School admissions, a gigantic task for many parents

Recently the government has taken three important decisions on matters that seriously affect the ordinary people’s lives. First, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced that the building plans must be approved within a week, if the applicant ha

The Second Wave and who decides the health policy?

The largest cluster of corona patients in the country might not have been detected, had not Pradeepika Sudarshani Ratnayaka, who fell sick in the Brandix apparel plant in Minuwangoda, insisted to be taken to hospital. The mother-of-four had suffe

President should be independent, impartial, symbol of national unity : Dr. Nihal Jayawickrama

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution has drawn severe criticisms from various elements including some who have been batting for the pro-government league for a long time. A whopping 39 petitions were filed against its enactment, which w

Galle Road: Where nothing can quite compare

The Colombo-Galle Road, more popularly known as the Galle Road, begins at Fort and takes around four hours to complete. For the lo

US Constitutional position When President is incapable of functioning.

The US Constitution’s Article 2 says the vice President assumes the “powers and duties” of the President in the event of the Preside

“Taking up Arms”: BASL’s only remedy ?

‘Lawyers for Democracy’ issuing a statement called upon the BASL to express the views of the Bar on the 20thAmendment, where it proposes the arrogation.....

COVID-19 runs riot as big business hunt profits - EDITORIAL

When on September 28 the news broke that a new case of coronavirus was discovered in the Gampaha district, the country’s health....

Some of the Fascists I meet are very nice

There has been hardly any good news since 2020 dawned. The world is still gripped by novel Coronavirus, with over a million deaths worldwide.

Cosmopolitanism characterised Kandy under the Kings

Under the Sinhala Kings, Kandy showed a remarkable degree of cosmopolitanism which should be an inspiration to us in this day and age when nations are torn asunder by ethnic, linguistic and religious divisions. People of all faiths and ethnic groups, immigrants from the rest of the island and overseas were welcome to settle down, trade, work, inter-marry and prosper in Kandy under the Kings.

The girl child: “My voice, our equal future”

Worldwide, gender equality movements have made vast progress but still there is a gender gap or discrimination, often in third world countries.

Key role played by SAFA Centre

Today is World Mental Health Day and it comes amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has drastically affected the lives of people all over the world. The year 2020 has been filled with challenges due to COVID-19 for everyone.

Protecting deposit holders of Banks and Financial Institutions in Sri Lanka

A country can develop only if it has a stable financial system. In order to have a stable financial system there is a need to have adequate protection to investors. This article analyses the adequacy of the safety nets available to public deposit holder in Sri Lanka and propose improvements to it.

Struggle for Democracy during the Pandemic

At the time of writing, several areas in the Gampaha District (in the Western Province) have been closed due to the re-emergence of hundreds of Covid-19 cases.

Rishard Bathiudeen: Innocent or illusive

The release of former Minister Rishard Bathiudeen’s brother Riyaj Bathiudeen who had been in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department....

Why on earth did we drop our guard? - EDITORIAL

It seems we’re going to have our kids stuck at home for sometime again. Schools are closed for an indefinite period again.....

Covid-19: Unity is strength, Mr. Trump – not your sickening nonsense

There are people who learn lessons not to make mistakes; there are people who learn lessons from their mistakes and there are people.....

Give Ambassador Teplitz a dictionary, please!

It is not hard to understand US Ambassador Alaina B Teplitz’ angst. China, along with Japan, owns the debt of her country, the United States of America. China, according to the US narrative, has re-colonized Africa without a single shot being fired.

COVID-19: Health Guidelines are not to be compromised

In the wake of the harrowing months-long coronavirus-related lock-downs and curfews still lingering in our minds came a news report which caused panic in Matara after it was found that a Russian staying at a boutique hotel in Polhena, Matara tested positive for Covid-19. He was one of a 15-member aircrew of a Russian cargo flight, which landed at the Mattala Airport during the last week of September.

Govt. faces political and COVID-19 challenges

The detection of a COVID-19 patient for the first time in two months has triggered a fear psychosis regarding the possible of community transmission of the viral infection.

On the road to development dotted with history

Much effort is taken by the present regime to put the country’s shaky economy in order. Commencing from the targets given to state institutions and the efforts taken to instill discipline on the roads we see that someone is trying to do something for a country which has enough natural resources to stand tall in terms of economic growth. That someone is President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

time to rethink Our COVID-19 testing strategy

The Minuwangoda incident should come as no surprise. The problems were obvious with the Kandakadu outbreak, but I remained....

Foreign powers and Lanka’s domestic problems - EDITORIAL

Over the years, Sri Lankan political leaders have been in the habit of approaching the foreign governments when facing essentially domestic problems.

Vilification follows infection

Can there be an infodemic without social media? In theory there can be. The avalanche of information, fakes, lies and concocted....

COVID-19 Spread: It’s time to act wise and be cautious

Sri Lanka is again facing an acute situation after a female supervisor of an apparel factory in Minuwangoda was tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. The government had immediately imposed what was earlier called police curfew and now known as quarantine curfew in two areas, Divulapitiya and Minuwangoda in order to identify those who have had close contacts with the wo

13th Amendment a minefield; don’t step in

Since coming to power, the key interlocutors of this government have been intimating a quest to ‘amend’ the 13th Amendment to the constitution. Such pronouncements are not just political theatre. They betray a real conviction born out from the nationalist ideological orientation and a belief that this is the opportune local and global moment to strike. They confide that India, the underwrit

20A Critics underscore the repercussions of Eroding AG’s independence

The anticipated plan to curtail the scope of the Auditor General’s duties and functions through the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution, is aimed at allowing politicians and their cronies to misappropriate state funds to their whims and fancies says the Sri Lanka Audit Service Association. Before the 19th Amen

CP Voted against Sirimavo’s caste-based ‘Atrocities’

C.P. de Silva belongs to the yesteryear’s old guard of great politicians of Sri Lanka. His 48th Death Anniversary falls on October 9....

Who won the first US Presidential debate? - EDITORIAL

The US will hold its presidential election in November this year. Donald Trump, the incumbent President is being challenged.....

How C.P. de Silva voted against the “Totalitarianism” of his own Government

Charles Percival de Silva known as C.P. de Silva or CP was a mercurial personality who strode across the Sri Lankan - known then as Ceylon- political scene like a colossus.

Persecution of the LGBTIQ Community: Does Sri Lanka’s Police have Nothing Better to Do?

Early last week (September 22), news emerged that the Fort Magistrate’s Court was set to sentence two men who had confessed to engaging in same-sex sexual relations.