Sri Lanka seeks US-UN backing for domestic probe of war crimes charges
UNITED NATIONS, (IPS) – Sri Lanka’s newly-installed government, which has pledged to set up its own domestic tribunal to investigate war crimes charges, is seeking political and moral support both from the United States and the United Nations to stall a possible international investigation. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera is due in the United States next [...]
War on terror shouldn’t justify torture: UN Rights Chief
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 5 2015 (IPS) – The United Nations, which is the legal guardian of scores of human rights treaties banning torture, unlawful imprisonment, degrading treatment of prisoners of war and enforced disappearances, is troubled that an increasing number of countries are justifying violations of UN conventions on grounds of fighting terrorism in conflict [...]
Dr. Padmani Mendis wins Leadership in Rehabilitation Award
Dr. Padmani Mendis has been honoured with the ‘WCPT 2015 Leadership in Rehabilitation Award’ presented by the World Confederation for Physiotherapy (WCPT). The award is given to not only physiotherapists but individuals and organisations who have contributed to international rehabilitation and global health. Dr. Mendis will receive her award at a gala dinner at the [...]
De Lanerolle Brothers present ‘Live 6′ concert
Another year has rolled by and celebrating their sixth anniversary as a duo, the De Lanerolle Brothers will present ‘Live 6′, their signature Pops Concert on March 3 at the Water’s Edge Main Ballroom. Tickets priced at Rs 10,000 for this exclusive show which includes a three course sit-down dinner are now available. For prior [...]
Shreya Goshal to perform for Sri Lankan Bolllywood buffs
The name Shreya Goshal is the big one for Bollywood fans around the globe. A songstress who has lent her voice to make the magical moments of many Hindi, Tamil and Telungu blockbusters come alive, Shreya is to perform in Sri Lanka as early as this March. Bringing with her an award winning repertoire of [...]
UMT Ray of Hope award ceremony
It was a landmark moment for the Unity Mission Trust (UMT) last month when the Ray of Hope award ceremony was held in Jaffna. Their efforts to foster understanding among young people started “to show the children of the North that they are cared for and are a part of Sri Lanka” according to Founding [...]
Ruk Rakaganno seminar
Seminar No 7 in the Ruk Rakaganno seminar series on the environment will be conducted by Dr. Ranil Senanayake on Friday, February 13 at 5 p.m. at the N.M. Perera Centre, N.M. Perera Mawatha, Borella. The topic will be ‘Responding to an Understanding of Forest: Analog Forestry’. It will be followed by a discussion. All [...]
The Music Project fosters social cohesion
Hans Christian Andersen aptly captured the universality of music when he said “Where words fail, music speaks”. With a strong belief in this power of music as a link language, the Music Project aims to foster social cohesion between children of the North and South using music as a medium. The project is inspired by [...]
‘Too hot to quarrel’ in James Joyce’s laidback Ceylon
The “Cinghalese” make an appearance in the greatest literary work of the 20th century. Celebrating the 133rd birthday of the great Irish writer, who was born on February 2, by Stephen Prins Just think: we Sri Lankans enjoy a spot in the most celebrated novel of the 20th century! And a most idyllic spot it [...]
Transparency or the lack of it in the new Govt.’s 100-Day Plan
A subject that has gained a great deal of public attention, the 100-Day Plan initiated by the new Government on January 10, is set for completion by April 23. Whilst many have commended certain aspects of its workings, there is also some incredulity and opposition to yet other aspects of the Plan. Whilst this is [...]
Exhibition: Crafts in action 2015
Well-known arts and crafts teacher Manel Damage along with her students will hold “Crafts in Action 2015″, an exhibition of arts and crafts at the National Art Gallery on February 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. A past pupil of Museaus girls College, Mrs. Gamage has introduced many new embroidery techniques to [...]
The future of force
MUNICH – At the World Economic Forum’s recent annual meeting in Davos, I participated in a panel of defence leaders to discuss the future of the military. The issue we addressed is a critical one: What kind of war should militaries today be preparing to fight? Governments have a very poor track record when it [...]
Chronic Kidney Disease: Food as a cause challenged
A Chronic Kidney Disease, also called Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) has been reported to occur in several areas of Sri Lanka since 1990s. The causal factors of this kidney disease are not known. Hence this disease is called Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). According to the article by Kamal Gammampila (KG) on Chronic [...]
Balancing history, myths and populism
A region steeped in history and cultural heritage naturally draws much of its identity from the past. However, promoting science and technology to solve the region’s many development problems should not be delayed by esoteric debates on an idolised past. Today’s policymakers, dealing with complexities of the modern world, need the best possible evidence, analysis [...]
India’s first helpline for lesbians reveals more than 80% of the callers are men
Curious men are jamming India’s first helpline for lesbians with requests for contact numbers for gay women, volunteers have revealed. The Lesbian Helpline in Tamil Nadu, based in the state capital Chennai, is supposed to offer support and services for a minority group that is all but invisible in India. But four out of five [...]
Pope rapped for spanking ‘howler’
VATICAN CITY (AFP) -Pope Francis came under fire after an off-the-cuff remark in which he defended the right of parents to spank their children. In comments during his weekly general audience on Wednesday, the pontiff described a good father as one who knew how to forgive but also how to “correct with firmness.” “Once, in [...]
These are the least free countries in the world
For the ninth consecutive year, the number of countries worldwide where freedom has declined (61) is almost twice those where levels of liberty increased (33). This was the key finding of the annual Freedom in the World study published on January 28 by Freedom House, analyzing the civil liberties and political rights available to citizens [...]
Has justice been served?
The new regime finally lost patience with the obdurate Mohan Peiris and used what appears to be a clumsy ploy – capitalising on a procedural infirmity in the dismissal of Justice Shirani Bandaranayaka — to restore legitimacy to the Ladyship and, simultaneously, to erase Mohan Peiris’s name from the roll of Chief Justices of Sri [...]
Have we found the key to eternal youth?
Eternal youth could be one step closer following the successful transformation of old human cells into young ones. The process increases the length of the ‘telomeres’, which are the protective caps on the end of chromosomes that impact ageing and disease. Researchers in the US say the technique could extend human life and provide new [...]
US proposes effort to analyze DNA from 1 million people
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has proposed analysing genetic information from more than 1 million American volunteers as part of a new initiative to understand human disease and develop medicines targeted to an individual’s genetic make-up. At the heart of the “precision medicine” initiative, announced on Friday by President Barack Obama, is the creation [...]
Embattled Australian PM says challenge against him will fail
SYDNEY, Feb 7 (AFP) -Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said today that he expected a challenge against his leadership to fail and stressed his government would not repeat the “chaos and instability” of previous administrations. With dismal ratings in opinion polls and a backbench disgruntled by policy backflips, two of Abbott’s MPs have said they [...]
Parents of US hostage appeal to Islamic State captors
WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (AFP) -The parents of a US hostage who Islamic State jihadists claimed had been killed in an airstrike said on Friday they were “hopeful” she was still alive and appealed to her captors to contact them. The militants said Kayla Jean Mueller had been buried under rubble after a raid by a [...]
‘Anarchist’ bids to halt Modi juggernaut in Delhi polls
NEW DELHI, Feb 7 (AFP) -Voters went to the polls in India’s capital today, with firebrand former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal looking to complete a surprise comeback and deliver the first major blow to Narendra Modi’s premiership. Less than a year on from his resignation as head of Delhi’s state government after just 49 days, [...]
TransAsia starts pilot retraining after deadly crash
TAIPEI, Feb 7 (AFP) -TransAsia Airways cancelled dozens of flights today, the first day of a pilot retraining programme, as rescuers retrieved four more bodies from its second deadly crash in Taiwan in seven months. Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) ordered all the airline’s staff who fly ATR planes to take tests on operating the [...]
Russia, European powers agree to draft Ukraine peace plan
MOSCOW, Feb 7 (AFP) -The leaders of Russia, Germany and France agreed during late-night talks in Moscow to draw up a plan to end fighting in Ukraine as rebels wage a deadly offensive in the country’s east, officials said today. A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said that more than four hours of talks [...]
