How Ranil Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister again

The first part of the article titled “Ranil Returns: Remarkable Resilience of Premier Wickremesinghe”

Good and bad violence

When pro-government violence begot anti-government violence on May 9, Mahinda Rajapaksa before stepping down as the Prime Minister in a tweet said that violence begets violence.....

Celebrating the life and service of Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera: Adored for his relentless service to Buddhism and Nation

It is indeed a great privilege and honour to pen this article celebrating the life and service of Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera on this landmark occasion of his 72nd birthday, which also happens....

Rashini Ready to Fight Cancer, but needs help

Sri Lanka is officially bankrupt and on the precipice of starvation. Fuel queues, gas queues and all sorts of queues best describe the situation in the crisis-stricken island. But simmering just below the surface looms a health crisis with the potential to upend lives for decades and threaten the feeble social justice pillars of an already crumbling system.

Student’s basic right to education trampled due to ‘hair issue’

Education is a fundamental right guaranteed by the UN Charter and the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Yet, there are many instances in Sri Lanka and elsewhere where this basic right is trampled upon.

Sri Lankans stuck between hunting for essentials and fighting for good governance

Sri Lanka, a tiny South Asian nation of 22 million people, is experiencing financial, economic, and political challenges, all of which....

Food crisis in Sri Lanka From granary of East to barren nation

A damning revelation by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) states that Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be two countries that will have no food during the global food crisis. In terms of Sri Lanka, this was anticipated by farmers, scientists and academics when the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime decided to ban the import of chemical fertilisers. Cou

The danger of Basil Rajapaksa’s rule by proxy

Last week, I wrote that the fate of the Ranil Wickremesinghe government would be placed at the mercy of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a Rajapaksa fiefdom and a grotesque caricature of the old Sri Lankan politics before the ‘Aragalaya’.

Sri Lanka’s Crisis of Representative Democracy

One key issue highlighted by Sri Lanka’s citizen protest movement is the crisis of the country’s representative democracy. It is

Golden republic in mourning

Yesterday (May 22, 2022) marked the country’s golden anniversary as a republic within the British Commonwealth. The republic status was secured in 1972 with the promulgation....

Ranil Returns: Remarkable resilience of Premier Wickremesinghe

Ranil Sriyan Wickremesinghe known as Ranil is in the seat of power again as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the sixth time.

People’s concerns vs. politicians’ concerns

There seems to be a far cry between the aspirations of politicians and the people of this country. This has been very much evidenced during the proceedings of the Parliament where the politicians are always playing their power game, despite them arguing that this is not a time for politicking.

If one cannot strike deals, he is unfit to be a politician - Wajira Abeywardena

United National Party (UNP) Chairman Wajira Abeywardena shares his views on the formation of the new government and the way forward. He is a close confidante of Prime Minister.....

How a little protest grew to a loud people’s roar

Back in 2019 the Sri Lankan citizenry elected the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime with high hopes based on the assurance of establishing national security while placing their trust in his Vistas.....

Continuing economic crisis in Sri Lanka and its far-reaching repercussions for women and girls

Soap, milk, and wheat are just a few of the necessities that are scarce in Sri Lanka. The administration blames the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and global economic downturns, but citizens point to decades of corruption and incompetence. Women are particularly exposed to the effects of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, which includes skyrocketing prices and a scarcity of basic needs.

Hopes regarding fuel, electricity thin as queues suggest darker days

The newly-elected Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe warned Monday that the crisis-stricken nation was down to its final day of petrol and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara urged residents not to join the long lines at petrol stations that have sparked weeks of anti-government rallies.

May Day May Day May Day

The headline given is to focus attention on the significance and importance of the workers day this year, and secondly on the tragic situation employees find themselves in at present as a result of the economic mess Sri Lankans are in.

What’s next for the Sri Lankan Economy?

Monday’s briefing by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was a rude awakening for many across the country. Although several parliamentarians, economists and industry stakeholders....

Who do we subsidize through fuel subsidies?

The economic crisis, the outcome of months of mismanagement by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government. Despite experts and people sounding the alarms over increasing prices and lack of foreign....

“The interim government should operate for one year”- Champika Ranawaka

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Patali Champika Ranawaka in an interview with the Daily Mirror speaks about the new Government and the challenges....

Economic crisis grips low income settlements in Colombo ‘Survival of the fittest’ no more a poor man’s game

Marimuththu Nirmala from Keththarama is widowed with two children. She looks after two patients and earns Rs. 350 a month. Apart from that she receives a charity allowance, but her monthly income is less than Rs. 5000. For people li

Constitutional Reform for ‘System Change’

A peaceful democratic ‘revolution’ is sweeping across Sri Lanka. It is a revolution from below, from the people. It has activated large segments of Sri Lankan people to shed the habits of passive.....

Linus Jayatilake (Sept. 1942 - May 2022): A Comrade of all Working PeopLe

I first met Linus Jayatilake about a decade ago as some of us began engaging trade unions. While I had heard about Linus from my father, meeting Linus at the Commercial and.....

Sri Lanka – In Lee Kuan Yew’s words

Lee Kuan Yew’s views about Sri Lanka have been published in three books, the first is ‘From Third World to First’, the second is ‘Lee Kuan Yew -The man and his ideas’ and the third is ‘Giants of Asia - Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew’.

The Three Universal Truths in Buddhism

Buddhism is a moral and philosophical system, which expounds a unique path of enlightenment, and it is mainly aimed at liberating human beings from suffering.

RECOVERY OF STOLEN ASSETS – Part II

Another important legislation is the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law, No. 1 of 1975, as amended. In terms of this law,

RECOVERY OF STOLEN ASSETS – Part I

The “#gotagohome” campaign that started a few weeks back demanding the President to step down from office, was escalated....

‘GotaGoGama’ rises through ashes after Monday’s nightmare

A half burned down tent standing on plastic pillars, heaps of rubble from the aftermath on May 9 piled in various corners were signs....

MR’s parting shot of violence at the Galle Face Prime Minister leaves office only after almost setting the country on fire

By the time of this writing, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly submitted his resignation. Assuming he does not recant his decision for yet another time, he might be leaving the office, but only after coming almost close t

Pro-Rajapaksa supporters attack peaceful Galle Face Green Sponsored violence ensures black day for protesters

Yesterday (May 9) marked a month since the Galle Face Green transformed into a mass protest site. However, it took only a matter of hours for pro-Rajapaksa supporters to not only destroy tents that were put up in front of Temple Trees and Galle Fac