Drug trafficking: A case for confiscation of assets
Throughout last year and also in the first month of this year, large quantities of heroin and cocaine were detected by the Police Narcotics Bureau in a coordinated exercise involving the Special Task Force, the Sri Lanka Navy and other law enforcement agencies. Several people, including foreigners, have been arrested, questioned and remanded for further [...]
Lessons to learn from Sri Lanka’s history
Outstanding English writer Aldous Huxley’s observations on the ‘lessons of history’ will interest many Sri Lankans obsessed with their history—2,500 years or more. Huxley held: ’ That men do not learn much from history is the most important lesson that history has to teach’. We will attempt to consider this observation not by harking back [...]
Is the UN being undermined by a demagogic Trump team?
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The United Nations, which embodies the core principles of multilateralism since its creation more than 74 years ago, is being steadily and systematically undermined by a reactionary and demagogic Trump administration recklessly flaunting American imperialism at its worst. The US has already scuttled the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran, refused [...]
The Russian diplomatic service celebrates its 470th anniversary
On the 10th of February each year, the Russian diplomatic service celebrates its professional holiday — Russian Diplomats’ Day — which was established by a Presidential Decree in 2002. The date is closely associated with the history of Russia’s first foreign affairs agency — the Ambassadorial Department established on February10, 1549. From 1718 to 1720, [...]
Giving mosquitoes diet pills could combat the spread of disease
Although mosquitoes do not need to watch their weight, giving the pests diet pills could combat the spread of malaria, Zika and dengue fever. Researchers found the insects given drugs containing NPY-like receptors were less likely to suck blood when they were presented with a human arm. These receptors regulate appetite in everything from roundworms [...]
New York mission marks 71st Anniversary of Independence
The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York celebrated Sri Lanka’s 71st Anniversary of Independence with a diplomatic reception held on February 4 at the mission premises. The proceedings began with the National Anthem being sung in both Sinhala and Tamil by two members of the expatriate community Dr. Esiri [...]
Seminar on South Asian peace
The Pakistan High Commission organised a seminar on ‘Peace, Progress and Prosperity in South Asia. It was held at the BMICH’s Jasmine Hall. Among the panellists were High Commissioner Dr. Shahid Ahmad Hashmat and Maj. Gen. (R) Syed Khalid Amir Jaffery, President, Centre for Global and Security Studies, Pakistan. The seminar was attended by diplomats, [...]
Annual Sunshine Games on February 16
The annual Sunshine Games organised by the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan will be held on Saturday, February 16 at Campbell Park, Colombo 8, with around 35 schools and institutions for differently abled children from across the country taking part. The events will be conducted according to the participants’ capabilities and the following age categories; [...]
Lecture on universal human values based on Vedanta philosophy
The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, High Commission of India, Colombo will present a lecture on “Universal Human Values” based on Vedanta philosophy by Mikhil Agarwal on Tuesday, February 12 at 6 p.m. at its auditorium at 16/2 Gregory’s Road, Colombo 7. Mikhil Agarwal is a disciple of internationally acclaimed eminent philosopher Swami Parthasarathy. He joined [...]
Brexit and Britain’s suicidal tendencies
NEW YORK – Watching a sophisticated democratic society knowingly walk into a predictable and avoidable national disaster is a rare and alarming experience. Most British politicians are well aware that leaving the European Union with no agreement on the post-Brexit relationship will cause enormous damage to their country. They are not sleepwalking into the abyss; [...]