An elephant has died from burns after terrified villagers tried to chase it away with firebrands. This was not cruelty; it was desperation, the outcome of a human–elephant conflict the State has failed to resolve for decades.

The police always face the allegation that law enforcement is not even-handed. The saying ‘one law for the rich and another for the poor’ is commonly heard among the ordinary folks. Or else, they would say ‘big fish escape, small fish get cau

As Jews and peace-loving people in Australia and across the world mourn the victims of last Sunday’s Bondi Beach massacre—which claimed 15 lives, including that of ten-year-old Matilda, remembered by Australians as “our little ray of sunshine

The festive season is upon us. But should we as Sri lankans go ahead with celebrations planned? I note with concern that some have decided to go ahead with festive merry making. Is it morally correct?

Another heartbreaking elephant death was reported from Seeppukulama, Mihintale on Tuesday December 16. Villagers have attempted to chase this elephant that had suffered a previous injury in one leg and was blind in one eye by throwing burning torches

The devastation caused by Cyclone “Ditwah” in Sri Lanka cannot be understood in its entirety unless it is seen in the light of economic inequality in the country, and indeed in the comity of nations.

Unsuspecting Sri Lankans often fall prey when getting into land deals. There are still some visuals of billboards circulating on social media platforms which carry advertisements of lands for sale in areas which are prone to floods. There is a billbo

Recent events show that the much-promised “system change” has yet to take root. Attempts by sections of the clergy to publicly defend the government — arguing that there was no prior warning of an impending storm — ring hollow, when even a ch

On December 13, 2025, Kahawatte in the Ratnapura district, mourned across all religious lines, a community leader, Al Haj A. J. M. Ismail Farook of Kahawatte, who passed away on December 12, 2025, after Jumma at his Colombo Ward Place residence. The

Sri Lanka, once envisioned as a potential economic powerhouse in South Asia, has navigated a tumultuous path since its independence in 1948.

Sri Lanka’s most anticipated intellectual showdown in the people profession is back, bigger, bolder, and more future-focused than ever before.

As Sri Lanka heads into the post-disaster reconstruction phase following Cyclone Ditwah, the government seems clueless about how to proceed.

There was a time when evenings in Sri Lankan homes were filled with sound. The clatter of plates being set on the table, the familiar arguments over homework, a mother calling out to children to wash their hands before dinner, a father asking about s

The ugly side of relief distribution is now becoming more evident with various political actors trying to show their faces in these programmes.

Around 7000 people affected by floods and landslides caused by Cyclone Ditwah which made landfall in Sri Lanka on November 27 are said to be still staying in welfare centres, while over 6000 houses have been completely destroyed.

The storm that swept through our nation has left behind a landscape of broken homes, twisted roads, and shattered infrastructure. Engineers and economists are already adding up the billions needed to rebuild what was lost. Bridges can be restored, el

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made a familiar promise to the nation on December 2nd: emergency regulations enacted for disaster reconstruction would not be misused for other purposes. “I assure every citizen that these emergency powers will no

The following is a keynote address delivered by Prof. G. L. Peiris at the International Research Conference of the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo held on December 12, 2025.

Cyclone Ditwah tore through Sri Lanka with a frightening force, leaving behind washed-out villages, broken roads, drowned fields, and thousands of families trying to rebuild their lives from the mud. But as the waters recede and statistics slowly

There is a familiar sinking feeling Sri Lankans experience every time news breaks about a politician involved in a road accident or public incident allegedly linked to alcohol.

The recent cyclone disaster like the earlier Tsunami, has caught us all by surprise. Preventable loss of life and property has caused the country dearly.

Chelliah Rajadurai, a veteran politician of Sri Lanka -- perhaps the oldest among former Parliamentarians -- passed away on December 7, 2025 at the age of 98. Rajadurai hailing from Batticaloa was a colourful personality who served as an MP,

The Cyclone Ditwah that was formed in Southwest Bay of Bengal on November 26 and made landfall in Sri Lanka on November 28 has claimed at least 635 lives, leaving another around 200 persons disappeared by December 9. The numbers might slightly rise u

In November ‘Cyclone Ditwah’ hit our country in all its fury. With wind speeds of over 80 kmph, it brought with it 150–500 mm of rainfall for three consecutive days, triggering the worst landslides and flooding in the country in 20 years. Powe

The plight of our people and of our country at present is summoning us, the citizens of Sri Lanka, in a special way, to collaborate to promote the common good of our people and of our country in pain and need.

Chairman of the United National Party (UNP) Wajira Abeywardena has said that Sri Lanka’s conviction rate remains as low as two percent, as reported in the media. While Sri Lanka records only a two-percent conviction rate, Japan’s stands as high a

Just as Canada’s social justice activist and writer Naomi Klein, in her highly celebrated book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, explains the relations between disasters—manmade or natural—and vulgar capitalism driven by inhu

In the aftermath of the catastrophic cyclone which overwhelmed our motherland with devastating consequence, causing loss of life and property across the country, we witnessed the commitment and compassion that was demonstrated by our citizenry to he

One lesson taught by Cyclone Ditwah is that people need to respect the environment more. With the high demand for real estate, people are convinced to purchase locations with the best view, proximity to the nearest town and other features often igno

I’m writing you this letter with a heartbeat for a pen, ’Cause you’ve been fighting through the storms again and again. Little island of mine, wrapped in green like a queen, Mountains standing guard while the monsoons scream.