‘Beautiful Badulla made ugly’ as communities yearn for clean water, sanitary facilities

In Badulla, families in tea plantation communities struggle daily to obtain clean water and enjoy basic sanitation. Distant, unreliable water sources and poor infrastructure expose residents to frequent illnesses.

The politics of inconveniencing the other must stop!

Just the other day (November 19 th , 2024 to be exact ) this writer, while travelling in a Tuk tuk, I had to endure the rudeness of being stopped by the police close to Koswatte junction( near Battaramulla).

Another landmark today for Lanka - EDITORIAL

Today, the newly-elected Parliament will meet at 10 a.m., for the first time, for a ceremonial sitting – another landmark for the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People Power (NPP).

Academics, professionals receive slots in newly elected Cabinet

Among the 21-member Cabinet of Ministers sworn in before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake there are 13 new faces in the parliament assuming responsibility for their respective portfolios. Many would agree that the newly appointed Cabinet, unprecedentedly, is the most qualified in the Sri Lankan political history. In comparison to previous governments, the new cabinet comprises individuals who are University academics and reputed professionals.

New president, new MPs and a joker in the ‘House’

Sri Lanka, as the late MP R. Sampanthan was to say is ‘at a critical juncture’. First it voted out, its war-winning President -Mahinda Rajapaksa. Next, in 2022 it chased out past President Gotabaya also a Rajapaksa, whose economic policies or lack of them, drove the country into defaulting its international debt payment

Promise and caution: What the NPP epic victory augurs for Sri Lanka

Whether you voted for the victorious NPP/JVP alliance, you didn’t’ or stayed at home, as did a good number of Opposition voters, there is no gainsaying that the just concluded general election of 2024 is a milestone. It is not just the sheer scale of the victory, though numbers are mind-boggling too. The NPP won 159 seats in Parliament, the most resounding victory since the proportional representation came into effect. But numbers tell only a par

‘Another teen dies’ as corporal punishment haunts Sri Lanka again!

In January this year, the Children and Young Persons (Amendment) Act No. 39 of 2022 was amended to extend protection of all children up to age 18.

Anura “Alai”(Wave) Engulfs Tamil Nationalist Stronghold of Jaffna

The National People’s Power (NPP) known in Sinhala as Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB) and Theseeya Makkal Sakthi (TMS) in Tamil has recorded a historic victory in the Parliamentary elections held on 14 November 2024.

Youth, victims of manipulative politicos

Even though Courts can grant bail for minor offences under the existing legal regulations, Felonies such as murder and rape are defined as non-bailable offences by Law and therefore, the commission of these crimes are liable to be punished by death, or in certain cases by life imprisonment.

Autonomous Weapons, a euphemism for Killer Robots

Autonomous weapon systems are weapons that detect and apply force to a target based on sensor inputs, rather than direct human inputs.

Break the paddy mafia!

Tennessee William’s Pulitzer winning 1955 play (and the subsequent 1958 film starring Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor) is about a wealthy, crumbling family in the United States deep South.

Team spirit and political will matter the most- EDITORIAL

After a 59-year struggle with huge sacrifices, including supreme sacrifices by tens of thousands of people including its founder leader Rohana Wijeweera, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has come to power under an umbrella organisation, the National People’s Power (NPP).

Fragmented Island Unites: Significance of Stunning Victory

For the first time in history, Sri Lankans have demonstrated a noteworthy advancement in political literacy, with all three communities rejecting divisive politics.

Lessons from General Election and dangers from international powers - EDITORIAL

Candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s election as President did not come as a shock, to many in the country. A few of the presidential candidates save one or two foresaw this.

The Anura tsunami and the challenge it is going to face

How can one explain the massive two-thirds victory of the National People’s Power (NPP) at the Thursday’s Parliamentary election, based on the results of the Presidential election held two months ago, on September 21?

A tsunami of political change hits Lanka

In the run-up to the general election, newly elected President Dissanayake asked voters to drive corrupt politicians out of parliament. Well the public has done just that. Now it is up to Dissanayake and his team of brand new MPs to help Lanka’s people out of the misery their ‘experienced politicians’ led them them into.

“NPP, JVP can bring about changes to issues of Tamil community as they can’t be labelled as traitors to the Sinhala cause” Ahilan Kadirgamar

What happened was after the war we had a bloated military, and no government had the guts to start a national discussion about the need to slowly demilitarise after the war

National Unity Govt. Needs To Include Minority Parties

The government is aware as much as anyone else that the country continues to be in an extremely vulnerable situation with the possibility of reversal to a state of economic decline a possible scenario.

A call from university teachers for a commitment to free education

For nearly two decades, state universities have been under siege. They were targeted by a deliberate campaign of discreditation.

The daunting task before the new parliament

As you read this column today, you may have a clear idea of the composition of the next parliament.

A nation where animals are valued ahead of humans! - EDITORIAL

At the rate at which the human-elephant conflict has escalated, Sri Lankans get to hear of at least one human death every month which is caused by an elephant strike.

Spotlight on Dehiattakandiya Police retaliate after DWC officials bust bush meat trade

Officials from the Wildlife Department have recently uncovered an illicit trade in which wild boar, deer and elk in the Maduru Oya National Park are killed and sold.

Trump to secure US rights through tough but fair negotiations

US President-elect Donal Trump is feared by some and extolled by others. He is said to act instinctively, which many favour while others consider to be reckless.

Dear voters, your valuable vote matters the most! - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka has witnessed a number of Parliamentary Elections ever since she gained independence. But in each one of them, voters saw the same faces shuffling between rival political parties in their quest to retain power.

The President and the Media

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently accused certain media institutions of propagating fake news. His grouse was over two incidents of media coverage.

General elections and system change

Campaigning at the General Election has come to an end. So far, whether it be in the north, south, east or west of the country campaigning has been on a low key. Only the NPP-JVP combine has held any mega election rallies.

‘WIN’ urges govt. to address Gender Based Violence

Incidents of Domestic violence (DV), Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and other forms of gender based violence continue to fill police complaint books, reports, studies and other documents as successive governments have failed to provide a solution to this social crisis. The Bureau for the Prevention of Abuse on Women and Children receives around 120,000-130,000 complaints related to domestic and gender based violence annually. So far 13 w

Gurunagar Church bombing – justice must be done even after 31 years

13th November 1993 will be 31 years since bombs were dropped by the Air Force over St. James Catholic Church in Gurunagar, Jaffna.

Memories and message of Fr. Michael Rodrigo

Many will remember Fr. Michael Rodrigo who was also fondly known as Fr. Mike by his community the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and those who closely associated him for the choice he made to be poor among the poor when prestige and position were waiting for him.

How AKD won the presidency in a fourteen fold quantum leap

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake contested the 2019 presidential election under the compass symbol.