PRINCIPLED PRAGMATISM: SRI LANKA’S LAST HOPE

According to our Foreign Minister, there is nothing worrisome about the fact that 22 countries supported the UNHRC Resolution on Sri Lanka....

Seenigama Shrine funds make bogus Covid tour

The trustee of the Seenigama Devalaya (shrine) is alleged to have converted to other uses funds in the shrine to the tune of one million rupees.....

Disclosure of educational qualifications of MPs

Responding to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by our sister paper, The Sunday Times, Parliament interestingly has refused to disclose the educational qualifications of ministers and Parliamentarians (MPs), on the basis it would be an ‘invas

UNHRC resolution is a tragedy The Government’s reaction is a tragicomedy

It is a fool’s errand to make-believe that the UN Human Rights Council Resolution titled, “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka”, and adopted last week would help promoting human rights in the country.

Ragging in Universities – Is it a battle between Aesthetic and Unaesthetic?

Among many national priorities discussed today, subject of Higher Education and Universities is prominent. Irregularities in university intake; lack of facilities, IT skills, English language proficiency and leadership; inadequacy in relevance, quality and applicability of research output and graduate output; mismatch with the job market, and ragging and its i

Resolving the human-elephant conflict without elimination

Agriculture-based elephant deterrents are both humane and profitable

Victory at Geneva - EDITORIAL

At the recently concluded 46th session of the Human Rights Council session on Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka....

Defeating Global Water Crisis and Valuing Water for Future

World Water Day is annually celebrated on March 22 every year since its official declaration by United Nations in 1992.

Tour guides stranded in Covid 19 pandemic

After living in the UK for nine years where I studied engineering, I returned to Sri Lanka and began working as a manager.....

‘No water, no life’

Water is freely available and we gladly give a glass of fresh water to anyone who asks for it. History has taught us that what is freely given is often not fully appreciated.

Easter Pledge of a New World

Easter is identified as the Christian festival par excellence. It celebrates the unique event of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is the core and crux of the Christian Religion and Faith.

Lack of consultation at summit level is the reason for Confrontational politics in Govt. - Vasudeva

Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara, a senior left-wing politician serving in the present government,

Points to ponder about the veil - EDITORIAL

The Governments of Sri Lanka have in the past taken decisions which have affected the minority communities. One such decision was the ‘Sinhala Only Act’....

UNHRC: Let’s defend human rights and learn lessons from political and diplomatic blunders

“Britain will not be able to have its own way in the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) as there are other influential countries such as Russia....

UNHRC Resolution: A mechanism to try Lankans in foreign Courts

The resolution on Sri Lanka passed at the 46th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday was different......

SL’s environmentalists echo The sound of agitation

Sri Lanka is slowly moving into an uncertain future. The reason for this would be that the lawmakers of this country are adamant at promoting their personal views ahead of reality. The present environmental issues that have cropped up underscore that those in power give scant respect to dissent and would silence critics who speak against the regime.

UNHRC resolution an eye-opener for SL

The adoption of the resolution L.1/Rev.1 by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday has paved the way for enhanced UN monitoring on Sri Lanka. The UNHRC has adopted resolutions critical of Sri Lanka since 2012, but the latest one is the strongest even with provisions seeking to enhance the capacity for the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to increase monitoring and reporting on the situation of Sri Lanka.

Do’s and Don’ts of COVID-19 Vaccines

Since the invention of the Small Pox vaccine by Dr. Edward Jenner in 1796, vaccines have saved millions of lives that would have otherwise perished because of infections.

Behind the Veil

‘The proposal to ban face coverings such as the burqa and niqab, worn by Muslim woman is for national security purposes and not because of any resistance towards Islam religion”

UNHRC Resolution and Sri Lanka’s response

The Daily Mirror in a front page news item today states that according to UN sources, the resolution on Sri Lanka adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday will take immediate effect with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) beginning the process of closely monitoring Sri Lanka.

Wanted: An International Centre on Vexatious Persecution

The vote on the resolution against Sri Lanka was adopted on Tuesdays at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. That slant was reflected in the vote as well. The resolution was passed 22-11 with 14 abstentions.

Uncouth, behind that digital veil

I showed this recent online advert to two colleagues. One had no clue about Sri Lanka and did not speak or read Sinhala.

COVID-19 and lessons from the pre-77 economy - EDITORIAL

Since the Covid-19 hit our country in March last year, our countrymen and women, irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, poor or rich have seen our life situation drop.

Passara bus accident: Who’s to be blamed?

A day prior to the final match of the Road Safety World Series T20 tournament was played at Raipur in India on Sunday, 14 people were killed and 47 injured in a major road accident at Passara on Monaragala-Badulla main road. The trage

UNHRC: Government burnt bridges with India & Muslim world, and now pleads for help

As Sri Lanka is heading towards a showdown in the UN Human Rights Council, which will vote on an adverse resolution on Sri Lanka today, leaders in Colombo are scrambling to avoid a near-certain defeat. On Sunday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa called the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen and ‘discussed with him the existing relations between the OIC and Sri Lanka as wel

Has the UNHRC delivered the goods?

With political interests clouding rights issues, the UNHRC’s record is a mix of the good and the bad

Bonded Sugar Bitterness Goes Beyond Bank Bonds?Sugar Coated Pill to Divert Attention from Perk & Privilege Enhancement?

One is reminded of ‘Archie’s Comedy Hour’ and its timeless animated song, “Sugar, Sugar-Honey, Honey…” shown on CBS-TV five decades ago and the famous fables of “Andare”, the celebrated court jester and our childhood hero. In the

Sri Lanka to advance relationship with China despite concerns – Dr. Palitha Kohona

Moves to sign free trade deal

Commission on Easter Sunday Attacks: Inaccurate narratives will be wrongfully exploited in international fora

International Day against Racism - EDITORIAL

On October 26, 1966, the UN proclaimed March 21 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination....