Feast of the National Basilica of Our Lady of Sri Lanka at Tewatte tomorrow

The Feast of the National Basilica of Our Lady of Sri Lanka at Tewatte, Ragama will take place on August 30 (Sunday). The main Service, the Blessing of the Sick will be presided by His Eminence Most Rev. Dr. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the Archbishop of Colombo together with the Auxiliary Bishops at 3 pm. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic devotees are not encouraged to participate in the service.

Tribute to an excellent officer

Mr. H.M.C. Kapilaratne, who was secretary to the Minister of Agricultural Research and Development until 1999, passed away on August 5, 2019 after a brief illness, at his residence. He was 80 years old.

Facing the new normal with old business habits

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently announced that the COVID-19 wave will prevail for another two years. This means that people will have to continue adhering to basic health guidelines....

Preserving the dead through taxidermy

The Department of National Museums came under heavy scrutiny after photos of the black leopard’s carcass went viral on social media.

Focusing on the Finnish line in education

Education is a prime indicator of our quality of life. It enables us to constantly learn and overcome challenges, creating a life we dream of. In this light Finland’s education system is regarded as top-notch, and other countries, including Sri Lanka, are making efforts to follow and learn from it.

Hejaaz Hizbullah: Symptom and symbol

There’s an image of Hejaaz Hizbullah I return to over and over again. It’s an image of him holding a placard at a protest in 2018. The placard reads, “Asilachaara parliamenthuwak wenuwata seelachara parliamenthuwak” (“A cultured parliament in place of an uncultured parliament”). The reason why it resonates with me is that, even in the ecstatic way he holds it, he is quite unlike the Hejaaz Hizbullah I once knew. But then I realise that the Hejaaz

Using digital forensics to Apprehend wildlife criminals

Wildlife crimes in Sri Lanka and around the world are escalating at an alarming pace. Illegal activities such as snaring pose a threat to endemic species and the link to the illegal bushmeat trade has in most instances been exposed.

Carl Muller as a 1990s Paradigm Shift

Carl Muller, who passed away in December 2019, was – is – the most original contributor Sri Lankan English fiction has had over the past three decades. Sometimes, we feel that there are certain books a writer shouldn’t have written.....

Countrywide power failure a repeated mistake?

The island-wide power cut which occurred on August 17 at 12.45 am and continued for 8 hours has disrupted economic activity and day to day lives of people in different sectors.

Memorable Steps 2020 – A virtual Walk for Alzheimer’s

Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation is organising “Memorable Steps 2020” a walk in which you can participate from wherever you are, between 1st and 21st of September. Physical and mental exercise is a sure way....

Otters landed

One of the oldest clubs in Colombo, the Otter Aquatic Club, is facing closure as attempts to resolve an issue with the authorities has more or less failed. The club has been given marching....

Commercial projects leave Sinharaja ‘gasping’

The ‘lungs of Sri Lanka’ are gasping for air. The Sinharaja Forest Reserve was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1988 and is arguably the most important biodiversity site in the country.

Chinese book ‘Prevention and Control of COVID-19’ translated into Sinhala

COVID-19 opened up opportunities for the affected countries to cooperate with each other in the containment of it.

toxic Colombo air that we breath

It’s a crystal clear fact now. Colombo’s air quality index improved by leaps and bounds during the COVID lockdown phase. But this jubilance is short-lived as it’s predicted that the pollutants will again encroach the city when traffic returns to normal. Both public and private institutions including schools invite more than 1.9 million people and over 500,000 vehicles to this city daily. Colombo w

A tribute to a Genius and a True Sri Lankan Vidya Jyothi Dr. Ray Wijewardene – Sri Lanka’s Da Vinci

It is ten years since we lost our beloved and revered guru Deshamanya, Vidya Jyothi Eng. Dr. Ray Wijewardene. But memories of my association with him over many years is as green as ever. Needless to say that his presence now, when we are at last talking about a revival of the fortunes of Sri Lanka by looking more inwards and getting value of what we have, rather than pining for what w

Bracing the estate workers to meet stings of fury

All isn’t well for the estate worker in the Hill Country – the land of tea. Reaching out to every tea bush on the mountainous terrain amidst nasty leech bites and threats from leopard and wasp attacks is a fraction of the effort that goes into making the perfect cuppa. So far, four people in the Hill Country have succumbed to wasp attacks while 800-900 of them have been hospitalised; just for this year. These include people in areas such as Abor

Saga of the transformation of Sri Lankan Navy

In his book “Asymmetric Warfare at Sea: The Case of Sri Lanka”Adm. Dr. Jayanath Colombage, former Commander of the Sri Lankan navy, who is now the country’s Foreign Secretary, tells the fascinating sto

Police’s canine detectives find new homes

The weekend was a day of separation for the well trained canine detectives who had served the Sri Lanka Police faithfully. It was also a day when the Police made much revenue through the sale of its canine detectives. They had served the department during a period of over ten years and helped in detecting crime and saving children.

Saliya Pieris goes far

I want my readers to find hope: author of Refuge

When one thinks of a book on the war in Syria, one imagines a story which talks about dead bodies lying around, rubble stained in blood.....

Re-elected President of Sri Lanka Malay Association

In the article published on August 8, 2020 in the Daily Mirror and headlined ‘Ousmand re-elected as SLAMAC President’ it was erroneously stated that Ousmand was re-elected as President of the Sri Lanka Malay Confederation (SLAMAC) held last month.

Hangzhou children’s letter to President

It is with great pleasure that we inform that Hangzhou Caihe No 03 Primary school in Hangzhou of China organised an Art exhibition for the purpose of showing their solidarity/Friendship to Sri Lankan in their fight against Coronavirus.

Tracing the early history of an illustrious school

This recently released book details the history of the first 35 years of this leading public school under the stewardship of Rev.Joseph Marsh and Rev. Barcroft Boake–the founding fathers of Royal College.

Contempt of Court Case against Arthur Reginald Perera

It may be said that it was what is popularly known as ‘British Justice’ that really delivered justice to a Member of Parliament of Ceylon.

The Contempt of Court Case Against Arthur Reginald Perera in 1949

Arthur Reginald Perera was a Sri Lankan Marxist [Trotskyist] politician. He was born in 1915. Perera received his education at St. John’s College, Panadura, a leading private Anglican school founded in 1876...

Global Village by AIESEC at the University of Colombo

Global Village organised by AIESEC at the University of Colombo is a spectacular cultural festival that puts together a colourful celebration of cultural diversity and inclusion annually.

Maritime Doctrine of Sri Lanka - Borrowed notions in disguise

Since independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has failed to define its national interests - inevitably resulting in the void of a national defence policy to date. National interests are more than what is inscribed in the Constitution. National interests are organic in the sense, such reflects the aspirations of a state in a particular context, time and space and its foreseen immediate future.

How political campaigns use your personal information

Your vote is your business. Or is it? It is your right to keep your personal information to yourself and cast your vote independently. However, when elections grow closer, your personal information....

Marching towards Quasquicentennial Celebrations

The College was founded in 1896, on March 2, 1896. “Fruits of Virtue and of Knowledge, Here we gather, Peace and Power………………….

The Aluth Pola: A market for a cause

Justice for Animals, a welfare organisation which focuses on spay-neuter and rabies vaccination campaigns of homeless cats and dogs, as well as pets whose owners cannot afford the vet costs, is hosting a market called ‘The Aluth Pola.