For the longest time, the simple orthopaedic wheelchair was the most common donation people with disabilities received. “It was around Rs 12,000 in early 2022,” Nisha Shariff, 50, told Roar Media. “It was cheap, and even though it doesn’t suit most disabled people (the nature of disability determines the make of the wheelchair or other assistive equipment) this was what ...
In 1935, Merle Oberon became the first Asian actress to be nominated for Best Actress Oscar — except, nobody in Hollywood knew Oberon was Asian. As a star in Hollywood’s Golden Age, Oberon told people she was born in Tasmania, Australia. In fact, she was actually born in Bombay, India in February 1911 to a Sri Lankan mother (part-Sinhalese and ...
Sri Lankan football fans had a rude shock on Sunday (22) when news broke that the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) had been suspended by the international football governing body FIFA, until further notice. The suspension will impact an already struggling game in Sri Lanka, risking the futures of many players and potential athletes. The suspension came a few ...
Jaffna, located in the northernmost part of Sri Lanka, is one of the most underrated travel locations in Asia — according to CNN Travel. Its rich culture, stunning landscapes, unique cuisine, and vibrant atmosphere create a unique experience in an area of the world that has been overlooked by tourists for too long. Especially when most tourists are attracted to ...
Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem today is worth over $225 million. But, with the right push, startups here will have all the tools they need to grow, adapt, and scale even better. Here’s how the freshly launched Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is backing them to do just that.
Everything is expensive now – even condoms. From groceries to many essential services, the economic crisis that began in 2022 has increased the prices of almost all consumer goods – condoms too, have seen a 100% (or more with some brands) price hike. Contraception is the use of medicines, devices or surgery to prevent unwanted or unplanned pregnancies and also ...
As Sri Lanka’s armed conflict intensified in July 2008, a fierce battle was waged between government forces and the Tamil Tiger rebels over the strategically important coastal town of Vidataltivu in the Mannar district. After heavy fighting that lasted many days, government troops finally captured the area, considered one of the main bases and logistic hubs of the terror outfit. ...
If you’ve been worried about your child’s mental health during this crisis, you’re not alone. Growing up in a tumultuous climate can be confusing and scary. Here’s a quick guide on how to care for your child in this time – with expert advice from psychologist, Uttara Gunasinghe-Ilangakoon.
Today, over 80% of Sri Lanka’s population reside in rural areas that offer little support for big dreams and ambitions. In episode 4 of Strong Foundations, Sadé Greenwood travels to the historic city of Dambulla where the Tokyo Cement Group, together with the Foundation of Goodness is helping the youth and children of local villages realise their true potential. Here’s how they’re doing it.
The day starts early at Shamalee Elpitiya’s residence in Haputale. Even in her early 50s’, she wakes up at 4 am. She cooks the morning meal for her 20 dogs and nine cats and makes breakfast for her son and her mother, of which she has none. Instead, she sips a warm cup of tea. “This,” she said, “will get ...
If you Google the phrases ‘student unions’ and ‘ragging’ together, the results are like watching a tennis match; blame is flung back and forth, from one side of the court to the other. Topping the search results is a news piece about a student at the University of Peradeniya having died by suicide in September, allegedly after being subjected to ...
Amidst the pandemic and economic crisis that followed, many businesses had to re-strategise the way they operated. The logistics sector especially required extensive transformation to cater to customers’ changing needs. In Sri Lanka, delivery services like PickMe rose to the challenge and introduced innovative digital solutions to the market. Here’s how their latest feature, PickMe Pass, is changing the game. ...
Many people picked up new hobbies to keep themselves occupied during the COVID lockdowns that began in 2020 — for Megali Nanayakkara (36), that hobby was sketching. “I watched a lot of tutorials on ink and watercolour. I find sketching quite meditative — it’s like a nice timeout for the mind, to get lost in the lines and colour,” she ...
On FIFA’s ranking of a total of 211 national men’s football teams, the Sri Lankan team ranks 207th. In a country where football is arguably the second most popular sport, after cricket, and is played in schools and on streets islandwide, why isn’t our national team more successful? According to former Sri Lankan football captain and current under-23 squad head ...
Formal education is a basic human right – one that has seen a turbulent history over the past two years in Sri Lanka. So, how can we ensure our younger generation is well-equipped to chart their future careers? Could digitalisation be the future of education?
William (69) hails from Kandy, but currently lives in Boralesgamuwa in a rented house. A father of two, he has been the sole provider for his family until now. “My daughter is a university student,” he said. “She recently joined a company to work part-time to support the family. With the increasing expenses and electricity bills, surviving on the income ...
On 5 September 2022, Samith Mapalagama (46), the director of a sanitary ware company, was scrolling through his Facebook feed, when a message popped up. The sender was a local representative of a university based in the US. His message read: “We offer honorary doctorate degrees. If you are a professional you can get the degree. Next graduation on November ...
Should diabetes always spell the end for living a normal, happy life? Here is Sandun Viswajith sharing his first near-death experience with the disease, the unexpected challenges it created for him, and the slow path he took to return to his regular life again.
As you pass by the National Eye Hospital, Colombo, towards Deans Road, you come across a number of roadside florists. Among those many shops is ‘Orel Flora’ run by Damitha Kumarasinghe (64) and Nihal Handagama (67). “We’ve been married for 28 years now,” Nihal said. “We have been in the flower business for a good 15 years now. Starting this ...
At least 5.7 million people in Sri Lanka require immediate humanitarian assistance – International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) FB/IG: In the Needs Assessment report for October compiled by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) the current humanitarian crisis requires immediate interventions to address the fragility of existing systems, services and ...
