CHAINED ’PRINCE’ SUFFERS in silence at place of worship

As a Buddhist country, Sri Lanka’s temples undoubtedly practise Metta (Loving Kindness) meditation and chant the Metta prayer, wishing ‘all beings to be happy’ and most importantly ‘free of suffering’ on a daily basis. But it is appalling to see the same places inflicting pain and allowing living beings to suffer while in captivity.

Launch of Publications on Nuclear Disarmament Today

The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) will launch three publications on, i) Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and Sri Lanka, ii) Why Sri Lanka Should Ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and iii) Why Sri Lanka Should Accede to the Nuclear Ban Treaty (NBT). The foreword for the three publications has been provided by Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala; former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for

Public Police Partnership

Excerpts from an article written to the Voice of Professionals of the AOPA of Professional Associations (OPA) of Sri Lanka published in November 2019. In every civilized society, a Police system....

St. Peter’s College Colombo completes 98 years: Being a school of par-excellence

St. Peter’s College, Colombo 04, is a Premier Catholic school in Sri Lanka. It derives its vision and mission from the vision of Catholic education i.e. integral education. It has produced countless.....

96th Death Anniversary of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam: Scholar, Statesman and Patriot

The 96th Death Anniversary of Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam was commemorated on January 9 at 5 p.m. at the Presidential Secretariat premises (Old Parliament).

Rev. Bro. Philip of Jesus – Co-founder of Diyagala Boys’ Town Devout Catholic of virtue and erudition

Rev. Bro. Philip of Jesus passed away on January 3 to his eternal reward at Diyagala Boys’ Town in Ragama. Without any exaggeration, one could see him as a legend and saint. His devotion and uncompromising loyalty to the Catholic faith and religion has never been in doubt.

Empirical study on Asian development launched in Sydney

Mr. C. Narayanasuwami, formerly of the Ceylon Civil Service (CCS) and retired senior professional of Asian Development Bank at Manila in the Philippines, launched his book titled ‘Managing Development: People, Policies and Institutions’ on November 2 in Sydney, Australia. This was following its release in Colombo on August 29, 2019.

Mother Lanka whispering on 2020

Year Twenty-Twenty dawned with hopeful rays flickering worldwide East to West, North to South, peace and tranquility will prevail islandwide Awaiting a bright future renewed hopes past contemplating Rebuilding economy retardation amid peaceful tidings

V. Pavitra Naidu Strict disciplinarian and Teacher of life

“Those were the days, my dearly beloved brother, when we flew around on the gossamer wings of love and laughter.” Yes, those were the wonderful and exquisite moments of our childhood and adolescence, which are etched so deeply in my heart, that they can never be erased.

Mourning the death of three undergrads killed in Azerbaijan

The remains of three Sri Lankans who studied at the Western Caspian University (WCU) in Azerbaijan – who died on January 9 due to toxic suffocation after a fire broke out in the building they occupied at Baku – were repatriated on January....

SL in solidarity with Indian academia against authoritarian repression

A group of Sri Lankan university lecturers representing all State universities expressed their concern over the recent attacks across India following the introduction of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA)

Mano and his anokaya

Most Sri Lankan theatre-goers were saddened by the news that veteran actor, playwright and a director Jayalath Manorathne had passed away on 12 January 2020. Manorathne had worked in the Sri Lankan theatre and visual media for over four decades.

Experiments with elephants How sustainable are elephant-holding grounds?

A record number of elephant deaths had been reported in Sri Lanka during the past year, according to a BBC news report. Citing conservationists, the report also highlighted that it was the highest number of elephant deaths since Sri Lanka became independent in 1948.

Colombo University incident Escalating trend towards youth violence

When news went round that a student at the Colombo University was severely beaten by a group of students, it didn’t take long for people to realise that this too would have been another case of ragging. Justifying suspicions, this case too was a retaliatory action to continuous ragging that existed within the Colombo University. Ragging within the local university system has

Prof. Dayantha Wijeyesekera assumes TVEC chairmanship

Professor Dayantha Wijeyesekera has been appointed as Chairman of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) in addition to the Honorary Office of Chancellor of the University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC) by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the recommendation of Vocational Training Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

‘Ado’ Viewers live a big dream until it ultimately shatters

According to a comprehensive parliamentary report by the Australian Government, as many as 33 boat turn-backs have been reported between December 2013 and June 2018 – they have carried a total of 810 asylum-seekers from Sri Lanka. Although Colombo is described as the commercial capital of the country, several segments of the urban population still experience the

On a mission To save butterflies in peril

The diversity of nature is a complex system.It is this complexity that creates and adds beauty to nature. Butterflies are no exception and are an essential element of nature’s beauty. The shades of indescribable colours of butterflies make one’s eyes open wide in appreciation of their intricate detail and structure. Not only their beauty, but also their contribution to ecosystems

Nature and Pongal: Festivals go together

As the Australian bushfires subside and the Taal Volcano erupts south of Manila in the Philippines, the Tamil-Hindus the world over will be boiling milk and making sweetmeats paying respects to the Sun today.

Hope for Sri Lanka With Love from the US

On Easter Sunday morning, many in Sri Lanka woke up to the news of the terror that was unleashed within minutes at churches and hotels but for the Gunawardane family based in Maryland, USA, it was just after dinner when they received the news of the Easter Sunday attacks. Dr Ruwani and Dr Vajira slowly broke the news to their twins, Sonali and Sohan Gunawardane, both aged 17 and students at McDonough High School. The family was shaken.

Jayalath Manoratne Mano Aiya to most

He was Jayalath to some, Dr Manoratne to others, and Mano to us. When television came to Sri Lanka in the 1980s, Jayalath Manoratne was one of many stage actors who made the transition to the small screen. Almost all the tele-series he took part in were sitcoms, and even when th

Academics rally to defend DG of Archives

A group of forty Sri Lankan academics and renowned figures from the spheres of science and arts has signed a letter of protest against the abrupt and arbitrary attempts to relieve Dr Nadeera Rupasinghe from her dut

Kingdom of Clay Subjects Ray’s lyricism relived minus the train and the rain

We know about Indian cinema, but Bangladesh remains a dark horse as far as its movie industry is concerned. The annual Bangladeshi film festival held in Colombo (Scheduled for March 2020) will go some way to put this right.

The Gratiaen Trust conducts masterclass with Shaw

The Gratiaen Trust is proud to announce that, in partnership with the John Keells Foundation which sponsored logistical expenses, and the British Council, which provided the venue, a masterclass was held recently for playwrights who have won, been short-listed or judged the Gratiaen Prize and actors working with these playwrights. The masterclass was the first in a series the Gratiaen Trust plans to hold. Here renowned writers and artists will sh

Felicitated as Chief Sanghanayaka of the Western Province

Ven. Gonaduwe Gunananda Nayaka Thera, General Secretary of the All Island Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya, has been felicitated with the honorary title of Chief Sangha Nayaka of the Western Province, Sri Lanka. The Nayaka Thera has been a stalwart of the revival and enhancement of Dhamma Education in Sri Lanka during the past four decades.

When hopes fluttered, then flopped

The following are separate stories as related by their loved ones about the Air Force trio who perished in a tragic plane crash in Haputale on January 3. The three were identified as Flight Lieutenant KD Lankapura Kulathunga....

Anecdotes about the unforgettable E.L Senanayake

A statue in the memory of former Speaker E.L.Senanayake was unveiled at the spacious lawn of “ E.L.Senayake Children’s Library “ in Kotugodelle Veediya, Kandy.

Duruthu Full Moon Poya: Buddha’s First Visit and Rational of Merit Transfer

Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day, marks Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka nine months from his Enlightenment, he visited Mahiyangana, where now stands the Mahiyangana dagoba, to restore peace, and create a state of freedom...

Significance of Duruthu Poya: First Buddhist event in the calendar year

Duruthu Poya usually falls in January which is the first month of the calendar year and hence the observance of Duruthu Poya is the first Buddhist event of the calendar year. It was on a day like this, exactly nine months...

Cattle Killer

A number of Sri Lankan dairy farming families have been left devastated after investing in a fresh milk scheme which saw the import of dairy cattle from Australia and New Zealand. Dozens of cattle in local dairy farms have died following a government brokered import deal with Australia’s largest cattle exporter, Wellard Ltd, which Sri Lankan dairy farmers say, has left

KELANIYA DURUTHU PERAHERA 2020

The Annual Duruthu Perahera of the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara culminates today January 9, being the final day of the annual pageant which commenced on January 7. The historic Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera had its origins in the year 1927, due largely to the efforts of that great Philanthropist Don Walter Wijewardene, son of Helena Wijewardene Lamathani of Sedawatte.