Roots of change: Make migration work for rural development
Throughout history, one of the most effective strategies for people to look for a better future has been to move. In most cases leaving impoverished rural areas in search of more productive opportunities elsewhere. Indeed, migration has since our earliest days been essential to the human story — the source of multiple economic and cultural [...]
Achieving Vision 2025 will require investment in Sri Lanka’s greatest resource – its young
In September this year the Government of Sri Lanka launched ‘Vision 2025: A Country Enriched’, an ambitious blueprint for Sri Lanka’s sustainable development, and the achievement of a ‘stable, peaceful, reconciled and prosperous Sri Lanka, for all the people of our country’. As the Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka, [...]
A roadmap to end cholera
GENEVA – “Where is your toilet?” This is often the first question I ask when I visit the site of a cholera outbreak anywhere in the world. More often than not, the answer is: “We don’t have one. We go wherever we can.” Cholera, an ancient disease, has become a disease of poverty. It does [...]
The Nobel peace prize: Went to a legitimate cause
“Commiserations, Mr. President” (in last Sunday Times) noted that President Maithripala Sirisena was “nominated and short listed” but missed the coveted Nobel peace prize. The article provided an impressive historical perspective of our democracy – a must read by all who love our country. Bravo! to the writer. It is unfortunate that we, Sri Lankans, [...]
Fairway English Creative Writing Workshop to uplift novices
The Fairway English Creative Writing Workshop presented by Fairway Holdings will be held for the second consecutive year on November 3 and 4 at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies. The programme is designed to offer a broad ‘first exposure’ to the creative writing process; from the blank page to the [...]