Journalists from 60 nations gather for world peace in South Korea
From Damith Wickremasekara in South Korea Journalists from more than 60 countries, including Sri Lanka, took part in the World Journalists conference 2017 held this month in South Korean in a bid to promote world peace at a time when war clouds were gathering over the Korean peninsula over North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests. [...]
Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike: Book of solidarity at embassy
The Palestinian Embassy has opened a support-and-solidarity book for well-wishers and supporters of peace and global justice to express their solidarity with more than 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners now on hunger strike in Israeli jails, an embassy statement said. It said the book would be kept open on May 3 and 4 from 10 am [...]
Herman Gunaratne’s latest book launched
‘God’s Secret Agent –A Battle against Dark Forces’ by Herman Gunaratne was launched at the author’s Mirissa Hills home on Sunday, April 16. The picture shows Mr. Gunaratne presenting a copy of the book to its editor Charlie Keeler. Mr. Gunaratne is also the author of four previous books -The Plantation Raj, For a Sovereign [...]
Raising a cuppa to Taylor
By Udumbara Udugama Rich or poor, most Sri Lankans wake-up to a cup of tea or a “kahata koppaya” to start the day. Some drink it with milk and sugar, others with less sugar or a piece of jaggery. A “kahata tey” with ginger and jaggery is favoured by many. The more health conscious prefer [...]
Devotees please give helping hand to expand the Patthana Dharma Sabhawa
The Patthana Dharma Sabhawa founded by the late Abhidhammika Vagishvara Most Ven. Yagoda Dharmaprabha Nayaka Thera has for the past 56 years propogated the education of Abhidhamma as well as Vipassana meditation. The institution is now under the guidance of the Most Ven. Korathota Wessabhu Thera. The Sabhawa is located at 487/25, Thimbrigasyaya Road, Narahenpita, [...]
IPS journalists who perished in the line of duty
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS – In the politically-risky world of professional journalism, news reporters are fast becoming an endangered species. The numbers are staggering: some 1,236 journalists have been killed since 1992, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In 2016 alone, 48 journalists were killed worldwide – and in the [...]
Abortive attempt to rescue Rohana Wijeweera
By B. Anton Jeyanathan The 5th of April dawned and passed without much concern or notice by the majority of the present generation who were born after the 1970′s and 1980′s, as they never experienced the atrocities committed by members of the JVP under the propaganda of a revolution. The 5th of April every year [...]
Is World War III imminent?
Will North Korea be reduced to shambles as a result of the stupidity of Kim Jong un? By Jayantha Gunasekera North Korean leader Kim Jong un has a bloated opinion of himself. It is said that he is a lacklustre individual who has had greatness thrust upon him. As soon as he succeeded as the [...]
Move to increase traffic fines: Is it justifiable?
Part II By T. Perinpanayagam This is the second part of an article based on the 2014 Parliamentary Select Committee Report on road safety. In this article, the writer, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Traffic, gives his observations on the committee’s findings. Strict implementation of existing laws The road users [...]
SAITM, GMOA or a Marie Biscuit – let the consumer who carries risks make the choice
Letter to the editor I write to add an accountant’s point of view to the excellent letter written by Dr Miran Salgado in February, friend and connection by marriage. I could not have entered medical or engineering school in Sri Lanka so like many students of the 1970s. I fell in to accountancy Before the [...]
Rubber a fortune in time of misfortune: Eastern cultivator
By Dr. Lakshman Rodrigo If someone asks which climate is the best for rubber cultivation, everyone would say the ‘wet tropics’. Being introduced from Amazon rain forests, there is no doubt about this answer; hence, rubber cultivation was initially confined to the wet zone of Sri Lanka. Even in other rubber growing countries, the situation [...]
Diplomacy and India-Sri Lanka relations
By Dr. Sarala Fernando Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to India this week and the expected visit of Prime Minister Narenda Modi to Sri Lanka in May signal a fresh burst of activity in India- Sri Lanka relations. Since previous projects for joint cooperation like the “bridge” and Economic Trade and Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) have [...]