Bhagya Abeyrathna: A voice against environment destruction
The 17-year-old girl from a rural school was answering questions on a TV quiz show from the show’s impresario about her background. We did not see the show, but from information, we gather that the participant had said she was living in the borders of the Sinharaja rainforest. With the zest typical of a young [...]
Diplomacy sans foreign policy and diplomats
Perhaps, the need for effective diplomacy has never been felt before by Sri Lanka as of today. There are three crucial challenges: Human rights allegations made at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council; a strategic policy to meet calls of world powers and those in the region in their quests in Indian Ocean and [...]
Law and order: A bouquet after many brickbats
Responses to articles written by me on law and order are many. Quite a few are by email. Replies on the phone are many. These responses, comments and observations cover a wide area. Some are positive, others are apprehensive and negative in reaction to the articles. Admittedly, the articles have been mainly critical of the [...]
UN accused of sanitising killings of children in armed conflicts
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The horrendous killings of children in military conflicts and civil wars – both by national armed forces and militant groups – have triggered widespread condemnation by human rights organisations worldwide. But a “list of shame” singling out some of these perpetrators has been politicised leaving out some of these countries under [...]
Message of peace in entertaining picture book by nine-year-old
The maiden picture story book “Springtime Andrews: The Adventurous Horse in Australia” written by Australian born nine-year-old Shaquil De Silva tells the story of a curious young horse and his day-to-day life. The story is written to an exemplary standard and contains elements that make it a desirable book for children of all ages. Children [...]
100 scholarships to mark Chinese Communist Party’s centenary
Sri Lanka China Society will offer 100 scholarships to underprivileged schoolchildren in Sri Lanka to celebrate the centenary of the Communist Party of China. The Society says Chinese friends have donated Rs.2.6 million for the programme. The donation includes Rs.1.5 M from Hunan Construction Engineering Group Cooperation Sri Lanka Branch office and Rs 900,000/from Shanxi [...]
Korean envoy meets BOI chief at the Korean Embassy
South Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin Jeong held talks with Board of Investment Chairman Sanjaya Mohottala at the embassy premises on Thursday, with representatives of the Korean Businessmen’s Association and the Korean Resident’s Association taking part in the discussion. Since covid-19 pandemic, the global economy including the Sri Lankan economy has experienced a negative impact. Korean [...]
Prof Karunadasa hands over copy of new book to Anunayake Thera
Dr. W.M. Karunadasa, former senior professor in International Relations at the University of Colombo, hands over a copy of his academic publication ‘Mahinda Rajapaksa – Panas Vasaraka Deshapalanaye Punarawalokanayak (Mahinda Rajapaksa – A Review of 50 Years in Politics)’ to the Malwatte Chapter’s Anunayake Thera the Ven. Dimbulkumbure Wimaladhamma, who was his former student. The [...]
Administrative and professional secretaries elect office bearers
The 43rd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Association of Administrative and Professional Secretaries (SLAAPS) was held at the Colombo Hilton recently with the attendance of a large number of members. The following were elected as office bearers for 2021/2022. Seated from left to right: Renuka Perera – Assistant Treasurer, Nerangala Gunathilake – Treasurer [...]
Rotary completes three projects for 2021
The Rotary Club of Colombo Central has completed several of its 2021 projects which includes donation of computers and printers for the use of nearly 200 Sunday schoolchildren from low income families. In a statement, the club said the project cost Rs 388,000, of which Rs 152,500 was obtained from the District and the balance [...]
COVAX is our best chance to beat COVID
LONDON – The first vaccine deliveries by the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility to Ghana, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast brought a glimmer of hope to African countries keen to start immunising their populations against the disease. But while COVAX is ramping up deliveries, its mission to provide rapid, fair, and equitable access to COVID-19 [...]