‘One Country and One Law’ A Concept or Rhetoric?

Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.”

State power over religion helps Saudi Arabia curb radicalism

In the last few years, Saudi Arabia has been slowly but steadily transforming itself from being a medieval anachronism to being a modern country under the tutelage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, popularly known as MBS.

Families of Prisoners are Human Beings

In December 2008, Human Rights Office Kandy (HROK) had started to present Human Rights awards during the celebration of International Human Rights Day. I was amongst....

Prerogative Prorogues and Tricky Tactic ‘Pro-Rogues’

“The prorogation of Parliament is a prerogative act of the Crown. Just as Parliament can commence its deliberations only at the time appointed by the Queen, so it cannot continue them any longer....

Christmas; the season of hope - EDITORIAL

Although ours is a Buddhist majority country, with around only 7% being Christian, Christmas is celebrated as a national holiday. The season starts on December 1 with the lighting of crackers....

Writing in Times of Crisis: One Hundred Red Notes

One of my earliest memories as a five year old was of sitting on my father’s shoulder and watching the motorcades of Third World leaders who had arrived in Colombo for the Non-Aligned Movement....

Indo-Lanka Accord, 13th Amendment and the Tamil March of Folly

Much concern is now being shown by political parties representing the minority (numerical) ethnicities of Sri Lanka over the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

A challenge to the SJB and JVP sincerity

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) rally held recently was memorable. Police obstructions at roads leading to Colombo was a favour done to the opposition. The government in desperation and confusion is kicking into its own goal. Obviously, this is a failed government in spite of 6.9 million people supporting it. It reversed practically every gazette it issued.

Solidarity: Whither goeth Sri Lanka?

Solidarity means unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest, mutual support within a group.

Do people’s representatives represent the people?

Veteran Communist Party politician and the former Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) DEW Gunasekara....

“Rowdy clan” no forum to adopt democratic Constitution

During the Budget 2022 debate in parliament concluded a week ago, PM Mahinda Rajapaksa responding to a query by the Opposition....

Sri Lanka must slowly open up for sports - EDITORIAL

School sports have begun after a stoppage for Covid. This is a welcome move by the school authorities and more than anything....

Ukraine: Defuse the tension to avert global war

Despite its many shortcomings, the 2015 agreement, signed in Belarus’ capital Minsk, was seen to be maintaining at least....

Karma is hunting

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka was infested by a pandemic of a different kind: An outbreak of borderline racism and boundless populist irrationality. The carriers and....

Parliamentary prorogation; a move to remove heads of COPE, COPA, PFC?

Prorogation of Parliament by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has sparked a political debate with many interpreting it in different ways. It appears to have caused dissension within the government....

Gas explosions: Our homes not safe anymore - EDITORIAL

Committees, expert committees and parliamentary consultative committees notwithstanding, the gas-linked explosions are continuing while a sense of fear and anxiety is spreading across the country....

Truth in part is a pernicious lie

Around 25 years ago, while working as a cashier in the University of Southern California bookstore, I had to ring up for a few items for a customer. The books included one by the French philosopher....

Ten days to Christmas - EDITORIAL

Christmas - one of the most popular events in the Christian calender is just ten days away. In our cities, Christmas has become.....

A collective of morons denied of the truth

I was recently talking to a very young girl, just past her 10th birthday. She asked me a very blunt question, “Did you have....

“The UNP must find a suitable leader with a proven track record” - Palitha Range Bandara

UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara during an interview with The Daily Mirror spoke on the party’s current standing on mainstream....

INSULTING INTELLIGENCE OF THE MASSES - EDITORIAL

Going by the statements made by the government ministers who are more relevant to the main issues that are affecting the people....

How Saudi Arabia combats Islamic terrorism

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which houses the holiest places of Islam, has been a target of Islamic terrorism like many....

The Netherlands ready to support SL in implementing commitments to UNHRC - Ambassador of the Netherlands Tanja Gonggrijp

Ambassador of the Netherlands Tanja Gonggrijp, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about bilateral relations between.....

Global warming, increasing inequality, and new ‘Cold war’

The world today is facing a number of major issues. The spread of the coronavirus which has already led to 269 million infections worldwide, and 5.3 million deaths within the past....

Brawls, Boycotts, Blasts and Batty Buffoonery; Remnants of Yesteryear’s “Full-serials”?

A glorious performance by royal jesters, ably emulated by Diyawanna comedians; complete with brawls, boycotts, blasts and ‘batty’ buffoonery, has become the order of the day. The timely intervention...

A Hearing for Rev. Gnanasara Thero’s Claims

The Rev. Gnanasara Thero and his Hindu counterpart Maruwanpulavu Sachithananthan allege unethical conversions by Christians. As a Christian, knowing many converts to Christianity as sincere and genuine, I have always been dismissive of such claims and still am.

Equal Ground welcomes Appeal Courts decision to grant leave to proceed

Human rights violated by terrorism

The Catholic Bishops conference of Sri Lanka, the Catholic people, the Bishops of the Church of Ceylon better known as the Anglican Church and the Church community have told the Government that two-and-a-half years after the Easter Sunday massacre,

Hurdles to conquer from the bitter past

A group of female human rights activists, lawyers, academics and journalists recently visited the Eastern province and had discussions with different stakeholders including the families of those affected following the Easter Sunday attacks,

What can Sri Lanka offer its youth? - EDITORIAL

Just the other day there was a discussion among some rugby administrators in Colombo. And those present were informed that....