First on Lonely Planet, second on Global Climate Risk Index

Waking up daily to the sight of the Karadiyana garbage dump, breathing contaminated air, seeing littered streets and his child experiencing these toxic conditions alerted Gihan Mackay to the urgency of environmental conservation. So Mr Mackay and his friends, Melani Gunathilaka, Pavithra Stembo, Shyama Basnayaka and Roashan Kamal, decided to raise environmental

The Role of the Deep State in Sri Lanka’s Easter Tragedy

Sri Lanka’s Easter Tragedy sets out to answer the question many Sri Lankans were asking in the wake of the carnage in April 2019: How could this happen, when the state had prior warning of the attacks? The author explains that by the ‘Deep State’ he means ‘a body of organised interests comprising dominant sections of the political establishment and the security apparatus,

How to improve our Living?

Today (10th) is World Mental Health Day. Happiness, joy, laughter and merriment. Are you enjoying these aspects of your life? Ideally speaking we should practise these aspects daily to enjoy our life. But after reading the above most of you would have realised that these have eluded you a long time back.

Professor Stanley Wijesundera Memorial Lecture 2019 EAT RICE TO BE HEALTHY

The Eleventh Annual Scientific Sessions of the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the University of Colombo was held on July 12, 2019, at the IBMBB Conference Hall. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo Senior Prof. Chandrika Wijeyaratne was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony.

Helping children with Autism to box on with life

Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) continue to experience high rates of unmet healthcare and isolation due to social stigma and apathy. As such, creating ASD awareness is vital, and the Sri Lanka Association for Child Development (SLACD), the Citizens Development Business Finance PLC (CDB) have collaborated to create such a place in society. Recently,

Citizens’ hosts critical stakeholder discussion on sustainable peace

The inaugural chapter of a yearlong confab themed ‘Solving the peace puzzle: A critical stakeholder discussion in achieving sustainable peace in Sri Lanka’ was held recently with much pomp and pageantry at Avicenna Institute of Global Learning in Galle Face Terrace amidst a distinguished gathering.

Morawaka Community development through health promotion

Surrounded by the Morawak Kanda mountain range, amid lush greeneries, elegantly landscaped tea estates and rich paddy fields is Morawaka, the hometown I grew up in. With a population thriving on tea and farming, Morawaka is another one of those untouched rural areas in Sri Lanka. Today it is frequented with visitors including foreigners who take some time off to dip their

TripAdvisor wants selling of tickets to captive whale and dolphin attractions stopped

Cetaceans, the marine mammals that include dolphins, porpoises and whales are some of the most intelligent animals on the planet and like most wild animals, suffer immensely in captivity.

BLIND WALK 2019 Walk for the blind

Blind Walk is a global programme commemorating World Sight Day; to primarily create awareness of reversible blindness and to promote Eye Donation.

Change of political landscape the need

Presidential hopefuls Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Sajith Premadasa are carrying out successful campaigns, but there is much more the duo have to learn about serving a nation that comprises a multicultural and multireligious society.

UN warns humanity must rescue oceans to rescue itself

Two days after a climate summit failed to deliver game-changing pledges to slash carbon emissions, the United Nations warned Wednesday that global warming is devastating oceans and Earth’s frozen spaces in ways that directly threaten a large slice of humanity.

Habarana Suspicions raised over elephant deaths

Sri Lanka’s dwindling elephant population is facing severe threats. This was evident when seven more female elephants in Habarana instantly breathed their last during September. Although the incident once again nudged the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) officials to get their acts in order while the subject Minister pointed out that it was a serious offense, loopholes in laws printed in statute books need to be fixed first. Delays in pa

Some tough decisions are inevitable to promote tourism in Sri Lanka

Renowned media figure Richard Quest was recently in the island for the Cinnamon Future of Tourism Summit. Fronting shows like ‘Business Traveller’, ‘’The Express’ and ‘Quest’s World of Wonder’, Quest also anchors ‘Quest Means Business’. The CNN’s business editor at large, Mr. Quest is a well-known media personality world over and has made his mark in the world of journalism. With an exclusive candid interview with the Daily Mirror, Richard Que

Bandula Jayasekara appeals for help

Senior journalist Bandula Jayasekara has been diagnosed with Myelodyplastic Syndrome blood cancer, and has appealed for help to conduct a bone marrow transplant in Singapore. Following is his appeal:

A tale of two VCs

The higher education sector is in upheaval over the arbitrary sacking of former Vice-Chancellors of the Jaffna and Visual and Performing Arts universities, Prof. Ratnam Vigneswaran and Prof. Sarath Chandrajeewa.

World bids adieu to a beautiful soul

It is the first death anniversary of our dear friend Prianca Perera. His sister Manique finds his sudden passing still like a dream. She cannot imagine how swiftly he slipped from life on that fateful day when she had just returned home late in the evening from work.

Teachers are creators of knowledge

I pen this article to commemorate International Teachers’ Day which falls today. Nothing is permanent in this world except for change. Throughout our lives, we face various changes. Most of the time, these appear as challenges and along with them come opportunities.

India’s stance on e-cigarettes to prevent youth epidemic

India’s Government announced on September 18 that it would ban the sale, manufacture, import and advertising of e-cigarettes nationwide as part of a bold effort to protect youth from the risk of nicotine addiction.

Presidential candidates to discuss their policies at ‘Public Platform 2019’

The upcoming Presidential Poll has already drawn the attention of all Sri Lankans alike. While some candidates have already begun their campaigns, the convincing game seems to be going strong.

Notes from an Election: Sajith’s conundrum

The ball does not begin with Gotabaya and it does not end with Sajith. It did not begin the day Maithripala Sirisena crossed party lines and it did not end the day Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister.

BOOK REVIEW-Andrew Fidel Fernando Upon a sleepless Isle Travels in Sri Lanka by bus and trishaw Picador India - 2019

The author has dedicated this book to Fidelia and Sarath. His book has twelve well written chapters and at the end an epilogue and acknowledgements. Also has a map of Sri Lanka.

UNDERMINING RULE OF LAW DETRIMENTAL TO SL Neeraviyadi incident and reclaiming our plural history

A number of lawyers and civil society activists along with the general public in the North and East have come out in protest against the flouting of a judicial decision by Buddhist monks and their associates in relation to the final rites of a prelate.

Cricket World Cup 2019 - Played for a greener globe

The organisers of ‘Green through Cricket’ opined cricket could play a pivotal role in raising awareness on climate change. With that in mind for the first time, the game of cricket was linked to nature and environment during Cricket World Cup 2019. Global warming, considered as the disaster of a lifetime, has come to stay.

Are we this primitive in the 21st century?

Mother Earth rotates incessantly, not only around herself but also around the life-giver; the sun. The fear of the primitive man, in the darkness of the uncertain night, was whether the sun will rise again. In the next stage, as the sun rose and set regularly, it was not surprising, our primitive ancestors believed the sun went around earth. As science developed and knowledge

Gota faces legal hurdle

A three-judge-bench comprising Court of Appeal (CA) Justices Yasantha Kodagoda (CA/President), Arjuna Obeysekara and Mahinda Samayawardena will consider the writ application challenging Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s citizenship status today. Romesh de Silva PC, appearing for the former Defence Secretary and SLPP presidential candidate, is expected to object the

Walhagoda Perahera and Muslim Community

Though there were misunderstandings among the Sinhala and Muslim communities, yet the Muslims are trying to heal the differences.

Down memory lane: Revisiting the Sooriya Show

“It’s hard to remember just what that period was like,” Mick Jagger, speaking of the sixties, told an interviewer somewhere in the eighties.

Dimensions of India’s water crisis and ways to meet it

The water crisis in India is not only huge, but is multi-dimensional, and therefore, very complex. The crisis spans urban and rural areas and surface and underground water sources. Water harvesting

A survivor’s memoir

August 6, 1945 remains to be a dark day in history. When ‘Little Boy’ made its way towards Hiroshima, immediately killing 80,000 odd people, people never imagined it to wipe away generations. They didn’t expect it to permanently deform their loved ones and contaminate their bodies with radiation. But that was reality. At 82, Ms. Keiko Ogura, one of the abled survivors of the attack and presently the director of Hiroshima Interpreters for Peace, c

Israel-Palestine conflict A conversation for reconciliation

Renowned lawyer and legislator the late Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam served in parliament from 1994 to 1999 representing the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) where he led many initiatives on constitutional and legal reform, the ethnic conflict, human rights, social justice and inter-community understanding. As one of the best constitutional lawyers at the time, he served on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform and in the Parl