Karzai seeks peace with Taliban, but he is no Chavez
Three months into 2014, Afghanistan is fast hurtling into uncertainty with many Afghan watchers wondering what the situation will be once the US-led Nato troops on December 31 end their military occupation of the country which is strategically located between three key regions — South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia. Will the Taliban, which [...]
Recognising excellence in architecture
The Geoffrey Bawa Trust last week announced the nine shortlisted architects for the Geoffrey Bawa Award 2013/14 for Excellence in Architecture. The event launched in 2008 which happens once in three years will be held for the third time this year. The Trust’s aim is to carry out the celebrated architect’s philosophy of modern architecture [...]
Zonta club participates in Global Activities for International Women’s Day and Rose Day
Globally, members of Zonta International, an organisation dedicated to advancing the status of women and girls, are celebrating International Women’s Day and Zonta Rose Day. In the week leading up to March 8, more than 30,000 Zontians from 66 countries devoted their efforts to raising awareness of the opportunities and challenges for women around the [...]
Academic sessions on “Chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka”
The academic sessions of the Toxicology Society of Sri Lanka (TSSL) and the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday, March 15 at the SLMA Auditorium, 6, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. The theme of the academic sessions is “Chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka”. Professor S. D. Jayarathna will be the Chief Guest. [...]
A bird of passage
Julian Beale, a one-time employee of Land Rover who has spent over 25 years travelling 40 countries, is now a retired grandfather of 10 and a District Councillor in the Cotswolds, England. He is also a first time author. His novel ‘Wings of the Morning’is an electrifying thriller set in Africa, with a cast of [...]
Socialist Study Circle lecture: ‘Reconciliation – the South African Experience’
Geoff Doidge, High Commissioner for South Africa in Sri Lanka will talk on ‘Reconciliation – the South African Experience’ on Thursday, March 13 at 4.30 p.m. at the Dr. N.M. Perera Centre, 106, Dr. N.M. Perera Mawatha, Colombo 8. The lecture is organised by the Socialist Study Circle. All are welcome.
‘Herstories’ presented to the National Archives of Sri Lanka
Herstories, an archival project focusing on Sri Lankans’ histories told through the voices of mothers from the South, East and North of the country, was presented to the National Archives of Sri Lanka on Thursday, March 6 under the patronage of the Secretary to the Ministry of National Heritage. This is the first collection focused [...]
The Indian sanitary pad revolutionary
A school dropout from a poor family in southern India has revolutionised menstrual health for rural women in developing countries by inventing a simple machine they can use to make cheap sanitary pads. Arunachalam Muruganantham’s invention came at great personal cost – he nearly lost his family, his money and his place in society. But [...]
Guidelines to treat Divers’ Bends
Doctors will not be working in the dark when treating Decompression Sickness (DCS), as they can now be steered by the comprehensive guidelines for the management of this illness which affects divers. The ‘Guidelines for the Management of DCS’ jointly produced by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and the Navy Directorate of Health Services [...]
Addicted to electronics
Adults spend nearly half their time using electronic entertainment gadgets, figures have shown. A report by consumer researchers Nielsen found people spend 11 hours a day watching TV, surfing the internet and playing on smartphones. The figures come as damning evidence reveals 70 million people are living a sedentary lifestyle and in some states almost [...]
Pope confesses to pilfering cross
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis revealed on Thursday he had succumbed to “that thief in all of us” and broke the seventh commandment by stealing a small cross from the coffin of a priest so he could remember the man. In off-the-cuff comments to Roman priests, Francis recalled when he was in his native [...]
Social media as an avenue for democracy
In the past decade, the significant role that social media has played in altering the nature of communication has been undeniable. In this short space of time, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Plus and other social media platforms have fundamentally changed the way people interact as more people turn to social media to discuss their views [...]
Indo-Lanka relations: Refreshing resetting
The article ‘Resetting Indo-Lanka relations by Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the Pathfinder Foundation had a large number of propositions for positive relations building with India. Also, I have seen a more detailed version of the recommendations in another media exposure (Financial Times). The experts have done a commendable job. However, I am confident that the [...]
Sorry for nothing: Why Abe is going back to the past
NEW YORK – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is once again stirring Asia’s cauldron of national rivalries and historical resentments. This time, he has instructed a committee of historians to re-examine the official apology delivered in 1993 to World War II-era sex slaves held in Japanese military brothels. It is clear from various recent statements [...]
Problem in judicial interpretation of Rights Law
Former Inspector General of Police Frank de Silva in his book ‘Police & Rights’ has raised issue in regard to the problem in the interpretation of the Rights Law. I quote him from page Xii of the Book: “Rights Law is often judicially construed in a manner somewhat removed from its original intent. Interpretation then [...]
Bastille: Law students love prison for convent girls
Those were the days when the bottle the people loved, had a label of a coconut tree and a sleeping tiger. D.S. Rajapaska a renowned ‘Samasamajist’, who like his veteran comrades, worshipped Trotsky and the bottle. No one ever thought of drinking illicit brews made in Scotland which were for sale at Cargills & Millers. [...]
Singapore named most expensive city
The island nation of Singapore has been named the most expensive city in the world, according to new statistics, knocking Tokyo off the top spot. The results from the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey placed Singapore ahead of 130 other cities, followed up by Paris, Oslo, Zurich and Sydney as the five [...]
Malaysia Airlines plane missing, presumed crashed in South China Sea
KUALA LUMPUR/HANOI, March 8 (Reuters) – A Malaysia Airlines flight carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew went missing over the South China Sea on Saturday, presumed crashed, as ships and planes from countries closest to its flight path scoured a large search area for any wreckage. Vietnamese state media, quoting a senior naval official, had [...]
Russia open to ‘equal’ dialogue with West on Ukraine: Lavrov
MOSCOW, March 08, 2014 (AFP) -Russia is open to having an “honest, equal” dialogue with foreign states on the crisis in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today. “We are open to an honest, equal and objective dialogue with our foreign partners to find a way to help all of Ukraine come out of the [...]
China to ‘defend every inch’ of territory: Foreign minister
BEIJING, March 8 (AFP) -China’s foreign minister today said his country would vigorously defend its sovereignty, declaring there was “no room for compromise” with Japan over territory or history. “We will never bully smaller countries yet we will never accept unreasonable demands from smaller countries,” Wang Yi told reporters. “On issues of territory and sovereignty, [...]
