Reproductive rights are often treated as a political bargaining chip; this must stop
This year marks fifty years since the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was established, globally. Fifty years ago, the world was a different place. It was difficult for women to have the choice on when to complete their education, when to plan a career, or when to start a family. Women found it difficult to [...]
Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial Lecture: Speakers from Israeli-Palestinian org.The Parents Circle – Families Forum
The 20th Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial Lecture ‘It Won’t Stop Until We Talk’ at the BMICH on July 28, 2019 at 6 p.m. will feature two speakers – Robi Damelin and Bassam Aramin, members of the Israeli-Palestinian organisation– The Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF), comprising over 600 families who have all lost an immediate family [...]
Lanka-Japan Friendship Society AGM
Japanese Ambassador Akira Sugiyama seen here addressing a gathering, was Chief Guest at the 63rd Annual General Meeting of the Lanka-Japan Friendship Society held at the Sasakawa Cultural Centre, Colombo 3. In the picture from left to right: Prof. Gaminda Haegoda general secretary LJFS, Raja Sinnathurai, President and Rukshan Perera, Treasurer, LJFS.
Law College Principal to deliver Pulimood Memorial Oration
The 29th annual Susan George Pulimood Memorial Oration of Visakha Vidyalaya, will be held on Tuesday, July 23 at 5.15 p.m. in the Jeremias Dias Hall of the school. This year, the Oration will be delivered by the Principal of Sri Lanka Law College Indira Samarasinghe (nee Senaratne ) PC. A distinguished product of Visakha, [...]
Fans for Ward 11 at NIMH
The Sri Lanka Association of Administrative and Professional Secretaries (SLAAPS) has come forward to maintain Ward 11 — Half Way Home — at the National Institute of Mental Health to mark the Founders Day. To help their cause, the United Arab Emirates embassy donated six fans to the Ward recently and more donations are [...]
National Trust lecture: “Clean, green and free: Solar electricity for 2035”
Surrey Distinguished Professor S. Ravi P. Silva will talk on, “Clean, green and free: solar electricity for 2035” in the monthly lecture of the National Trust – Sri Lanka at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10 on Thursday, July 25 at 6.30 p.m. Energy generation worldwide is going [...]
Bernard Soysa Memorial Award: SLAAS calls for applications
The Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) is inviting applications for the Bernard Soysa Memorial Award for Scientific Research – 2019. Applications will be evaluated on the basis of relevance, originality, applicability and peer recognition. The research should have been carried out in Sri Lanka, in a discipline coming under the purview [...]
Book launch: Poetry and short stories
A collection of poetry titled Muhunata Muhuna Le Sohonaki and a book of short stories, Aparade, E November by Kapila M. Gamage will be launched at the Mahaweli Centre auditorium on Saturday, July 27 at 3 p.m. The work of poetry will be discussed by Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, senior lecturer at the Sabaragamuwa University, [...]
Lankan artists aiming at unity and peace
An exhibition of Sri Lankan artists – paintings, drawings and installations commemorating past acts concealed in shame, curated by Prof. Chandraguptha Thenuwara will be held from July 24- 31 from 10 a.m to 7 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Gallery. This unique exhibition of the creative expressions of ten talented Sri Lankans is presented by [...]
Semata Sarana programme in Borella
Public Settlement Committees were set up in every Grama Niladhari division to facilitate the National Housing Development Authority’s Semata Sarana housing programme. A ceremony was held in Borella with the UNP’s Borella electorate chief organiser Jayantha de Silva taking part as chief guest. He is seen here handing over an application to a residence.
Anecdotes of chaos
When the post of Executive President was declared by J R Jayewardene, the only MP to oppose it was Dr Neville Fernando from Panadura. I can very well remember this incident. Those days an MP could resign from a party and cross over to the opposition without losing his seat in Parliament. That is how [...]
Capital punishment goes against the reformative aspects of justice
“The death penalty is not about whether people deserve to die for the crimes they commit. The real question of Capital Punishment in this country is, Do we deserve to kill?” Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption My Sri Lanka is on the cusp of deciding its course for the future. [...]
Requiem for a State: The slicing and dicing of Sri Lanka
With its two constituents now at war, our hybrid government is terminally ill. As Sirisena himself admitted, for two years his SLFP-faction and Ranil were at loggerheads. He cruelly scolded the Ranil Cabinet (his own Cabinet) on TV. He also called Ranil associates “Samanalayo” (butterfly – implying gay). Illustrating this tension, Ranil complained that during [...]
Asia’s scary movie: Stability is under threat
NEW YORK – History at any moment can be understood as a snapshot, telling us where we are, or as a moving picture, telling us not just where we are but where we have been and where we may be headed. It is a distinction with an enormous difference. Consider East Asia and the Pacific. [...]