Egypt foils Global March to Gaza; Sri Lankan activist among those deported
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Thousands of international activists attempting to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza were blocked by Egyptian authorities on Friday as they tried to cross the Sinai with humanitarian aid and reach the Rafah border. “We were stopped in Ismailia, and our passports were taken from us at the checkpoints,” said Sasha Fathome, who [...]
US threatens UN members seeking a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The United States, a longstanding and unyielding Israeli ally, is threatening UN member states, urging them to keep off an upcoming meeting aimed at recognising a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The meeting, to be co-chaired by France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and [...]
Rediscovering Ravana: A legend reimagined
Reviewed by Hana Ibrahim In the vast tapestry of mythology, few figures are as polarising as Ravana—the mighty king of Lanka, the learned scholar, the fearsome adversary of Rama. For centuries, the Ramayana has painted him as a demonic figure, a symbol of arrogance and evil. But what if there is more to his story? [...]
Reflections of a politician with conscience
Reviewed by S.R. Pathiravithana The “Truth” is a vital ingredient of conscience. You can also make it a way of life. Truth cannot be defined as a perspective or a profound statement. Truth will always be stubbornly on its own, no matter what the final outcome is. So, stick by your conscience, and the truth [...]
Can the Conference on Financing for Development succeed?
By Jayati Ghosh, Project Syndicate, Exclusive to the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka NEW DELHI – It is easy to be pessimistic about multilateralism nowadays. Recent international gatherings—including the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit, the 2024 Summit of the Future, and multiple United Nations Climate Change Conferences—have yielded only unfulfilled promises. At a time when [...]