Max Planck Society, an intellectual hub for high quality research
Germany, the “Land of ideas” (German: Land der Ideen), is highly reputed for high quality, innovative, and internationally attractive first-class research and has produced more than 100 Nobel laureates since 1900. The research community of Germany is comprised of higher education institutions and non-university research institutes which include internationally renowned research organisations such as the [...]
Promoting Sri Lanka-Japan friendship
On an invitation extended by the Pelpola Vipassi Foundation, a Japanese delegation arrived in Sri Lanka to take part in a function organized by the foundation with the aim of promoting Sri Lanka-Japan friendship. Western Provincial Councillor and Pragna Pradeepa Concept Initiator Jayantha de Silva, who was the chief guest, is seen lighting the traditional [...]
Ex-international civil servants elect Dr. Hettiaratchy as AFICS president
Association of Former International Civil Servants (AFICS) Sri Lanka held its 24th Annual General Assembly on February 17 and elected Dr. Dr. Nimal Hettiaratchy (UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP) as its president. The other officials elected are: Vice- Presidents: Lalith Godamunne (UNHCR) and Dr. Methsiri Gunaratne (WHO) Secretary-General: K.M.D. Gunaratne (Commonwealth Secretariat) Hony. Treasurer: Tilak Dias Abeysinghe [...]
Tabloid India
NEW DELHI – When the Bollywood superstar Sridevi Kapoor drowned last month, at age 54, in a bathtub in a Dubai hotel, coverage of her tragic death once again showcased all that is wrong with Indian media. Sridevi – who, after a 15-year hiatus, had made a spectacularly successful return to the silver screen in [...]
Gratiaen Prize 2017 shortlist to be announced on April 2
The shortlist for the Gratiaen Prize 2017 will be announced on Monday April 2 at 6 p.m. at the British Council Library, Colombo. All are invited to attend the announcement and listen to the reading of excerpts from the shortlisted entries. The Prize is awarded each year to the best submitted creative work in English, [...]
Young Russian dancers to rekindle memories of Anna Pavlova
Anna Pavlova, the name still resonates with lovers of dance. As a principal artist of Mariinsky Ballet, formerly known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, and the Ballet Russes, she gained the title of prima ballerina (the chief female dancer) due to her unconditional commitment and determination towards this form of art. Born in 1881, Pavlova’s [...]
Motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das for the first time in Sri Lanka
Happiness is elusive, but important to humans if they wish to lead a life of purpose. In our current lifestyles, we rarely focus attention on how happy we are and on being happy, but the moment we are unhappy, we feel the difference and it negatively affects every aspect of our lives. We need support [...]
Fake propaganda against Muslims threat to national unity
Communal politics and consequential conflicts in Sri Lanka have a history of over a hundred years. The British for their own well known reasons divided us. But even after 70 years of independence from the British, we are still heroic in our glorification of divisions. We have failed so far to forge a united nation. [...]
Merchants of death ultimate winners in escalating military conflicts
UNITED NATIONS – In most military conflicts worldwide, the ultimate winners are not one of the warring parties – but the world’s prolific arms traders, described by peace activists as “merchants of death”. While fighting keeps escalating, the hunger for conventional weapons continues unabated, as exemplified in several ongoing battles. The conflicts include the six-year [...]
Misdiagnosing Kim Jong-un
MILAN – Throughout history, political observers have found decision-makers who are deemed “crazy” the most difficult to assess. In fact, the problem is rarely one of psychopathology. Usually, the label merely indicates behaviour that is different from what conventional analysts were expecting. This was surely true of the twelfth-century Syrian religious leader Rashid al-Din Sinan. [...]