The Begging Bowl Sri Lanka’s Dependency Syndrome

As a country and a nation, we are becoming the scum of Asia, not its miracle as some bellowed from roof-tops and election platforms sometime back, as well as a country at loggerheads with itself with an array of problems and issues still at bay in need o

Human Rights Education must strengthen struggles for rights 

I would like to congratulate Law and Human Rights Centre for continuing to organize this important course on human rights and all those who will be awarded certificates after having completed the course. I will share some thoughts about the w

Scorpion venom for a novel anti-corona virus?

The species commonly known in India as the “Indian Red Scorpion, would be the sixteenth species of scorpion found in Sri Lanka according to the researchers

Athweltota mini hydro project Sensitive ecosystems threatened as renewable energy projects emerge

Sri Lanka aims to be an energy self-sufficient nation by 2030. Right now, the primary sources of generating electricity include thermal, including coal and fossil fuels, hydropower and other non-conventional renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. However, the renewable energy sector has transformed itself into a money-spinning i

Rebirth In Buddhism

The question of what happens after death naturally arises in the mind of thoughtful people, as we do not know what lies beyond death, because no one has ever returned to the living to recount his experiences...

The Rise and Decline of Tamil Buddhism

Barring scholars, very few in Sri Lanka would know, or readily acknowledge that in the past Buddhism had flourished among the Tamils both in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. There was “Pali” Buddhism....

Getting used to life without you

It was painful and tough; Left the biggest ever void in my life; Tore me completely apart; Brought me down mentally; below zero;

Programme launched to provide water to the needy

Initiatives in Development of Entrepreneur Approaches and Strategies (I/D/E/A/S) and Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum (LRWHF) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for a period of three (3) years to collaborate in providing financial and technical assistance to supply drinking water to water stressed households in selected areas of Sri Lanka.

Welcome Bishop Valence Mendis

On October 9, 2021 the Vatican announced the appointment of Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis (Bishop of Chilaw) as the Bishop of Kandy by His Holiness Pope Francis,

Tireless Servant of God and Fearless Apostle of Sri Lanka

Joseph Vaz was born on April 21 in 1651 in the Portuguese colony of Goa in India. The house of his grandparents, where he was born in the little hamlet of Benaulim, still exists, as does the font at which he was baptised.

Budding urban planners acknowledged at Sri Lanka’s first Urban Design Forum

The Institute of Urban Designers recently hosted Sri Lanka’s first-ever National Urban Design Forum.

Pongal: Going gaga over the Sun

The Hindus had realized the importance of the Sun since the Vedic times (c6000 BC). In Hinduism the Gāyathrī Mantra is dedicated to Savitṛi, a Vedic Sun Deity.

Thai Pongal, a tribute to Sun God

Thai Pongal is regarded as one of the most important festivals among the Tamil Hindu Festivals. It is widely celebrated in India and all over the world by the Hindus. The Thai Pongal festival takes place on the first day of the Tamil month of Thai.

Online Lecture cum Bharatha Natyam recital by Dr. Subashini Pathmanathan

The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC), High Commission of India, Colombo, will have an online Lecture cum Bharatha Natyam recital by Dr. Subashini Pathmanathan (renowned Bharatha Natyam artiste & scholar),

Landscape: An art exhibition by Chathuranga Gamage

Mixed media artist Chathuranga Gamage will hold his exhibition titled Landscape on January 14, 15 and 16, 2022 at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery....

Appointment of controversial engineer questioned

Questions have been raised as to why the Ministry of Power has appointed a person linked to controversy- as he is allegedly....

Christmas Fiesta 202: Pahan Tharu Rayak earns standing ovation in NZ

When it comes to Christmas, you know the spirit of the festival is in the air. Truth be told, how could you not? Sri Lanka’s Friendship.....

The Art of Survival

The art industry in Sri Lanka always had its fair share of challenges and the pandemic hasn’t made it any easier for many of the artists....

Commemorating Judge Weeramantry’s 5th death anniversary - Weeramantry: One of the greatest Jurists

One of the greatest Jurists the world had ever seen was Judge G. Christopher Weeramantry. We lost him on January 5, 2017. What made....

Taliban’s Afghanistan-South Asian perspective

The Taliban have been urging Washington to unfreeze roughly $9.4 billion in Afghanistan’s central bank assets

Religious revival - Ups and Downs in the saga of religion in China

When the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, visited the Tamil majority Northern Province in mid-December, he did things no envoy of Communist China had done before. Ambassador Qi....

Finally, we have a Policeman as the bad guy on screen

UdayaKantha Warnasuriya’s new film Ginimal Pokuru is worth watching. I haven’t seen all his films; nor have I had much good to say about the few I have watched, but this film is commendable....

‘Josephian Carols’ renewed hope for a community in distress

Undaunted by Covid restrictions and undeterred by intermittent closure of schools, St. Cecilia’s Choir of St. Joseph’s College went on to conduct the annual Carols Service in all its splendour, whilst adhering to all mandatory health regulations.

Nutritional and medicinal values of pomegranate

Pomegranate is a fruit with full of nutritional factors in each part of it; and this gives a high medicinal value to it. It can be cultivated in both cold and hot climates,

A devout Catholic to the core

THE SALT OF THE EARTH! A phrase one seldom hears in this day and age, but a phrase so aptly suited to FRANCIS ANTHONY WILLIAM IRUGALBANDARA. To the family he was Franki and to others within his orbit he was Frank; frank not only by name, but by his very nature.

“Water Benders” help farming community

The cluster initiative of Rotaract in RID 3220, re-branded as “TogetherSL’’, is a Community Service initiative mainly focused on developing rural communities. As a result, the project requires to be developed and addressed concerning the respective rural community allocated to the team.

Blood donation campaign today

The oldest Private Catholic School in Sri Lanka St. Benedict’s College Colombo 13 together with the Old Boys Union initiates the first CSR Project for 2022, on January 8. The Blood Donation Campaign expects to target over 150 to 200 Old Benedictines, family members, parents and affiliated partners. This project was organised as a service to the nation considering the ongoing pandemic situation in the country.

Ten outstanding Sri Lankan women felicitated by President

Ten outstanding women professionals were felicitated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday. The ‘Wise Woman’ National Programme was launched at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo with the intention of empowering women to the full potential and to get their contribution to the economy.

An ode to our Rulers

We are on this side of the divide, You are on that, We are getting thinner each da You are getting.....

Sprucing up our treasures in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy

The Sri Lanka Navy organised a magnanimous initiative on Sunday, December 19, 2021 in commemoration of the 71st....