The Crisis Is Far From Over For Colombo’s Poor
The long lines at fuel stations have disappeared as have the frequent power outages; it’s almost as if the economic crisis is a thing of the past. For Colombo’s working class poor…
Colombo
Gaza in End Times
Jonathan Glazer, director of The Zone of Interest (Oscar acceptance speech) The Pali Canon has the original tale but it’s the version in the commentaries we know. In both stories, she is…
Democracy in Sri Lanka: Backsliding or Inching Forward?
The world is becoming less democratic and more autocratic (i.e. authoritarian). One of the best sources of information is the annual issued by the V-Dem Institute in Sweden. The Institute continuously measures…
Capitalism and Empowerment of Women
Exploitation of women continues within patriarchal societies and marriages. Forced marriages is one of the more notorious examples; the most extreme version of this, is a form of modern day slavery. In…
The Aragalaya and a Vote of No Confidence on the Speaker
The publishing of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s memoirs, almost predictably titled The Conspiracy to oust me from the presidency, provide an opportunity to reevaluate those tumultuous events that did led to the…
Mannar Island: A Paradise At the Crossroads
Mannar Island transcends the realm of a mere tourist destination. It’s a living tapestry woven with threads of breathtaking natural beauty, a profound historical heritage and a vibrant cultural diversity that has…
V. V. Ganeshananthan: Powerful Stories From a Civil War
V. V. Ganeshananthan, also known as Sugi, is the author of the novels , which was longlisted for the Women’s Prize and named one of the best books of the year by…
Gender Equality, Empowerment of Women and the JVP
My previous article about the International Women’s Day emphasised the importance of working towards gender equality, which is essential for the world in its journey towards a reconciled and a fairer place….
The Presidential Politics of Economic Recovery
The year 2024 is an election year in Sri Lanka with the president’s term of office ending on November 17, 2024 and accordingly the conduct of a presidential election constitutionally mandated upon…
Despite Stringent Laws, Destruction of Forests Continues with Impunity
Politicians, government officers, temple officials and business people are illegally acquiring hundreds of acres of forest land belonging to the Department of Forest Conservation in the Kataragama area and distributing them to…
Is Sri Lanka’s Apparel Sector Prepared to Face Pathogen X?
HuffPost The World Health Organization (WHO) is expressing concerns about the global community’s readiness for pathogen X, a highly contagious pathogen that could emerge in the future. Scientists predict a higher likelihood…
Conspiracy, What Conspiracy?
Former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has released a book entitled “The Conspiracy to oust me from Presidency”. Also on the cover are the words “how internationally sponsored regime change made a mockery of…
Shattering Glass Ceilings in the Tea Plantation Industry
Women working as tea pickers form the single largest segment of the plantation workforce in Sri Lanka, with little room to progress in their careers. Over the years women occupied in manual…
The Fight for Women’s Empowerment During Conflict and Crises
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate progress. Sri Lanka, like many nations, grapples with a confluence of crises driven by geopolitical conflicts, rising…
Villains and Victims
A recent discussion about “toxic masculinity” has prompted a great deal of comment, particularly as the host and his guest appeared to comment favourably on the media personality Andrew Tate and the academic…
