James Goonewardene in Times of the Apocalypse

Drawing on Carl Muller in an earlier note necessitates us to step a bit further back for a misunderstood writer’s sake: James Goonewardene who, with Punyakanti Wijenaike and Raja Proctor, spearheaded the Sri Lankan English novel after independence.

Another child tried as an adult and sentenced to death

Sentencing children under 18 years of age to death is prohibited under Sri Lankan law. Despite these laws and many other national and international provisions,

Interesting facts about Kandy’s Audience Hall

The Audience Hall of Kandy is to be the centre for the swearing in of Ministers of the ‘new’ Government on August 10 - a Tuesday. This hallowed s

ELECTION VERDICT OPPORTUNITY FOR INCLUSIVE AND RESULTS-BASED GOVERNANCE

The recently concluded general election has given the ruling party and its allies the 2/3 majority they sought in parliament. The hopes of the general population are high. The National Peace Council c

A speech on integrity, leadership and ethos

The following are extracts from a speech made by former Sri Lanka Air Force Commander and Ambassador to Afghanistan RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, Mphil, MSc, ndc, psc Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Gagan Bulathsingh

Generation Z cyber crime in the 21st century

I was, as I am most certain others of my generation are, convinced that I knew enough about the internet to stay safe, and that I was less vulnerable to cyber criminals than my parents or my grandparents are.

Explosions; accidental and man-made - 75, 100 years ago

Two atom bombs, ‘Little Boy’ and the 11-foot ‘Fat Man’ was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively on August 6 and 9, 1945. On the eve of marking the 75th anniversary of the man-made disaster by Americans....

With great power comes great responsibility

Sri Lanka has elected a new government from a newly-formed party to rule for the next five years. The new and the not-so-new, young and old and a variety of elected lawmakers will soon fill the 225 seats in Parliament.

String of Archaeological sites on the East Coast and other articles

Seldom does one come across a brilliant writer like him, especially on Buddhist heritage who dwell into its past, the way Dr. P.G. Punchihewa has done and enlightened the reader on its celestial value so rare and accurate.

A dedicated, gentle and humble Civil Engineer

Nihal ‘s family is very closely related to me and our family in that his father George Wijesekera, former senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration is my first cousin.

Appreciation of his life on his 1st Death Anniversary

The life of Mahindasiri, known to most as Mahinda or Gala, was always a life of celebration and his demise last year was a great loss to his wife, two sons Aravinda and Dimithra, as well as to his siblings, relatives and his wide circle of friends.

Ode to a Blown Candle In Remembrance of Nadeepa Dharmasiri

“I sing to him that rests below” – Alfred Lord Tennyson ‘Tis the day, Oh! The Eighth of August,

Ousmand re-elected as SLAMAC President

The 98th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Malay Association (SLAMAC)was held last month at the Padang, Colombo 02. Soekarno Tunku Ousmand was re-elected President for the second consecutive year.

Calling to Uva-Wellassa: A man with an indomitable smile and a charisma

A young man, Raveen Perera was being welcomed into his native village on18th July 1992 to be ordained a priest in the very church where he was once baptised as a baby. Even though the Catholic bastion of Pamunugama peninsula....

Lalitha Constantine: A lady to her fingertips

Lalitha Constantine nee Goonesinha, was born on 1st October 1925. She was one of those rare women, a lady to her fingertips. I had the privilege of knowing Lalitha from the time I was a young girl as her family and my mum...

Economists opine Sri Lanka should focus on international market

The recent United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) report titled, “Tackling the COVID-19 economic crisis in Sri Lanka...

Sri Lanka’s children fast becoming victims of adult industry

Sri Lanka has become an unsafe place for children. Even with a National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), Women’s and Children’s Affairs Ministry and a Child Protection Unit at the Attorney General’s Department the number of child abuse cases reported for 2020 has exceeded 5000.

Commencement of the First Convocation –Sangayana

The attainment of Arahantship by Buddha’s Agraupastayake- chief attendant, Ananda Maha Thera, the commencement of the first Dharma Sangayana....

Esala Perahera of the Past and Present

Kandy is one of the few cities where one could experience the ancient glory of Sri Lanka. The echoes of the drums, ceremonial rituals and the pageantry....

New Stamps on Sri Dalada Maligawa

Kumbal Perahera of the Kandy Esala Perahera was marked with the issue of three stamps depicting three phases of the Sri Dalada Maligawa section of the Kandy Esala Perahera.

From here to eternity

My father was a gentleman, gentleman-cricketer, gentle and kind, and a genius in his own way.

A gentleman to his fingertips

It is one year since Chandra Tennekoon bid farewell to us on July 29 last year. As his wife Ranjani and their two sons Chamath and Yathindra prepare to have a sermon followed by an almsgiving in memory of Chandra aiya, I pen a few thoughts of Chandra, who has left a void behind him.

Our friend Dushan

I met my friend Dushan for the first time in the year 1967, when both of us joined Grade One at Nalanda. His full name was Dushan Anura de Zoysa.

Douglas De Fonseka 1929-2010: Thank you for reminding love, respect and integrity

Lionel Douglas Walter de Soysa de Fonseka better known as ‘Dougie’, was a proud product of S Thomas’ College, Boxer, Jockey, a Tea and Rubber Planter....

Statement on the forthcoming General Elections

Our country Sri Lanka will yet again enter into a crucial period of her history with the forthcoming Parliamentary General Elections....

Celestial bodies in the universe and our bodies are moving constantly

Very seldom do we get the opportunity to read a book of this calibre, stuffed with ‘blue-sky’ thinking, providing even a rational explanation to the most difficult Buddhist doctrine of rebirth.

General Denzil Kobbekaduwa: An outstanding leader with incomparable integrity and moral courage

“I have had the privilege of working closely with the late General Kobbekaduwa when he was the Security Forces Commander in Wanni and subsequently at the Joint Operations Command in Colombo.

He Spoke Style

Crocodile is a reputable international lifestyle brand in the fashion industry that has achieved global recognition and preference.

Rotarians donate Orthopaedic equipment to Kilinochchi Hospital

This project was initiated by Dr Sashikaran in April last year and a Medical Team from Sydney, Australia, visited Kilinochchi and made an assessment study.

Arumugan Thondaman – a bold leader

Sri Lanka lost a bold leader Arumugan Thondaman on May 26 this year. He had many facets of his life as a veteran trade unionist heading the powerful Ceylon Workers....