76 Years of Independence - Looking Back in Retrospect - EDITORIAL

Sunday, 4th February will mark 76 years since our country gained independence from the British. Unlike India and Pakistan....

Sanath Nishantha and the Cheapness of Politics in Our Times

State Minister Sanath Nishantha Perera, at his death, upsurged another bout of deep political polarization in the country....

“Yukthiya” Cannot Succeed without the Cooperation of the Masses

No law abiding person who wants a country free of crimes and the drug menace would belittle or discourage a campaign launched by the authorities to accomplish that purpose. In the same breath, on the very ground of being a law-abiding person, he/she would not like to see the campaign tarnished by possible or apparent personal agendas of anyone or any group and the highhanded activities of the personnel on the ground. Despite questions posed by

The Contribution of Siam and Burma to Buddhism in Sri Lanka

It is well known that monks from Siam and Burma (as Thailand and Myanmar were called earlier) helped stem a decline in the practice of Buddhism, and contributed to its democratization in Sri Lanka during certain periods in the island’s history. The circumstances which necessitated help from Siam and Burma, the process of securing such help, the role of the Dutch in it, and the results of foreign involvement are vividly described by Auckland Univ

Horton and Arunachalam: a Distinct Disparity in Significance

The Article titled ‘Choosing between Robert Wilmot Horton and Ponnambalam Arunachalam’ regarding the change of street name....

The Online Safety Act; For Whose Safety? - EDITORIAL

On 18 September 2023, the government gazetted a draft bill to establish an Online Safety Act with defined powers and....

Decoding Complexity: Implementing Systems Thinking in Decision-Making

Systems thinking has been an academic school of thought used in engineering, policy-making and more recently adapted by businesses....

From Wijeweera to AKD - Changing Faces of the JVP

Election fever is in the air. Whether it be in the south with over 70 percent of the population or the Northern Province (which is home to the largest minority), elections are a hot topic. In the south, three political parties - namely the National People’s Power (an alliance of individuals and organisation centred around the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna - JVP), the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) have named their ca

Can The New ITAK Leader Help Bring About Reconciliation?

Many in the south seem to confuse the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) with the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the group that can be considered to be the main Tamil political party in the country, especially in the north. This confusion was evident by the news items carried by some of the south based newspapers on the election of the Leader of the ITAK last Sunday (January 21). Some Sinhala newspapers said that Sivagnanam Sritharan was elected

The Attack on ITAK Jaffna MP, Shritharan in Anuradhapura

The media spotlight is focused to a great extent on Jaffna District Parliamentarian, Sivagnanam Shritharan these days. The 55 year old former school principal has been elected as the President of Sri Lanka’s premier Tamil political party, the Ilankai Thamil Arasuk Katchi (ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party (FP). Shritharan has been elected an MP continuously since 2010. Shritharan contested the ITAK Presidential election on a pro-LTTE pl

Guns and Sri Lankan ‘Roses’ - EDITORIAL

Yesterday was a Poya Day (Duruthu Poya), and people placed flowers in front of Buddha statues all over the country, but we can safely say that roses have not been the favourite of Buddhists. This....

Palestinian crisis: Obstacles on path to two-state solution

As Israel’s inhuman onslaught on the Gaza Strip continues, the talk of a two-state solution is being bandied about by world leaders, especially those from the Global South. Though....

Think Science, Think Peace: Include more Women and Girls

With Sri Lanka struggling to meet its debts and stabilise the economy, vital areas include high technology and the new dimension of the positive aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As in most countries, men dominate these areas, and it is important for developing countries like Sri Lanka to get more women involved, because as a popular say, “Man smart, woman smarter.” So it is, in the case of high technology. On February 11, the United Nati

Looking at Sri Lankan Independence through the eyes of Singapore

In less than two weeks time, Sri Lanka will celebrate its 76th National Independence Day, giving its citizens enough memories to ponder on what kind of ‘independence’ they’ve enjoyed over the years. To begin with, we must ask ourselves the question whether we can afford to remain at home and relax on February 4th? If not, then we must take a quick look at the word ‘independence’, and see whether we can relate to it. Given the present situation i

Why isn’t Lanka’s ‘War on Drugs’, taking on Drug Barons? - EDITORIAL

In December 2023, Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles announced with much fanfare, the launch of ‘Operation Yukthiya’. Within a 22-day spell, authorities apprehended a total of 29,475....

What is the JVP’s Economic Policy?

Hats off to the JVP lady who promised that when the JVP/NPP comes to power, it will legalize prostitution! If Sri Lanka is to undergo the next phase of social revolution, which the JVP promises....

We need a Foolproof Mechanism for Presidential Pardon

Many hailed the recent Supreme Court ruling on the case against the granting of Presidential pardon to former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva who had been convicted for the murder of former Presidential Advisor Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra on October 8, 2011, calling it a landmark judgement. However, their stand on the mater does not seem to be so different than the decision by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to grant the pardon to Silva. Bot

Choosing between Robert Wilmot Horton and Ponnambalam Arunachalam

Changing names of places and roads bearing the names of foreigners is common in countries that have gained independence from foreign rule. Such changes can be easily justified in some cases where the foreign ruler was despotic, but in others it may be a bit tricky as both personalities may have had significant contributions to their credit. In most cases, the personages displaced are driven into oblivion despite their contribution to society, and

Unleashing drones of war: The escalating menace and national security perils

“Commercial drones do increase the risk to national security” reflects a concern shared by many security experts, and governments. The capabilities of both state and non-state actors in the realm of drone warfare can indeed pose challenges to national security, and commercial drones play a significant role in this background. “A fleet of drones that are available online for as little as $6,500 filled the skies above Israel’s $1 billion border fe

Spreading Hope Globally: Rotary International President’s Visit to Sri Lanka

The President of Rotary International, Gordon R. McInally is set to embark on a significant four-day journey to Sri Lanka starting on January 23, 2024, marking a momentous occasion for both Rotary International and the lively Sri Lankan community. Rotary International, a globally acclaimed humanitarian organization boasting 35,000 clubs spread across over 220 countries, plays a pivotal role in diverse charitable activities on a global scale

Sri Lanka’s Innovation Levers,IT and Biotech Surge

In the heart of the Indian Ocean lies Sri Lanka, a nation whose innovation engine is rapidly churning, sparked by surges in Information Technology (IT) and Biotechnology — a duo, potent enough to redefine its economic story. This country, once overshadowed by the tigers of Asia, is now on the brink of a remarkable transformation that may very well turn it into an innovation powerhouse. The pivot to innovation is no longer a lofty ideal but an urg

Emeritus Professor Ratna Handurukande receives Lifetime Award from Indian HC

At a very heartening ceremony held at her residence in Kandy on 19th January 2024, Professor Ratna Handurukande, the former Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Peradeniya, received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo. Prof. Handurukande received this Lifetime Award from the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the High Commission of India in Colombo, on the occasion of World Sanskrit Day which falls on 3

The Status of Tamils in Ceylon, Waxed and Waned in the Pre and Post-Independence Eras Respectively

As far as the Tamils are concerned in Ceylon/Sri Lanka, their situation during the pre-independence era was hunky-dory, whereas in the post-independence era, it has stirred up a hornet’s nest and hamstrung....

Price Controls Needed to Protect Poorer Sections of Society - EDITORIAL

Since the economic meltdown, many of us realise that bad practices of the past – spending far more than we earn – has led us down to the sorry path we find ourselves in. Political leaders claim....

Avalokiteshvaras in Every Sphere of Sasana: a Growing Gap between Dhamma & Buddhism

Followers of wholesome Dhamma need not be disturbed by individuals like Jeromes, Sepalas, Natashas, Ruwans, or Avalokiteshvaras; these are insignificant ‘outside’....

The Judiciary Unbowed, Holding Law-Breakers To Account

The Supreme Court of our country keeps making history for all the right reasons. Lay persons sometimes – based on ‘he-said, she-said knowledge’ – accuse the Courts of this country of bowing to the will of the political leadership, and failing to protect the Constitution and the implementation of justice. The reality – nothing could be further from the truth. Since the inception of the Executive Presidential system, various Executive Presidents h

MR Sees the Reality, Vajira Doesn’t

The statement made by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on January 15 on the Presidential election that is constitutionally scheduled to be held in September or October this year might be the most important one for those who are interested in that election. The leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) told journalists, after a meeting at the Grand Monarch Hotel in Thalawathugoda, that his party had neither decided on a candidate for the

Duminda’s Conviction, Gotabaya’s Pardon and the Supreme Court Ruling

Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa was portrayed as a monument of efficiency who could uplift Sri Lanka by his ‘Viyathmaga’ cronies and his family party the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at the Presidential elections of 2019. More than 6.9 million people voted him to stupendous success, Barely three years later Gotabaya fled Sri Lanka and resigned as President due to a mass uprising against him that was described as the “Aragalaya”. A large numbe

Fear Psychosis, Scarecrows and a Religious Conman - EDITORIAL

Fear is an effective tool that people in power use to control the masses and those who might become their enemies. From the time the scarecrow was used in paddy fields to scare away animals....

Reawakening of Global South makes NAM relevant again; first test is Gaza

The Non-Aligned Movement, once a beacon of hope for a more just and equitable world, is holding its 19th summit in Kampala. But does anyone care? The last summit was held in Azerbaijan...