Taste of tea soured by worker issues - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka is making aggressive and sometimes scary attempts to promote this island as a tourist destination. Among these plans we must surely have our tea.....

After Trump supporters’ fascist thuggery, whither the Republican Party?

In the history of the United States’ democracy, the darkest day, though unprecedented, was not unexpected. January 6, 2021 has gone down....

Burial, Cremation Dilemma Needs a Re-think - EDITORIAL

The controversy over whether the bodies of those, who die of the COVID-19 infection, should be buried or cremated is continuing unabated with some groups....

Subramanyam Jaishankar and pounds of flesh

The Indian Foreign Minister arrived in Sri Lanka on Tuesday. His schedule includes discussions with the President, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.

2020 was the year of doctors

Goblins and real challenges of 2021

Multiple challenges in multiple fronts await the nation in the year 2021. The economic fallout of weakened public finances would be more.....

Politics of a Pandemic: Reason or Racism?

The COVID-19 pandemic too, is good for business, as the rumour goes, with hundreds of hotel rooms being used for quarantining of those who come....

Co-operation not profit the answer to COVID-19 - EDITORIAL

Speaking at a media briefing on December 28, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General in his opening remarks said that December....

COVID-19: STOP ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

The Health Ministry had appointed a committee to look into COVID-19 related deaths occurring at homes, rather than in hospitals in October. The ministry was prompted to take step subsequent to repeated reports of deaths of COVID-19 patients at their homes, especially in Colombo. This is a scenari

Where have all the fish gone?

The status of Sri Lanka’s coastal fish stocks-harvested over or a little beyond the continental shelf - is not any better

In a democracy, presidential immunity should be clearly defined and limited

The office of the Sri Lankan President carries with it a wide variety of duties and responsibilities. He has many official and unofficial roles and as the chief executive he has to implement governmental policy and supervise the executive branch of governmen

Destruction of archaeological sites in Trinco

Many archaeological sites in the Trincomalee district—some dating back 3000-5000 years—are on the brink of destruction at present. Ironically, this destruction increased after the war concluded in 2009. The Department of Archaeology has discovered many historical sites in the Pulmude area. Residents informed archaeological officers that land grabbing i

SLFP with its 1.5 per cent attempts Hara-kiri? 

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party which almost equally shared the post-independent 72-year administration switching roles with UNP could manage a meagre.....

Antigone in a Season of Cremation-only

Greek tragedian Sophocles’ Antigone is centred on a burial: whether the remains of a dead prince – as dictated by custom and culture – should be given burial...

Hoteliers earnestly seek a lifeline - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka as a nation can celebrate many things. One is that it is an island and that has its merits. The islanders have fish in plenty,

New Year and deepening crisis

As 2021 awakens, we like to hope it is a new beginning and that the gruelling days of the Covid-19 pandemic that hit us ten months ago as well as the crippling.....

Jaffna Mayor election defeat causes crisis in TNA-ITAK

The Tamil National Alliance(TNA) is the premier political configuration representing the Tamils of North -Eastern Sri Lanka.

Reality or Rhetoric?

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leaders, before they came to power had been criticizing the former “Yahapalana” government for the postponement of the Provincial Council elections. They had been accusing the United National Party (UNP) for amending the Provincial Council Election Act in 2017 in an unethical manner, providing for a mixed electoral system. They also criticised the UNP-led government for creating a situation under which the P

Sri Lanka’s Democratic Institutions and a Global Nod for RTI

Addressing a virtual symposium along with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on “Shared Values and Democracy in Asia” recently, it is no coincidence that former President Maithripala Sirisena chose to focus on the contributions of his Presidency to strengthen Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions.

Dawn of 2021, virus, fire crackers and environment - EDITORIAL

As we dawn another year this morning, we wish our readers a very happy, COVID-19-free and prosperous New Year. As the year 2021 dawns....

2021 challenge: End the pandemic and strengthen democracy

At the stroke of midnight, we bade adieu to 2020 regarded as the worst ever year in living memory. But blame not the year that saw the outbreak of the COVID-19....

We need to convert elephants from economic liability to economic asset - Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya

Sri Lanka recently set a record for the highest annual number of elephant deaths and the second highest number of human deaths.....

POLITICKING OF COVID-19 DEAD

‘The dignity of the dead, their cultural and religious traditions, and their families should be respected and protected throughout’, WHO guideline

GOVT. SHELVES PLANS FOR PC POLLS

The government faced resistance from within and a segment of the Mahasanga against its move to hold elections to the Provincial Councils (PC). The Cabinet was unable to take a decision last week and instead, referred the matter to be discussed and agreed upon by the leaders of the political parties aligned with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

The elephant is in the room and will not go away

No. Not THAT elephant, nor the one which turned itself into a telephone. Neither are in the room. The compass is not in the room either and there’s palpable evidence that even the lotus bud has got displaced. That’s if ‘people’ constitute ‘the room.’

Let’s make a change in 2021

As the world heralds New Year 2021 tomorrow, who would have, even in their wildest dreams, ever imagined that their wishes for good health, peace and prosperity conveyed to family members, friends and colleagues at the dawn of 2020 would be metaphorically turned upside down during the unfolding year, and that instead it would be filled with misery, pain and tragedy.

adapt to new COVID-19 world, the ‘New Normal’

This past year has been devastating for all countries across the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic came without a warning and took the world by storm.

The paradox of tolerance

Systematic discrimination and human rights violations against minority communities in Sri Lanka are not new in the country’s political and social realm.

Solidarity for racial equality and social justice - EDITORIAL

Many independent international political analysts say they are hopeful that the new United States administration headed by President-elect Joe Biden....

Will free expression become a casualty of 2020 dystopia?

No one could have imagined the dystopian extremes 2020 took us to. A 112-day lockdown in Victoria, Australia pales compared to what others....