50 years on: Indira’s emergency and India’s descent into political darkness
By Kumar Chellappan in Chennai A Carnatic musician, known as Chennai’s enfant terrible, declared that there was no freedom of expression in India under the Narendra Modi regime. A media baron based in Tamil Nadu is going around the world alleging that there was an undeclared emergency in the country. Though these allegations could be described [...]
After ceasefire, Iran is preparing for the long war with Israel
In line with its long-standing approach of strategic patience, Iran is not stepping back but rearming and regrouping for a drawn-out confrontation By Mohammad Eslami and Ibrahim al-Marashi An uneasy US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran has ended a 12-day exchange of strikes, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring victory. It marked one [...]
The rise of Islamophobia in New York’s mayoral elections—with the Statue of Liberty in a burqa
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The prospect of New Yorkers electing their first Muslim mayor come November has ignited a rash of paranoid statements by right-wing US politicians, including charges of Islamophobia—the irrational fear and hatred against Islam and Muslims. Last week, a Republican politician caricatured America’s iconic Statue of Liberty wearing a [...]
The Blue and Gold Ball 2025: A night to remember
The grandeur and tradition of the Old Royalists’ Association in the UK came to life recently at the splendid Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate, as members and guests gathered for the much-anticipated Blue and Gold Ball—the Association’s flagship annual event. Nestled in the rolling countryside of Hertfordshire, the Down Hall Manor with its beautiful [...]
Three books on Palestine launched
Three books on the Palestinian crisis by prominent writers and political commentators—former minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar and veteran journalists Latheef Farook and Mahinda Hattaka—were launched on Tuesday at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute in Colombo. The event featured speeches by the authors as well as book reviews. Former Ambassador and Attorney-at-Law M.M. Zuhair reviewed Mr. Bakeer [...]
Jehovah’s Witnesses will hold international convention in Colombo
Jehovah’s Witnesses will host their international convention 2025 from September 5 to 7 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. The event is expected to draw over 14,000 attendees, including 3,500 delegates from 10 countries, such as the United States, Australia, Japan, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Around 1,700 delegates will arrive from the United States [...]
WIF joins UNFPA’s Global Equity 2030 Alliance
The Women’s International Foundation (WIF) has become one of the first Sri Lankan organizations to join the UNFPA-led Equity 2030 Alliance, a global initiative aimed at accelerating gender-inclusive innovation and closing the gender equity gap. This recognition marks a major milestone in WIF’s work to challenge entrenched social norms through high-impact advocacy and grassroots action. [...]
St Sebastian’s Church procession attracts many devotees
The annual feast procession of St Sebastian’s Church, Nayakakanda Parish, which belongs to the Wattala Deanery, was held last Sunday with the participation of a large number of faithful. This is considered the longest-running feast procession in the Archdiocese of Colombo, which includes the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara. The procession began at 1.30 [...]
S.M.A.R.T Books™ with AI: Helping parents raise wise, kind kids!
In today’s fast-changing world, many parents seek ways to nurture important values like kindness, mindfulness, and good habits in their children—but struggle to find engaging tools that truly connect. Enter Loving Books, a new initiative blending traditional wisdom with innovative technology to create a series of children’s books that are as fun as they are [...]
Can AI deliver broad-based prosperity?
By Michael Spence, Project Syndicate, Exclusive to the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka MILAN – There is little consensus around anything AI-related these days. But one expectation that does seem to have taken hold among a large share of businesses, investors, and analysts is that the technology will enhance productivity in a wide range of [...]