Learning 2020 lessons with a genuine team New leader’s Priority

Reading the well-written ‘rational scrutiny’ by a learned academic (Aug.25, 2020) in response to the Daily Mirror columnist’s “Opposition in the Oblivion...

Internal strife within ITAK takes disturbing turn

The “Mathiya Seyal Kuzhu” (central working committee) of the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) also known as the Federal Party will be meeting today (Aug 29) in Vavuniya. The committee is generally referred to as “Mathiya Kuzhu”(Central committee). The Central Working committee is the key representative body of the ITAK. It comprises representatives elected by each district as well as ex-officio members. The ITAK is the premier political party

Wetlands like our kidneys; don’t squeeze them dry

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) encourages every country to observe the principles of World’s Wetlands Day and this year the theme is, “Wetlands and biodiversity”. In a statement, the UNEP says this years Wetlands Day theme highlights wetland biodiversity, its status, why it matters and to promote action to reverse its loss.

The UNP: Dead or Alive?

Were the United National Party (UNP) and its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe really rejected by the people at the August 5 parliamentary election to the extent that the party was wiped out from all districts it contested?

Child abuse in an immoral society - EDITORIAL

The recent news of a dance teacher having allegedly sexually abused a male member of his troop sent shock waves in the Sri Lanka society. Alarming facts regarding this incident are that this male member of the troop being a 17-year....

COVID-19 vaccine: The cure could be worse than the disease

In less than four months, people the world over will mark the one-year rampage of the killer disease COVID-19. December 2019 is generally regarded as the month in which the new coronavirus -- now known as SARS Cov-2....

Three theras and a baby

On December 26, 2004, just two days after Sri Lanka was hit by the tsunami, an infant was found among the debris on the Kalmunai beach. Abhilash was his name, but no one knew it. He was given a number, 81. There were various people claiming parenthood. The matter was eventually resolved by court and DNA tests.

‘None of us is free until all of us are free’ - EDITORIAL

The news that took center-stage or made media headlines during the past few days was that of 55-year-old senator Kamala Devi Harris being nominated by the Democratic Party as its Vice Presidential Candidate and rewrote history with her acceptance speech at the party convention last Wednesday where she promised to be a champion for the voiceless and forgotten Americans, who are struggling in the midst of a pandemic and an economic crisis.

One country, one law as eyes set on 13th A

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his policy statement to Parliament, announced that a new Constitution would be evolved in keeping with the ‘One Country, One Law’ principle.

Why Tamil politicians prefer divisions

There is a saying which goes ‘be aware of the invader from South India because he is here to loot’. In much later years there were Indian invaders who tried their best to destroy the Sinhala culture, writes Prof. Hector Alahakoon in his book ‘Janasammathawadaya’ (ISBN 978-955-98585-7-7).

Gearing up for elections nobody wanted - EDITORIAL

In the aftermath of the ‘Black July 1983’ race riots in this country, thousands of Tamil refugees and a plethora of militant groups and organisations sought refuge on Indian soil. While civillians caught....

The new normal will be nothing like before

What will the new normal look like? The last six months have been one of a constant upheaval. Life as we knew it would never return to what it was. A fact that we need to reconcile to.

Connecting minds, making friends and shaping the world

For many of us, how we spend our free time is decided by our social groups. The circular group chats deciding on where to go, what to do, and when to do it, have become commonplace in many friend circles.

FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES

According to Jean Pictet, in his commentary on The Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross, he says and I quote: “The wellspring of the principle of humanity is in the essence of social morality which can be summed up in a single sentence:

Power and energy minister ‘lights up’ CEB engineers

Seeing the gesture of Minister for Power & Energy Dullas Alahapperuma, over the TV channels, addressing parliament, placing his palm over his heart and owned the mishap causing an islandwide power failure, and reading newspapers....

Pros and cons of repealing 19A

It is a well-known fact that the government is going to amend the Constitution since the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had requested the people to grant them a two-thirds majority power in order to do away with the 19th Amendment

Supra majority and making Sri Lanka great- or break

The new government launched itself into action last week, with a new Cabinet, a two-thirds majority in the House of Parliament, and the President in a ‘business suit’ delivering a ‘business-like’ policy statement. The reference to t

Response to Ranga Jayasuriya Political shock that cannot make anyone oblivious...

“I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe” – Dalai Lama

How Japan uses its economic credentials to further its strategic objectives in South Asia

After it rose from the ashes of a nuclear holocaust to be an economic marvel not long after World War II, Japan re-appeare

World is unwilling to defeat COVID-19 - EDITORIAL

The number of coronavirus disease across the world has crossed 23,383,472 mark according to ‘Worldometre’, and 808,715 succumbed.....

Highlights of Aug. 20: President’s convincing address and Sajith’s eloquent oratory

In a meticulously prepared speech leaving no room for opposition to use fresh ammunition, the President delivered broad implications for his new government’s....

A teenager’s worldview Climate Change: Legal Remedies

Myopia - a blight which, if not addressed and eradicated, will surely be the end of humankind as we know it.

MMDA Reform: Where are we now?

A year ago, on August 22, 2019, the then Cabinet approved a set of reform recommendations to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act.....

Future course of defeated ITAK leader “Maavai” Senathirajah

The recently concluded Sri Lankan parliamentary election resulted in the defeat of several veteran politicians.

Error can cause terror: Never again yesterday - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka while being an island paradise blessed with the Buddha Dhamma and the virtues of at least three other major world religions has also been one of the worst victims of terrorism where hundreds of thousands of people were killed or injured and displaced with the economic damage being incalculable.

Resist the corrupting influence of Power; for absolute power corrupts absolutely

The saying of British parliamentarian Lord Dalberg Acton that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely conveys the belief that as a person’s power increases, his or her moral sense diminishes

President reminds top politicians and officials—you are servants of the people - EDITORIAL

In a policy statement yesterday to the newly elected Parliament where the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has a majority of almost two-thirds, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made what most independent....

E PLURIBUS UNUM - (Out of many, one)

Liberal democracy is rooted in the rights of individuals, and not the rights of groups or fixed communities. Liberal democracy cannot exist without a national identity that defines what citizens hold in common with one another.

Viduthalaitivu - A Jewel in the Crown!

A video going viral disseminated by a group of passionate environmentalists to save a pristine Marine Nature Reserve in imminent danger, was picked up by a set of eagle eyed nature loving activists of Ladies’ College Class of ‘72.

Why is the National List slot so precious?

Despite Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) having an issue with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) over the sharing of the National List seats allocated to it, in a way, it must be happy with the adamancy of the latter.