The COVID-19 pandemic; Why did the world fail to prevent it ?

The world is struggling to survive a viral holocaust. According to the World Health Organisation, as of 11th April, there were 1,524,161 confirmed cases and 92,941 deaths in 213 countries and territories. United States, Spain, Italy, Germany,

COVID-19 dissects religious gene; exposes myth For how long can we hurt nature?

The short answer is, there are no almighty, omnipotent, omnipresent gods in Buddha Dhamma, but plenty in “Buddhism”, burrowed from other religious beliefs, mainly of Hindu origins.

Preparing for an exit strategy

As people continue to be testing positive for COVID-19 health officials are keeping a close watch on the numbers.

Politics of Postponing Parliamentary Elections Amid a Pandemic

The world including Sri Lanka is undergoing a pandemic crisis of colossal proportions. The Island nation however is in double jeopardy as it is in the grip of two crises simultaneously.

Protecting human rights while preventing terrorism

The arrest and detention of lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) has drawn protest from sections of the local and international legal community. Mr Hizbullah was arrested on April 14 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as part of ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter bombings. A total 197 suspects have been arrested so far.

Politics riding the crest of a COVID-19 wave

We understand why the National Elections Commission (NEC) indefinitely postponed the general election that was scheduled for April 25 -- it was nothing but the heightening of the COVID-19 threat.

Curfew relaxed, people tense Practical issues and health concerns nag public

The Government’s moves to relax curfew in most areas on Monday, April 20, drew a varied public response. While long queues were seen at liquor shops, many buses were packed with commuters, despite guidelines on physical distancing.

The curious case of @ChinaEmbSL

On the eve of Avurudu last week, a relatively obscure Twitter account became the focal point in Sri Lanka’s tweets sphere.

Honouring the Victims of April 21, 2019 Through Togetherness & Unity

Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the Easter Sunday attacks, in which eight IS terrorists senselessly murdered 269 Catholic and Christian worshippers and tourists, shattering our collective sense of unity and togetherness. Fa

One year on, mixed reactions from Katuwapitiya

Grief-stricken survivors of the Easter Sunday attacks do not want to recall the horrific event. A year later, life is at a standstill for some, while others are trying to give life a second chance. Claiming

Families hit by Kochchikade attack feel helpless and hopeless

The second worst affected church in the 2019 Easter terror attacks was St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo. According to the figures compiled by the Catholic Church, there were 57 deaths among those who attended the Easter mass, and a total 119 families were left feeling helpless and hopeless due to deaths and injuries caused to worshipers. The victims were not just those fr

Zion Church Batticaloa: Many questions, no answers

The trauma and heartache of the Batticaloa Zion Church attack was compounded by the fact that most of the victims were either children or youth. The bomb had initially claimed 26 lives, including 14 children. But this figure rose to 31 within months, as six more serious cases, including one child, succumbed to their injuries. This is despite concerted efforts by medical teams in the Batticaloa, Kandy and Anuradhapura hospitals who pooled their re

A year since the Easter Sunday attack; some lessons from the tragedy

A year ago, at 8.25 a.m. on this day, Alawdeen Ahamed Muaath, a 22-year-old law graduate turned suicide terrorist detonated an explosive-filled rucksack amid a throng of Easter Sunday worshipers praying at St Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade. The explosion killed more than 50 people and wounded scores more. Within the next hour, multiple coordinated suicide attacks ripped through the chu

Despite Covid-19, can Sri Lanka conduct safe elections like South Korea?

Sri Lanka’s Election Commission, comprising former Commissioner of Elections Mahinda Deshapriya, retired Legal Draftsman Nalin Abeyesekera PC and Ex-Jaffna.....

China lied, people died: media platforms rage against COVID-19 cover-up

With the COVID-19 pandemic plunging the world into chaos, sections of the international media have criticized the Chinese government for allegedly covering-up the ‘truth’ about the dangers of the deadly virus that has already killed over 148,000people and afflicted over 2.2 million worldwide.

Fraudulent e-commerce vendors Scamming for a few bucks more

The indefinite curfew paved the way for a chaotic panic buying episode by Sri Lankans. Communication channels were jammed,

The New Poor

Increasing unemployment following the COVID-19 pandemic will create a new class of poor. Governments cannot respond the same way they did following the 2007 Great Recession.

Unsafe Homes: Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 Response Must Address Violence Towards Women and Children

Since March 20, islandwide curfew has been a key strategy to control the transmission of COVID-19. During this period, over 21 million people have been confined to their homes and other places of residence.

Stranded Sri Lankan undergrads seek attention

As India this week extended a nationwide curfew till May 3, Sri Lankan students stranded all over India have appealed to the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to take them back home.

Desperate Sri Lankans highlight Chennai nightmare

Over 40 Sri Lankans stranded at Chennai, India are desperately urging President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government to help them return to the island as they are without food, money or proper lodging facilities where they are now.

Sri Lanka working round the clock to ensure safety of citizens stranded overseas: Namal

A little over a month ago, Sri Lanka detected its first local COVID-19 infected patient, leading to more cases eventually being reported from across the country.

A Looming Constitutional Crisis, Courtesy Covid-19

Sri Lanka is fighting hard, to the best of all its citizens’ abilities, to deal with the current global pandemic caused by the coronavirus. To its credit, Sri Lanka seems to be comparatively doing well.

Govt.’s special relief schemes more benefitting the non-poor

World economies are already handicapped. The impact of COVID-19 is greatly felt by the Sri Lankan economy as well. However, despite its massive debt burden, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) recently announced multiple relief schemes for various beneficiaries.

COVID 19 and Bio-Politics: The Emergence of Tyranny

Much has been written about the coronavirus and its impact on global communities. Almost every continent in the world has been affected by the viral infection and millions of people....

Economic fallout of COVID-19

While the government’s response to COVID-19 may have shielded Sri Lanka from a major loss of life, the imminent large-scale economic fallout will be harder to prevent.

COVID-19: An alternate perspective in uncharted waters

It is said, “If you can stay positive in a negative situation, you win.” The population of the World is 7.6+billion. Therein, the population of South and South East Asia is 2.5+billion or nearly 33%.

COVID-19: Protect the protectors

Going by some of the malicious comments posted by a section of society on social media over the spread of COVID-19, they seem to believe rashness is a legacy of a particular community. If one compiles a list of causes of the rapid worldwide spread of the pandemic, recklessness on part of the people in every country might be the first among them.

Politics during a crisis Can COVID-19 change this system?

There are many positives that have come about due to the present Coronavirus despite there being no signs of the day we can move about freely again. One of those good signs is that the president of the country has got closer to the people thanks to the efforts he had taken to marshall the employees of serving his ‘force’.

COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka ‘Help us to help you’ request medics

As more patients continue to be diagnosed with COVID-19, strict warnings have been issued for those who are afraid to disclose their travel histories or signs of suspected symptoms.

Indefinite curfew: Vulnerable segments require more attention

The world is mourning. Sri Lanka too is in a critical state as two lives were already claimed by the killer coronavirus or COVID-19.