When the Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Government announced the National Anthem would be sung in ‘Sinhala Only’ at the 72nd Independence Day celebrations, the public received it with varied reactions. While it evoked a smile from certain Sinhala-Buddhist elements, those standing in solidarity with minorities, especially the Tamil community, frowned upon the decision. Keeping this in mind, a group of activists gathered at the Kanatte Roundabout Borella yest
According to inside sources, President Rajapaksa is planning to give his assent on March 2 to the gazette notification that declares Parliament dissolved. The country awaits official conformation in this respect. However, it is common knowledge among the political parties that Parliament will be dissolved. So, they have now started oiling their political machinery to face the elections. Accordingly, the country is sliding into election mode g
Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a recently identified organism in the coronavirus category. Coronaviruses can affect animals as well as humans in different virulences. MERS and SARS are classified under coronaviruses. Although 2019-nCoV hasn’t made complications as severe as MARS or SARS, it is of high virulence. As this outbreak instills the fear of a vast community
When I was penning these words, the preparations for the 72nd Independence Day celebrations were taking place at Independence Square, Colombo 7. The fact that it is not being held at Galle Face, as was the case previously, suggested that it was not going to be the type of extravaganza that we saw during the reign of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the elder sibling of the
The ceremony commenced with a word of prayer by the Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Dhiloraj Canagasabey, followed by several other religious observances and a tour of the school. Many distinguished guests were present at the opening ceremony including Archdeacon of Galle Rev. Sunil Fernando and several members of the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind including its
Singing of the National Anthem in the Tamil language too at the Independence Day celebrations has been gathering momentum with scholars, both lay and clergy, expressing their views and the media giving much publicity to it. This article is intended to draw the attention of the intelligentsia of the country and the Government to the issue. We inherited from the west the need of a
1832, 1910, 1931, 1948, 1956 and 1972: it is in these years that we see a transition in Sri Lanka’s position from a plantation economy to a semi-responsible Government to a dominion and finally, with the United Front’s victory, to a republic. Taken in isolation, these represent next to nothing, but it is only when we stop to consider that the attainment of independence in Sri Lanka was free of the turmoil and conflict which other European colonie
An evening of music featuring Jugalbandi Esraj, flute and tabla recital by Pamalka Manjitha Karunanayake (Esraj), Asya Shivaya (flute) and Pablo Grace (tabla) will be held on February 3 from 6.00 p.m. onwards at Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (formerly Indian Cultural Centre), 16/2 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7.
The number of people infected by the novel Coronavirus 2019 (nCoV) outbreak has risen to nearly 6000 while claiming the lives of 132 people in China as at yesterday (January 29). As such countries around the world are taking precautionary steps to ensure that all citizens are safe. Airports, ports, hotels and other places frequented by visitors, mainly Chinese nationals are kept under close scrutiny. At the onset of the outbreak, a thermal scanne
There is drama surrounding the leopard these days; the black leopard in peak wilderness and released leopard in Wilpattu. This article neither intends analysing the wildlife cum conservation issue surrounding the leopard nor points...
The British Empire was the most powerful empire in recent history, ruling over half the world at one point. One of its main outcomes was the establishment of English as the dominant Lingua Franca, where its mastery ensured elevated standards of living and status.
With unprecedented rain wreaking havoc in many parts of the country, one has to take extra precaution to prevent the threat of dengue; a menace that has not been curbed successfully to date. As per the latest statistics of the Epidemiological Unit of the Ministry of Health, a total of 100, 212 dengue cases were reported during 2019. Colombo recorded the highest number of dengue cases with as many as 20,183 cases being reported in 2019. The Epidem
With a noble cause of helping cancer patients in Sri Lanka, ‘Fight Cancer Team’ (FCT) was founded by M.S.H Mohamed. In order to gain legitimacy to function as an organization, Fight Cancer Team (Guarantee) was registered in 2017 to carry out future fundraising projects. Speaking to Daily mirror Mohamed said that the first project was launched initially to purchase Apeksha Cancer Hospital (ACH
Myanmar is on the horns of a dilemma. The basic question facing the National League for Democracy (NLD) government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, is whether it should look to China for succour and support to face the mounting pressure from the West on the ticklish issue of the Rohingyas, or look to the West to free itself from the military’s yoke and establis
In school textbooks and in popular culture, Kasyapa I, better known as Kasyapa, continues to get a bad press. Most accounts have him as a god king, a megalomaniac consumed by greed, vengeance, and ultimately remorse. Those who have watched Lester James Peries’s film will no doubt come away thinking of him as a spoilt prince, a wayward hippie wea
With the inception of local film industry in 1948, Sri Lankans were privy to enjoy a new mode of entertainment. The films were merely dubbed or adapted versions of South Indian movies but people got enthralled by those creations not for their content but the technical novelty. However, it took another few years for them to see a movie that depicted a truly Sri
Canada issues travel advisory over serious risk in Arugam Bay
More countries issue travel advisories
Sri Lanka Tourism invites global travellers for upcoming season
Russian embassy urges citizens to stay vigilant in Arugam Bay
US Embassy issues travel warning for Arugam Bay
Immigration authorities to crack down on overstaying Russians, Israelis
Sri Lanka may face another economic turmoil: Sajith