SLIID to hold 35th AGM tomorrow

The 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Interior Designers (SLIID) will be held tomorrow from 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.at the CHPB Auditorium, 33, Parliament Road, Battaramulla (passing Ape Gama and next to the Water Board).

WORKING WITH WOMEN ACCELERATES PROGRESS TOWARDS FOOD SECURITY

This year’s UN theme for International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated on March 8, is think equal, build smart, innovate for change. It resonates with WFP’s gender-transformative approach: working to give everyone lives of dignity, choice and opportunities.

Closing the door on sexual abuse

Sexual harassment on public transport is an everyday occurrence for millions of girls and women. I can recall the many horrible train and bus rides I have had in my life. Public transport is the only travel option for many women...

‘Male Dominance’, a phenomenon created by women?

Young music fans embrace and hug male performers on stage; they throw bras? But why do women behave in an uncanny manner before men. Will a man ever think of doing such silly frolics in public? Don’t they surrender their chastity to male by such absurd behaviour; next, they cry foul. Discrimination can be challenged and corrected: but ‘equality’ is a farfetched reality.

When a nation loses its tongue...

There are those who believe that English is some sort of gateway to the world outside. Without an at least rudimentary knowledge of the language, it is argued, one can’t get through one’s education and career, and presumably, one’s life. And it’s not just the ability to read and write, which is essentially what counts for literacy today; it’s also, more importantly, the ability to speak it well. The rising tide of Spoken English tuition classes o

World Women’s Day Dilani shows mentally challenged ladies the way

Dilani De Silva awaits October 8 with the same eagerness with which she looks forward to celebrate her birthday. This is because October 8 has given her life so much value in terms of being the woman she wished to be. This day is celebrated as World Women’s Day and it is important to women like Dilani who was a mental patient in the past.

Rituals of a budget

The Appropriation Bill 2019, which is generally called the government budget was presented in Parliament on March 5. The budget speech was the 72nd since independence 1948. In a Parliamentary democracy, the total responsibility of handling and controlling of financial affairs is vested in Parliament. This feature is particularly visible in Commonwealth countries.

The Kandyan Convention Did we have a better option?

“Recognizing that the key strength of Kandyan Kingdom lay in the unity of the people, the chiefs, the monks and the King, the British set about demonising the King and gradually splitting him from the chiefs, his people and the monks. These were the three traditional pillars on which power of the King and the integrity of the kingdom rested.

PARL People’s Commission on Land Protecting lands rights of people

The People’s Commission on Land is initiated by the People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL), a network of displaced communities, civil society organizations and activists working on land-related issues across Sri Lanka.

Heroic Tamil Police officer passes away

At a time when there were death threats on those -especially the security forces-protecting the lives of the Sinhalese in the North, a Tamil who offered to save the lives of 20 Sinhala police officers died on February 29 at the age of 83. He saved the police officers serving the Chavakachchceri Police from an attack by TELO made in 1984.

SL to launch first-ever satellite in April: Historic landmark in Sri Lanka’s space journey

The world is very keen on adventuring into Space and innovating inventions to fly into space. Although, it sounds alien to Sri Lanka, it would be no longer something strange to Sri Lankans as the islanders’ first research satellite RAAVANA-1 built by two Sri Lankan youth is set to launch into space this April, marking our entrance into the space age.

Science Challenge for Advanced Level students

An event organized by QUEST International University Perak (QIU) together with Seekers Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd. Around 200 of Sri Lanka’s best and brightest students will compete in the inaugural QIU Science Challenge 2019 on 9th March at the Sri Lanka Foundation.

President Sirisena must pause

This is precisely what the response to President Sirisena’s plans to resume executions in Sri Lanka after a 43-year hiatus should be. His plans to execute prisoners on death row for drug-related crimes have met with fierce opposition from all quarters. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has categorically recommended to “do away” with his plans to reinstate the

An inseparable couple bids adieu

Valentine Day fell on February 14. Despite all this hype it is not a day that’s applicable to our country. Many youngsters are interested in this day. This is the story of two lovers who breathed their last on the same day at the same time.

Bridging communication gap with ‘Athuru Mithuru’ A Milestone in Speech Therapy at the Anuradhapura

The inability to express oneself adequately can be a very frustrating experience. Crying out aloud is the only form of self-expression in infants and as they grow older, social cues are picked up and the concept of language enters their lives, finally enabling them to communicate with the world. New parents are in a constant state of panic during the first few months post

FDD hands over an appeal to Speaker Parliament should uphold disability rights and premises to Go Gr

The Forum on Disarmament and Development (FDD) met the Speaker Karu Jayasuriya at the Parliament on 18th February 2019 and handed over an appeal requesting 1) To ban the use of plastic and polythene and declare Parliament premises as plastic and a polythene-free zone 2) Make Parliament premises accessible for the disabled community 3) Having an accessible bus for the Parliament (Hydraulic bus) 4)

Buddhism Christianity & Reflections on a forgotten history

Probably no other period in our country’s history has been riddled with so much ambiguity, intrigue, and confusion as the 19th century. This is particularly so with regard to an issue that continues to bedevil historians and sociolo

Danture Onslaught

The historic Danture battle, the last encounter of the Sinhalese with a powerful European nation completes four hundred and twenty five years this year. This article is an attempt to present the background of the Senkadagala Kingdom then known as Kanda Udarata Kingdom to the present day generation through historic ancient documents in Hauge archives and other Portuguese and Dutch records. Our country then known as Lanka faced invasions from Chola

What if Caligula gets into our Parliament?

Happily for the Sinhala theatre, there are a few brave souls willing to risk everything to produce a classic drama. Two years ago, Buddhika Damayantha produced a Sinhala version of Hamlet.

RAre Book on recovery law

The splendid book entitled: Law Relating To Recovery Of Loans By Banks (Special Provisions) Act No. 4 Of 1990 As Amended (Sanshoditha 1990 Anka 4 Darana Benku Magin Pradanaya Karana Lada Naya Aya Kara Genime...

Today is Maha Sivarathri: Praying for Mukthi

For Hindus world over Maha Siva Rathri is purely a religious observance of day-time fast and vigilance throughout the night. They observe these special rites on the fourteenth night of Phalguna (February/March) which is the longest night in the year according to the Hindu calendar.

Lions of Modera mark 44th Year

The 44th Charter Celebrations of Lions Club of Modera Mattakkuliya was held on February 16, 2019, at Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo 1. This event was highlighted with the presence of the Governor of District 306B1...

Right of Reply: There is only one China

The year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, and also the heartbreaking 70 years of the split between Taiwan and mainland China. As the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka....

Charles Henry De Soysa Philanthropist extraordinaire

As we approach March 3, the birth anniversary of our revered ancestor, our thoughts return to this extraordinary man who rendered yeoman services to our motherland and its people. Perhaps, his unprecedented largesse is displayed by the students of Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges. They still pay homage to him on his birth anniversary and march past his statue placing flowers at his feet.

Past occupants of Peradeniya Uni Ramanathan Hall Pearl jubilee celebrations on March 30

The annual get-together of past occupants of the Peradeniya University Ramanathan Hall will take place for the 30th time on March 30 Saturday from 10.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. at the Police Families’ Welfare Association at No.67, Joseph Frazer Road, Bambalapitiya (next to the police officers mess).

CIMA toastmasters mourn the loss of DTM Padmini Samarasinghe

February 15, 2019 was a sad day for the CIMA Toastmasters Club. Our dear Charter President, Distinguished Toastmaster Padmini Samarasinghe passed away that afternoon. It is only fitting that we pen a few lines about this amazing lady.

Golden jubilee celebrations of Rev. Fr. Vernon Regis

I have great pleasure in welcoming you to the golden jubilee celebrations of Rev. Father Vernon Saturninus Panteleon Regis, who was born in Dehiwela and named Vernon because Monsignor Vernon Johnson,

Don’t throw the baby out with the water

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution which was meant for the strengthening of democracy by reining in of the Executive Presidency has by now created several issues, challenging democracy.

Whispering Forests An exhibition of paintings by mother-daughter duo

‘Whispering Forests’ is a collection of nature inspired paintings and drawings by mother daughter duo Iranganie and Chandima Wickramasinghe. Both artists are immensely inspired by nature and...

The Buddha’s Prophecy on Corruption

King Kosol of India had 16 strange dreams and he desired to find out whether they were good or bad or to what they meant. He approached the Buddha for clarification. As at today, corruption is the subject of the day...