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…
Issues
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…
Christmas Card to a President
You ask me to sign a card to the outgoing president and his teacher spouse. Happy to do so while biting my tongue and repeating the mantra that this is a…
From Gaza to Syria Israel Runs Amok
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now an international outlaw and a fugitive under the protection of US. All international institutions including the UN General Assembly (UNGA), UN Security Council (UNSC), International…
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…
Reports Expose Israel’s Campaign of Total Extermination and Genocide in Gaza
A leading human rights organization, Human Rights Watch, and a humanitarian medical organization, MSF, have exposed Israeli’s campaign of total extermination and the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. In a…
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…
Addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
In an effort to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Doctors Without Borders South Asia, in collaboration with the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), has launched ,…
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…