How I Went on a Hunger Strike in CID Custody on the 4th Floor

As stated last week, the CID director DIG Bennet Perera showed me the letter written by Defence Secretary Gen. Sepala Attygalle instructing the Police to question me for information regarding the murder of four Rupavahini employees in Jaffna.

Unending electoral reforms

President Ranil Wickremesinghe through a Gazette Notice on October 16 appointed a nine-member Commission headed by former Chief Justice Priyasath Dep to make recommendations on electoral reforms.

Do we have a plan to repay our foreign debt? - EDITORIAL

It never rains but pours, the age-old adage goes. On April 21, 2019, terrorists carried out a heinous attack on innocents at three churches and tourist hotels in Sri Lanka. The attack killed over 250 civilians and included a number of foreigners. The tourist industry which had just begun to raise its head in the aftermath of the ethnic conflict took a hard hit.

Is justice so far away from cries of victims of grave sexual abuse?

On October 13, the Kumbukgete Police Station had received a complaint with regards to an incident of grave sexual abuse. The victim is a 15-year old girl. She had become the victim in this unfortunate....

Crafty lawmakers and the ‘gap’ they maintain - EDITORIAL

Politics in this country is represented through the gap between those who have and the ones who don’t. This is the reality whether we like it or not. Occasionally we’ve heard stories about less affluent...

Israel, Western media normalise psychopathic behaviour

How many Palestinian children should die before the West and its mollycoddled ally, Israel, feel sated to call for a ceasefire? One-third of the more than 3,000 Palestinian casualties...

Using Media and Information is going forward, not backward

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) government are taking practical steps to reduce the debt burden and strengthen the country’s economy, but the cost of living is soaring sky-high and millions of poor or middle-class people finding it difficult to obtain proper meal and provide for their healthcare, education and travel needs. Till the economy is strengthened, the government is planning to introduce bills to

Non-alignment in today’s world order: Sri Lanka’s foreign policy

Sri Lankan should carry out the concept of which there is bipartisan agreement, where Sri Lanka stays out of and opposes any attempt to bifurcate Asia, and we go along to ensure peace and stability in our region.”

The BRI and overcoming the debt crisis

Following the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, our economy experienced a steady decline. The subsequent outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation. A number of silly mistakes made by past leaders -like the sudden ban on the import of fertilisers without a plan to meet the disruption- ended any hope of recovery. A while later the country declared itself bankrupt and chaos took over. In turn, it resulted in Premier Mahinda resigning an

Better prospects of human rights under a parliamentary system

According to media reports, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe are discussing the prospect of replacing the Executive Presidential system with a Westminster-style parliamentary system before the next Presidential election in 2024. They are also contemplating a parliament with 160 of the 225 members directly elected under the First Past the Post (FPP) system and 65 elected under the Proportional Representatio

Will Online Safety Bill crush virtual freedom of expression?

The Online Safety Bill gazetted on September 18 and tabled in Parliament by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles has come under much scrutiny by media groups, rights activists and civil society organizations. Some of the concerns raised regarding the Bill include vague definitions and the fact that a gamut of offences, which already exist in the Penal Code, have been included in this new Bill with higher penalties. Many policy analysts observe th

WILL SRI LANKA HONOUR UNCRC RECOMMENDATIONS ON RIGHTS OF CHILDREN?

Three decades after ratifying the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the treaty signed by the largest number...

Can committees eradicate ragging? - EDITORIAL

State Minister for Higher Education Dr. Suren Ragavan had said on last Wednesday that his ministry has decided to monitor university...

Proposed changes to electoral system – sincere effort or ploy - EDITORIAL

In the Middle East earth-shaking events are unfolding. Israel seems bent on getting rid of the Palestinians. In the early 20th century.....

Analyzing the LACK of modesty, humour and diplomacy in politics

Comedy serves various functions in politics. In addition to offering relief during tough times, it can emphasize a politician’s authenticity....

How I was Arrested by the CID and Detained on the 4th Floor

Thirty-six years ago in October 1987, I was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Office on the fourth floor of the Police Secretariat in Fort, Colombo.

Is crossover always bad?

The notion that the recent ruling by the Supreme Court that upheld the expulsion of former Environment Minister Nazeer Ahmad Zainulabdeen from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has set a new precedent is a misconception.

The Galle Dialogue and a defining moment in world order

Speaking at the Galle Dialogue on 12 October 2023, President Wickremesinghe spoke on the new emerging order. What he questioned, is the new emerging order, after the Hamas attack on Israel.

WARS, targeting civilians and the killing fields in Palestine

Targeting civilians in war is an international crime. The reality however is that war is all about killing. While we all pay lip service to the sacredness of civilian life, civilians become the first victims of war. During the dying days of World War II the US nuclear-bombed two civilian targets in Japan - Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS BY THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHOIR 2023

The Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped is excited to announce their choir (comprising of talented visually impaired singers) is now available for bookings in the 2023 Christmas season. The choir members are eagerly looking forward to bringing their special brand of festive cheer to corporates, hotels and homes.

Remembering a Buddhist scholar, author, and teacher with gratitude

The third death anniversary of veteran author and Buddhist scholar Wijesiri Wettimuny fell on September 16,2023. Even though I got to know him towards the latter part of his life, the little time I spent with him was spent quite meaningfully and I gained a lot of knowledge from associating with him.

Edith Cowan University honours Dr. Rosh Jalagge with Prestigious Honorary Doctorate

Edith Cowan University conferred an Honorary Doctorate upon Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Western Australia Dr. Rosh Jalagge in recognition of his outstanding service-based entrepreneurial achievements and remarkable philanthropic contributions as the CEO/Founder of the Roshana Care Group.

Jackson; a dictionary too heavy to carry! - EDITORIAL

The passing away of artiste Jackson Anthony (65) not only leaves a void for such a character in the film industry, it also makes us delve into his life and times to study areas about this giant of a man....

Part terrorism, part resistance: Palestinian freedom struggle at crossroads

As Israel continues to pound the Gaza Strip and terrorise some 2.3 million besieged Palestinian people since Saturday in response to what it calls a terror attack by Hamas resistance fighters, what comes...

Zoned Out: Export ambitions hindered by land limitations

The experiences of East Asian and Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, show that foreign direct investment (FDI) into export-oriented sectors is critical to accelerate growth in manufactured exports. But, compared to these countries, Sri Lanka has a poor track record of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). The total yearly FDI inflows into Sri Lanka have remained below USD 1 billion for decades. In contrast, d

Development: Mobilisation of Public Opinion

In Sri Lanka, while President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government are expectantly waiting for the second tranche of the International Monetary Fund(IMF) assistance, various development plans are being finalized and the authorities need to ensure that the people are given fair, accurate and balanced information. Some print media groups and television channels appear to be biased and over-critical. They highl

Laying conspiracy theories of the Easter Sunday bombings to rest

On 21 April 2019 (Easter Sunday) suicide bombers exploded their deadly cargo of bombs at churches and five star hotels in Colombo. Within hours it became known the bombers were radicalised local Muslim fanatics. It was also a time that anti Muslim feelings were running high in the country. Unsurprisingly the Muslim community feared they would become the target of retaliatory mob attacks. With emotions high, it was feared a bloodbath could take pl

Moral Relativism: Does the depredation of Israeli occupation justify the depravity of the Hamas Attack?

“If you can look at the situation in Palestine and not be on the side of Palestinians, then you are on the wrong side of apartheid, and history will show that in time,” she posted. It is this moral question that many who are outraged at the depravity of the Hamas attack on Israel during the weekend encounter as they survey beyond the carnage – though the depredation of the Israeli occupation in no way justifies the singular callousness of the sla

Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean in Antiquity

A land known by many a name to the World Systems located to the East and West of this island, its history is essentially a story of trans-oceanic connectivity. It is a story of how this island came to evolve its unique personality due to the convergence of multiple streams of people, cultures, languages, religions, ethnicities and technologies. It also represents a vibrant dynamic of authentic multiple histories of the Sri Lankan mosaic. The hist

“Grid connectivity with India all the more important” - Chartered Professional Engineer Dammika Nanayakkara

Chartered Professional Engineer Dammika Nanayakkara in an interview with the Daily Mirror emphasised the importance of grid connectivity...