What you need to know about the coronavirus right now

All the global Covid-19 developments this week

What’s the deal with the Port City Bill?

What is in a meme?

As fun as memes are, what do they mean for our mental health? An expert has all the answers

Govt. explains oily controversy

With an investigation underway to determine, if substandard coconut oil contaminated with high levels of carcinogenic Aflatoxin has reached consumers, the government is deliberating legal action against the traders involved in the controversy.

All about the new variants of Covid-19

With the Sri Lankan government successfully completing the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout, the number of new cases reported daily appear to be on the decline. While governments around the world scramble to do the same, a new challenge emerges: New variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Debt-driven suicides continue unabated in Sri Lanka 

Sometimes a loan obtained to save a life can end up taking another life, in the debt-stricken villages of Sri Lanka. A 24-year-old mother killed her child and committed suicide two months ago due to her inability to repay a loan of Rs. 400, 000 to a micro-finance company.

Contagion

A report by the Asian Development Bank highlights how Sri Lanka’s ambitious goals for technical education declined in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Can we catch COVID-19 via contaminated Food?

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us had wasted a lot of time thinking and bothering about the ways of contracting the disease through contaminated food, but here are some thoughts on the transmission of COVID-19 via food:

Johny, Johny Yes Papa?

An alleged loss of Rs. 15 billion in tax revenue following the government’s decision to slash taxes imposed on Sugar in October 2020....

BEYOND THE SCREEN: I felt like I just can’t sing - Adithya Weliwatta

In just one night, sixteen-year-old Adithya Weliwatta stole the hearts of a nation with her performance for the blind auditions of Voice Teens, a reality TV show that kicked off in the thick of the pandemic in 2020.

BEYOND THE SCREEN: “I don’t read comments” - MP Harini Amarasuriya

“I thought the obvious choice was Bimal,” Harini Amarasuriya recalled. “He was on the list, he was our number one. He was my choice.

Beginning of another wide-ranging mandate?

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to probe the April 21, 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks handed over its final report to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on February 1, 2021 after an extensive inquiry lasting fifteen months.

Why Child Abuse is on the rise

With increasing reports of grievous incidents of child abuse, the need for an unyielding regulatory body for the protection of children in Sri Lanka is apparent.

Can pets and wild animals get Covid-19?

Animal Coronaviruses have been known since the late 1930s and human pathogenic Coronaviruses were first discovered in humans in the mid-sixties.

Vaccine clusters in the making?

With the state’s public vaccination campaign starting this week, fears over new clusters arise, as public fail to adhere to health guidelines

DIG Bimshani talks about patriarchal beliefs and perceptions towards women

On September 21, 2020 The National Police Commission granted approval to promote a female Police Officer as Deputy Inspector General of Police. The decision paved way to the appointment of DIG Bimshani Jasin Aarachchi making her the first female DIG in the country. Many applauded and felicitated, as DIG Bimshani came with glowing recommendations owing to her work with the Child and Women Bureau of the Police Department.

Cricketing Legends batting For Road Safety

From the multiple Tsunami Appeal Matches in 2005, to the Big Appeal for the Bush fires in Australia last year and the annual Breast Cancer.....

Why are fewer women than men in science?

The landmark Declaration, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 10, 1948, reaffirms that, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, birth or other status”. Then, why are there fewer women than men in science?

Your Covid-19 vaccination questions answered

The Health Ministry recently briefed media on several pertinent questions on the Covid-19 vaccine programme. Excerpts:

RIGHT OF REPLY: Avant Garde responds to “Covid-19 Repatriation Mafia

Avant Garde Martime Services has sent the following response to the Daily Mirror article titled “Covid-19 Repatriation Mafia” published on February 4, 2020.

The Covid-19 Repatriation Mafia

Having experienced first-hand the loathsome treatment of repatriating Sri Lankans at paid Quarantine Centres, Fr. Tyrell J. Alles writes to the Daily Mirror

EXPLAINED: Eastern Container Terminal Controversy

The Sri Lankan Government on Tuesday announced that it would withdraw from the much-hyped agreement with Japan and India to develop the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port.

PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks: THE END OR ANOTHER BEGINNING ?

For more than a year, the Daily Mirror reported on the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) appointed to inquire into the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks.

Sinharaja Elephant Corridor: Destruction continues nonstop

Two powerful businessmen have combined forces to block the main elephant corridor within the Sinharaja Forest Reserve. An elephant corridor running from Morning Side to the Dellawa, Walankanda forest through the Handapan Ella has been cleared to construct two hotels by a couple of businessmen.

Mt. Lavinia, a booming hotspot for wildlife trade

If you are on the lookout for exotic pets, rare foreign insects or even an animal tooth for a talisman, you would have to look no further than a particular stretch.....

Google threatens to block Australian users

A controversial media law may prevent Australian users from using the tech giant’s search service

Hype Sri Lanka: Path to Youth Empowerment Advocacy

Hype Sri Lanka is the Youth Empowerment Incubator in the country and the organization is celebrating its first year anniversary on January 25. Currently, the organization is involved in formulating a suitable Youth Policy for Sri Lanka which would highlight practical measures the government could take to design inclusive and fair recovery measures that leave no one behind.

Are tea workers still not at the ‘tea party’?

Tea plantation workers in Sri Lanka have long been demanding a salary hike to make their income on par with labourers of other sectors....

Military Training for Youth, Explained

As news broke out about Public Security Minister (Rtd) Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara’s proposal for military training for Sri Lankan youth....

He didn’t listen to me” - S. B. Dissanayake comments on Ranjan’s verdict…

“I will not withdraw my comments, I will not apologize,” actor-turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake said as he was handcuffed and escorted away from court.