A new book, being published by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) this month, traces life stories of 25 extraordinary men and women who excelled in various fields of science, technology and engineering. Titled ‘Seekers and Builders of Our World: Inspiring Stories of 25 Scientists’, the 350-page book highlights the vital […]
Sri Lanka will hold a general election on 17 August 2015 to elect a new Parliament. It has been preceded by a high level of citizen and civil society advocacy for raising the standard for who should be elected to represent the people as their Members of Parliament. Public concerns about deteriorating Parliamentary debate and […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (in Sinhala), published in the issue dated 11 January 2015, I offer an initial analysis of media-based political campaign communications during the run-up to Sri Lanka’s 7th Presidential Election on 8 January 2015. The column was written on 5 January, as physical campaigning (meetings and outdoor promotion) came to an […]
I just received a totally unexpected award from an unlikely source. Vidyodaya Literary Award for best newspaper column in Sinhala during 2012. The award is one of several presented annually by the University of Sri Jayawardenapura to celebrate creative writing and journalism in Sri Lanka. Each September, the University’s faculty members and students announce […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (in Sinhala language), I probe why sections of Lankan society is habouring growing fears of social media, especially Facebook. A few have called for a blanket ban of Facebook, which the secretary to the Ministry of Media has assured (in his Twitter feed) would not happen. There is an urgent […]
On 24 October 2015, United Nations marks its 70th birthday. A few weeks later, on 15 December 2015, is the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) becoming a member state of this inter-governmental organisation. In this week’s Ravaya column, (appearing in issue of 25 Oct 2015), I continue my focus on Sri Lanka’s engagement […]
Civil society – in its widest sense – played a key role in the recent peaceful change of government in Sri Lanka. It was civil society advocacy – for ending corruption, ensuring independence of judiciary, and increasing democratic checks and balances on the executive presidency – that inspired a larger citizen demand for better governance. […]
The July 21 Statement on Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom, issued by 10 media associations and advocacy groups in Sri Lanka for the attention of political parties contesting in General Election 2015, included this recommendation: “Privacy and Surveillance: The state should respect and protect the privacy of all citizens. There should be strict limits […]
On 13 Feb 2015, while briefly in London, I visited BBC’s new Media Centre and recorded brief interviews with BBC Sinhala and BBC Tamil services (radio) on the role of social media during the Sri Lanka Presidential Election 2015 – the topic of my talk at University of London the previous day. BBC Sinhala published […]
Sinhala children’s weekly newspaper Mihira has just completed 50 years of publication. The paper holds nostalgic memories for those of us who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s with limited access to reading material. The tabloid was launched by Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL, or Lake House) on 27 July 1964. Its founder […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (in Sinhala), I introduce a recent anthology of rationalist essays compiled and edited by leading Sinhala language writer Ajith Thilakasena. I was asked to talk about the book at a recent meeting of the Sri Lanka Rationalists’ Association. Since I too have contributed a chapter, I cannot review the book; […]
Sri Lanka is emerging as an important global destination for Information Technology supported Business process outsourcing (IT-BPO). This knowledge service industry is one of many benefits of improving telecommunications services and IT capability in the country. It is creating many well-paid jobs, and generating growing volumes of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka’s economy (USD 720 […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (in Sinhala, published in issue of 3 May 2015), I talk about the Magna Carta, one of the most famous documents in the world. This years marks the 800th anniversary of its adoption in medieval England in 1215. It was the first formal document stating that a King had to […]
Read Sinhala version of this note: තරු අතරට ගිය දරුවා: ආතර් සී. ක්ලාක්ගේ ළමා කාලය පොතක් ලෙසින් A new Sinhala language book, being released this week, traces the formative years of Sir Arthur C Clarke (1917 – 2008), author, undersea explorer and futurist. Titled ‘Tharu Atharata Giya Daruwa: Childhood of Arthur C Clarke’, the book […] ...
In this week’s Ravaya column (in Sinhala), I revisit the aviation vision and accomplishments of the late Ray Wijewardene (1924-2010). Licensed to fly fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and autogyros, he had a colourful flying career spanning half a century. In this time, he designed, built and flew over a dozen light aircraft and kept innovating […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (in Sinhala), I chronicle the struggle by people of the Republic of Maldives – Asia’s smallest state by land area and population – to achieve democratic pluralism and good governance. In October 2008, long-term autocratic ruler President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was defeated in the country’s first multi-party elections by Mohamed […]
Long before Malala, there was another spirited young girl named Meena. Like Malala Yousafzai does today, Meena too spoke out for and on behalf of girls — their right to education, good health, nutrition and, most important, to be treated the same way as boys. Like Malala, young Meena too spoke passionately yet courteously. While […]
Statement on Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom For the attention of political parties contesting in Sri Lanka General Election 2015 Issued at a press conference held at Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) in Colombo on 21 July 2015 Sinhala version: 2015 මහ මැතිවරණය: භාෂණයේ නිදහස හා මාධ්ය නිදහස පිළිබඳ ප්රකාශය Since the Presidential Election on […] ...