Wounded protesters push for justice through blood, sweat and pain

Today (June 9) marks two months since the Galle Face protest began and a month since peaceful protesters in front of Temple Trees and at the Galle Face Green were attacked.

Drug shortage: Whose fault is it?

National Medicines Regulatory Authority does not directly buy medicines, says Dr Ananda Wijewickrama

PROS AND CONS OF LIFTING BAN ON OIL PALM CULTIVATION Experts differ over environmental issues

On June 2, the Palm Oil Industry Association of Sri Lanka (POIASL) appealed to the government to allow the cultivation of oil palm to boost the economy, save forex and increase employment. But the Sri Lankan scientific community may oppose it as it did in a report in 2018. The POIASL told the gov

“Que Sera Sera”: Doris Day’s Song of Cheerful Fatalism

The first part of my article on Ranil’s return was published in the “Daily Mirror”of May 21st 2022. In that I made a brief reference to the song “Que Sera Sera” sung by the American singer com actress Doris Day. This was in the context of speculation about Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political future. This is what I wrote then – “However as Doris Day sang in ‘The man who knew too much’ movie- “Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be.”

Battled with life, double battle against desperate economic crisis

Desperate times require desperate measures... it is with heavy heart that I am making this request on behalf of Akshu as I know that all of you are struggling to obtain fuel staying in long....

Tough lessons

On a rainy night on May 24, 18-year-old Rizam comes home from an exhausting day of work. He had been assigned for the day to help out in getting a stock count of the goods at the local supermarket he works at. After dinner, he retreats to his room to catch up on the online A/L revision class he had missed for the day. His friend had sent him the recording.

Is the 21st A another political farce?

On April 21 Sri Lanka’s Main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) presented the draft 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill.....

Cracking minds

As Sri Lanka is going through a growing economic crisis, losing jobs, changes in income, lack of essentials, and difficulties in affording.....

Unpopular opinion: Gota pushed the failing economy down the precipice Perhaps someone had to break it to fix it

Some Parliamentarians are calling for the appointment of a commission of inquiry to hold those responsible for the current economic crisis. The worst-ever economic crisis since independence has already created cascading effects of looming hunger, shortage

Our home grown democracy begins now

May 9, year 2022, when mobs loyal to outgoing Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa made the biggest political blunder of recent times by attacking the peaceful protest site of GotaGoGama, Galle Face....

Murder of a 9-year old child in Atulugama: Sri Lanka weeps over the 14th child murdered within 20 months

Details of a 9-year old missing child from Atulugama, Bandaragama went viral on social media since Friday afternoon. In a tragic turn of events, the child’s body was recovered from a marshland near.....

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....