One of the highlights of the Galle Literary Festival yesterday was the presentation by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, who is known as the Gaza Doctor. He captured hearts and headlines around the world when he wrote the international best-seller ‘I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey’ in the aftermath of the horrific tragedy where three of his daughters and a niece were killed by an Israeli tank shell during the 2009 Gaza war. Former US President and Nobel Peace Laureate Jimmy Carter said Dr. Abuelaish in his book had expressed a remarkable commitment to forgiveness and reconciliation that described the foundation for a permanent peace in the Holy Land. Pic by Indika Handuwala
A group of 161 foreign nationals, who are in Sri Lanka to preach the virtues of Islam to Muslims, have been ordered to leave the country. “The group which arrived in different batches has violated their visa status,” Immigration and Emigration Controller Chulananda Perera told the Sunday Times. He said visas were granted to them to visit Sri Lanka as tourists.
The Government will spend US$ 6 million (around Rs. 684 million) to overhaul three Chinese-built combat aircraft as part of modernization plans for the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).
Sri Lankan authorities are considering a possible arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) where the balance dues from the US$2.6 billion facility could be drawn at a later stage, officials said.
British novelist Salman Rushdie pulled out of India's largest literary festival, saying he feared assassination after his participation was opposed by senior Muslim clerics.“I have now been informed by intelligence sources... that paid assassins from the Mumbai underworld may be on their way to eliminate me,” the Indian-born writer said in a statement read by the producer of the Jaipur Literature Festival,
When she grasps her AK47 in her hands, Natalie Chinniah finds herself in her comfort zone.“I’m a lady in a man’s world,” says the half Sri Lankan, half English 29 year old, referring to her seven years of training and service in the British Military.
We know that we have been here before. Have seen the same faces and shared the same experiences. It may be the result of Sri Lanka being a small country. A few moons ago, Asantha de Mel and his band of selectors were done away with and the task was given to Aravinda de Silva and co.
A top level delegation of Toastmasters International (TMI) including the organization’s Executive Director, Mr. Daniel Rex and Managing Director - Communication & Development, Ms. Sally Cohen; District Governor of Japan BunzoSuzili; District Governor of Taiwan Ms. Grace and DTM LGM Joy Tsai visited Sri Lanka recently.
This week's VVIP traffic from India signifies the continuing importance of our neighbour to the life and times of Sri Lanka. It has been the case for several millennia and continues to be so today and will be in the future for sure.
The event was observed last Sunday by Hindus worldwide and with much gaiety in the neighbouring southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The next day, (Monday) when the event was fixed at 'Temple Trees,' it was Maattu Pongal or Cattle Pongal Day where Hindus pay reverence or thanksgiving to cattle. Bulls and cows are given a special prominence for ploughing fields or providing nourishing milk. T
Are we to seriously believe the Government's explanation in Parliament this week that it cannot ascertain the fate of two political activists of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) who 'disappeared' in Jaffna in early December last year, despite 'four investigative teams' being deployed for this purpose?
My father was an amazingly unusual man. He was a self-made man, the child of a farmer who died when he was 10. My father recounts walking barefoot eight kilometres to school every day from the village. He had a tough upbringing. The elder brother – much older, 17 years older - went away and made good and then took the younger brothers with him to England and so my dad was able to move suddenly from a village life of poverty to go off and study in England at the end of the second WW.
We landed in the ‘Suwarnabhumi’ Airport, Thailand. The airport was huge! Much bigger than the Katunayake Airport.
I was so excited.
We were picked up by
the ‘First Hotel’ cab
service. On the way, I saw how neat, clean and wide the roads are. We were travelling at great speed, because we mostly travelled on highways.On the sides of the highway, pink papery flowers named ‘Bougainvillea’ are grown. It is a very pretty sight.
