Sri Lanka Summit explores newer approaches to Eradicate Modern Slavery

The Bali Process Government and Business Forum (GABF)– Sri Lanka Summit witnessed the participation of politicians, diplomats, foreign dignitaries and corporate leaders in a bid to exemplify efforts to eradicate human trafficking, forced labour and modern slavery. The GABF provides a strategic platform for collaboration between the private sector and Bali Process Member States to address forced labour and human trafficking challenges.

Sri Lankan pollsters: Don’t be like India’s

Observers and Opposition party activists in India heaved a sigh of relief that the election had finally saved democracy and pluralism in the world’s largest democracy.

Pradeepanjalee XVIII A Wonderful Experience of sitar music

The opportunity to listen to Prof. Pradeep Ratnayake and his friends in concert, at Pradeepanjalee XVIII staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on May 21 was truly a delightful experience for me.

‘My Red Comrade’ A Sinhala film by Mahaadivulwewa not to be missed

Sudath Mahaadivulwewa, with his new film My Red Comrade has broken a lull of nineteen years. Watching the film one feels that he has not been idling during these 19 years, for, the rich theatre experience that the film gives us, is no doubt the result of his long and serious involvement with research into all aspects of film production during this period.

Plants distributed to celebrate ‘World Environment Day’

Among the guests who attended the event was Prof. Janak Vidanarachchi, Senior Treasurer of IAAS, officers from the Young Farmers’ Club Headquarters, Department of Agriculture, and officers from Provincial Department of Agriculture, Central province.

Philosophical insights for teachers and trainers A compact book tracing the history of thought

The need of the hour for all involved in teaching and training is to transform themselves first into sages imbued with wisdom.

Easter Attack could have easily been avoided if SIS and DMI hadn’t misled CID - Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne

Five years after the Easter attack, former Senior DIG, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Ravi Seneviratne in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mirror, said that he and his most senior officers could have avoided the attack if the State Intelligence Services and Directorate of Military Intelligence provided accurate information to the CID without misleading them. Seneviratne further said that his team could have concluded the investigat

India’s universities soar in QS World Rankings

In a resounding testament to India’s growing prowess in higher education, the latest QS World University Rankings report has unveiled a remarkable surge in the rankings of Indian universities. This milestone achievement has not only garnered accolades from the CEO of QS Quacquarelli Symonds Nunzio Quacquarelli, who congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, but has also drawn praise from PM Modi himself, who commended the coll

IMF reforms extremely impacts citizens, SMEs, women and the poor in SL-International Economic Experts

Internationally renowned economic experts who gathered in Colombo ruled that the burden of economic reforms imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) disproportionately impacts ordinary people, small and medium enterprises, and specially women from low-income households. Indian economist and International Development Economics Associates (IDEAs) co-founder Prof. Jayati Ghosh made this observations when she addressed a public seminar under

DWC spearheading efforts to treat injured elephant in Madunagala

An image of a wild elephant taking refuge at a lake in Madunagala, reportedly with a gunshot injury, is being shared widely on social media. According to the comments, social media users claim that their attempts to contact the Department of Wildlife Conservation proved futile. However the Daily Mirror learned that the veterinary surgeons are already treating the elephant and that plans are underway to relocate the elephant to a safer location.

Spotlight on Kalpitiya Illegal bottom trawling ban a victory for small-scale fishermen

For Kingsley Croos, a fisherman from Palgahathurai, one of 14 islands that shapes the Kalpitiya peninsula, illegal bottom trawling has been a curse that wreaked havoc in his life. As populations of shrimp, sea crab and other fish species found along the sensitive Puttalam estuary declined, Croos and fellow fishermen knew that their livelihoods would be threatened forever. It was after January 2021, that these fishermen breathed a sigh of relief w

Captivating Buddhist Heritage Unravels in Pakistan

Pakistan is uncovering a remarkable past: a once-thriving Buddhist civilization. Excavations reveal ancient universities and stupas, like Jaulian with its university ruins and Bhamala with the world’s oldest Nirvana statue. This newfound heritage is drawing international interest, making Pakistan a destination for history and spiritual exploration

At first-ever Workers’ Tribunal: Judges recommend govt. to uphold dignity, rights of plantation workers

Plantation workers in tea and rubber estates have lived a life of discrimination and exploitation for over 200 years. Devoid of basic...

Asia’s Human Rights Journey: ANNI Report 2023 maps progress and pitfalls across the region

Human rights play a vast role in an individual’s life. In today’s divisive world, human rights play a major role in offering....

A march organised to flag down tobacco menace

Calling attention to the tobacco epidemic and the attempts made by the tobacco industry to lure children and youth....

Dr. Siri Kannangara: A friend who taught us all the strokes that matter in life

Lord Buddha, elaborating on the notion of sorrow (dukkha) in the first sermon he delivered after attaining Enlightenment....

Battle of the Maroons Joint Committee solidifies bonds of brotherhood

The Battle of the Maroons (BOM) Joint Committee disbursed two installments of the pledged amount to the Principal....

Reflections on Interventions and its Global Themes

I had the pleasure of sitting on a panel discussion for the book launch of ‘Interventions’, alongside its author, political....

IMF programme: Will Sri Lanka succeed in governance improvements?

On June 12, the IMF board will sign off on Sri Lanka’s third disbursement under the current programme. But Sri Lanka...

Neseranee (MCN) Rutnam She showed so much sacrificial love for the needy

My late, beloved wife, Neseranee (MCN) Rutnam, was born on June 8, 1949 and went to be with the Lord on October 24, 2023. As we remember her on her 75th birthday on June 8, with some immediate family members in Sri Lanka, we believe God Almighty will be in our midst as we pray and reminisce her love for the Lord, her children, Lakshmi and Easwaran; her daughter-in-law Daphne Charles, her granddaughter Raaya and her sister Hazel Ratnasingham. We

Statement by CBCSL CBCSL has nothing to do with extension of AG’s term of office

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL), in a statement has condemned President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s attempt to extend Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam’s term using the Easter Sunday Attack. The following is the statement. Our attention is drawn to the news articles published, in some of the newspapers and other social and electronic media in the first week of June 2024, with regard to a purported statement issued by the Presi

Five senior attorneys conferred Senior Instructing Attorneys-at-Law

In a historic move, President Ranil Wickremesinghe conferred the title Senior Instructing Attorneys-at-Law on five senior attorneys for the first time by Act No. 26 of 2023.

Plight of Mailaththamadu dairy farmers worsens

A solution to the woes of dairy farmers in Mailaththamadu in Batticaloa is still not in sight despite the loss of around 1,400 cattle that provide the daily income for a large number of farmer families in the East. The call to end the problem caused by forceful settlements from the South has fallen on deaf ears. Farmers said those who had settled in the area have done so with the backing of politicians. They added that the cattle were killed by p

BIMSTEC poised to transform into successful regional organization

In a historic development, the BIMSTEC Charter entered into force on 20th May 2024. It was signed on 30th March 2022 by the Leaders of BIMSTEC member States in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Charter articulates the long-term vision and commitment of the BIMSTEC member States to cooperate through the BIMSTEC framework to realise a peaceful, prosperous and secure Bay of Bengal Region. The Charter establishes the legal and institutional framework for coope

Govt. to promote youth entrepreneurship initiating shift in credit accessibility: Ravi K

The Government will strive to promote entrepreneurship among youth, initiating a shift in credit accessibility in the form of seed capital to launch new businesses and startups, former Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake revealed. Sri Lanka’s youth population of 4.64 million, or 23.2 percent of the total population, are the changemakers steering the country towards a flourishing entrepreneurial ecosystem and vigorous economic growth, he added

Youth Dialogue: President addresses economic recovery, Starlink delays

In a bid to engage Sri Lanka’s youth in the nation’s future, the Presidential Secretariat hosted an insightful Youth Dialogue at the President’s House on Paget Road recently. The event featured President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chief-of-Staff Saga

Mahaiyawa in chaos as JICA halts black water managing project

A.A. Dharmasena Mawatha comes under the Kandy Mahaiyawa JICA project. The project is about managing dirty water in the busy Mahaiyawa area. It’s part of the bigger Kandy City construction of a sewage collection system and manhole pumping stations. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), this project works towards building ne

World Menstrual Hygiene Day: Eradicating period poverty, a national priority

Discussions and discourses on topics such as menstruation and menstrual hygiene are shifting from hush-hush environments....

‘Talking to My Daughter - A Brief History of Capitalism’: A book that delves into the feared economic crisis

A Sinhala translation of the book titled ‘Talking to My Daughter - A Brief History of Capitalism’ and written by the famous...

Families of Disappeared against freeing Ex navy chief from abduction trial

The protest was organised by the human rights organisation, the Families of the Disappeared in front of the Superior Courts Complex at Hulftsdorp ahead of the hearing of the writ application filed by ex-Navy chief Karannagoda scheduled to be taken up on June 3 before the Court of Appeal. In 2019, the Attorney General filed indictments with over 667 charges against the 14 accused including Karannagoda in connection with the torture, extortion, a