How Climate Change is Affecting Eastern Sri Lanka
In the Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, where the Gal Oya meets the sea, farmers, fishermen and families are facing an ongoing crisis. It is one shaped by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall…
Politics and Governance
Trapped, Still
May 2024 marked the 15th anniversary of the ending of the long Eelam War. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardana presided over the annual “war heroes” commemoration. Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was among the…
Ragging and Sadism in Sri Lanka
The Rajagiriya police arrested Sathsara Nimesh and publicly humiliated him by removing his trousers. At Sabaragamuwa University, seniors tortured Charith Dilshan to death for wearing shorts. Dilshi Amshika, who was sexually abused…
Breaches Of Fiduciary Trust And Duty Of Care
The tragic loss of a young girl called Amshi in recent weeks has caused a great deal of grief and anger in the community. But will this lead to changes in law…
A Missing Path Towards Unity and Reconciliation
May is a month of deep reflection and complex emotions in Sri Lanka. It marks two significant and contrasting commemorations: Mullivaikal Remembrance Day on May and Sri Lanka’s Victory Day on May…
Sixteen Years On, it’s Time for Reflection, Not Only Celebration
Since the end of the 26 year armed conflict in May 2009, whether it should be celebrated as a victory or allowed to be mourned by the war victims has been a…
Documentary Explores Land Grabs in the Name of Buddhism
is a thought provoking documentary produced by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) that delves into the ongoing land conflicts that continue to plague the North and East regions after the civil…
An Examination of Local Government Election Outcomes
The local government elections have sparked widespread political debate, and rightly so. These elections mark a turning point in the country’s grassroots political landscape. But as the dust settles, it is crucial…
Not Enough: Zero Tolerance and Ragging
How do we end ragging at our universities? It is a question that never goes away and one that re-appears every time a student is killed. Charith Dilshan took his own life,…
Power Without Principle: The NPP’s Progressive Illusion
“I want to reaffirm Sri Lanka’s commitment to upholding human rights, gender equality, and social justice…our foremost priority is to ensure that no one is left behind – especially women, children, marginalized…
Sri Lanka, the West and Arabs on Palestine
When the entire Global North led by a sociopath US president whose cognitive capacity is under media scrutiny, has thrown its unreserved support behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s IDF to cleanse…
The End of the Honeymoon: Sentiments on NPP and AKD after the Local Government Election
Writing in March after studying 2,000 comments against President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s (AKD’s) consequential budget speech, I observed there was “a growing public sentiment (bordering on embryonic disenchantment) around the government’s inability to…
Local Government Elections Aim to Restore Democratic Governance at the Grassroots
The Local Government elections scheduled for May 6 give Sri Lankans the opportunity to once again take control of running their own affairs and restore democratic governance at the grassroots level. The…
Local Government Elections Herald a Positive Change for Women in the East
Women in Sri Lanka shun participating in politics for numerous reasons including hostility, harassment, threats, intimidation, violence and personal attacks on all fronts. While women consist 52 percent of the country’s population…
Local Government Elections: Challenges and Stakes
On May 6 Sri Lanka will hold local government elections for 339 councils, engaging over 17 million voters. The elections come at a pivotal moment for the NPP, which has seen a…