (NPP) Government has failed to keep many of its pre-election promises. Its biggest failure has been its ina

Now that all the hubbub over Aloka - the Indian street dog adopted by the Rev. Pannakara for the World Peace Walk - is finished, there is a profound silence. That is all too familiar after such celebrations.

Very recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a fascinating tree walk at Viharamahadevi Park (formerly Victoria Park). The programme included insightful narrations on the historical significance of several iconic landmarks surrounding the pa

The fisheries dispute between Sri Lanka and India remains an irritant in bilateral relations, affecting not only diplomacy between the two neighbours but also the livelihoods and emotions of the Tamil people living in the Northern Province. At a time

What could be a more shameful indictment of the so-called civilised world than the Nakba anniversary? Today is Nakba Day—the day on which the inhumanity and hypocrisy of the civilised world are exposed. It is a day to name and shame those responsib

Residents of Palitha Place — a key link road connecting Veluwana Road and Gnanawimala Road in Dematagoda, Colombo 9 — are increasingly concerned over the apparent breakdown of regular garbage collection services by the Colombo Municipal Council (

Sri Lanka’s farmers are facing a double whammy due to unseasonal weather patterns and rising global tensions due to the US-Iran conflict. Sri Lanka imports more than 90 percent of its fertiliser requirements, especially urea from Iran. Iran’s ure

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was questioned by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Tuesday in connection with an alleged US$2 million bribe linked to the purchase of Airbus aircraft during his second a

The recent Local Government Elections in Britain had thrown the Labour Party into disarray. The Labour Party was routed, losing 38 councils it previously held, and nearly 1,500 councillors. Nigel Farage’s ‘Reform UK’ broke through Labour’s r

I refer to the headline news item in your issue of 8th May captioned “South Korean envoy seeks improved bureaucratic efficiency in trade facilitation”.