POLICE ON TRIAL: Exercising Authority without Accountability

Although armed with the power of the State and empowered to use force against ordinary citizens, Police is accountable like any organization or any ordinary citizen.

Corporal punishment in schools: discipline or abuse?

Corporal punishment in schools is often perceived as an effective way to discipline children, but such cruel approaches have many detrimental impacts on the physical and psychological well-being of a child.

Downfall and death of LTTE’s Mahathaya

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ceased to exist as a functioning entity after its military defeat on the shores of Nandhikkadal lagoon in May 2009.

‘Fuel industry has to be regulated to win public’s trust’ - PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake -

From announcing the countrywide hourly power cuts to increasing the electricity tariffs in places of worship, from monitoring the purchasing....

Rishi Sunak; why SL did not have a Tamil or Muslim as President?

Britain now has a British Asian, Hindu Prime Minister, though Rishi Sunak is whiter than White in his policies and richer than the Brit

How and why MGR launched ADMK 50 years ago

17 October 1972 was a Tuesday. Fifty years ago on that auspicious day, a new political party was launched in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Chinese Investment in Sea Cucumber Farm in Sri Lanka also a Threat to Indian Security?

Barrel-shaped Holothuroidea, commonly known as sea cucumbers are part of a larger animal group called echinoderms, which also contains starfish and sea urchins.

How Sri Lanka could prevent more of her children from becoming malnourished

Amitabh Bachchan: Evergreen Emperor of Hindi cinema turns 80

Well-known Hindi film actor Amitabh Bachchan celebrated his eightieth birthday on October 11. The veteran thespian continues to be active,

Maskeliya estate community: Bearing the brunt of the crisis

With Sri Lanka facing the worst socio-economic crisis since independence in 1948, many sections of the society feel the impact of the crisis.....

MHM Ashraff; From Muslim Leader to National Statesman

On the fateful morning of 16th September 2000, Mohammed Hussein Muhammad Ashraff(MHM Ashraff) boarded a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Mi-17 helicopter at the Police grounds in Bambalapitiya.

Invisible hand controlling the SLPP - Prof. G.L Peiris

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) came out with a bang when it was formed and eventually grabbed power. However, the alliance recently.....

Sri Lanka’s 60 Shades of White

Parliamentarians—so-called supreme legislators—wear white, the colour of peace and purity. But how many of them actually behave as such? In November, 2018, Sri Lankans and the whole world witnessed one of the worst and most disgraceful breakdowns of discipline by lawmakers.

To benefit of our next generation We must conserve our environment

There is no doubt that the economic crisis which Sri Lanka is facing at the moment has become a fully grown political crisis and a humanitarian emergency.

How shortsighted and greedy Govts. destroyed agriculture

According to the latest World Bank assessment Sri Lanka ranks fifth among countries with the highest food price inflation. UNESCO recently announced that Sri Lanka has the sixth-highest and second highest rate of malnutrition among children in the world and in Asia respectively. The United States Congress said that an estimated 60% of Sri Lankans skip one out of t

The Queen: End of a long-ended era - and new world order

The Queen is dead. With her, the Second Elizabethan era came to an end. During her Seventy years on the throne, the world has changed beyond recognition; she might well have felt as if she had time travelled. A

I was not trying to run away - Dhaniz Ali

September 9 marks five months since the protest campaign to oust the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa began at Galle Face. Tear gas and water.....

The next aragalaya  will take the form of a guerrilla battle: Ranjan Ramanayake

Former parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake was imprisoned for a period of one year and seven months following his remarks on alleged corruption among lawyers. He was released on August 26, 2022,

Bringing back the tourists

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said that tourist arrivals had marked an increase from June to July, with 47,293 tourists arriving in Sri Lanka in July.

Pop Singer A. E. Manoharan Flopped as a Film Actor

Blessed are those Sri Lankans who have lived in different parts of the country, travelled widely within its borders and interacted with all people cutting across ethnic and religious barriers during times of peace and tranquillity in the past. Those who have had such broad experiences unsullied by narrow sectarianism know that the Island is truly “God’s own country” populated by friendly, good-natured people.

Appapillai Amirthalingam From Enfant Terrible to Elder Statesman

Friday August 26th was the 95th birth anniversary of well-known Sri Lankan Tamil political leader and one-time leader of the opposition Appapillai Amirthalingam.

Colombo’s deferral of the port of call by Chinese ship Is an act of irrational appeasement?

Small countries cannot insulate themselves from the systemic forces of a great power rivalry unfolding in their neighbourhood. But, with a little bit of common sense, they can make sure that they would not become willing captives of that competitive power dynamic. Howeve

JVP Support Surges with the Collapse of the Economy and the Gotabaya Presidency

The street protests and the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on July 14 was accompanied by a collapse in support for the ruling parties. The nation faces critical economic and political choices, but this did not lead to public consensus about whom to support. That is now changing, with the NPP/JVP emerging as the most popular cho

Wickremesinghe, Alahapperuma and the 2022 Presidential Election

Leon Trotsky famously observed, “Politics is more like algebra than like elementary arithmetic, and still more like higher rather than elementary mathematics”. The recent election of President Ranil Wickremesinghe by Sri Lankan members of Parliament appears to be an illustrative example of Trotsky’s statement about Politics being more like Algebra than Arithmetic.

Govt. repeals draconian clauses under Emergency Regulations

The passage of the Emergency Regulations by an overwhelming majority has been frowned upon by fractions of the legal fraternity and rights activists.

Versatile Filmmaker Vasantha Obeysekera’s “Dadayama” (The Hunt)

Devoting the first Saturday article of each month to a film, film personality or film-related topic is a practice being followed by this column in recent times.

Tamil Parties Must Urge Full Implementation of 13A

Last week’s article was about the guerilla war fought by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the Indian Army in the Trincomalee district.

July 22 attacks and future of Aragalaya : Can the Aragalaya survive amidst suppressive measures by the state?

Having achieved its primary objective of ousting an Executive President- who couldn’t deliver his promises- the protesters at the Galle Face Green decided to withdraw from the Presidential Secretariat and Gate Zero on July

How Kumar Gunaratnam alias “Gemunu” Fought  against the Indian Army

The India – Sri Lanka Accord was signed by former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and ex-Sri Lanka president Junius Richard (JR) Jayewardene on July 29,

FSP Leader Kumar Gunaratnam and his “Aragalaya”

“Gota Go Home” was the clarion call around which the people launched their “Aragalaya” or Struggle. It has achieved its primary goal.