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

Matara hospital rocks parents’ world misplacing stillborn

Kavindya Madushani and her husband Sajith Chathura from Kotawila, Weligama were anticipating the birth of their firstborn with much hopes and dreams. But their world came to a standstill after May 22, when the hospital staff at the New District General Hospital, Matara, popularly known as ‘Labeema’ failed to show them the body of their stillborn child. Contradictions and communication gaps in mentioning what happened to the infant’s body complica

A home-grown solution to energy and waste management

A resident of Miriswatta, Balangoda claims that he could develop a method to convert bio-degradable organic waste into flammable gas and nutrition-rich fertilizer.

Sacred Sri Pada dirtied by growing garbage crisis

Summiting the sacred Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak may sound like a fun adventure to many. This is exactly how this writer....

‘Vietnamese Monastery’ in Sri Lanka marks 10 years

It was morning on Vesak Poya day and I made my way to the monastery. There is no bus service to this religious place....

The miraculous art of healing through acupuncture

Arthritis is a common condition plaguing the elderly, making even the easiest daily tasks unthinkable. Most patients resort to taking....

Sarath Dikkumbura’s latest drama: ‘Katharagama Prema’ can give ‘oxygen’ to this depressed island

During an era when an uprising by the people was squashed by the government, Drama Director Sarath Dikkumbura has decided to rekindle the past and give hope to the youth who are....

Best performers of AIESEC honoured at Tribute ’24

Amidst a backdrop of celebration, reflection and recognition, AIESEC in University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) recently held its annual awarding ceremony titled Tribute ‘24....

Let’s make Vesak meaningful by living teachings of Buddha

Sri Lanka stands out as a predominantly Buddhist country that has celebrated Vesak in a dignified manner ever since Buddhism was introduced to the country. History records Buddhism was the main religion in the land and had the patronage of the Kings who did everything possible to spread the religion. Even during the administration of the foreign powers, most Sri Lankans lived their religion, and thanks to them up to the present generation Buddhi

Risen Lord Community marks 40 years of blessings with thanksgiving

The Risen Lord Community (CRL), a catholic lay community functioning under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka marks its 40th anniversary this year. Celebrating this long amazing journey filled with God’s love and faithfulness witnessed through many who have been a part of the community, the CRL has organized a prayer and thanksgiving service, a life-transforming experience under the theme of “Remembering with Thanksgivi

Five steps to address mental health in Asia and the Pacific and beyond

Mental health issues are an increasingly large part of the global burden of diseases and a leading cause of disability. This disturbing trend was made most evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, which contributed both to a sharp rise in mental health disorders and a disruption in critical mental health services. The most common types of mental health disorders include anxiety and depressive disorders, but many such disorders impact people’s lives,

“Mystery” behind mindfulness Do you become what you think?

The above is the essence of Gautama Buddha’s teaching and one of the salient themes of the Dhammapada - mindfulness. Buddha has emphasised that human beings often live in a state of unawareness which is driven by desires, attachments and distractions, that results in perpetuate suffering. The way we think and perceives the world around us eventually shapes our experiences and outcomes. Even though externalities undertake a central role in the pla

Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers conducts AGM

The Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers (ARFRO) was founded by the late General Deshamanya Denis Perera in 1996. The 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association took place on May 18, 2024, at the Organization of Professionals Association. The AGM was attended by 85 members, including former commanders of the three services. ARFRO consists of officers who have held senior appointments in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with ranks of

Delegation of Thai Monks Arrives in Sri Lanka for World Peace

A delegation of 100 Thai monks, who are on a foot pilgrimage through Buddhist countries around the world, wishing for world peace, recently arrived in Sri Lanka. It is noteworthy that they travelled around Sri Lanka on foot for 20 days; having only one meal a day.

Vesak thoughts Foster and foremost the Dhamma the Buddha Way

In 1948, D.S. Senanayake encountered pressure from leading Buddhist clergy to include a special clause for Buddhism in the newly independent nation’s Constitution. The two Mahanayake Theros of Asgiriya and Malwatta threatened to boycott the inauguration ceremony in Kandy.

Sangharaja Weliwita Thera must be honoured for instilling ‘Upasampada’

The time has come for the state to give due recognition to a priest without whom there would be no Buddhism in this country. That figure is none other than Sangharaja Weliwita Asarana Sarana Saranankara of Tumpane.

A drama that shows vulnerability of parents and strength of LGBT male

Sugath Shantha Moragahakumbura’s drama ‘ Arundathie Mama Manamalai’ continues to pull at the heartstrings of the audience. He is set to show another series of his drama on June....