Resolving PHI’s issues is vital to shield second wave

Sri Lanka is still on the brink of a second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, following the detection of more than 500 coronavirus infected persons at the Kandakadu and Senapura rehabilitation centres for drug addicts early this month and amo

Sri Lanka’s foreign policy formulation: The Indian factor

The foreign policy followed by Sri Lanka in its first few years of independence was largely determined by two factors: its proximity to India and its colonial past. The one influenced the other. The nature of the colonial bourgeoisie,

The UNP is the Party that developed the country

Kandy District United National Party (UNP) candidate Shanthini Kongahage believes that the UNP gave enough prominenc

FORGOTTEN HEROES BEHIND THE TRUE STORY OF FREE EDUCATION AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN SRI LANKA

Much has been said and written about the great C.W.W. Kannangara for his salutary role in the introduction and implementa

We’re creating a working class consciousness

Socialist Equality Party (SEP) candidate Pani Wijesiriwardena, who is contesting the upcoming 2020 Parliamentary Elections, talks about the importance of a socialist revolution, providing the working class with solutions for issues regardi

Presidential pardons in Sri Lanka: An unchecked executive power?

On March 26, 2020, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa granted a presidential pardon to former Lance Corporal Sunil Rathnayake, a prisoner on death row for the murder of eight persons in Mirusuvil in 2000.

What’s wrong with bribery? How the law should deal with it?

A subsistence-level carpenter contemplating suicide in rural Sri Lanka and a multi million-dollar power plant bribery scandal cannot possibly be connected. Or could they?

Democracy or a Police State? Bathiudeen and Karunanayake Harassed

We have the police to uphold law and order, and to support democratic institutions. Unfortunately, there are dangerous signs that they, the police

Food and Nutrition in the Limelight

World attention is increasingly turning to food. It is during times of food shortages that people think of farmers, fisher-folk and food production.

Troubled times in Sri Lanka - EDITORIAL

We are living in troubled times. In April last year -just as we felt the island’’s economy was beginning to recover in the aftermath of the 30-year-long insurgency....

CWC, Jeevan Thondaman and Nuwara- Eliya Tamils

The hills of Nuwara Eliya are vibrantly alive with the hectic sounds of parliamentary electioneering! Nuwara Eliya district with its picturesque landscape and salubrious climate elects eight members in the 225 member parliament of Sri Lanka. 577,717 registered voters in the district are eligible to cast their ballots at the forthcoming elections scheduled for August 5.

Work for racial equality and social justice

American novelist and poet Josiah Gilbert Holland in a legendary plea said--give us men and women a time like this demands, strong minds, great hearts,

SJB and its repeated ‘Bombshells’

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya is now five months old. It officially began on February 11, when the Election Commission recognised Sajith Premadasa as its Chairman and Ranjith Madduma Bandara as its Secretary.

The Caring Shepherd

It was with curiosity that I read the article by Mr. Sanjeewa Fernando, under the intriguing title; “From Homilies on Piety to Harangues in Politics” appearing in the Daily Mirror of June 24, 2020.

Northern politics revolve around only one issue

There is no difference in essence between the politics and particularly the election campaigns of majority Sinhalese politicians and minority Tamil and Muslim politicians. No political party, be it majority or minority....

The UNP is a party that can stand on its own - Ruwan Wijewardene

Former State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene says that the incumbent government will not survive for long, especially when looking at what they have done to control the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Mr. Wijewardene.....

Hagia Sophia: Don’t violate its virtue of inter-faith harmony

For more than eight decades, the iconic Hagia Sophia has stood as a monument for inter-faith harmony. This cathedral-turned-mosque-turned museum has not only symbolized Turkey’s....

A lifeline for change - EDITORIAL

In Sri Lanka it seems like people do get many lifelines. Just the other day cricket writer Andrew Fidel Fernando won the 2019 Gratien Award for a travelogue; for the record it was not for his cricket writing.

Fresh challenges for EC in conducting polls

After the discovery of a fresh bout of COVID- 19 and the detecting of patients from the Kandakadu drug rehabilitation centre and those in contact with it, new hurdles stand in the way of conducting the Parliamentary Elections on August 5.

On a journey, but not to the temple

People of this country are closely monitoring the priests who are contesting the upcoming Parliamentary Elections as much as the laymen who are making efforts to enter parliament.

Wither Sajith Premadasa and the SJB?

Sajith Premadasa, as the leader of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), would theoretically be the party’s prime ministerial candidate. The SJB, a breakaway faction of the United National Party (UNP) is embroiled in a legal battle with ‘The Mother Party’ regarding the membership of the renegades. Allegations about doctored documents pertaining to registration are not helping the party either.

obey health guidelines to protect each other

The detection of more than 300 COVID19-infected patients, the largest in a single day, at the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre at Welikanda in the Polonnaruwa District is a wake-up call to all Sri Lankans that the deadly virus is continuing to spread its tentacles across the country and that complacency is not an option.

CARING ABOUT PEOPLE

Reflecting on the issue of Caring about People, the late and great Nelson Mandela comes to mind where he taught us by word and example that the Mentality of Retaliation Destroys not just States but people as well and it is only Tolerance that Builds Nations.

Yes Sir, yes Sir but no three bags full Sir - EDITORIAL

Since Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected as the President in November 2019, we often hear most of the Ministers giving credit to the President for whatever the new project they start.

Old political games in new social media playing fields

This was the request that election officials from Kandy received, repeatedly, from a candidate. He is contesting from a new party. But that is not the reason why he wanted the intervention of the election officials.

To build discipline, fix Parliament first - Harshana Nanayakkara

Harshana Nanayakkara is an outspoken lawyer and campaigner for democracy representing the National People’s Power (NPP) for the Colombo District at the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The political culture in Sri Lanka is misogynist - Ambika Satkunanathan

The normalization of violence in Sri Lanka is a deep seated social problem, says Ambika Satkunanathan, who is a lawyer and human rights advocate on the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) National List for the upcoming parliamentary polls.

CEB, LECO; be fair to your consumers

The issue concerning the electricity bills received by many electricity consumers with exorbitant amounts levied by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) for the recent curfew period has not been resolved

This political system has made people slaves:Deepani Silva

Veteran actress Deepani Silva who is on the National People’s Power (NPP) national list says people should consider electing newcomers to Parliament and ask what the country’s elected representatives have done for the people so fa

Explosion in Iyakachchi and aborted Black Tiger day plot

On July 3, a minor explosion ripped through a white-walled house in Iyakachchi, about 25km from Kilinochchi. It was the residence of Thangarajah Thevathasan, also known as Menon, an ex-member of the LTTE’s intelligence wing, and his s