Honouring the Tipitaka or Reading it?

It is good to know that the Pali Tipitaka has been given the recognition it deserves by being designated a part of the National Heritage. It is also fitting that the announcement of this designation has been announced by President Sirisena at Aluvihara, where the Tipitaka was first committed to writing. While the president, his retinue and the assembled guests were at

Community Coastal Clean-up in Polhena

The Polhena Diving Centre in Madiha, Matara mobilized the community on Saturday March 16 to clean up the beach front and build awareness against pollution. More than 150 local and international participants, including tourists and local businesses, were brought together by Chamlee De Silva of Polhena Diving Centre, who organised the event on such a large scale for the

Crucial stage of destroying narcotics

The Attorney General’s Department, the Police Special Task Force and the Police Narcotic Bureau are in discussion with the Judiciary to obtain approval to destroy a large haul of narcotics on April 1, the Police Narcotics Bureau told the Daily Mirror. However, the recently detected heaves of heroin and cocaine that shocked the nation will not be included in this

50 years in the Legal Profession

Appreciation Night of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) was held on Friday, March 15, 2019, to felicitate the Attorneys who had completed 50 years at the Bar for their valuable contribution made to the legal profession. The Chief Guest was Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, and the Guest of Honour was Supreme Court Judge Padman Surasena.

SHOULD WE REFORM THE BUDDHISM WE PRACTISE?

With reluctance, caution and innocent ignorance I approach to respond to Dr. Upul Wijawardhana’s above captioned article, as the President Maithripala Sirisena, it is reported, has said when declaring the Tripitaka as a national heritage, those Sangha and laymen should be punished for defaming or for not practising what is said in the Tripitaka. This stricture of President Maithripala Sirisena, perhaps he is not aware, runs

Pattirippuwa: The Gem of the Kandyan Kingdom

When the Sri Dalada Maligawa was bombed in 1998, 20 years ago on January 25, precisely at 5.35 am, the service monks were on the verge of opening the Shrine room doors. The Pattirippuwa (Octagon) of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy was built by the architect Devendra Moolacarya, during the reign of King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha, (1798-1815 AD). If not for this architect, Sri Lanka would have lost an arch

Outgoing: “Ginnen Upan Seethala” and “According to Matthew”

Ginnen Upan Seethala is that rare work: it combines history and fiction so much that we can’t draw a line between the two. Purists and activists from the time in which it is set will no doubt object to its depiction of that history, but even accounting for the omissions and the distortions, there’s no doubt that Anuruddha Jayasinghe’s film has set a precedent. I just wish Jayasinghe didn’t go overboard by (falsely) claiming it as “the fir

Illustrating the Mahavamsa Lankan bhikkhus brought spiritual and cultural enrichment to South East

The book turns back the pages of Lankan History to a lesser known scenario when Sinhala bhikkhus set sail across the Indian Ocean, reached Burma then known as Ramanna and expanded Sinhala Theravada Buddhism which gave way for Sinhala cultural motifs to take root in South East Asia. The Sangha Sasana by then had been resuscitated in 1071 by

Statement issued by the National Peace Council on the UNHRC resolution Strengthened national institu

The ratification by consensus of Resolution No 40/1 by the UN Human Rights Council has given Sri Lanka another two years in which to implement the commitments it made at this same forum over three and a half years ago in October 2015.

LONGLIST of the GRATIAEN PRIZE 2018 The 2018 Gratiaen Prize Longlist

The Gratiaen Trust is pleased to announce a long list for the Gratiaen Prize 2018. The shortlist will be announced on Monday 8 April, 6.00 p.m. at the British Council Library, Colombo. All are invited to attend this event at which a moderated discussion with the long-listed authors will also take place.

Jaltehainjiskeliye Golden Oldies from the Hindi Silver screen by renowned Lankan and Indian musicia

The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre Colombo will present Jaltenhainjiskeliye – a musical evening of Hindustani film songs from the 1950s and 60s on March 28, 2019, at the Centre’s auditorium at 16/2, Gregory’s Road, Colombo 07.

How Sri Lankan farmers are taking charge of their destiny

The whole region around Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s ancient capital, is dotted with village reservoirs managed by small-scale farmers. Referred to locally as tanks, the reservoirs form part of complex irrigation systems in use since time immemorial. Farm families like that of Priyantha Kumara, a disabled army veteran, rely on them to irrigate paddy in the main monsoon season.

Reggie Abeyweera: Business tycoon of our times

My first recollection of Reggie Abeyweera was when I was nine years old and my father built a house at Athula Mawatha off Templers Road at the then De Soysa Estate in Ratmalana. Mr. Abeyweera was one of the first residents in De Soysa Estate. Maybe a few years back, he constructed a two-storey house which was a luxury at that time for all of us to admire.

Unsung hero of choral music

Babiyan, as he was fondly known, would be chuckling from his heavenly abode, having observed with humility his earthly farewell – especially the singing of his well-loved hymns complete with harmonies, the way he would like them, full-bodied! These were sung by members of the former Cantata Singers, a choral ensemble founded by Babiyan in the late 1960s. The spontaneity with which they assembled at his farewell out of duty and devotion speaks muc

REFLECTIONS ON TUBERCULOSIS

The World TB Day, observed on March 24 each year, intends raising awareness, imparting knowledge and providing motivation for action against tuberculosis worldwide.

World Water Day 2019: Every drop matters, because every life matters

March 22 marks World Water Day, but what significance does this really hold? This year’s theme is ‘Leaving no one behind’, adapting the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that as sustainable......

A story about water in a tea estate

Many moons ago I used to cherish the trips made to my dad’s estate in Etampitiya, which was on the Welimada Road, despite we being regularly reminded when we visited the place that we had stepped into the dry zone.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe celebrates his 70th birthday on Sunday: Role of Ranil Wickremes

These have resulted in misguiding the public towards obtaining short-term popularity and fulfilling opportunistic political aims. Against a context of several selfish, opportunistic and anarchist political leaders, a significant number of people in Sri Lanka....

D.S. Senanayake at 67 passed away 67 yrs ago

Young Don Stephen (DS) and his two brothers FR and DC inspired by Buddhism and anti-colonialism were connected with the ‘Temperance Movement of Ceylon’ which was formed in 1912. The movement also played a leading role in the Independence Movement.

Re-visiting Authentic Montessori: Education For Peace

To love a beautiful sunset or to look with wonder on a tiny insect does not necessarily awaken a greater feeling of affection towards humanity; nor does a love for art in a man beget a love for his neighbor.

Remembering police heroes: They died to protect us

Today is a day of great significance as it marks the remembrance of fallen Police Heroes who have courageously sacrificed their lives throughout a period of 155 years to protect the lives and property of Sri Lankan citizens.

Central Ceylon Muslim Ladies’ Union marks International Women’s Day

The Central Ceylon Muslim Ladies’ Union, Kandy marked International Women’s day recently, with a large crowd present. The two guest speaks at the occasion were Dr. Kalyani Pethiyagoda, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya.....

Anula crowned champs at ‘Leelananda Memorial Debate 2019’

The ninth annual ‘Leelananda Memorial Debate’ between Isipathana College and Anula Vidyalaya concluded successfully on March 8 at the main hall of Isipathana College. It was organised by the academic staff and Old Boys’ Association (OBA) of Isipathana.

Victor’s Moot 2019 at Sri Lanka Law College

The long-awaited event of Sri Lankan law students, the H.V. Perera QC Memorial Moot Court Competition (also known as Victor’s Moot), will be held for the second time from March 22 to 24 at the Sri Lanka Law College (SLLC).

COPSL organises walk to mark World Tuberculosis Day

World TB Day, observed on March 24 each year, is designed to raise awareness on tuberculosis that remains an epidemic in many parts of the world and is responsible for the deaths of nearly one and a half million people annually, mostly in developing countries.

Could a drunken driver always be guilty in the eyes of law?

Drunken driving has become a serious issue in the society due to the harsh outcomes it has and it could cause. Due to this reason, the law has set its frames tight around drunken driving. This is very visible when comparing Section 151(1) of the Motor Traffic Act No.14 of 1951 and its amendment by Act No. 31 of 1979. The former states that “No person shall drive a motor

Do we need to monitor the tobacco industry? Launch of the Community Driven Tobacco Surveillance Sys

The tobacco industry is known for it’s interference and influence of the public and Governments. The influences reported from all over the world are commonest from the multinational cigarette companies, collectively known as ‘Big Tobacco’. In Sri Lanka, it is represented by the British American Tobacco (BAT) and its subsidiary Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC). They

More Brickbats than Bouquets for Budget 2019

With 119 members voting in favour, the second reading of the Budget for the 2019 fiscal year was approved in parliament last week. Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera in his Budget speech stressed on the government’s belief in growth led by private enterprise, well illustrated in its pursual of a liberal outward oriented economy. Speculation was rife, prior to its tabling, that the Budget would inclu

Dekala Purudu Kenek: Sealed in a box

We see Dinithi in close-up almost all the time, yet she seems distanced from us. The action is limited to the interiors, and Dinithi does what little she can inside the house. But then even something as innocuous as a telephone conversation has to be muffled. (In the first few scenes we see her from behind a latticed wall when she’s talking over the phone.) We realise there’s something wrong in this family, an

“Ahimsa” Celebrating Gandhi with an evening of dance

A Choreographic dance production by Aru Sri Art Theatre with eminent danseuse Rama Vaidyanathan On 22 March 2019 at 7 pm at Bishops college auditorium Celebrating 150 years of Mahatma-“Ahimsa”, a choreographic dance production blended together with thematic concepts using performing arts will be presented by Aru Sri Art Theatre in collaboration with the High Commission of India, Colombo on March 22, 2019 at 7.00 pm at Bishop’s College Auditorium