Elderly population to outnumber youth population

Ageing is inevitable. Did you know that Sri Lanka is the fastest ageing country in the South Asian region? The ratio of those aged 65 and above in Sri Lanka is increasing rapidly compared with the number of years it took for other developing countries in the region.

What went wrong in Kandy?

Tragedy struck when a five-storey building caved in and collapsed, killing a young family of three in Kandy last week. The construction in the steep slopes of Sanghamitta Mawatha, Buwelikada collapsed during the early hours of Sunday.

Pretty Boys: Redefining Masculinity

If you do not know who BTS is, then you were probably living under a rock for the past few years. BTS, also known as the ‘Bangtan Boys’ is a Korean Pop (K-pop) group consisting of seven members; Kim Namjoon (RM), Kim Seokjin (Jin), Min Yoongi (Suga), Jung Hoseok (J-Hope), Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung (V) and Jeon Jungkook. K-pop is a genre of popular music originating in South Korea and it has succeeded in making its mark around the globe.

‘I’m scared to see her face’

On August 13, a woman happened to meet a child who was in desperate need of help. The child’s only plea was “Aney Aunty, mawa beraganna” (Please save me Aunty). The child was promptly escorted to the Wattegama Police Station, in Kandy where they were made to sit for hours simply because of a snag in the country’s police system.

New Diamond on Fire

The fire has been contained, now where will the oil go?

Drug wars & overcrowded prisons

With several prison staff members accused of supporting inmates to obtain drugs, prisons and prisons officials have been in the spotlight in the recent past. Incidents where inmates have used different tactics to have narcotics delivered into the prisons, garnered attention,

Spate of arrests sends drug world reeling

Arrests and drugs seized in 2020 have tripled since last year...

Child sexual abuse crisis in Sri Lanka

As reports of child sexual abuse feature in our newsfeeds from across the country with regular and horrifying frequency, it is evident that Sri Lanka is facing a nationwide crisis of child abuse.

Extortion in the name of Devotion?

Colombo’s Mayurapathy Sri Bathrakali Amman Kovil’s frequent visitors include the rich, powerful and political

Crises multiply for Sri Lankans in Lebanon

Sri Lankan migrant workers employed in Middle Eastern countries are one of the most vulnerable groups. The recent explosion which caused a 10-kilometre radius of destruction in Beirut, Lebanon have made their situation even direr.

How political campaigns use your personal information

Your vote is your business. Or is it? It is your right to keep your personal information to yourself and cast your vote independently. However, when elections grow closer, your personal information....

Another child tried as an adult and sentenced to death

Sentencing children under 18 years of age to death is prohibited under Sri Lankan law. Despite these laws and many other national and international provisions,

Wasim Thajudeen: A murder with no murderer

Days were few and rare when the investigation into the murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen did not become the topic in many media conferences and election stages before the Yahapalana government came into power.

Lonely death of Miss Ceylon 1962

78-year-old Jennifer lived on Cotta Terrace, a residential neighbourhood in Borella, Colombo. Towards her last few years, she used to get her meals from a little eatery across the main road. As she experienced some difficulty in walking, she would walk down the road towards the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre and wait for her food to be delivered from the eatery across the road. According to Jennifer’s friends, it is during one of these walks that J

Funding Election: Whose money is it?

Money matters in Sri Lankan elections. Despite constant public discussion about the massive costs of election campaigns in Sri Lanka, there is a lack of credible data on the actual costs, the sources of funds, and the consequences of campaign financing on governance aftermath the elections.

Mass killing of cattle, again?

State efforts are underway to import 2500 milch cows from Australia, despite a similar scheme carried out by the previous ‘Yahapalana’ government which saw many lapses. Recently, the Cabinet approved a proposal to import another 2500....

Why suicide?

When you hear of suicide, you often wonder why someone would want to take their own life.

Conservation in crisis

2020 has been a testing and trying year for many people across the globe. A raging pandemic that has incapacitated major cities worldwide has put a pause to the significant threat towards a growing environmental crisis. A 2019 United Nations report noted that nature’s dangerous decline is unprecedented in human history, and the extinction rates of species is only accelerating.

“Match-fixing allegations” Explained

Allegations of match-fixing by former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has brought the 2011 Cricket World Cup final, which Sri Lanka lost to India, under scrutiny. But are these legitimate allegations or politically motivated statements?

Swindlers deal to deprive Rs. 5000 allowance

7.4 million people affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 were set to receive the government allowance. Did all 7.4 million of them receive this allowance?

Covid-19 Vaccine Race Explained

There are 183 candidate vaccines in the pipeline. Here’s our guide to understanding the complex race for coronavirus vaccines

WHO released new guidelines on face masks

Here’s what you need to know

When predator becomes prey...

According to a damning 2018 report by the Auditor-General, the Department of Wildlife Conservation had failed to introduce a suitable procedure for the protection of leopards

When ‘Stay Home’ wasn’t an option

When 26 year old Yamini returned to Sri Lanka following a meticulously planned vacation, a global pandemic forced her to retreat to a quarantine facility in Vavuniya

Migrant Workers in a Mess

Earnings from migrant workers are an integral part of the country’s economy. However, as the pandemic grows these migrant workers facing increasing vulnerabilities.

The Covid-19 Debrief

Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Dr. Anil Jasinghe & Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama discuss Sri Lanka’s unique approach and challenges ahead

How everyday Sri Lankans are helping fight Covid-19

The worldwide spread of Covid-19 has managed to disrupt day-to-day activities of people world-over. Not only has the novel corona pandemic has placed significant strains on healthcare systems, essential public services and communities globally; it also seems to have placed strains on human relationships equally.

Your Covid-19 related mental health questions answered

With another renewed curfew, these grim times take great effort to stay positive and keep our worries at bay. But why do we worry and how can we cope?

The Economic Impact of Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has introduced an unpredictable amount of uncertainty to not only the livelihoods of people but also to the global economy. While counties across the world continue a battle to prevent infections while implementing social-distancing strategies,

Covid-19: Are our healthcare workers safe?

Lack of legal power for PHIs, a shortage of safety equipment, gruelling work hours and dealing with stress and anxiety; how are our first responders are putting their lives on hold for Sri Lanka