The ‘Yukthiya’ anti-drug operation was launched on December 17 with the objective of cracking down on drug peddling and organised crimes that have plagued the country. So far, over 13,000 suspects have been arrested by the Police under this operation launched by Acting IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles recently announced that the security forces have been given an ultimatum to complete the operation- in other words ap
We live in a scientific age, in which science has influenced practically every aspect of our lives.Science has had a profound impact, both positive and negative on society, Although, both buddhism and science follow two paths many Buddhist scholars believe they have a great deal in common.They believe that science and buddhism are not incompatible as they have more similarities than contradictions and core aspects of buddhism align well with mode
It is true that Christmas has been far more commercialised than any other religious holiday worldwide. There is a positive aspect to it though, as well, since there are a tonne of imaginative and colourful greetings posted by firms worldwide. Do you find the word Xmas, as an abbreviation for Christmas, offensive? Many people do, but the origin of this controversial term might change your mind. You won’t find Xmas in church songbooks or even on m
Dilani de Silva is one hell of a woman. I write in the first person when penning this piece on Dilani and her maiden book ‘From Innocence: The journey of a betrayed woman’ because she is a dear....
Sung first in the distant 1984, Sri Lanka’s nightingale singer Nanda Malini’s, Christmas song “Jesu Swami Daruwane” never fails to inspire us still. Moreover, it challenges those who seek to celebrate the yearly festival of Christmas lavishly. Composed by Maestro Prof. Sunil Ariyaratne and set to music by musician Stanley Peiris, the song questions our distorted attitude towards the birth of Lord Jesus in a stable.
Jesuits in Sri Lanka have worked through the organization called ‘Tireless Warriors of Compassion’ to raise funds and contribute to causes such as funding programmes for eight universities, preschools, montessories and teachers. The organization believes in wielding education as its weapon against ignorance and despair. It makes a humble request to open your wallets and support such worthy causes. The following is a release sent by ‘Tireless Warr
John 3:16 is probably the most well-known Bible verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This passage shows us how Saul (Paul) of Tarsus found room in the “whosoever” word the Lord used, and how he turned it into great zeal to proclaim the name of the Lord who saved him.
Back in 2019, during one of his visits to the Philippines, the then President Maithripala Sirisena praised Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s approach to control the drug menace; an approach that had allegedly led to thousands of extrajudicial killings at the time. Sirisena not only said that it had set an example to the world, but said that he should consider adopting similar approaches to eradicate the drug menace in Sri Lanka. Since then t
The 11 km long Galgiriya Mountain is known as the longest mountain in Sri Lanka. The mountain is situated in the Ahatuwewa Divisional Secretariat of the Galgamuwa Seat and comes under the purview....
The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) was held in Dubai from November 30 to December 12. The focus was on Climate Justice, Climate Finance, Climate Adaptation, Loss and Damage, Climate Technology, etc. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, accompanied by three ministers and two opposition MPs, was joined by twenty young participants. This was the largest-ever Lankan delegation at a climate summit. His technical delegation consisted of 15 negotiato
Descendant family members of the Nuwarawewa Suriyakumara Wannisinghe Bulankulame family, who are the lay trustees of the Sri Maha Bodhiya at Anuradhapura, held a Pinkama at the Adhahana Maluwa Gedigei of the Asgiriya Temple facilitated by the Upali Thera recently. This was to commemorate and offer merit to their ancestors who protected the sacred tree after the Bo-sapling was brought to Sri Lanka in 3rd Century BC by Sanghamitta Theri, the daugh
On December 11 the Embassy of Palestine held its traditional Christmas commemoration at the embassy premises. This year amid the ongoing ruthless mass-killing of Palestinian civilians, including women and children, the indiscriminate targetting of buildings including hospitals, schools and the destruction of even the oldest Church in Gaza, Palestine, the Ambassador, his staff and friends of Palestine in Sri Lanka felt it was not possible to celeb
The Thomian Society held its annual Christmas family Get-together “Christmas in the Air” for members of their families and friends after a lapse of three years. The event was held under its new President elect Sudath Jayasundara at the Grand Oriental Hotel’ Rainbow Ballroom recently. Christmas carols were sung, there were prizes and surprises with fabulous prizes and music for dancing too with a sumptuous Buffet Dinner. Music was by “Ledger Line
The Popular musical band ‘Cosmic Rays’ which counts nearly 40 years of experience in versatile music and is enriched with pop, reggae, Latin American styles and modern retro music and blending with Sinhala and English songs of 60s and 70s and Baila will perform ‘Live’ on New Year’s Eve at a Gala Dinner Dance at Berjaya Hotel. Mt. Lavinia. There will be Baila competition and an entrance ticket draw with lavish prizes to be won. And of course there
Dr. Ahamed NaszHannifa, who had a peaceful death recently, was my friend from 1956, when we entered the Faculty of Science, Colombo, of the University Ceylon for the first MB. We entered the Faculty of Medicine (the only Medical Faculty in Ceylon then) in 1957. We were seated next to each other throughout the six years of medical training. He was a soft-spoken helpful gentleman. He travelled by scooter. Whenever we had to go out of Colombo for o
On December 8, 2023, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) determined that the Navy had violated my right to freedom of movement by blocking me from travelling to the remote Iranaitheevu island in Kilinochchi district on March 5, 2021.
The curtain came down on Gamini Weerakoon, one of the last of the great English language editors of Sri Lanka in the sad month of November, 2023. Gamini Weerakoon’s passing ends a career that spanned 57 years of superlative journalism. He was 82 at the time of death.
India-Sri Lanka ferry service operates smoothly
Tourist arrivals surpass 63,000 in first half of October
EDB gets new chief
Colombo welcomes Cinnamon Life
Easter attack: controversy swirls further high
Catholic Church rebuffs Gammanpila’s allegations
Easter Sunday attack: Ravi Seneviratne’s name implicated
SL unveils new ’P’ series passport with enhanced security features