A week that will shake Sri Lanka’s future
Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe via PRI Who is winning? This seems to be the question many people these days are keen to find an answer to. Whenever this question is put to…
Development
EleFriendly Bus Endangered after Easter Sunday Attacks
Several months on, the effect of the Easter Sunday attacks on April 21, 2019 is being felt even in remote areas like Wasgamuwa, affecting both children and elephants. As an indirect result…
INFOGRAPHIC: What Can Rs. 17 Billion Buy?
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the operations of Sri Lankan and Mihin airlines has revealed corruption, malpractice and political interference. Pulling no punches, the Commission in its final report made a…
The ecology of an issue: ‘Save Wilpattu’ on Facebook and Twitter
When over the weekend, senior journalist Amantha Perera sent a link to a post on Facebook asking if it was one that was popular, the answer took me into a brief study…
Budget 2019 – A Round Up
On March 5, 2019, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera presented the Budget in Parliament. spoke to economists for their reactions. Here’s what we asked: W A Wijewardena – Former Deputy Governor Central Bank…
Sri Lanka’s political system: A Failure of Governance
This essay examines failures of governance in Sri Lanka. Although discussed within the context of State Owned Enterprises (SOE), they affect many other aspects of public life. The weaknesses in the governance…
A Day in Saraswathi’s Life (VIDEO)
38-year-old Saraswathi wakes at 5.30 am to send her children to school before she heads to work. In this video, produced by Selvaraja Rajasegar of , she readies her children for school, in…
Keppapulavu: Land Struggle Reaches Boiling Point after 700 days of protest
700 days is a long time for a day and night protest outside an Army camp. Since March 1, 2017, the people of Keppapulavu, located in the Mullaitheevu district in Northern Sri…
Release Our Land As Promised: Displaced People And Supporters Write to President
Editor’s Note: The following is the text of a letter handed over to the President, Prime Minister and party leaders, asking for the release of land in the North and East to…
“Our Request – Rs. 1000” | On the Wage Negotiations For Estate Workers
For five days, estate workers have been holding a hunger strike in front of the Fort railway station, asking for a Rs. 1000 basic wage. Currently, the workers receive Rs. 500 as…
Managing Chaos: Why Sri Lanka Needs To Think Long Term For Disaster Response
In 2017, filed a series of RTI requests to ascertain more about Sri Lanka’s early warning system. (Click here and here to see the original RTI requests filed with the Metereological Department and…
Is Bribery A Fact of Life in Sri Lanka?
Is bribery a fact of life in Sri Lanka? The following video captures perceptions on bribery and corruption across five cities, and in English, Sinhala and Tamil. The issue of corruption has…
Hidden Costs: The Impact of Foreign Debt on Sri Lankan Citizens
It is estimated that Sri Lanka’s debt servicing cost will be USD 4.2 billion next year. From 2000 to 2009, Sri Lanka’s foreign debt doubled, from USD 9 billion in 2000 to…
#StrikeSL – Railway Union Action Frustrates Commuters
Fort Railway Station was eerily quiet on August 9. The ticket-counters and the Station Master’s office were empty and unstaffed. There was a heavy police presence at the station, but none of…
Up in Smoke: The Rio 35 years after Black July
Ratnarajah Navaratnam was born the same year his father, Appapillai, opened Navah Cinema in 1951. This was soon to be followed by the Rio Cinema in 1965. The Rio Hotel came more than…
