Vesak Full Moon Poya Day religious day for Buddhists

At the instigation of the late foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Vesak Full Moon Poya day has been declared as an international religious day. This was done because it is the most important day for Buddhists world over due to several religious incidents that had taken place on this day. In spite of international terrorist disturbances in the country we are determined to celebrate the most important Buddhist event this year

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta First discourse of Lord Buddha

Millions of devoted Buddhists worldwide annually celebrate the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day as an event of sacred triple significance. Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born 2,483 years ago on Vesak Full Moon Day at Kapilawastupura.

Selvadurai Loganathan Loga’s demise leaves indelible mark on progress of STMF

Selvadurai Loganathan, popularly known as ‘Loga’ among his colleagues and official circles, has left an indelible mark on the progress of Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman Memorial Foundation (STMF).

Mervyn (MPS) Wijesinghe Benediction for humanity

It is with profound grief that I heard of the demise of my good friend Mervyn. In fact, we had a lunch date on May 7. Mervyn, Doris and I had planned to go to Uswetakeiyawa for a drive and have lunch there. I had booked lunch and waited for Doris to ring me. She rang only to say Mervyn had passed away.

State Vesak Festival 2019 to be held in Ancient Thotagamu Rajamaha Viharaya

Arrangements have been made to hold the State Vesak Festival at the ancient Thotagamuwa Raja Maha Viharaya in Galle District and it is for the first time that the state Vesak festival would be held in the Galle district.

Carbon and Energy Footprint of Tea Manufactured in Sri Lanka

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world consumed both for its medicinal properties and its recreational taste. “Ceylon” tea has made its name throughout the world of tea-drinkers for its quality and unique taste.

Cinnamon Grand bomber’s copper factory case takes a new turn

Wellampitiya Police OIC Gamini Senarath Hewawithana had complained to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) early this week demanding an inquiry against Colombo Magistrate Court Judge Priyantha Liyanage over the release on bail of nine employees of the copper factory in Wellampitiya.

Riots in Minuwangoda: Pasta company owner says ‘yes to law and no to divisions’

As mob violence erupted in Minuwangoda on May 13, fire ripped through the country’s largest pasta manufacturing facility, endangering the lives of seven employees present at the time. Diamond pasta, a sister company of the PMM Group of companies....

Govt. must not fail in its duty to protect innocent people

The anti-Muslim riots in different parts of the country have led to at least two killings and wrecked the lives of thousands of innocent people. These riots have taken place more than three weeks after the Easter Sunday bombings for which the Islamic State took responsibility.

Another pogrom totally unacceptable in Sri Lanka

This is high time for all the Sri Lankan politicians to work towards speedy recovery and development of the sentiments as patriotic Sri Lankans with allegiance beyond every religion, race and caste. It is the responsibility and dire need of every one of us.

THE CURRENT CRISIS: AN URGENT COMMON SENSE ACTION PLAN

The most obvious consequence of the Easter Day calamity is the fear psychosis which has gripped our society. Arguably, not even at the height of the war was this feeling as strong and pervasive as it is today. The need of the hour, then, is the removal of fear.

Introspection means looking in - Not making excuses

Though not an avowed Buddhist, I’ve come to understand that the words of the Buddha, the Buddha Vachana, have in them a profound meaning which gets lost and obscured in the fog of ideology. Put simply, they are more adhered to in the letter than the spirit.

Anti-Muslim attacks question security coordination

Tears in the eyes of the families mourning the loss of Easter Sunday terror victims had not dried up when Sri Lankans heard that another group of citizens- Muslims- had come under attack by angry mobs on Monday (May 13).

Ishvari Corea: a towering figure in library service

Mrs Ishvari Corea, former Chief Librarian of the Colombo Public Library, who passed away on Tuesday (14) at the age of 94 had been a towering figure in the public and library service for more than 35 years.

We demand accountability

Sirs, in January 2015, you were given a mandate and appointed the custodians of this nation by its people for the safety, security and prosperity of Sri Lanka. But the horrendous tragedy that unfolded on Easter Sunday has brought to light the nature of a hugely dysfunctional government.

Outside hand suspected in Kuliyapitiya violence

Daylight in Wayamba gives its residents the opportunity to assess the situation of their neighbourhood, following a grim and fearful start to the holy Vesak week. The Police curfew enforced early Monday (May 13) evening in the North Western Province however, prevents them from setting about their daily work.

The ‘Martyrdom’ Myth

Submerged in our current encounter with terrorism, devastation and anger provoke us to impulsively ascribe suicide bombing to the lunacy of the bombers themselves, or to something inherent in the ‘ideals’ of the bomber’s ethnic or religious group- which to those of us on the outside is blatantly brutal, inhumane and regressive. The world

What is Sufism?

I came across a book called “Sufism -A Celebration of Love” published in India in 2012. It’s a collection of articles on the subject in English, published by the Foundation of SAAARC Writers and Literature, which is an Apex body of SAARC in New Delhi in India. It is edited by Ajeet Cour, Noor Zaheer and Refaqat Ali Khan. Running to 240 pages it is priced at Rs 400 in Indian Currency. The address of the Foundation is 4/6, Siri Fort institutional A

Amend legislature: FDD

The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) said it was deeply shocked and saddened by the suicide bombings at churches and hotels across Sri Lanka on April 21, which caused the loss of over 250 lives and injured over 500 innocent people including foreign nationals

Remembering Judge Weeramantry The High Road

After the horrific events of Easter Sunday, the universal principles of harmonious co-existence and reconciliation espoused by my late father, Judge C.G.Weeramantry, reverberate with deep relevance. This is an opportune moment in time to pause and reflect on some of his ideas. A central thread in my father’s writing was bridge-building. He was referring not to physical bridges but to bridges of understanding. To him, these metaphorical structu

Reflections on the fluidity of our identity

In his influential essay “The People of the Lion”, Professor R. A. L. H. Gunawardena argues for a national historiography devoid of Western ideology. He does not refute or call for the doing away of the latter

Paranoia

Now my dreams are of explosions In the stillness of the nights slumber Loud deafening sounds ring through my ears

Sumathi Sivamohan puts Racism on trial

“Fathers and Sons” by Prof. Sumathi Sivamohan is a very unusual movie. It is rich in texture, combining a fascinating mix of bleak storytelling counter-balanced by the richness of its music and some of the visuals.

Launch of Gaalumuwadorin Diyawannavate

Nihal Seneviratne as Clerk and Secretary-General to Parliament at Galle Face and Diyawanna Oya, served six Prime Ministers, seven Speakers and about 2000-3000 Members of Parliament, while the country went through two insurgencies and a civil war.

Russian Muslims condole with SL Calls Ambassador Jayatilleka ‘brother’

On May 6, 2019, the official opening of the ‘XIV Ramadan Tent’ Muslim cultural event took place at the Memorial Mosque on Poklonnaya Hill near the VictoryMuseum in Moscow.

Chandrakala Senanayake Ratnayake She was, is and shall forevermore be my Ammi

From the age of three, I have vivid memories of all the astounding times I had with my beloved mother, together in this riddle called life, for which I thank my samsaric karma, for creating my existence as the only child of such an exceptional lady,

Easter Sunday terror Where did we fail?

Terrorist attacks unfortunately are a fact of life in the 21st century. Almost all Western countries such as the US, UK, France, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and Australia have experienced terrorist attacks in the not-too-distant past. These leaders were intelligent and smart in realising international terrorism was an element of danger that could not be eradicated,

CA directs to expedite Animal Welfare Bill

Owing to government inaction to pass the proposed Animal Welfare Bill, a group of petitioners from animal welfare and religious organisations filed a case in the Court of Appeal (CA) to draw attention to the urgency of getting such a bill passed.

Civil society responds... in a way

The response of civil society, the harbingers of political radicalism, was telling. It took days for the activists (and I don’t mean the Friday Forum, English-speaking, Colombo ones) to get up on stage and condemn what happened.

Tolerance in a land of religious diversity

We commemorate Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana in this month of Vesak, amidst one of the worst calamities Sri Lanka has encountered – a carnage caused by misguided fanatics as a result of extremist beliefs.