It gives me a great sense of pleasure to pen an appreciation to celebrate the life of my beloved father. Vernon Francis Siriwardene passed away peacefully on Sunday eve, the day after Vesak full moon Poya day, three months ago.
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old climate activist and Olympic athlete Björn Ferry have stopped flying in an attempt to save the environment. This idea around reducing (or not flying at all) has become so well-known in their home country of Sweden that there is now even a word for it -- ’Flygskam’ (pronounced fleeg-skahm) or ‘flying shame.’
Nimansa* has spent most of her life in a Child Care Institution (CCI). She was first raped at the CCI at the age of eight. She was raped again and impregnated at the age of 14, during which time she was physically abused by the police. She was convinced to give the child up for adoption by her Probation Officer (PO). After being forced to sign an affidavit that listed her age as 27 despite being 15, her baby’
People in under-developed areas consider life as a burden. But bringing about a change in their lives in terms of looking at life positively means the world to them. After identifying issues that keep people from enjoying their lives, a group of academics decided to do things differently. This is how the Degree in Health Promotion was introduced at the University of Rajarata; which programme is the first in South Asia. Many years later, the Depar
Sri Lanka is facing a garbage crisis among other crises. It’s clear that we haven’t learned any lesson from the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse which also claimed 32 lives. While the Government proposed the Aruwakkalu sanitary landfill project as a long-term viable option, it seems to be a threat to Puttalam,
I write to you regarding the editorial that was published in your newspaper on August 9, 2019, titled Populist waves and political fortune. I wish to respond to the comments made by the author of this editorial with some key facts about Presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa. I will be grateful if you publish my response in full, as I believe it is important that your readers are provided with the facts about Premadasa.
The apparel industry in Sri Lanka is –historically- a recent addition to the economy of the country, first showing significant growth in the 1980s and then grew much more significantly under the Multi Fibre Agreement that brought about quota restrictions to stimulate and rationalise the apparel industry throughout the world.
I hold no brief for Kandy City Centre Chairman Tusitha Wijesena, but what he has done for the Kandy Esala Perahera should be praised, so that those who fatten their purse during the time of the Kandy pageant could henceforth remind themselves what should be done to continue with this historic ritual.
Kandy Esala Perahera (Kandy pageant), which is now winding through the streets of Kandy in all its splendour, is yet to be acknowledged as a pageant one of its kind. Despite its historic significance, cultural diversity along with pomp and glory, international recognition for it has so far been illusive.
The huge urge to guzzle down a cup of Kasippu to salvage their day’s spent energy at dusk is perhaps the ultimate satisfying feeling for a daily paid minor labourer, who is into drinking. Driven out of exhaustion most underprivileged workers in Sri Lanka rely on an affordable swig of illicitly brewed liquor to enliven the spirits of gloomy lifestyles and also have a peaceful sleep. But no
A free, professional and plural media contributes greatly to good governance and the development of society. Having a vibrant media, enables access to information and dialogue, encourages accountability and people to express views and causes greater political participation. In the wake of the tragedy faced by this nation on April 21, followed by heightened tensions
K. Gunaratnam, popularly known as ‘KG,’ with his humble beginnings in Jaffna, had commenced businesses in Colombo. I came to know him in 1974 when his son G.R. Pathmaraj introduced me to him. Mr. Gunaratnam wanted....
Matale district is very prominent among the areas where big onions are cultivated in Sri Lanka. Onion is cultivated in the areas such as Sigiriya, Dambulla and Galewela. In addition, the farmers in Naula, Kongahawela, Laggala, Pallegama and Wilgamuwa areas are engaged in big onion cultivation.
“I have a squint by birth, but my seniors don’t understand that. They asked me to remove my glasses and look straight. Even though I did, they thought I was looking elsewhere. Then they referred to me as a ‘pottaya’ and questioned as to why I came to university if I can’t see properly. They said that I’m lying and hit me in my ear. After getting beaten up, I attended lectures.
Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in Sri Lanka and around the world. According to recent statistics by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the prevalence of diabetes among adults in Sri Lanka is at 8.5% of the population (about one in 12 adults) - roughly 1.16 million people.
Back in 2000, when Sri Lanka’s Olympic medalist Susanthika Jayasinghe publicly accused a Cabinet Minister of wanting to have sex with her, her complaints fell on deaf ears. 19 years later, the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka’s (NOCSL) Women’s Committee has established a Sexual Harassment and Abuse Policy for the first time in the history of sports in the country.
Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya, M.P. and Speaker of Parliament will be paying respects to Maha Sangha in a ceremony to be held on 7th August presided by the Chief Prelates of the Tri Nikayas and attended by Maha Sanga, Members of Parliament, political leaders and representatives of civil society at BMICH for the honours bestowed upon him for service to the nation and
It would be rather unlikely of a cricket enthusiast in Sri Lanka to be unfamiliar with the name Andrew Fidel Fernando. Be it on account of his well-worded cricket updates or the early morning mumblings on a popular radio programme, Andrew is the country’s go-to cricket writer par excellence.
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