The Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act 1953 was designed to protect lawmakers from political intimidation and ensure legislative freedom. However, this is increasingly being used as a blanket privilege by MPs to slander their spouses and children

Maria Corina Machado (58), who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this year, got it for her indefatigable fight for democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela. This South American country, like many others in the Global South, has had elected leaders

Following last week’s discussion on India’s LGBTQA+ tourism, I wanted to explore the deeper question many readers raised: what does science tell us about sexual orientation itself?

Public security Minister Ananda Wijepala has stated that former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena have requested the bullet-proof vehicles they had returned to the state following the passage of the Presidents’ Entitlement Bill

With reference to Mr. A. Ratnayake’s letter to the Editor, I wish to set the record straight. His assertions are baseless, misleading, and far removed from the truth.

October 1990 is a cruel and unforgettable month in the history of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province Muslims. It was in October 1990 that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forcibly expelled the Tamil-speaking Muslim people from the Northern Pr

Despite the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) having 40 seats in Parliament, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with only three seats seems to be the main Opposition for the past few weeks, due to the latter being in confrontation with the government

On the first of this month, the world commemorated the International Day of the elderly (those who are 60 years and above). The number of people aged 60 years or more worldwide has more than doubled, from around 541 million in 1995 to 1.2 billion in

The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) holds significant importance to Sri Lanka, serving as a symbol of the country’s diplomatic relations and cultural heritage.

The recently issued extraordinary gazette mandates that retailers can no longer distribute plastic shopping bags for free from November 1, 2025, which is a welcome move in principle, due to the serious harm posed by the bags to the environment. 

In wars, there are no victors—only victims. The truth of this statement becomes vivid only when war is viewed through a humanitarian lens. It does not matter whether Israel wins or loses, whether Hamas does, or who outfoxed whom. What matters most

In what appears to be an instance that shows policy incoherence and administrative disarray, the government found itself entangled in controversy over its handling of an LGBTQ+ project. What began as an official endorsement of a tourism project based

Sri Lanka’s 200-year-old postal service now stands at a turning point as the government is keen to ensure that it doesn’t incur any losses or become a burden to the Treasury in future. This is why the government has allocated a sum of USD 7 milli

The government is investing its time and money in northern development in a way that no previous government has in a long while. The topmost leaders of the government, no less, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnaya

It was recently reported that Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, in his asset declaration to CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption), revealed ownership of 3,000 units of cryptocurrency, a digital asset that exists

Blessed with immaculate beaches, clear blue waters and an abundance of marine life, the Maldives – a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean is gearing to transform itself into a fully developed nation by 2040 as envisioned by its President Dr. Moha

Sri Lanka was once a nation that was greatly influenced by tradition more than law. The arrival of the British added more customs to our traditions.

Two great filmmakers emerged from Sri Lanka and India three-quarters of a century ago – Lester James Peries and Sathyajit Ray.

Anyone who thought that the Aragalaya had buried the old humbuggery for good alongside the ousted old guard has been proven wrong.

n July this year, the parliament took a historic step. It amended the Penal Code, banning all forms of corporal punishment inflicted on children.

It’s strange how Sri Lankans fear any departure from what they are always used to. Take the protests mounted over this government’s progressive attempt to introduce LGBTQ tourism to Sri Lanka and also to do away with caning in our schools.

Post Master General (PMG) Ruwan Sathkumara said on Friday that postal workers have fraudulently obtained overtime payments worth millions of rupees and that he is deeply embarrassed by the fraudulent and inefficient actions of some postal service off

Stampedes, in which scores of men, women and children are killed and many more grievously injured, are all too frequent in India. There were eight major stampedes so far this year. The massive stampede in Tamil actor and fledgling politico Vijay’s

Sri Lanka’s Parliament has taken a historic step. The Penal Code Amendment of July 2025 bans all forms of corporal punishment of children — not only physical violence but also psychological humiliation, however slight. For the first time, a teach

As someone who experienced corporal punishment in school (only on one occasion - 2 cuts by cane to the palm of both hands) by our Principal the late Mr. E A Wijesooriya in 1950s, at Mahinda College, I understand it’s impact. The cane punishment, a

Days after Arab and Muslim rulers met and pleaded with President Donald Trump not to allow Israel to annex the West Bank, Trump announced on Monday September 29, 2025 a proposal to end Israel’s two year old on going genocidal war in Gaza.

India, long known for its cultural diversity, is now carving a place for itself as an emerging LGBTQ+ tourism destination.

It is becoming increasingly clear that President Dissanayake is following the missteps of late former President J.R. Jayewardene in his approach to international relations.

In recent years, debates on homosexuality and LGBTQ rights have gained momentum worldwide, drawing in not only activists and policymakers but also members of the clergy.

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, released its report on September 16, 2025.