‘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.

It is immature to depend on one person to solve country’s problem - Imthiaz Bakeer Markar

One of the most experienced politicians in the country and Chairman of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Imthiaz Bakeer Markar says that his party has prepared the plan to get the country out of the present crisis and place it on the right track and for that the party has the most experienced, talented, innovative and young team.

“My vision is to create a society where women and children are free from abuse, exploitation” - Apsari Tillakaratne

Apsari Singhabahu Tillakaratne, wife of former Sri Lankan cricketer Hashan Tillakaratne, who is contesting the upcoming Parliamentary Elections from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) in the Colombo District, opens up about her decision to enter politics in an exclusive interview with Daily Mirror.

Colombo has issues from housing to urban poverty – Ravindra Udayashantha

Former Mayor of Kolonnawa Ravindra Udayashantha has entered the fray to contest under an independent party at the upcoming Parliamentary Elections.

“Peoples verdict against Ranil , not justifiable” - Nimal Lanza

Nimal Lanza, a candidate contesting the general election under the gas cylinder symbol, speaks to The Daily Mirror about the current status of the economy, and what lies ahead.

“We must reclaim power from corrupted political and business elites’’ - Swasthika Arulingam (PSA)

Passed out as a lawyer from the Colombo Law College and having two Master-LLM from the University of Colombo and a LLM and Development as a Chevening Scholar at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, young activist Swastika Arulingam was a prominent figure in the Aragalaya (Protest) which toppled the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government.

The Second Coming of Trump: Prospects for war and peace

Although foreign policy was the least concern of the American voters, it is one of the most talked-about topics outside the United States in the afterglow of Republican powerhouse Donald Trump’s decisive victory over Democratic blowhard Kamala Harris.

The vibe that a regime creates!

Sri Lanka is an island, hence its citizens have to get accustomed to the influences of outsiders who set foot in here.

Was Israeli intelligence the target of speculated Arugam Bay attack?

However, the government of President J.R.Jayewardene resumed relations with Israel and received expertise knowledge on war and logistics when the civil war in the island triggered off. Israel had provided expertise on construction works for the Mahaweli project. Bilateral relations with Israel culminated in setting up of the Israel Interest Section in Sri Lanka.

Legal action to be filed against those who defamed Ravi and Shani

Plans are afoot to file legal actions within the next few days against those who were involved in defaming former Rtd.

People feel Wickremesinghe will come back to revive the economy if it collapses -Ruwan Wijewardene

UNP Deputy Leader and New Democratic Front Gampaha District Candidate Ruwan Wijewardene spent some of his busy time with the Daily Mirror to talk about the upcoming General Election where he said people still have some faith in the previous administration headed by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe despite the defeat at the recently concluded Presidential Election.

How Anura Scented the Sweet Smell of Success in 2024 Presidential Race

The Presidential election of November 2019 and the Parliamentary elections of August 2020 proved to be huge disappointments to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD).

“I want to share my experience with the young generation” - Ranil Willaddarage

A new face entering the Parliamentary Elections as a candidate of the New Democratic Front is Ranil Willaddarage, Managing Director of the popular clothing brand GFlock.

“Absolute power has failed all leaders” -Milinda Rajapaksha

Even though the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) faced a major defeat during the last Presidential Elections, many of its members have entered the fray to contest for a seat at the upcoming Parliamentary Elections, scheduled for November 14.

How planning ahead can reduce disaster risk and support faster recovery

The rains have come again hard, causing flooding, landslides, and displacement, wreaking havoc on already vulnerable populations.

‘Protecting Sri Lanka’s endemic species’ against lucrative and illegal global demands

The Embilipitiya Magistrate Court recently imposed an unprecedented fine of Rs. 116 million on two Russians who were caught while collecting specimens at the Sinharaja UNESCO World Heritage Site and Horton Plains National Park. Having arrested the two individuals following a tip-off the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) officials discovered over 230 specimens in the possession of these Russians.

Threat of Islamist extremism is real, don’t play politics with it

For the last couple of years since the tragic Easter Sunday attacks, some sections of the Catholic church led by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and civil society groups have been wanting us to believe that nine Islamist suicide terrorists, having pledged allegiance to the transnational Salafi Jihad terrorist group, Islamic State, blew themselves up killing 250 locals church goers and foreign tourists in order to bring to power an ardent Sinhala Buddhis

Why does Canada want to restrict immigration?

The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on October 23, that Canada will “significantly” reduce the number of new immigrants.

‘Shoot the Messenger’ or ‘Shoot Yourself in the Foot’?

Last Wednesday, we exposed Udaya Gammanpila when he attempted to embarrass the government and garner some attention to himself, along with the government’s response to his claims.

Anura Dissanayake and the Formation of the National People’s Power

This is the fourth part of an extended article focusing on Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. In the first part of this article, the early years of Anura’s eventful life were delved into in some detail. In the second part, AKD’s steady growth as a political leader within the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was related to some extent. In the third part, Anura’s rise to the leadership position of the JVP was recounted.