Uncategorized

The Cradle of Reconciliation built on a cemetery

Admin October 5, 2021

Nimal Abeysinghe Mr. Somaratne of Mirigama was famously known as “Mirigama Mahaththaya” in Mummana village. “Mirigama Mahaththaya” came to live in Mummana after buying several acres of coconut-lands in the village. He was a man who stood up to the troubles of the villagers and generously

Uncategorized

Human Compassion at a Time of Devastating Floods

Admin October 5, 2021

Nimal Abeysinghe Humane people band together in the face of natural disasters. Born out of compassion, such unity heeds no race or colour difference. An incident from as recent as 2015 illustrates the community-minded sacrifice by a group who were brought together by a natural disaster and their tireless efforts over three days born out […]

Uncategorized

Media Activism and the Conflict in Sri Lanka

Admin September 14, 2021

Sunil Jayasekara In examining the 30-year conflict that ravaged Sri Lanka, it is instructive to probe into and explore its impact on media institutions and journalism. In 1948, Sri Lanka was granted independence on a multicultural platform.  At the time, only the Kandyan Highland had demanded a separate administration. By contrast, Tamils and Muslims acquiesced […]

Uncategorized

Chinese and Tamil language confusion and the new crisis

Admin August 30, 2021

C.J. Amarathunga Several incidents of replacing the Tamil language with Chinese in the name boards of some projects funded by China were reported recently. One such incident was reported from the Colombo Port City project. The name board in its central garden area was in English, Sinhala, and Chinese. The Tamil language was not there, […]

Uncategorized

Provincial Councils, the Covid-19 Pandemic and the People

Admin August 30, 2021

C. J. Amarathunga       It has been over a year since Sri Lanka first faced the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time of writing, the country continues to be entrenched in a severe crisis. People’s lives are almost at a standstill due to constant closures and travel restrictions. Daily wagers have their revenue streams […]

Uncategorized

Conversion Costs Formula Example

Admin August 28, 2021

That’s why it is vital to keep a tab on metrics such as conversion cost. It can help you have these crucial discussions at the right juncture, and it also keeps your marketing teams on their toes. Moreover, it can help you turn your struggling campaigns into profitable ones. For instance, depreciation and electricity bills […]

Uncategorized

Among the pages of a newspaper – With one memory…Lessons learnt from Nugelanda and the Pillayaradi fields…

Admin August 27, 2021

C. Dodawatte One day in the late nineties, I visited the village of Nugelanda on a reporting assignment. I cannot recall the exact dates, perhaps it was the year 1999. Nugelanda is a rural village in the Uhana Divisional Secretariat in the Ampara District. It was a border village that was frequently attacked by the […]

Uncategorized

Sinhalese Journalists in Defending the Rights of Tamil Journalists

Admin August 27, 2021

R. Bharathy At about 7 AM on 29 August 2006, a media friend who contacted me disclosed a shocking incident that had occurred a few hours earlier: that Nadaraja Guruparan, the News Manager of Suriyan FM, had been abducted. The abduction had taken place in Mount Lavinia when, having left home at about 4.30 AM, […]

Uncategorized

A Journalist’s Long Quest for Peace During the War and After

Admin August 27, 2021

Sampath Deshapriya As the political emergency that engulfed the entire country during the 1988-89 period was coming to an end, the “Yukthiya” (Justice) newspaper, which was launched in an Aloy Avenue office, Kollupitiya, was printed and distributed fortnightly. I joined the editorial department of this newspaper as a novice writer during the first half of […]

Uncategorized

Two Bodies Hugging Each Other in Death: The Conscience of a Conflict Reporter

Admin August 24, 2021

Namini Wijedasa My initiation into journalism happened in 1994, barely a month after turning 18. Chandrika Kumaratunga was elected President that year and she soon spearheaded a peace process to end Sri Lanka’s civil conflict. When the talks failed, Eelam War III broke out in April 1995. In this article, I do not wish to […]