The Thaiyatty Land Issue
Although the civil war ended 16 years ago, Sri Lanka’s land conflicts continue with state agencies appropriating land used and owned by Tamil and Muslim communities in the north and east in…
Culture
Dreaming of Candies and Guns: Objects of Resistance
In , Anupa Perera’s exhibition at the Paradise Road Saskia Fernando Gallery (PRSFG), still life serves as a powerful lens to examine turbulent intersections of politics, conflict and environmental degradation. Perera fuses…
A Venerated Teacher, Author and Scholar
In my tribute to her last week, I noted that Sumitra Peries belonged to a generation which also saw Mahagama Sekara, Gamini Fonseka, Madawala S. Ratnayake, Premasiri Khemadasa, Gunadasa Amarasekara and Siri…
Reflections on Professor Gananath Obeyesekere
Professor Gananath Obeyesekere was an excellent teacher, researcher and scholar as well as an excellent communicator mainly in English. Although born and raised in an urbane middle class family and educated in…
Israeli Tourists Spark Tensions in Arugam Bay
Arugam Bay, once an idyllic and peaceful coastal town in the southeast, is facing growing tensions as the number of Israeli tourists, particularly those with military connections, continues to rise. The influx…
Exploring How Perceptions of Land Have Shaped Sri Lanka
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Total Landscaping exhibition features the work of 29 contemporary artists moving beyond traditional depictions of landscapes and instead exploring how perceptions of land in Sri…
MMDA Reform Is About Women’s and Girls’ Lives Not Political Games
Following the parliamentary debates on the Women’s Ministry budget allocation commencing March 8, fears are being raised within Muslim communities that reform of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) is an…
The Life and Work of a Master Artist and Teacher
A. Mark was an eminent artist and teacher who played a significant role in the artistic and cultural heritage of the Tamil community. He was born in 1933 in Gurunagar, Jaffna and…
Protecting Women in a Patriarchal Society
The statistics speak for themselves. Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) as well as child abuse have reached alarming proportions throughout the country; several cases are reported daily in the media. One…
Is the 2025 Budget Workable for Women?
reliefweb “ The government’s 2025 budget, introduced under a new administration with progressive ideologies, claims to prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment. With gender focused allocations, it outlines initiatives to improve women’s…
Fighting for the Rights of the LGBTIQ Community
Thanks to archaic Victorian-era laws that are still present in Sri Lanka, the country’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer/Questioning (LGBTIQ) community has been marginalised and discriminated against for over a…
Justice in Flames: Art as Resistance in Sri Lanka’s Crisis
Anomaa Rajakaruna’s documentary on the aragalaya, was filmed in 2022 when Sri Lanka faced an unprecedented economic crisis. Fuel shortages led to long lines at gas stations and electricity cuts extended for…
Empireworld: How British Imperialism Shaped the Globe
The Galle Literary Festival took place in the heart of Galle’s fort, inviting diverse voices in poetry and prose to host thought provoking discussions. From philosophy to identity politics, cricket to crime…
Chasing the Elusive Rainbow
news click What does a second Donald Trump presidency really mean, especially for women and minority rights not only in the US but also globally? (Un)fortunately, we have a considerable number of…
Nihal Fernando: An Enduring Brilliance
I had heard of Nihal Fernando, not just as one of the greatest photographers this country has ever produced, but who also was at the heart of many notable conservation campaigns of…
