Multiple explosions on Easter Sunday (April 21) left an island nation devastated and the Government has declared today a national day of mourning. Explosions took place at three churches, namely St. Sebastian’s in Katuwapitiya, St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo and Zion Church in Batticaloa, in the Eastern Province; and three hotels namely Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand. There were other explosions too.
The annual feast of Easter celebrates what is at the core of Christianity as a religion as well as the profound spiritual experience it engenders. It concerns the transforming and revolutionary historical event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth from the gloom of death and darkness of the grave.
Jesus is given various names/ titles in scripture. This reflection is on two names or titles; the first is the Prince of Peace, a title given to him, as recorded in Isaiah 9. The second is the Son of Man, which Jesus used to refer to himself. We cannot separate Good Friday from Christmas.
Good Friday is a special day for the Christians since it is on this day that they commemorate with much piety and devotion the death of Jesus of Nazareth, the Saviour of human beings. During special prayerful ceremonies in the churches on this day....
Five years after Enlightenment Gautama Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the second occasion. This visit was after His first visit to Sri Lanka to settle a dispute between Yakkhas and Nagas. Buddha’s second visit to Sri Lanka was on a ‘Bak’ Full Moon Poya Day.
For the first time in recorded history, bacteria, viruses and other infectious agents do not cause the majority of deaths or disability in any region of the world. Deaths from malaria, tuberculosis and diarrhoeal diseases have fallen more than 25% each since 2003.
People, young and old, are elegantly dressed in traditional attire and walk along the otherwise congested streets of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. They are heading to Ramna park in procession. And, they greet each other saying ‘Shuva Nobo Borsho’....
Perhaps, the most important event that would define Sri Lanka’s presidential race, and possibly also the future of Sri Lankan politics, happened at a parking lot of an American grocery chain, Trader Joe’s in Pasadena, California last week.
Home to some 50-60% of the total elephant population in Asia, India is a country of paramount importance for the survival of the species. Excessively used in the entertainment industry, elephants in India encounter countless beatings and undergo stressful periods before they are caparisoned and ‘used’ in these occasions.
The Sinhala people do not, strictly speaking, possess a musical tradition of their own. In this they are far away from India. But then the Sinhala villager did spend his time learning, or articulating, verse. Music was, literally, poetry in motion, and there were verses to be performed for different occupations and even times. And quite in contrast to feudal European society,
CandleAid Sri Lanka, an organization based in Moratuwa focused on improving the lives of children in underprivileged conditions, launched another phase of their English & Personality Enhancement Programme in Moratuwa recently. This programme aims to improve the English language skills of university level students in underprivileged families where they have limited access to English language skills development. The language training programme wa
Palm Sunday is one of the most important days in the Christian calendar after Christmas and Easter. Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter, and marks the beginning of Holy week events leading up to Jesus’ death. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ. When I started to prepare my message for palm Sunday, I asked my self the question what is the history of Palm Sunday? How it began after the death of Jesus? The celebration of p
Anula Nikapotha nee Aluvihare was the daughter of Bernard Aluvihare, lawyer and Dr. Mrs. R.A.M. Aluvihare, Gynaecologist and the wife of Dr. Vijitha Nikapotha, Radiologist, from Nugegoda. Anula was a psychiatrist specializing in child psychiatry. She practiced in Colombo, working in the General Hospital before she migrated with her family to UK and practised in UK, and went on to become a UN consultant, advising and training in child psychiatry t
On April 1, award-winning author and poet Shakthika Sathkumara was arrested and remanded on contrived charges of inciting religious hatred, a move that has been decried by artists, academics and free-speech advocates as setting a dangerous precedent against the freedom of expression.
Efforts aimed to reverse environmental damage and help people reconnect with nature, are all part of a growing global consciousness of caring for the world we live in. Although a relatively new phenomenon for many, Sri Lankan born singer-songwriter Alston Koch distinguished the potential impact of climate change, almost three decades ago.
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement among governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The Parties to CITES are collectively referred to as the Conference of the Parties. Every two to three years, the
Green Building Council of Sri Lanka joined the exhibition held to mark World Health Day, organized by the World Health Organization - Sri Lanka, under the theme “Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere”.
This is a story of a courageous woman who lives in Watawala Dewahuwa in Galewela. She labours hard in agriculture for her survival without the help of others. When we met her on the day when the whole globe was celebrating ‘World Women’s Day’ there was no change to her daily work routine.
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