CERT/CC warns beware of Social Media ‘Samaritans’

The majority of the people in the country use social media such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, and Twitter which give them easy access for communication. People use social media for personal interest while others do so to maintain connections with people in other parts of the world.   

Changing the voting system and unfortunate realities

The Citizens’ Movement for Good Governance (CIMOGG) refers to the article titled “LET’S THROW OUT THE COMPLEX ‘MIXED VOTING’ SYSTEM FOR GOOD” by Bernard Fernando that appeared in the DAILY MIRROR on 7 December. “Mixed voting” was, in fact, only one of the matters discussed

A device that converts decaying Garbage into fuel and bio-gas

A Korean company is in the hope of introducing a machine that can be used for converting the decaying garbage into diesel, petrol, gas or bio-coal, by adding a special stimulator, within 3 seconds.  

Alokadhara: Photo, short film competition by Indian HC

Alokadhara, an islandwide photography competition, has been announced by the Indian High Commission of Colombo to mark World Hindi Day...

Film makers in town

Two young British film producers were in Sri Lanka recently, putting the finishing touches on a film venture with Sri Lankan film director Louis...

A tribute to Rev. Fr. Mervyn Fernando: A warm and loving human being and eminent scholar

Born on April 20, 1934, Rev. Fr. Mervyn Fernando entered into eternal rest on December 20, 2017. He was ordained as a priest on December 21, 1959....

A mid-winter night’s dream with Pradeep

Night is when all sorts of dangers lurk. But there are safe havens. The Reader’s Digest once ran a series of anecdotes called ‘Home....

Keeping the tremors in check

 When the Boxing Day Tsunami struck Sri Lanka in 2004, the casualties recorded were second only to Indonesia. These casualties were caused largely due to a lack of awareness and experience regarding tsunami warnings. Many were trapped unaware of the devastating effect as there was no public warning. Spawned by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, the tsunami was one of the worst disasters in the history of our island nation.&

Memories of a devastating catastrophe

It was December 26th, a historic day in 2004. I was watching television in the morning. Kamal, a confidante of mine, came to my home in the morning at about 8.30 a.m. He came to discuss how we should attend the funeral house of one of our relations in Meetiyagoda. The house is about 4 km from the Peraliya Town. Then we decided on a time to attend the funeral and began to watch the New Zealand -Sri Lanka cricket match.

A survivor recalls the moments When the angry tide awaited the train at Peraliya

She was four years old when the disastrous tsunami hit the southern and eastern coastal strip of Sri Lanka in 2004. She was in that fateful train accompanying her grandfather and aunt when the mass of water gushed into the train in Paraliya. There are the reminiscences of Nipuni who witnessed the tsunami which caused 

tea suffers from politics and man-made disasters

Not often is that the men have the heart, when their one great industry is ruined, to rear up in few years another as rich to take its’ place; and the tea fields of Ceylon are as true monument to courage as is the lion of Waterloo’ – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Christmas wish for Nandani’s shelter of hope

You will be reading this, I think, on the day after Christmas. The day after December 25th. Not unlike every other December 25ths we have run into, celebrated, and turned into a cosmetic festival that does little to no justice to its true, reflective Zeitgeist. There are Christmas stories that compel such a Zeitgeist, that offer us room for profound sorrow and intense anger. Stories that open us to the true meaning, if you could call it that, of

Christmas: Facts, fiction and faith

The celebration of Christ’s birth on the 24th / 25th December dates back to the Third Century CE. But it is universally acknowledged that the gospels give no clue to arrive at such a date or any other date for that matter. 

SL gets State party seat at MBT meeting in Austria

After almost two decades, Sri Lanka got a seat as a State party to the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT) celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year, at the 16th meeting of State parties which was held at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria from 18th to 21st December.

IMPRESSIONS OF MY RECENT VISIT TO SRI LANKA

After a lapse of ten years I visited my motherland, Sri Lanka. Amazingly the infrastructure development of the country, which was almost at a standstill when I left, is now progressing steadily. 

Reflections on Christmas

A quick twelve-month revolution and it is Christmas time once again.

Commemorating Human Rights Day “Let’s stand up for Equality, Justice and Human Dignity”

Celebrating International Human Rights Day 2017, the Human Rights Office in Kandy organized Human Rights Salutation, which was held at the Good Shepherd Convent in Kandy on December 10, 2017 with the theme “Let’s stand up for Equality, Justice and Human Dignity” with the participation of more than 500 persons including religious leaders, victims, human rights defenders, award winners and well-wishers.

Message of Christ : True power lies in our powerlessness

Amongst other things, Christmas is not only about a certain child who was born a long time ago but also about children from all places and all times.

Symbols of Christmas

The fact that Christmas celebrations had started during the time of Romans as a holiday festivel is a generally accepted view. It was developed with dedication to Jesus Christ. 

Maya Senanayake a woman for all seasons

Mothers come in all shapes and sizes, and mine came as a package of innumerable talents and ideals.

Are we ready to celebrate Christmas as a time for Peace and Reconciliation ?

Christmas is universally celebrated as a festival of Peace. In fact, it is the birth anniversary commemoration of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. 

Mary eternal symbol of motherhood

Another Christmas has arrived. When I browsed the TV programme schedules for the season, I noticed a significant absence of the real people that were involved in the true Christmas story. Of course, nothing that TV can produce can match that first Christmas and the remarkable cast of 

UN partiality when dealing with SL

The three member delegation from the UN working group on arbitrary detention was in Sri Lanka for a 10 day visit.   

The Dugongs under an imminent threat

Dugongs, a marine species, dwell in shallow waters and are strictly herbivorous animals that have been referred to as the cows of the sea. 

The education discourse and its ethnic discontents

In his ‘Among My Souvenirs’ Regi Siriwardena depicts the flaws and the contradictions that led to the fall from power of the pre-1956 elite. 

A part of their lives: The Sooriya Village gears up

As I pointed out in my last article, at best I am a spectator and not a connoisseur when it comes to music. When we discover the songs that we grow to love, we are thrilled, so much so that pedagogy and instruction, the finer points of music as a subject to be taught as a series of subjects and courses 

CCC House: A home away from home

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Maharagama is a place where varied emotions are observed. Shaven heads and looks of despair on the faces of both adults and children; a common sight. Within the hospital premises however is a place alive with hope; The Courage Compassion Commitment 

Will National Human Rights ActionPlan be a reality?

The ‘National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights 2017 - 2021 (NHRAP) was launched last month at the Parliamentary complex. The five-year plan focuses on the key areas namely; civil, social, cultural, labour, environment, economic and political rights, prevention of torture and the 

Ven. Keerthi Fernando Elected New Anglican Bishop of Kurunegala

According to a Media Communique, the Venerable Keerthi Fernando has been elected as the new Bishop of Kurunagala. Keerthi is the third Priest to go from Colombo to Kurunagala with the others being Lakdasa de Mel and Lakshman Wickremasinghe.   

Vendom to make pleasure seekers think safe

Sexuality is part of what makes us human. In addition to its fundamental function of procreation, sex is also about sensual pleasure. According to psychology, many people long for this physical connection when trying to overcome their sense of alienation, isolation and loneliness. Although Asians end up