E-commerce humbugs!

Social media has become a busy place following the indefinite curfew period. A mushrooming number of delivery services has come forward to serve customers with relief packages at various rates. While some customers have expressed their gratitude for their quick and efficient service, many services have also received negative reviews for overcharging, delayed deliveries and some

Democracy in crisis: avoiding dictatorship

The President on March 2, 2020 by Gazette Extraordinary No. 2165/8 legitimately dissolved Parliament from midnight and fixed April 25, 2020 as the date for the General Election. While the proclamation was legal, it was poorly thought out because it was made well after the COVID-19 outbreak had begun. Passengers at many international airports like Kuwait were being tested for fever before letting them ent

Sri Lanka needs rapid expansion of testing

As we come to the end of the ‘official quarantine’ period and begin to relax the ‘lockdown’ within Sri Lanka but keeping the ‘international lockdown’ in place, we need to look at how the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID -19 behaved in other countries. Based on actual case numbers fr

Cyber trauma is very real

Most of us are now forced to work from home. This is nothing new, at least to some of us, who are used to working from anywhere at any time.

Mirusuvil  Massacre: Accused pardoned; no reparations for victims’ families, say rights groups

Twenty two movements working on issues relating to civic rights, human rights, women’s rights, and a journalist activist organisation have jointly issued a statement expressing....

Coronavirus Diary: Don’t let the COVID-19 beast invade your mind

Like so many bad things, COVID-19 or Novel Coronavirus came across as something abstract, unreal, something which can’t happen to you.

Ramifications of dissolving Parliament

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has issued a brief guide highlighting legal concerns regarding the Government response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka.

Govt., private sector struggling to balance supply-demand equation

In order to encourage social and physical distancing practices, the government took steps to distribute essential food items to households with effect from March 25. For this, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed a taskforce on continuous supply, operation and coordination of services.

‘Flattening the curve’ needs well-networked local interventions

One of the best explanations on COVID-19 I heard was by Dr. Sumedha Jayasena, a Sri Lankan bio-technologist resident in California. His explanation was scientific and covered all aspects of the virus

WHO warns smokers face higher risk of COVID-19

It has been documented that smokers incur a two to four fold increased risk of invasive pneumococcal lung disease, a disease associated with high mortality. The influenza risk is two-fold higher and more severe in smokers compared to nonsmokers. In the case of tuberculosis, smokers have a two-fold increased risk of contracting the infection and a four-fold increased mortality.

One month preparedness to contain coronavirus

As the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, engulfs the world with its cruel tentacles, governments all over are in a dilemma on how to best deal with it. It is a reasonable dilemma because no government in the world has dealt with a health crisis of this magnitude in recent history. Sri Lanka is no exception.

Is Taiwan’s impressive response to COVID-19 possible in Sri Lanka?

Taiwan has never forgotten the nightmare of a 2003 epidemic - SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which devastated many East Asian metropolises. In its wake, Taiwan along with few others doubled down on preparing for any future crisis.

Sri Lanka must ensure China is held accountable:US Lawyer

The coronavirus has killed more than 20,000 people around the world and infected more than 350,000 others, including more than 100 people in Sri Lanka. The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China and began to spread rapidly around the world. As China celebrates the eradication of the virus from its soil, there are growing calls for China to be held accountable for the suffering undergone by so many countries as a result of the virus. A prominent

How Will the TNA fare at Parliamentary Election?

The deadline for the 2020 Parliamentary Elections nominations scheduled for April 25 ended at noon on Thursday, March 19th

COVID-19 outbreak in Sri Lanka: Govt. expands quarantine facilities; prompt decisions vital

Amid 86 people being tested positive at the time this article was penned and 222 others currently undergoing treatment at designated hospitals...

CORONA/ COVID 19 VIRUS –Misleading News and Responsibility of the Public and Government

A responsible Government Medical Officer publicly opined that the situation of corona virus of initial stage of Sri Lanka was worse than Italy. This is not correct comparing Italy and Sri Lanka figures.

Symptoms, treatment and FAQs: COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus

Dr Leong Hoe Nam, infectious disease specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, answers questions you may have on the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. Dr Leong Hoe Nam is an infectious disease specialist practising at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, Singapore.

SL caught between Attitudes and Virus

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa while addressing the nation on Tuesday in view of the current panic over the sudden upsurge in the number of COVID-19 patients in the country said that the Royal-Thomian Big Match organisers had gone ahead with the cricket....

Violence in State-managed Universities

As you know, violence in state universities have been escalating in recent times. What we saw last week at University of Sri Jayawardenapura (where the young person is still battling for life in the ICU) is one grave atrocity amongst many, which have been taking place in all universities. Due to the serious escalation of violence in universities in the past several years, the University Grants Commission steered a study during 2018 to identify

Elections amid CoVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak has affected the everyday lives of people, including those of politicians. With public health concerns increasing, questions are being raised about holding national elections amid the coronavirus spread. Although nomination papers have been signed, candidates contesting the upcoming Parliamentary Elections will be hampered in running their campaigns and holding public meetings, until the crisis subsides. While some leaders h

Covid 19 Outbreak Special Holidays, Drastic Impacts on Economy

As 43 cases have been tested positive for COVID 19 at the time this article was penned Sri Lanka’s health authorities and staff are keeping a close watch on returnees from high risk countries and any foreign countries during the past couple of days. While everybody has been advised to remain indoors and avoid public gatherings, employers and employees employed in

Life in Nuwara Eliya Disrupted

With the discovery of the 34th active Covid-19 positive patient in Sri Lanka, the municipal council of Nuwara Eliya is taking preventive measures and raising awareness seriously. Although the government declared Monday (16) a public holiday, all the essential services including health and other services as well as wholesale and retail shops had been requested to function as per usual.

COVID 19 suggests Sri Lanka needs a taskmaster

There are those who form the opinion that Sri Lanka might have been worse off under the administration of the Yahapalana Government during this Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic.

Virus and the ill-timed Parliamentary election

It does not take much persuasion to convince someone that holding a countrywide snap parliamentary polls on the eve of a global Coronavirus pandemic is a dangerous idea. More so when the local health officials advocate social distancing.

A home filled with companionship

Filled with brightly coloured balloons and music playing in the background, the hall at the Home of Compassion had an air of festivity and cheerfulness about it. As the residents of the home gathered together, the man of the hour, Sellat

How deadly is COVID 19?

Long Wait for Ravi K; his grandfather was arrested in 10 minutes, 58 years ago

Ravi Karunanayake’s eldest daughter Onella posted an emotional plea three years ago on Facebook asking why only her father to be blamed “in such a huge Government?” Ravi K while testifying at the PCoI on Bond scam....

Ranasinghe Premadasa’s “Citizen’s Front” revolt in UNP

“Gedara Hitiya Rosa Kekula Rosa, Rosa” was the opening line of a lilting Baila song in Sinhala that was hugely popular in the seventies of the last century.

Half of the world’s beaches including Sri Lanka’s to disappear during 21st century

A recent a joint research by a leading Dutch based institute, in which a world renowned Sri Lankan scientist too was involved has shown that half of the world’s beaches including Sri Lanka’s would disappear by 2100.

Corona virus: “Prevention is the best way”

Given the present Coronavirus outbreak in some parts of the world we thought it was apt to update readers about the present health concerns associated with the Pandemic. These are some of the most asked questions regarding Coronavirus.