Demanding a change in the face of politics - EDITORIAL

During the COVID-19 pandemic several Sri Lankan expatriates chose to return home and they were brought back in batches.

Vaccine the new bio weapon

Here’s a story. Two men have been walking for days in search of food and water after surviving a plane crash in a desert.

It’s the season of condescension

Come January and sometimes even late December, we notice an outpouring of ‘concern’ for Sri Lanka. There are countries, which were to help Sri Lanka. There is much noise and much of it comes in the form of threats, sometimes veiled and sometimes not, sometimes with a smirk and sometimes sugar-coated. And there’s also nauseating condescension. The year 2021 is not an exception.

‘This is Democracy’s Day’

Finally, at last, ultimately Donald J. Trump, the second one-term president in US history, left the White House and his presidency without even having the courtesy to attend the inauguration of his successor Joseph R. Biden, who was sworn-in at an impressive ceremony at the Capitol, as the 46th President of the United States of America and Kamala Devi Harris as its Vice President.

It’s natural for U.S. ambassador to stand for Indian involvement in ECT

The business model proposed by the Government for the development of the East Container Terminal (ECT) of Colombo in partnership with an Indian company has come under severe criticism by the trade unions including those affiliated to the government.

Salaam Shukra!

When the schools were reopened on Monday (January 25) for students in western Province there was another reason for them to celebrate other than getting back to a classroom environment.

Annus Horriblis

It was exactly a year ago that news emerged in Australia of the first COVID-19 patient. On January 25 last year, a recently returned traveller from Wuhan....

An uncrowned king - EDITORIAL

He is everywhere nowadays. On television his humble voice offers a palpable respite to those who have got fed up with the cacophony of political rhetoric.

COVID-19: Ridiculing patients

While the Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit has been claiming that there is no community spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, citing World Health Organization’s criteria, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) citing the same WHO’s analys

Victims, culprits of ‘Dammika Paniya’ and false national pride

Less than two months ago, a self-professed holy man ( Kapuwa) from Kegalle became the embodiment of the Sri Lankan ingenuity. The man who had no medical background concocted a miracle COVID-19 cure after being told of its recipe by

‘What I do in my bedroom shouldn’t be State’s business’ -Rosanna Flamer-Caldera-

LGBTIQ rights have been and are still a very sensitive topic in Sri Lanka. The topic is sensitive mainly because of Sri Lanka’s strong cultural background, a culture which refuses to accept gay rights. Rosanna Flamer-Cald

Crimes without Criminals

Parliamentarian Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan has been discharged and released over the Joseph Pararajasingham murder case.

137 Shot Dead on July 29, ’87: India Arm-twisted JR to Sign the Indo-Lanka Accord

The report reminisces the unprecedented July 29, 1987 turmoil on the day Indo-Lanka Accord was signed under curfew in Colombo.

Health Minister and the failure of COVID syrup - EDITORIAL

Irony at its best -the Minister of Health, one of the chief proponents of the locally developed ‘COVID syrup’ better known as the ‘peniya’....

Amazon boss made $11.7m per hour while WORKERS GOT LESS THAN A DOLLAR AS PAY RISE IN 2020

In some parts of the world, authorities have used COVID-19 regulations as an excuse to curb calls for greater democracy and freedom.

Core-group working on SL seeks consensual resolution at UNHRC - Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will have its 46th session between February 22 and March 19. Sri Lanka is on the agenda this time.....

Acquittal of TMVP Leader “Pillayan” From Murder Charges

On January 12, 2021, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court imposed a sentence of four years rigorous imprisonment on Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjan Leo Sylvester Alphonsu alias Ranjan Ramanayake finding him guilty of the offence of Contempt of court.

Given America’s Past and Present, Biden’s call for unity was timely

America is known as the world’s first democracy and as a country where different ethnicities coalesce to constitute the quintessential “American”. But closer scrutiny would reveal that, from the beginning to the present day, its history has been pockmarked by disunity, violence, racial discrimination, economic inequality, and even secessionist tendencies.

Military training for over 18s: Is it practical?

Public Security Minister (Rtd) Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara has said he would table a proposal in Parliament to make way for military training to citizens above 18 years of age. He said the proposal aims at creating a disciplined and law-abiding nation and added that other countries that employed similar strategies have reaped benefits from such programmes.

The Govt. is trapped in a huge mess and muddle: Harsha

The Daily Mirror sat with former Economic Affairs State Minister and SJB MP, Dr. Harsha De Silva to discuss the Economy, Politics, Current Affairs and.....

‘The Broken Promise’ and a broken cinema - EDITORIAL

When one walks along the road of Sinhala cinema that spanned 74 years on January 21 (yesterday) it brings both tears and joy.

Tamil Nadu politics behind India’s new hardline on Lanka

Early this month, when India intervened in what was Sri Lanka’s internal security matter to end a protest campaign outside the Jaffna University main gate.....

Hope the vaccine rollout, will reel-in the deadly virus

Amid the relentless spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a tiny glimmer of hope for us in Sri Lanka in combatting this deadly virus is the news that vaccines are likely to arrive in the country towards the end of February with inoculations to begin soon thereafter.

Let’s go for 13 Plus

The number 13 is thought by some to be unlucky. Some even believe it is associated with evil. The number 13 is associated with Sri Lankan politics and some may say ‘entrenched’ in it or even use the word ‘inextricable.’ We’ve had the 13th Amendment and seven more thereafter but ‘stuck with it’ still applies. Nothing lasts forever and one day we will move on. Not yet, obviously. Not in the foreseeable future? Well, who can tell?

Biden-Harris administration, US-China relations and need for co-operation - EDITORIAL

The US democracy which the Biden-Harris administration is taking over is a severely wounded one.

Who should get COVID-19 Vaccine first?

Sri Lanka is faced with two COVID-19 related medical issues. The first is, which vaccine should we give our population, i.e., US, UK, Russian, Chinese or Indian?

New Era of racial equality and social justice

Tomorrow will be a historic day and hopefully the beginning of a new era in the United States and the democratic world. Amid the

Conflicting demands from Sri Lanka pose a serious challenge to UNHRC

While the Tamils have upped the ante considerably, Colombo has resolved to stick to its stand against foreign interference

Have Tamils benefitted from UNHRC resolutions?

Last week eleven Tamil political parties and civil society groups wrote to 47 member states of the UN Human Rights Council urging them to refer Sri Lanka to the UN Security Council and set up an international outfit similar to the International I

Right to a dignified burial for COVID-19 victims

If Ukrainian tourists can be allowed into the country knowing the risks, why cannot burials with no such risks be permitted?