How adopted woman’s search for birth mum unfolded
Ria Sloan, 26, explained how she was brought up near Inverness, where she was ‘one of the only brown people in [her] home town’. Although she had a happy childhood, she described how she began to feel that she didn’t ‘properly belong’ and began wondering about her birth mother. In BBC Two’s Searching for Mum, [...]
Justice must be done or seem to be done without fear or favour
The sentencing of the controversial Buddhist monk by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court to six years rigorous imprisonment was a welcome message to law-abiding citizens. In their verdict, the judges did not flinch or show any sympathy for the accused because he was a monk. Their verdict sent a message to all and [...]
Former UN chief Kofi Annan dies aged 80
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has died at the age of 80 after a short illness. Mr Annan spent his final days at his home in Geneva, Switzerland, with his wife Nane and children Ama, Kojo, and Nina. He was the first black African to become UN Secretary-General, a role he held between 1997 and [...]
Human-elephant conflict: The folly of fences
Asian elephants have been on this island since before it became an island. Sri Lanka is part of the species’ ancestral home and a skeleton traced to this population now serves as the definitive “type” specimen. They existed before settlers came here and cultivated — before the ancient tanks were built, before the kings and [...]
Confronting journalism’s misogynistic trolls
LONDON – Before the Internet revolutionized how news was gathered and shared, journalists rarely had to worry about the threat of virtual violence. The main risks they faced were in the field: the physical and psychological safety concerns of reporting on disaster and conflict. But today’s media battlefields are increasingly online, and more than ever, [...]
Hajj: The journey of a lifetime
Hajj and its rites were first ordained by Almighty Allah during the time of Holy Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim – Peace be upon him). Muslims believe in all the prophets sent by Almighty Allah starting from the first Prophet Adam (Peace be upon him) to the last Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). All of them [...]
Revisiting the 1987 Parliament bomb blasts
Soon after nine o’clock in the morning on August 18, 1987, Senior Technical Officer T.K. Siriwardana rushed into our room in the Department of Forensic Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and said, “Sir, there is an explosion in the parliament!” We immediately contacted the Welikada police station, which confirmed the fact and we were [...]
Lessons on safety, economical driving for WNL drivers
A training programme on safety and economical driving was held for Wijeya Newspapers Ltd drivers at the WNL auditorium last week. The programme was conducted by Motor Mechanic Engineer and Global Driving Technological Academy Director W.A. Weeratunga , MIAE (SL), with Udara Lakmal handling technical training. The programme was organised by Transport Manager and AGM [...]
Special day of reflection and healing
Are you unable to see and experience the presence of the Divine in your life? Come and receive the revelation of His glory at a meeting on September 2 at St. Joseph’s College auditorium in Colombo from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The preacher will be the widely respected and widely acclaimed Rev.Fr. Augustine Vallooran [...]
Reception on board PMSS Kashmir
A reception was held on board Pakistan Maritime Security Ship (PMSS) “Kashmir” on August 14, 2018, the Independence Day of Pakistan. Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga was the chief guest. The reception was attended by Navy Commander S.S. Ranasinghe, senior security forces officers, diplomats and journalists, among others, a Pakistan High Commission statement said. [...]
Digital library for NYC Training Institute
Western Provincial Council member and Pragna Pradeepa Concept Initiator Jayantha de Silva is seen here opening the digital library of the National Youth Council Training Institute at Ruhunukala Mawatha in Borella.
A better world is here
SKANDERBORG, DENMARK – It’s very easy to form the view that the modern world is coming apart. We are constantly confronted with an onslaught of negativity: frightening headlines, alarming research findings, and miserable statistics. There are indeed many things on the planet that we should be greatly concerned about. But fixating on horror stories means [...]