Will life end at 40 for comatose SAARC?

Not many Gen Alpha, and even a good segment of Gen Z, can connect themselves with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC, as the now dormant and once vibrant and kicking grouping is entering its 40th year, with hardly any celebrations to mark the 40th Charter Day on December 8, except a reception hosted in Kathmandu by the SAARC’s Secretary General.

Indo-Lanka ties intact, tightrope walk ahead for Sino-Lanka ties

In the overall context, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to India can be viewed as reaffirmation of the already existing blueprint for furtherance of bilateral relations.

AMAN Dialogue 2025 aims to foster collaboration among maritime nations - Adm. Ashraf

As a vital maritime corridor, the Indian Ocean faces increasing geopolitical and environmental challenges. Bordered by 38 littoral states, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) features a diverse population with varying races, religions and civilizations. As a maritime state, Pakistan has taken a keen interest to ensure regional maritime security through various operations such as the Regional Maritime Security Patrol and the AMAN Naval exercise hosted b

Anawilundawa ANRM Project: Where people, nature thrive hand in hand with mangroves

Located in between Chilaw and Puttalam is a pristine sanctuary that is now home to many flora and fauna.

A plea for national consensus to resolve Sri Lanka’s human-elephant conflict

In Sri Lanka, humans and elephants are finding themselves closer than ever before, sharing land in ways that are often dangerous and costly.

LTTE Political Strategist Anton Balasingham: A Personal Account.

The current controversy surrounding Speaker Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala’s higher educational qualifications evoke memories of an earlier controversy of a similar nature concerning a prominent person associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE).

Illegal cultivations put Nilgala Forest in jeopardy

Uva Pathanbima, which includes the Nilgala Forest, one of the four unique ecological zones native to Sri Lanka, has yet to be gazetted as a protected forest.

Tour guides should adopt new technology to promote tourism- WFTGA Ambassador

Amid the vibrant beats of traditional drums, spirited dancers, and the echo of conch shells unique to Sri Lanka, Maricar Donato, the Global Brand Ambassador of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA), received a warm and ceremonial welcome from the Sri Lanka Institute of National Tour Guide Lecturers (SLINTGL) on December 3, 2024.

Environmental groups demand Lalkantha to withdraw statement on wild animals

The NPP’s environmental policy envisions a ‘sustainable environment that ensures the healthy existence of biodiversity’.

Warning for patients! Medical procurement issues cause shortage of over 300 vital medicines

Hospital sources across the island have confirmed a severe shortage of medicines in many hospitals in the country.

Premier Tamil party ITAK is on top in Batticaloa but down in Jaffna

“Mata Allanda Bariwune,Madakkalappuwa vitharai” (I was unable to capture only Batticaloa) were the words with which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake smilingly greeted “Mattakkalappu” MP Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam in Parliament on November 21. The president was mingling with the parliamentarians at the inaugural session of the tenth parliament. Anura was of course alluding to the November 14 parliamentary election in which the AKD

Makkah pilgrimage that never happened Reflecting on ‘Martinair’ 50 years after the plane crash

The most terrible plane crash in Sri Lanka which featured the Dutch Martinair DC8 aircraft and took place on December 4, 1974 marks 50 years today.

The death of Deega Danthu II Authorities in a race against time to reduce Elephant Deaths By Electrocution

The death of Deega Danthu II, an iconic tusker that roamed around Kala Wewa, Balalu Wewa and adjacent jungles in Kekirawa has sparked serious concerns about interventions taken by authorities including the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) to conserve and protect these majestic species.

Battling HIV/AIDS Through Awareness and Action

Resonating with the health and welfare of over 39.9 million HIV patients living globally, World AIDS Day, marked on December 01 every year is a timely reminder reflecting on the importance of raising awareness and prevention of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

“Ours isn’t a leftist Govt, but one of leftist, democratic and progressive forces’’- Tilvin Silva General Secretary of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna

Tilvin Silva, the General Secretary of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the core base of National People’s Power (NPP), shares his views on the government’s way forward and responds to social media criticism on his participation at ABBA Tribute Concert during an interview with the Daily Mirror.

A Missed Opportunity Dr. Harsha could have been the ideal Opposition Leader

A coalition that previously held only three seats in Parliament has achieved a sweeping victory in Sri Lanka’s recent parliamentary elections. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP) coalition now controls over two-thirds of the legislature; a historic outcome unprecedented in the history of the Sri Lanka parliament. This political shift positions the leftist alliance to implement widespread policy changes, potential

Jaffna victory is the prized jewel in NPP electoral crown

The Anura “Alai” or wave that engulfed the Tamil nationalist stronghold of Jaffna was the focus of this column published last week.

JVP Reforms, a Template for SJB : NPP Seals Ranil’s IMF Pact

Time waits for no one. Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle, the Dutch-American villager, fell into a deep sleep and awoke 20 years later to find a transformed world.

Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Flood Rescue Capabilities

Sri Lanka’s extensive river network makes it highly vulnerable to flooding, worsened by rising rainfall intensity.

‘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.

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.

‘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.

“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

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.

‘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

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.

EPDP ready to cooperate with govt, final decision will depend on outcome of polls - Douglas Devananda

With the campaign period of the general election drawing to a close, the political parties are busy wrapping up propaganda activities.

“It will be a National Govt. if we win,” - Dr. Harsha de Silva

Seasoned politician, economist and an academic Dr. Harsha de Silva who is contesting from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) from the Colombo District warns the National People’s Power (NPP) government that it should not be acting up to follow the IMF programme with regard to the debt crisis just to please the international lender.

Only Ranil Wickremesinghe can revive the economy - Former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne

Former Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne says that it is only the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe that can review the country’s economy but not any other leader.