End of a triennium: political mayhem
The year will soon end and I realise that our country will soon have completed no less than three years – a whole triennium – of being ruled by this group of strange Yahapalaka bedfellows who clawed their way into power by selling us voters the pitch that we had to get rid of a [...]
SriLankan Airlines becomes part of Beefy’s final charity walk
SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka was the proud sponsor of the Australian leg of Sir Ian Botham’s famed charity walk “Beefy’ Trek Down Under,” which took place recently. The Airline facilitated Sir Botham and his team’s journey from London to its newest connectivity addition, Melbourne via its Colombo hub. Having retired from [...]
Christmas-eve carol service at St. Michael’s and All Angels, Polwatte
The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols together with the blessing of the crib at St Michael’s and All Angels, Polwatte, Colombo 3 will be held on Christmas Eve, Sunday December 24 at 6 p.m. The service will start by the singing of “Once in Royal David’s City” and will end with the recessional hymn “O [...]
Imthiaz’s Tamil articles come out in book form; launch on Thursday
A book comprising articles written by National Media Center Chairman Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, a former minister, will be launched on December 21 at the National Library and Documentation Services Center, Independence Square at 4.30 pm. The book “Naduwadu Nalam (Hope for Betterment) – experiences of a politician” is published by the Meelparawi newspaper. The launch [...]
Dr. Bandula Wijay receives “Global Citizen” award
Houston Chapter of the United Nations Association recently honored Dr. Bandula Wijay with the prestigious “Global Citizen” award for his notable achievements and services in numerous fields. Born in Sri Lanka and currently a resident in Houston, Texas, Dr. Wijay has become an eminent inventor, scientist, and engineer. Especially, he is a leading inventor of [...]
Dalai Lama turns to iPhone to spread app-iness
NEW DELHI (AFP) – He already has millions of Twitter followers and has spoken of the wonders of new technology. Now the Dalai Lama has launched a new iPhone app so devotees can keep track of his travels and teachings. The 82-year-old Buddhist monk announced the new app, which will allow users to watch live [...]
AIDS, NCDs, and the ABCs of organising
GENEVA – Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), like heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, are responsible for 70% of all deaths. There is incontrovertible evidence that tobacco use, inactivity, unhealthy diets, and excessive alcohol consumption increase the odds of dying prematurely from an NCD. And yet, despite widespread knowledge of the risks, global obesity [...]
The Port City: A response to right of reply
In his right to reply (The Sunday Times, December 3, 2017), the project director Colombo Port City, Nihal Fernando, said: “In general, air pollutants including particulate matters dispersion in the atmosphere from point, line, and area sources are mainly dependent upon the prevailing micrometeorological character of a region. Wind is an important factor which determines [...]
Inequality in the twenty-first century
MUMBAI – At the end of a low and dishonest year, reminiscent of the “low, dishonest decade” about which W.H. Auden wrote in his poem “September 1, 1939,” the world’s “clever hopes” are giving way to recognition that many severe problems must be tackled. And, among the severest, with the gravest long-term and even existential [...]