Re-thinking the role of Sri Lankan missions abroad
The foreign policy of any country is a vital and critical component of its national policies. Foreign missions of Sri Lanka, except the permanent missions to the UN in New York and Geneva, have only an insignificant role in foreign policy making or implementation. Sri Lanka had to pay a high price in these last [...]
National Dangerous Drugs Control Board falling short
The National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) which did not generate publicity for its performance, but came into the limelight during the last presidential election, thereafter after the general elections in January and more recently in the month of November 2015 when two heads rolled. The NDDCB was established by an Act of Parliament with [...]
The Chennai warning
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA – Even as world leaders were meeting in Paris to address climate change, the city of Chennai (formerly Madras), the capital of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, reeled under the onslaught of the heaviest rainfall in 104 years. The city, home to five million people, was virtually shut down, with roads [...]
Happy birthday Podi Saadu, the people’s priest
The birthday of Venerable Galboda Gnanissara Thera (Podi Hamuduruwo), the chief incumbent of Gangaramaya Temple at Hunupitiya in Colombo and Chief Sanganayake of Colombo Nava Korale, falls tomorrow. I am privileged to write something about him to mark this occasion. He is a magnanimous person, always willing to give and donate. He is a thinker [...]
A year of yahapalanaya
A year has gone by since a group of government MPs led by Mahinda Rajapaksa’s hitherto loyal Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena revolted against the sitting President. Claiming that they would usher in a new regime of righteous government (nicely sloganised into the catchy Yahapalanaya), they gathered unto themselves others who also felt that the [...]
CMF and German Embassy support Moratuwa school for children with disabilities
The Country Music Foundation (CMF) and the staff from the German Embassy jointly organised an “Evening with the Mavericks and Astrid”, a musical evening at Barefoot, Colombo in October to raise funds for children. The event was specifically to raise funds for Meth Mihira – School of Special Education, Koralawella -Moratuwa run by the Sisters’ [...]
Korean NGO, Good Partners donates bus for CKD patients in Trincomalee
Good Partners, a Korean NGO based in the Republic of Korea, in partnership with the Association for Social Development (ASD) in Sri Lanka donated a bus to the village of Padavi Sripura in the Trincomalee District. The bus is used for patients suffering Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Padavi Sripura, which is reported to be [...]
SLASSPA AGM: ‘Thinking beyond Borders’
The 11th Annual General Meeting of SLASSPA (Sri Lanka Security Service Providers Association), under the theme ” Thinking beyond borders” was held on November 28 at the Taj Samudra, with Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary, Ministry of Defence as the chief guest. Delivering the welcome address, Major Tissa Aluwihare, President of SLASSPA, said the industry is [...]
Spiritual knowledge and the power of yoga
Rajayogi Brahma Kumar Surya, a senior lecturer in spiritual knowledge and Raja Yoga meditation at the Academy for a Better World, Gyan Sarovar, Rajasthan, India, will be in Sri Lanka from December 15 to 30. He will deliver a public lecture on the theme ‘Experiencing lightness through Power of Yoga’ at Saraswathy Hall, Bambalapitiya on December [...]
Rotary holds grand banquet to honour first Sri Lankan head of Rotary
The Hilton Hotel will be the venue tonight of a special gathering of the elite of Sri Lankan society as Rotary Sri Lanka honours K R Ravindran as he visits the country as the Rotary International President – the first Sri Lankan to hold this prestigious office. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as Chief Guest at [...]
Reaffirming cooperation and collaboration
The SAARC cultural centre in Sri Lanka celebrated the 31st annual SAARC charter day on December 8 at Asylum Restaurant, Arcade Independence Square. The cultural centre launched their revamped website http://www.saarcculture.org/ at the event. In his welcoming speech, Mr. Wasantha Kotuwella, Director SAARC Cultural Centre said ‘May we all take the opportunity to reaffirm and [...]
Christmas creative writing workshop
A Christmas Creative Writing Workshop will be conducted for 10-14year olds by Prof. Neluka Silva on December 15, 16,17 from 3.30-5.30pm at St. Antony’s Church Hall, Colombo 3. This workshop will explore different aspects of creative writing by introducing children to ways of developing beginnings and endings of stories and essays, plots, setting and characters. [...]
Australian High Commissioner’s farewell reception
Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie (pictured) hosted a reception on December 8 at Australia House to bid farewell to her many friends in Sri Lanka as she completed her term in Sri Lanka
The Edirimana Corea family union takes a trip down memory lane
The formation of the Edirimana Corea Family Union (ECFU) was inspired by the heroic exploits of Dominicus Corea Edirimanasuriya Vikramasingha Bandara popularly known as Edirilla Rala. He was General of the Sinhala Army who was crowned King of Kotte and Sitawaka by Wimala Dharma Suriya the First of Kandy, King of Sri Lanka (vide page [...]