Al-Qaeda’s new home and death throes of a fallen regime - EDITORIAL

An old English proverb quoted by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow goes... ‘though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small; though with patience.....

It isn’t all bad news from around the world…

We have been cornered and savaged by the pandemic since March 2020, and face the New Year with great uncertainties.

Why Do We Need a Separate University for Teacher Education?

Teachers have been criticized for not being up to date with the times however, their grievances about the absence of a proper system to further their education has been repeatedly overlooked. The best way, in my view is to establish a separate university for teacher education.

Education: A liberating and democratising force

In Sri Lanka and the world over the vital sector of education was one of the worst-affected by the ongoing second wave or new strain of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Getting back to Pre-COVID-19 Chaos

Sri Lanka is often spoken of as one of the worst affected countries economically from the COVID-19 pandemic. Fitch Ratings last November made it look worse. COVID-19 did affect the economy no doubt with lockdowns and isolations over almost nine months last year and still continuing. But we were no better even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Pre-pandemic Sri Lanka is one major fact that is not brought into discussion when getting “back to normalcy”

What’s in a name?

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet,” said Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet. True as this may be in many cases, there are situations in which the name means a lot. It may have a desirable or an undesirable connotation and a change of name may make a world of difference.

The north needs a new monument - EDITORIAL

The civil war ended 11 years ago, but people in this island find reasons to cause racial tension. The most recent incident is the issue that took place...

Free speech allows dishonest politicians to be named and shamed

In the absence of free speech, the people suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic will never know how it all began, though they have the right to know it.

Jaffna monument: Rebuilding what they demolished

The previous fortnight saw three incidents involving commemoration of those killed in the struggle for their rights. First, a tense situation erupted last Friday.....

Covid-19 diplomacy now underway

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his last Sunday’s encounter with people in Uhana, Ampara, said he wrote to both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President ....

Political economy of accusation, guilt and punishment

Whenever predictions are made about repercussions from the international community for things said or left unsaid or else things done or left undone, I am reminded of Libya.

US Congress paves way for Jan.20 inauguration

Despite his pompous arrogance and vitriolic rhetoric since losing the November 3 election, US President Donald J. Trump, has had to finally accede to the sovereign will of the people -- a vital cog in a vibrant democratic system of governance.

Sri Lanka’s opposition must ensure rain, not thunder!

Sri Lanka as a nation has many challenges this new year and among them is to build a vibrant opposition. We’ve seen many moves by Saith Premadasa and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, but the Government seems to be moving steadily on the path to strengthen its resolve in a forceful manner.

“Pohottuwa is becoming unpopular” -Welgama

As a senior politician in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Kalutara District Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama had been a loyal supporter for decades.

Fall of the despots - EDITORIAL

As this opinion piece is being written, we are witnessing the fall of a wanna-be despot -soon to be ex-President of the United States -Donald Trump.

When the brashest of the brashest backs you…. Thank you Lasantha

It was early April 2002. I was nothing more than an upstart at The Sunday Leader. The not-so-new kid in the news desk....

COVID-19: Tests are to identify patients or punish people?

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a heavy toll on every important sector in Sri Lanka, as it does in many other countries. The

Indian Foreign Minister’s call for caution

Jaishankar remarked that India, ‘a dependable partner’ said is ‘open to strengthening its relationship with Sri Lanka on the basis of mutual trust, mutual interest, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity’

Evoking the Undead Tiger, Eternal Bogeyman: Consequences of Forgetting the Past

‘If only they would respect Tamils as humans’ An alleged former combatant who was ‘rehabilitated’

Variants of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

A virus is a microscopic infectious organism that can infect animals, plants, fungi and bacteria. They contain genetic material (either DNA or RNA) surrounded by a coat of protein, glycoprotein or lipid. Viruses do not contain the necessary components for making viral proteins and depend on the host cell for getting such a process completed. Viruses coul

America’s day of shame - EDITORIAL

On Wednesday, people the world over were amazed as a crowd of Trump supporters pushed down barricades around US Capitol.....

Workplace sexual harassment; a growing concern

In today’s world, women play a vital role equal to men in the private and public sectors—ranging from physical labour to space exploration.

The Capitol Hill disaster movie – is this for real?

This was unbelievable, like scenes from another disaster movie from Hollywood -- Pro-Trump supporters storming the Capitol, Washington DC.....

Her Majesty’s Ceylon became a Republic triggered by January 27 Coup

“Remove Coup Plotter Trump Immediately!” Was the headline in a foreign News sheet. Last Wednesday while our Minister of Justice placed before Parliament.....

Army’s LRRP Ambush of LTTE’s Military Intelligence Chief

A news report in the Dailymirror last August stated that the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) of the Sri Lanka Army’s Special Forces has been ranked the third most dangerous Special Forces in the world by the military ranks.info. The United States Navy SEALs was ranked as the most dangerous Special Forces Unit in the World, while the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was second.

“I don’t think Sri Lankans can be realistically ruled by force” -Ahimsa Wickrematunge

Twelve years after the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge, the founding editor of The Sunday Leader, on January 8, 2009, his killers remain at large.But over the last few years his daughter Ahimsa Wickrematunge has become a household name through her activism and litigation to seek justice for the killing of her dad.

Sri Lanka fails to See the Value of Street Vendors

Street vendors are a common phenomenon wherever you go, not only in this country but even in the developed world. I was amazed to see street vendors even in Switzerland in the early part of 2020. The street vendor culture that prevails in Singapore is a classic example of the power of street vending. The most famous New York City where over 10,000 people make a living by street vending is simply wonderful and the mix cuisine they provide is simpl

Whispering hope from a white-washed sepulcher

The world’s most powerful democracy the United States is still in turmoil after white racist terrorists or hooligans—apparently instigated or inspired by the outgoing US President Donald Trump—stormed the citadel of the country’s democracy, the Capitol Hill or the US Congress.

SJBers panic over Champika’s 43rd brigade

The launch of a new political movement by MP Patali Champika Ranawaka seems to have triggered rumblings within the fold....

Virus-hit messenger

The COVID-19 outbreak in a country without media would have been unimaginable for any expert. It would have been hellish. Hundreds of thousands....