A life without taxes, that’s what the people want

Mohideen Ifthikar from Maligawatta makes a living as a kitchenware vendor. His daily income ranges between Rs. 1500-2000. Having left his previous job as a site supervisor, Ifthikar worries about not being able to save enough money for his future. This is a common story shared by a majority of Sri Lankans who are facing hardships to survive the prevailing economic crisis. The government imposed multiple taxes on people to meet the conditions l

WNPS initiates Yala Jeep Drivers training programme

A visit to Yala National Park is not complete if you don’t spot a leopard. Or that’s how the saying goes. But one doesn’t necessarily have to spot the animal if the jeep drivers could study about....

A Scholar’s Paradise: 7 Days in Sigiriya with Prof. Raj Somadeva

Sri Lanka owns an extensive history, thriving flora and fauna, unique indigenous medicine, distinctive geography, and rich cultural traditions, all of which are well documented and studied by academics. However....

Deepavali is a perfect time for new vision, hopes and expectations

‘Deepam’ means ‘clay lamp’ and ‘avali’ means arranged in an order. Deepavali means “row of small oil lamps” (clay oil lamps).Hence, the name Deepavali. Deepavali is a large family...

Plastic problem calls for behavioural change from wider community

Single use plastic waste has become one of the 21st century’s biggest environmental concerns. The SACEP, the PLEASE project together with the Central Environment....

War Heroes Commemorated

Salute of the motherland to the Sri Lankan gallant war heroes was held at the War Memorial. Air Vice Marshal Ravi Arunthavanathan RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, M.Sc (Def. Studies), psc, SLAF....

“Faxian Charity Project” benefits people of Northern Province

Ambassador Qi Zhenhong stated, “China and Sri Lanka enjoy a longstanding traditional friendship which has withstood the test of time. No matter what difficulty and challenge our Sri Lankan friends encounter, China has stood and will always stand firmly with you and provide assistance to the best of our capability.” By emphasizing the friendly relations of the two countries, Ambassador Qi further mentioned that the Chinese government has promised

Sisters of Providence Providing hope and courage when illness strikes

‘TALITHA CUM’ is a welcome home, run by the Sisters of providence for destitute cancer patients who have been abandoned by their families. Due to this the vision of the Sisters of Providence is to ensure a peaceful and loving home for the Cancer patients while enhancing their physical, psychological and spiritual well-being.The mission of this home is to bring hope, courage and consolation to those affected irrespective of class, creed or race

Civil society, professionals unite to say NO to govt.’s ‘Shut Up’ laws

The Supreme Court’s determination that the provisions of the proposed Online Safety Bill are NOT inconsistent with the Constitution and can be passed by a simple majority following...

Can the present status quo bring about a probable change?

Before my reflection is read I wish to inform the reader that I write as a layperson, with no formal training or experience on the subject other than having to live through the reality of the consequences of the topic the oration covers on a daily basis which is becoming exceedingly difficult to endure. As such I see myself as an expert on the topic from the perspective of suffering the outcomes of the content deliberated on by the esteemed ora

Protest in Colombo against bombing in Gaza

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” chanted people as they participated in a protest led by Dr. Sudath Dewapura in front ...

Rector stresses the importance of SI in a world dominated by AI

The 119th Annual Prize Giving of St.Joseph’s College, Colombo 10, was held at the Stanley Abeysekera Sports Complex cum....

Kularatne’s Nalanda Completes 98

The school that came into being in the last year of the first quarter of the last century is completing 98 years of committed service of imparting knowledge and instilling values to the fortunate set of youth who had the privilege of having their education at this hallowed centre of learning. ‘Nalanda Vidyalaya’ Nalanda celebrated her 98 years of existence on the 1st of November 2023 having been registered as a separate school in November 1925. I

An Indian Son of Sri Lanka Motherland

Dr Rewant Vikram Singh, the former Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Colombo, High Commission of India is a well-known personality in Sri Lanka. At present, he is serving as the Head of the Department of History, at Maharshi Dayanand College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Mumbai, India. Dr Singh assumed duties as the Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Colombo in August 2019 and served till December 2022. During his tenu

Sudath elected President Thomian Society

Sudath Jayasundara, Attorney-at-Law, was appointed as the President of The Thomian Society recently at the AGM held at the Royal Colombo Golf Club. The Thomian Society comprises Old Boys of S.Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia, Colpetty, Guruthalawa and Bandarawela. The founder President was Dr. Vijaya Corea, who now holds the position as the Patron. Prakash Bhutani is the Vice Patron and the First, Second and Third Vice Presidents are respectively Duli

In Loving Memory of Kenneth Diaz: A Gracious Tribute on His 9th Remembrance

Nine years have passed since we bid farewell to a cherished soul, Kenneth Diaz, who met an untimely departure on this very day. On this solemn occasion, family and friends, alongside former Benedictian ruggerites, gather to reflect upon the life and legacy of a remarkable man. Kenneth Diaz remains etched in our hearts, a beloved figure whose memory continues to inspire and warm our souls. He possessed a unique spirit that touched the lives of tho

Concert to raise funds for Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya

The Old Girls’ Association of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya has organised a concert titled ‘The BnS Show with Umaria & Randhir’ to celebrate the school’s golden jubilee on November 4, 2023 at BMICH from 6 pm onwards. According to the organizers of the event the concert will help raise funds for a hostel renovation project and development work of the school.

AAUPCC in a CSR Project

To mark the International Children’s Day that fell on the 1st of October, the Alumni Association of the University of Peradeniya Colombo (AAUPCC) Council of Management decided on its September meeting, on funding the celebration planned by Ralapanawa Janapadaya School, Nochchiyagama, NCP. The AAUPCC hosted the lunch for 270 children, and 30 staff and parents. Some members and outside well-wishers also contributed financially. The CSR exercise tu

In Loving Memory of Tissa Nanayakkara

In mid-1985 Tissa Nanayakkara came to me as a fledgling SD on Canavarella Group, Namunukula, having completed his creeping period on Cullen Estate, Badulla. His parents Victor and Bella dropped him off at my bungalow and when leaving Victor’s words were, “Make this guy a good planter!” Tissa began as the most junior of the four SDs in the Canavarella Group. I gave him the largest division to manage and he immediately proved his abilities. In a w

Focus on Bandiwewa Maha Vidyalaya Soccer lasses net golden goal in journey of thorns

Football is a sport that is popular among Sri Lankans, similarly to cricket. Therefore people in urban as well as rural areas engage in both these sports. The Polonnaruwa...

Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya

Nestled in a small hill with its beautiful wooded slopes in close proximity to the Colombo – Kandy main road is Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya. This premier seat of learning in Sri Lanka marked its 80th....

Can a 1,000-people survey estimate the characteristics of the entire population?

In Sri Lanka, it is common for the validity of sample surveys to be questioned, on the basis that the samples are “small” and cannot reasonably reflect the characteristics of the entire national population. Examples of skeptical perceptions abound. A prominent Sinhala media personality on a popular TV channel questioned the validity of the findings of the Centre for Policy Alternatives’ (CPA) Economic Reform Index, stating “The sample size fo

Independent Collective School (ICS) An alternative school for inventive students

For Yasodhara Pathanjali, co-founder Independent Collective School (ICS), Sri Lanka’s first formal educational establishment for alternative education, homeschooling and alternative education has laid the foundation for herself as well as her children to explore the world through a different lens.

Remembering the life of Cardinal Cooray on his 35th Death Anniversary

His Eminence Thomas Benjamin Cardinal Cooray OMI passed away on the 29th of October 1988. Born in 1901, he hailed from the village of Periyamulla in Negombo and came from a devout Catholic family of five siblings.

Giant in film industry New Imperial Talkies founder remembered

The fourth death anniversary of Hans Anton van Starex, who was the owner of the New Imperial Talkies, one of the pioneering film exhibitors in Sri Lanka was commemorated recently.

The last post

To refer to this tribute as a last post would not be inappropriate as he marks the 50th death anniversary of our dada who served as postmaster for several years in various areas

Subodhi Institute bids farewell to its Director Fr. Victor Silva

A function was held at Subodhi Institute of Integral Education in Wewala, Piliyandala – to bid farewell to its outgoing Director–Rev. Fr. Victor Silva and to welcome its new Director –Rev. Fr. Lawrence Ramanayaka – on October 7 at Rev.(Dr.) Mervyn Fernando Memorial Auditorium.

Electricity tariff revision in October: Sri Lankan consumers struggle to beat govt.’s third electric shock

At least one hundred thousand electricity consumers in Sri Lanka have been left in the dark over the past one year as they have been unable to pay the accumulated electricity bills by the expected....

Dr. Diong talks positively about acute leukaemia to a Sri Lankan audience

Parkway Cancer Centre in Singapore held a press briefing with the participation of the institute’s Haematologist Dr. Colin Phipps Diong on cancer awareness and treatment in Colombo....

A champion on and off the court

The passing away of Niloufer at the age of 64 came as sad news to me as she had a long battle with cancer. Niloufer was well known for her battles on the squash court where she battled many times at the Squash National finals against her arch rival the late Padmini Samarasinghe. So it is not surprising at all that she battled with this dreaded disease for a long time. A product of Ladies College Colombo, she was the National Squash Champ