The largest multi-billion dollar deal in US history—and a potential 51st American state?
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IPS)—When US President Donald Trump offered to declare neighbouring Canada as America’s 51st state, the Canadians vehemently rejected the proposal. “We don’t want to be part of America,” was the rallying cry. And the short-lived offer was shot down in flames. The next target was Greenland, an autonomous territory within [...]
Vesak at the United Nations in Vienna
The International Day of Vesak was observed at the United Nations Office in Vienna at a ceremony co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka and the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations and International Organizations in Vienna on 12 May 2025. The ceremony commenced with welcome remarks by the Ambassador and Permanent [...]
ACUMLYF marks Founders’ Day with focus on Palestine
The All Ceylon Union of Muslim League Youth Fronts marked Founders’ Day with an event at the J R Jayewardene Cultural Centre this week. Chief guest at the event was former speaker Karu Jayasuriya. Sri Lanka’s former representative to the UN in Geneva Dayan Jayatilleka gave a keynote speech on ‘Unveiling Justice: How the Palestinian [...]
RAASL lecture this week
‘Excavation of the Uposathaghara at Sapumalgaskada Vihara, Kalebogaswewa, Vavuniya: Preliminary Findings’ is the topic of this month’s Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RAASL). It will be delivered by Chandima Bandara Ambanwela, Senior Lecturer, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management, University of Rajarata, Mihintale, on Monday, May 26 at 5.30 pm via Zoom only in [...]
ComBank and its CEO clinch top honours as ‘Sri Lanka’s Best’ from The Asian Banker
Commercial Bank and its Managing Director/CEO Sanath Manatunge have been named the ‘Best Managed Bank’ and the ‘Best Bank CEO’ in Sri Lanka respectively by The Asian Banker (TAB) magazine, bestowing on them two prestigious accolades that are presented once in every three years. These awards, in respect of the 2022-2024 period, were presented at [...]
Ceylon Baithulmal Fund University scholarship programme
The 2nd phase of the University Scholarship programme of the Ceylon Baithulmal Fund was successfully completed on 18th May, 2025 with 126 students from the 17 Universities Island wide being the beneficiaries. This project was implemented in partnership with Muslim Hands Sri Lanka, an international non-governmental organization established in the United Kingdom in 1993 and [...]
1975 Pera Science batch 50th anniversary reunion
Peradeniya University alumni who gained entrance to the Faculty of Science in the year 1975 will celebrate their Golden Jubilee on the 8th of June 2025. Over one hundred batchmates including those living abroad will travel to Peradeniya and meet at the Faculty of Science for the 50th Anniversary reunion. The highlight of the day [...]
Afdhal takes oaths
Muhammad Afdhal Ahsan Marikar (LLB University of London) took oaths at the Supreme Court as an Attorney at Law before Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, Justice Janak De Silva and Justice Sampath Wijeratne on May 15. He is the son of Justice Ahsan Marikar and the grandson of late A W M Razik Marikar Attorney at Law [...]
Book launch
Ananthaluxmy Tharmaseelan, the eldest sister of V N Mathialagan handed over the copies of his books to Prime Mister Harini Amarasuriya. Media secretary of the Prime Minister’s office Vijitha Basnayake and the relations of Mr Mathialagan, Aathithan Tharmaseelan andLuxi Nethri Aathithan are also seen in the picture.
Farewell, America: Trump’s isolationism leaves a widening void in world order
By Carl Bildt, Project Syndicate, Exclusive to the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka STOCKHOLM – Are we heading into an era when the United States simply matters less? This question may sound odd, considering that America remains the world’s leading military and technological power, reserve-currency issuer, and anchor of the global financial system. But with [...]
The IMF is missing in action
By Desmond Lachman, Project Syndicate, Exclusive to the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka WASHINGTON, DC – According to the International Monetary Fund’s Articles of Agreement, the Fund’s main purpose is to facilitate the balanced growth of international trade and thereby promote high levels of employment and real (inflation-adjusted) income. Yet with globalisation facing its [...]