If there is magic on this planet, it is water

During the past decades, world superpowers have waged wars claiming that they were doing it to curb or defeat terrorism. Especially by the brutal killers of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). But the superpowers had a bigger profit-making ambition. That was to gain control of the oil resources of those countries. Now the US has control over the big oil and gas companies in the region.

Next Phase of Russia Ukraine Conflict: Cyber or Nuclear?

The former Russian president and long term Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev recently took to social media and directed a veiled threat at European powers supporting Ukraine.

President cuts Wimal, Udaya down to size

The sacking of National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila from the Cabinet on March 3 was not surprising, given the political culture in the country.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and feudal heritage of “Great Russia”

Invading Ukraine over 14 days ago, Vladimir Putin the modern-day Tsar was out for a quick take-over either by eliminating Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky or by occupying Kiev expecting Ukraine forces to surrender.

When reality hinges on moral foundations... - EDITORIAL

He claims to have worked at the National Theatre in Maharagama since he was a child. If one tells him a name of a Sinhala movie he would give the date it was released. He would also name.....

If the Ukraine war is not ended now, millions of poor people will die of hunger

In the immediate post-World War II period, George Kennan was the US State Department diplomat in charge of training the foreign service staff. Although he was regarded as dovish, he would....

In conversation with Poet Ahnaf Jazeem “The poems I wrote were against the ISIS ideology”

Young Tamil poet and teacher Ahnaf Jazeem was controversially arrested on May 16, 2020 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) on the allegations of sowing Islamic extremism through his anthology.....

JVP: Acid test of honesty is the guarantee

Listening to the JVP/NPP speakers advocating their policies and promises I noticed many similarities between them and Nagananda Kodituwakku (NK).

Now an acute shortage of domestic gas

Reality cannot be ignored except at a price; and the longer the ignorance is persisted in, the higher and the more terrible becomes the price that must be paid

Shortage of essentials, rising costs and street protests - EDITORIAL

Our country is in the midst of one of the worst crises to hit since independence in 1948. Tourism and remittances of expatriate workers.....

Life in a perpetual electric storm where truths and fakes clash

Every conflict throws up lasting images. Like the Tankman of Tiananmen Square. We still don’t know who the lanky man was......

Trade union actions and opportune times

Trade unions in the health sector have put off their strike last week which they had been continuing for several weeks. They have been making several demands including one to rectify the anomalies in their salary scales. They might have been encouraged to launch a strike at this juncture by the recent successful trade union action by the principals and teachers

Mismanagement or Wheeler-dealing: Where did all bond money go?

The country descended into darkness as thermal plants ran dry. Sri Lanka’s monthly oil bill is around US$ 400 and would go higher as crude oil hit US$ 110 a barrel due to Russia’s war in Ukraine

Why is the West targeting Russian oligarchs? It is part of a larger politico-economic agenda

The US and its Western allies have sanctioned top Russian businessmen dubbed ‘oligarchs’ as part of their campaign against Russian President Vladimir Putin. On March 3, the White House, in coordination with Allies and partners, tar

March 8- International Women’s Day Women and War: Who labelled them ‘Weaker Sex’?

Women have already surpassed men in terms of high school and college graduation rates, globally, as well as in Sri Lanka. Women have outshone men in the fields of Finance, legal, Medicine and even encroached the Engineering field in recent years

Inequality and fallacies in the law - EDITORIAL

‘Equality before law means, that among equals the law should be equal and should be equally administered, that like should be treated alike. Sadly this description is not always followed in international.....

Repealing PTA

I often reflect on the tumultuous years of the late 1970s and the paths not taken that may have determined a different future for our country. Emergency rule and then the enactment.....

SVB spearheads an island-wide support system to eliminate violence against women - Hirunika Premachandra

The Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya (SVB), the women’s wing of Samagi Jana Balawegaya has spearheaded several initiatives to address issues faced by women and children at grassroots.....

ECONOMIC CRISIS: RECKLESS BEHAVIOUR OF DECISION MAKERS

When the debt keeps piling up, it can seem like you’re sinking into quicksand and often when you struggle to stay afloat and escape your situation, it can lead to poor decisions, and even more problems.

When we drink water, think of its connection with the forests

Human beings are expected to be good stewards of nature. Instead what have we done especially during the past few decades? Eco-friendly social analysts will tell us of the vital importance of forests, the animals, thousands of species of plants many of which have medicinal properties, insects and hundreds of other small creatures which combine to make a spectacular display of biodiversity.

Sri Lankan hospitality welcomed by Russians and Ukrainians - EDITORIAL

Ukraine is in shambles and it reminds us of the last stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka back in 2009. Russia is such a power that it has bulldozed its way into Ukraine claiming that it has to protect the Russian....

Ukraine: Zelenskyy’s own goal in a cruel sport

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has apparently ignored one of the key principles in international relations and is now paying a costly price for it, with Russian troops moving towards....

For how much longer will people have to suffer?

The main news items in yesterday’s Daily Mirror warned readers of 10-hour power cuts this month.

Ukraine Unfrilled Blood, hypocrisy, myopia and bucks

War is about or can be about a lot of things. A common enough reason for war that cuts across territory and time is profit.

A common minimum programme that responds to Sri Lanka’s current crisis

The following is an article compiled by a group of professionals headed by Prof. Rohan Samarajiva aimed at finding solutions to the island’s economic issues, how to improve on the existing debt management and deal with the dollar crisis.

Russian invasion of Ukraine and grim realities and entitlements of great power politics

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin, tore apart the de-facto - post World War II convention and invaded a sovereign democracy....

Ukraine war and the ‘international community’ - EDITORIAL

The war in Ukraine today enters its fifth day. The civilian death toll according to Ukraine’s Health Ministry on February 28, stood....

Putin – just another military adventurer?

Russia finally did the unthinkable by invading Ukraine. Russian president Vladimir Putin is making a big mistake, but no one....

Sanctions from West will drive Russia and China into each others’ arms: - Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

As Russian troops continue to battle their way towards Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, naval tensions continue to escalate.....

UNHRC and the way forward

The 49th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) commenced its sessions yesterday in Geneva and it will continue till April 1. If some of the Sri Lankan political and military leaders are not facing any threa