In this week’s Ravaya column, (in Sinhala, appearing in issue of 20 Sep 2015), I share some excerpts from my recent book on the childhood of Sir Arthur C Clarke (1917 – 2008), author, undersea explorer and futurist. Titled ‘Tharu Atharata Giya Daruwa: Childhood of Arthur C Clarke’, the book is written in story-telling style […]
I just spoke on a panel on “Framing discourse: Media, Power and Democracy” which was part of the public exhibition in Colombo called Corridors of power: Drawing and modelling Sri Lanka’s tryst with democracy. The premise for our panel was as follows: The architecture of the mainstream media, and increasingly, social media (even though distinct […]
In this week’s Ravaya column, (in Sinhala, appearing in issue of 13 Sep 2015), I look at the controversy surrounding Coca Cola Sri Lanka polluting a key river in Sri Lanka on two occasions in August 2015. The water contamination was caused when an oil tank at Coca Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd in Biyagama […]
BBC Online Sinhala has just published an opinion article I wrote on Coca Cola Sri Lanka factory polluting the Kelani River, the main source of water supply for Greater Colombo area in Sri Lanka. Their version is found at: http://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri_lanka/2015/09/150909_sp_coca_cola_nalaka#orb-banner Here is my original submission. BBC Online does not, as a policy, provide links […] ...
Engineer, public servant and legislator D J Wimalasurendra (1874 – 1953) is widely known and respected as the ‘Father of Hydro Power in Sri Lanka’. While working with the Ceylon Government’s Public Works Department in the early 20th Century, he made a strong technical and economic case for hydro power. At the time, the country […]
“Every citizen – including activists and academics — can play a part in shaping the future of our democracy. In this, technology is not the only key driver; what matters even more is the strategic use of our imagination and determination. “We may not yet have all the detailed answers of our digital future, but […]
“What role (if any) did social media play in the recently concluded General Election on 17 August 2015? “Many are asking this question – and coming up with different answers. That is characteristic of the cyber realm: there is no single right answer when it comes to a multi-faceted and fast-evolving phenomenon like social media. […]
D J Wimalasurendra (1874 – 1953) was one of the most remarkable engineers in Sri Lanka. Because of his pioneering role in promoting hydro electricity as a source of power for domestic and industrial use, he is known as the ‘Father of Hydro Power in Sri Lanka’. Trained as a civil and electrical engineer, he […]
Regular elections are a necessary but not a sufficient condition for a vibrant democracy. There is much more to democracy than holding free and fair elections. The ‘sufficient conditions’ include having public institutions that allow citizens the chance to participate in political process on an on-going basis; a guarantee that all people are equal before […]
Text of my column written for Echelon monthly business magazine, Sri Lanka, August 2015 issue Media Reforms: The Unfinished Agenda By Nalaka Gunawardene When I was growing up in the 1970s, Sri Lanka’s media landscape was very different. We had only one radio station (state-owned SLBC) and three newspaper houses (Lake House, Times of Ceylon […]
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, appearing in issue of 9 August 2015), I discuss two concepts that could make representative democracy more meaningful. First is adding the option of None of the Above (NOTA) to the list of candidates in an election, so voters can exercise a negative vote – and send a […]
Article published in Daily Mirror newspaper (Sri Lanka) on 3 August 2015 Beyond Google Loon: More Needed to Bring Internet for All By Nalaka Gunawardene On July 28, the government of Sri Lanka signed a memorandum of understanding with Google, Inc., to spread wireless Internet access throughout the island. The partnership with Google Project Loon […]
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 […]
In this week’s Ravaya column, (in Sinhala, appearing in issue of 26 July 2015), I review how Lankan politicians and political parties are using social media in the run-up to the general election to be held on 17 August 2015. In particular, I look at how President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are […]
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 […] ...
In this week’s Ravaya column, (in Sinhala, appearing in issue of 19 July 2015), I salute the Dalai Lama who turned 80 on July 6. One of the world’s best known and admired public figures, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader has earned the respect of many non-Buddhists because of his wisdom, tolerance and pragmatism. I […]
In this week’s Ravaya column, (in Sinhala, appearing in issue of 19 July 2015), I salute the Dalai Lama who turned 80 on July 6. One of the world’s best known and admired public figures, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader has earned the respect of many non-Buddhists because of his wisdom, tolerance and pragmatism. I […]
This op-ed essay of mine was published in Daily FT newspaper, Sri Lanka, on 16 July 2015. The Price of Silence in Social Media Age By Nalaka Gunawardene Just when we began to worry that our recently elected head of state had lost his tongue, he broke his silence. On July 14 evening, President Maithripala […]