In February 2013, I interviewed Imalka de Silva, the first Lankan woman to visit Antarctica. She accomplished this feat in March 2010 when she joined an international team who spent two weeks on an expedition to the frozen continent. I have just interviewed an experienced Lankan mountaineering duo, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala and Johann Peries, who plan […]
In February 2013, I interviewed Imalka de Silva, the first Lankan woman to visit Antarctica. She accomplished this feat in March 2010 when she joined an international team who spent two weeks on an expedition to the frozen continent. I have just interviewed an experienced Lankan mountaineering duo, Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala and Johann Peries, who plan […]
This week, I was asked by Sri Lanka’s oldest newspaper publishing house — Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, or Lake House — to chair a panel discussion on ‘Survival and Evolution of Newspapers in the Digital Age’. The event marked the 130th birth anniversary of Lake House founder and Sri Lanka’s first press baron, D […]
This week, I was asked by Sri Lanka’s oldest newspaper publishing house — Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, or Lake House — to chair a panel discussion on ‘Survival and Evolution of Newspapers in the Digital Age’. The event marked the 130th birth anniversary of Lake House founder and Sri Lanka’s first press baron, D […]
Social media bashing is a popular sport among media critics and others in Sri Lanka. Sadly, some have no clear idea what social media is (and isn’t), thus conflating this category of web content with others like news websitea and gossip websites. In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 21 February 2016), I […]
Social media bashing is a popular sport among media critics and others in Sri Lanka. Sadly, some have no clear idea what social media is (and isn’t), thus conflating this category of web content with others like news websitea and gossip websites. In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 21 February 2016), I […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 14 February 2016), I discuss key findings of the top-line report of a survey on the consumption and perceptions of mainstream and social media in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It was launched on 27 January 2016 by the non-profit research and advocacy group, the […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 14 February 2016), I discuss key findings of the top-line report of a survey on the consumption and perceptions of mainstream and social media in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. It was launched on 27 January 2016 by the non-profit research and advocacy group, the […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 7 February 2016), I reflect on the value of independence of thought and critical thinking. It coincides with the 68th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s political independence from Britain observed on Feb 4. I argue that for much of Sri Lanka’s recorded history, we had open frontiers […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 7 February 2016), I reflect on the value of independence of thought and critical thinking. It coincides with the 68th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s political independence from Britain observed on Feb 4. I argue that for much of Sri Lanka’s recorded history, we had open frontiers […]
On 27 January 2016, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) launched the top-line report of a survey on the consumption and perceptions of mainstream and social media in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. I was one of the launch speakers, and my presentation was titled: Information Society is Rising in Sri Lanka: ARE YOU […]
On 27 January 2016, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) launched the top-line report of a survey on the consumption and perceptions of mainstream and social media in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. I was one of the launch speakers, and my presentation was titled: Information Society is Rising in Sri Lanka: ARE YOU […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 24 January 2016), I wonder why some people in Sri Lanka – including educated ones – keep clamouring for a return to monarchy that ended 200 years ago. The Lankan monarchy always remained absolute until it ended in 1815. There were no formal limits to the […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 24 January 2016), I wonder why some people in Sri Lanka – including educated ones – keep clamouring for a return to monarchy that ended 200 years ago. The Lankan monarchy always remained absolute until it ended in 1815. There were no formal limits to the […]
“Sri Lanka wants to make a new Constitution in a radically different way. It is poised to become the first developing country in the world to ‘crowd-source’ ideas for making the highest law of the land. “That is all well and good – as long as the due process is followed, and that process has […]
In this week’s Ravaya column (appearing in issue of 17 January 2016), I critique the public communications practices President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka – and call for better listening and more engagement by the head of state. I point out that Sirisena is in danger of overexposure in the mainstream media, which I call […]
At Sri Lanka’s seventh presidential election, held on 8 January 2015, we citizens sent the despotic Rajapaksa regime home. Contrary to some assertions, it was an entirely a home-grown, non-violent and democratic process. An impressive 81.52% of registered voters (or 12.26 million persons) took part in choosing our next head of state and head of […]
Here are my wishes for 2016, shared on Facebook and Twitter as home-made web memes. I wish for a truly OPEN SOCIETY in Sri Lanka in 2016 where good ideas flow freely, public debate is informed, wide-ranging and courteous and there are no Sacred Cows! Let’s make it so! The power is with each and […]
Managing disaster early warnings is both a science and an art. When done well, it literally saves lives — but only if the word quickly reaches all those at risk, and they know how to react. We have come a long way since the devastating Boxing Day tsunami of December 2004 caught Indian Ocean countries […]
Sri Lanka’s new government has committed to drafting a new Constitution to replace the current one adopted in 1978. According to the Cabinet spokesperson, “for the first time [in Sri Lanka], a Constitution is going to be framed with the consultation of people.” Though the country has adopted Constitutions twice after independence — in 1972 and […]