NCCSL deeply concerned over ‘Wow Life’ organisation

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) takes very serious note of the activities and recent developments of the so-called ‘Wow Life’ organisationled by the self-acclaimed Bishop/Prophet Kirby de Lanerolle of the Apostolic Diocese of Ceylon.

Pope says deforestation must be treated as a global threat

Pope Francis said on Saturday, rapid deforestation and the loss of biodiversity in individual countries should not be treated as local issues since they threaten the future of the planet.

Why waste-to-energy plants will not be successful in Sri Lanka

It is no surprise that garbage isn’t garbage for some. It is money. This is why garbage has been overestimated to a point that money allocated for most projects feed individual pockets. As a result, a crisis that would have been solved years ago, still awaits a permanent solution. Amid protest from people and clashes between government authorities, several projects are underway.

Professor Carlo Fonseka We have just lost a man in a Million

Many articles have appeared in the national media during the past few days about a superlative human being of our time, who is no more: He is no other than Professor Carlo Fonseka. In fact, two prestigious English newspapers had dedicated their editorials last week to pay tribute to the great man.

India’s proposed single-use plastic ban could set a world precedent

The world is being overrun with plastic waste. It’s in the oceans, on the land and microplastics poison our food and drinking water.

How stock brokers misled investors in 2011

There were allegations that the Sri Lankan share market had reached its peak in 2011 due to various market manipulations. Possibly, a series of such illegal manipulations could unfold in the coming months, as four stock brokers including Lanka Kannangara had been named as suspects in a court case filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at Colombo Fort Magistrate

Sri Lanka Sumithrayo breaking down walls and building bridges

Sri Lanka Sumithrayo is an organization that has solely dedicated itself to provide emotional support to those in distress for over four decades. In commemoration of the World Suicide Prevention Day, which falls on September 10, Sri Lanka Sumithrayo has organised an event which would be held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) with the hope of encouraging more people to reach out and seek help. Lending an ear to those in dire need, Sri L

Ashara Mubaraka in all its glory

Known as the blessed ten, Ashara Mubaraka refers to a period of ten days at the beginning of the Islamic year. Hence, the first ten days of the month of Muharram (first month according to the Islamic calendar) is dedicated to the remembrance of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his Ahle Bayt (family and kin), specifically his grandson Imam Husain . The tenth day of Muharram, known as Ashura marks the day on which Imam Husain was martyred along with

Societal role in ending suicide

We all have good and bad days. But for some, a repetitive process of bad encounters, challenging life decisions and stressful events would be a burden on life. A person who has given up on life expresses various behaviours and emotions, mostly which are unnoticed by those around them. In most instances, people feeling suicidal have no one to talk to. Even if they do, others may not take them seriously. A common misunderstanding is that they are b

UNP, SLFP CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARIES

UNP, SLFP CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARIES

Navin Dissanayake celebrates his fiftieth birthday today: Navin’s unbeaten fifty

The year was 2000; it was either end of August or beginning of September. I was living in Los Angeles, California in the United States. I was driving to work and was about to enter 118 Ronald Reagan Freeway.

Unconditional Basic Income: A solution for many burning issues

“I felt secure after I started receiving a basic income every month,” says Palitha Abeyratne, a theatre artiste and a musician who was a recipient of the Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) scheme.

Remembered with Love: An exquisite little book

Sometimes, a completely unknown writer will produce a book that can take the professionals by surprise. Remembered With Love, an autobiographical work by Ranjith Senaratne is one such book.

Peace-building through dialogue Underpinning platform to discuss alarming issues

A lively discussion on uniting communities for peace-building was held on August 25 at the Academy of Adult Education for Women in Kalubowila. Organised by Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum (MWRAF)....

National Shrine of Our Lady of Matara : 112th annual feast today

The 112th annual feast of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Matara will be held today. Holy masses will be held at 8.30 a.m., 10.00 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. The bishops and other dignitaries will be welcomed at 3.30 p.m.

Mysterious Yingtan City of China

Yingtan is a city belonging to Jiangxi Province and located in central China. The city nestles 160kms away from Jiangxi’s Capital Nanchang. It is surrounded by a ring of picturesque mountains and a beautiful river.

TRAPPED IN A DEBT CYCLE

The entrapment of rural communities, especially rural women, in a vicious debt cycle generated by thousands of unregulated microfinance organizations has reached epidemic proportions, affecting almost three million people island-wide.

AI, tax breaks and wedding collections - Ingenious ways to prevent food waste

Back in 2012, a ground-breaking report from the United Nations titled ‘Food Wastage Footprint: Impacts on Natural Resources’, discovered that 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted across the world annually. At the same time, almost a billion people didn’t have enough to eat.

Sir John goes to Jaffna in 1955

Sir John going to Paris is the opening line of a popular schoolboy baila. Before that, he came to Jaffna in 1955 for a different purpose. Before you could, he did, and he came not because he loved us. No, no, no! It was because he loved our votes. But it did not strike me so, because as schoolboys, we did not have the franchise. The teenage franchise was introduced in the sixties.

Dr. A.C.S. Hameed - A politician with great vision

Dr. A.C.S Hameed was a member of the Parliament from 1960 June to 1999 representing the Harispattuwa constituency, predominantly a Buddhist majority electorate. He passed away on September 3, 1999 after a brief illness. During his term in Parliament for 39 years he enjoyed his political career taking an active part in practically most subjects that were taken up in the House of Representative. In 1977 he was appointed as the Minister of Foreign A

Teacher of physicians and intellect par excellence

Following is a rehashed version of an article published in two parts in The Island in the last week of May 2016. The media reported that Professor Carlo Fonseka passed away at the age of 86 at his residence in the morning hours of September 2.

As fires ravage the Amazon, indigenous tribes pray for protection

“And we will not feel secure in what we have, in our culture, in our language, in our songs. Us without the forest, we won’t be able to farm, we won’t be able to eat, without our land we won’t be able to live.”

Photo exhibition by Rajakaruna

Award-winning photographer Henry Rajakaruna is set to host his eighth solo exhibition titled “ANOTHER WORLD UNVEILED” from September 7-9 at the JDA Perera Gallery.

Dousing forest fires in SL Practical challenges in disaster response efforts

The ‘lungs of the Earth’ have continued to burn since July 2019. As fires rewriting the history books continue to rip through the southern swath of the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil has already declared a state of emergency. Military personnel have been deployed to combat blazes as speculation is rife over political hands encouraging farmers, land-grabbers and loggers to torch trees and clear for

Zorro without the sword; Even judges saw the important role he played

Armed with a pen which is said to be mightier than a swords, the gentleman fighter M. J. M. Zarook affectionately known as ‘Zorro’ bid adieu to journalism in 2009 after a service of more than five decades and he died on July 27 this year. Today marks the 40th day death remembrance of veteran journalist and journalism Guru Mohamed Jameel Mohamed Zarook. Fondly and popularly called ‘Zorro’ not only by peers and friends in the journalistic circle b

ROLE OF ZAHIRA COLLEGE IN PROMOTING COMMUNAL HARMONY

I consider it as a great honour and privilege to address this gathering at this hallowed institution renowned as the centre of Sri Lankan Muslim education revival and renaissance, our beloved mother Zahira.

Govt should declare 2020 as Year of Tolerance

We are in the phase of rapidly fading memories of the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage which was planned, organized and carried out by a group of misguided Sri Lankan Muslims. Their actions which the vast majority....

Start saving rain water for a sustainable future

Sri Lanka’s average rainfall is 120 billion cubic metres annually. Out of this rainfall, 65% of water directly flows into the sea without any usage. This is why even with enough rainfall, there is a severe shortage of water.

Rev. Fr Ernest Poruthota Turns 88: He Has Done a Beautiful Thing for us

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… Then God said, “Let us make Ernest Poruthota in our image and after our likeness…” and God saw what he had made and behold, he was very good.

Tragedy in Waikkal

‘I lost my children. What have they done to be killed? What wrong have they done to them?’ The mother’s weeping was heartbreaking. The screaming of Nilmini Fernando....