‘Sooriya -Namaskar’ at Galle Face Green
Palms joined, pointed skywards, Galle Face Green was speckled with Yoga enthusiasts, veterans and curious first-timers engaging in the ‘Sooriya -Namaskar’ last Sunday. June 21 was named the official Day of Yoga by a record number of 177 co-sponsors by the United Nations last year, celebrating India’s historical contribution to holistic health and Colombo was [...]
Sri Lanka: Twenty one million dreams. One planet, consume with care
The British Council celebrated World Environment Day on June 5 and 6 with activities for every age group. In Colombo, the events commenced with an evening talk for adults. Deputy Country Director David Maynard touched on the importance of green initiatives at the British Council and guest speaker Anosha Koralage discussed ‘many small ways of [...]
New Saturday Good Market Venue Starting July 4
Come July 4, the Saturday Good Market will be moving across the street from the Colombo Racecourse to Rajakeeya Mawatha. President Maithripala Sirisena and the Mayor of Colombo both plan to attend the opening on July 4.The Saturday Good Market has more than 50 vendors with certified organic produce, natural food and snacks, eco-friendly home [...]
Celebrating National Housing Day 2015
A flag day was organised by the National Housing Development Authority to celebrate National Housing Day 2015. Picture shows the officer-in-charge of the flag programme-Colombo east Deepani Dissanayake of N.H.D.A is selling the first flag to Jayantha de Silva, Chief Organiser of the UNP for Borella and initiator of the Pragna Pradeepa Concept.
NICU in New York named after Sri Lankan physician
NEW YORK – At an official ceremony last week, Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) dedicated the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in honour of the late Dr. Anantham Harin, a Sri Lankan physician, who directed the unit at the time of his death in 2010 at age 65. “This is a simple honour for [...]
Maithri Panagoda appointed Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame Australia
Maithri Panagoda, a Sri Lankan born lawyer who has been practising in Australia for over 30 years has been appointed as Adjunct Professor to the School of Law at the University of Notre Dame Australia. The announcement of the appointment was made by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Notre Dame, Professor Celia Hammond. [...]
Security Council action on Gaza war crimes a non-starter
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – When a UN panel released a 217-page report accusing both Israel and Hamas of possible war crimes committed during the 50-day conflict in Gaza last July, the chances of Security Council action were remote because of the traditional US commitment to stand by Israel – right or wrong, mostly wrong. Israel [...]
Save the children: A European role in Palestine peace process
LONDON – The international community’s attention in the Middle East nowadays is inevitably focused on the Islamic State’s military advances in Syria and Iraq, the failed states of Yemen and Libya, the activities of Islamic extremists everywhere, and the continuing efforts to complete a deal to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, the oldest dispute in [...]
Medico-legal aspects of torture in Sri Lanka
“All tremble at punishment All are frightened of death Make an example of yourself Do not kill or cause to kill” – Lord Buddha All religious leaders have condemned torture and killing. Torture and other human rights abuses have been known throughout the history of man. One of the first accounts of torture describes how Rameses [...]
What’s black-&-white — & red all over?
Psyching oneself for 10 years over a work of art that has become an obsession may be a record of sorts; on the other hand, there’s nothing unusual about Art audiences waiting decades to confront the original of a work they had spent their lives thinking and talking about. “Psycho”, the all-time grand guignol Hollywood [...]
Progress is coming by way of participatory democracy
Although governance in Sri Lanka in the past decade has been both difficult and challenging for both the administrators and citizens, it has also left us with many lessons to reflect on. Today the country’s democratic space is more vibrant than it has been in a long time; with free media, active political debates on [...]