Impact of COVID-19 on the illicit tobacco market
As part of ongoing research into the economic impact of illicit markets, the Research Intelligence Unit (RIU) shared some of the key findings from its latest report that covers the economic impact of untaxed tobacco consumption in Sri Lanka. The report has been grounded on preliminary results of an ongoing island-wide survey. Given the current [...]
People and events
The Mahabage Traders Union conducted a programme to beautify a stretch of the Colombo-Katunayake road coming under the purview of the Mahabage Police area recently. Pots containing flowering plants were installed along the road as part of this initiative. Assistant Superintendent of Police Prasanna de Silva was chief guest at the event. Also present on [...]
SLPA office bearers for 2022/23
Sri Lanka Press Association appointed office bearers at its 66th AGM held recently. Director – Centre for Investigative Reporting and Director – CICRA Campus Colombo Attorney Vasana Wickramasena delivered the keynote address. The new Ex-co is as follows: Chief Patron – Muditha Kariyakarawana, Patrons – Thilakarathna Kuruwita Bandara, Eng Upali Arambewale, P Balasingham, Dharman Wickremeratne, [...]
Facebook parties and their impact on society and workplaces
A few days ago, yet another Facebook party was ‘raided’ in the wee hours by the Wennappuwa Police on a tip-off. They arrested 39 people between the ages of 18 and 39. They had come there from different parts of the country following an open invitation for a fictitious birthday party from an unknown Facebook [...]
A legendary battle between a UN chief & a US envoy
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – Madeleine Albright, a former US envoy to the United Nations and later the first female US Secretary of State, who passed away last week, had a long running battle with UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Boutros Boutros-Ghali, a former deputy prime minister of Egypt. The independence of the Secretary-General is a longstanding myth [...]
Trojan Horses in Troy and Colombo
We were deep in thought about the issue that most Sri Lankans are thinking about today when a book came over our gate that may be considered a readymade handbook to identify causes of the national crises engaging our attention. Our longtime friend, oldest member of the oldest Sri Lankan social club, archaeologist and neighbour, [...]
Changing the pillow
I have been musing these days about Sinhala proverbs – the “Prasthaa Pirulu” we learned from our childhood. This homespun Sinhala can pithily draw attention to the current happenings in our country that cannot adequately be described or explained – not even if one were to use words of learned length and thundering sound used [...]
Sri Lanka, short of food, faces an economic crisis
At dawn hundreds of people wait in bread lines. Elderly men and women pick through garbage. Thieves harvest vegetables and rice in the countryside. Although the earth is bountiful in Sri Lanka, which was formerly Ceylon, the nation of 13 million has a critical food shortage. Moreover, it is going broke, jolted by inflation, torn [...]
A well-finished all-in-one text on Lanka’s laws
Book facts: Laws of Sri Lanka Author publisher: Dr. Jayatissa De Costa Distributor: Sarasavi Book Shop It is a pleasure and privilege to review the book, ‘Laws of Sri Lanka’ authored by Dr Jayatissa de Costa. PC. This is the 31st publication of a legal practitioner cum academic cum researcher cum administrator, a rare combination [...]