Lessons Learnt from Sri Lanka’s Worst Natural Disaster
The tsunami that struck Sri Lanka 20 years ago on December 26, 2004 was the most destructive natural disaster in living memory. It claimed over 39,000 lives and destroyed thousands of houses…
Colombo
Christmas, Palestine, Rohingyas and Sri Lanka
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Palestine, during a time of colonization and political and economic oppression by Roman imperialism. Those who dared to call for freedom and justice were brutally crushed.…
They Nailed Themselves to the Cross
Christianity gained popularity in Sri Lanka following the arrival of European invaders and became a widely practiced religion over time. The Nestorian crosses discovered during archaeological excavations in Anuradhapura, which was a…
Changing the Broken System to a People Friendly One
newswire The NPP government came to power with an ambitious aim of changing the existing system that was broken and did not serve the interests of many, especially the under privileged sections…
Comrade Prins Gunasekera and the Lost Generation
Born in Kataluwa, Galle District, Comrade Prins Gunasekera was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Habaraduwa electorate in March 1960 and re-elected under the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) ticket…
Open Sesame for War Criminals?
In the second decade of the 21st Century, genocide is being televised. , the channel promises Israeli audiences “exclusive content from Gaza” – gory videos of death and destruction visited on Palestinians…
The United Nations’ Paradox: Peacekeeper or Power Puppet?
Racism has been a persistent challenge in human societies. Apart from the historical movements and the fight for justice and rights for marginalised groups, shrouded in open declarations of peace and unity,…
The Civil War Through a Bishop’s Eyes
“The need for survival slings a gun on the shoulders of those who search for bread,” writes a Bishop of the Church of Ceylon. In this reflection on his being a witness…
The Ordeal of Getting a Sri Lankan Passport
At 4.30 am on Wednesday I grabbed my backpack. It was filled with important documents, a chocolate bar large enough to share with a crowd, water, peanuts, a protein bar, a book…
Majority Still Thinks Country Heading in Wrong Direction
According to the Institute for Health Policy’s (IHP) SLOTS polling conducted in November, 25% of Sri Lankan adults believed the country was heading in the right direction while 16% expressed uncertainty about…
Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act: Reform is Not Repeal
In the wake of the presidential and general elections, the National People’s Power (NPP) government will have to navigate the disinformation and scare tactics that were deployed during the campaign period about…
Effective Communication is Vital for NPP Government
Effective communication plays a vital role in governance. If communication is clear and effective, it contributes to promoting transparency and building trust between those holding power and the people who are being…
Bringing Perpetrators of Gross Human Rights Violations to Task
The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), an independent NGO working since 2013 to protect and promote justice and accountability in Sri Lanka, has submitted more than 60 sanctions and visa ban…
The Burden of Expectations
France 24 Compared to the excesses of the good governance regime and the Gotabaya Rajapaksa raj that followed it, the omissions of this government seem trivial and innocent. The NPP is now…
SL Barometer Explores Reconciliation Trends and Challenges
The Sri Lanka Barometer (SLB) has published the results of a three year survey on reconciliation examining eight critical dimensions: accountable governance, addressing the past, identity and belonging, trust, justice for all,…
