By Uditha Devapriya
On Friday, November 24, the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court issued an order prohibiting events dedicated to the commemoration of LTTE soldiers on Maaveerar Naal or Heroes’ Day, which falls today, November 27. The order had been prompted by complaints from the Mullaitivu police. Meanwhile, some websites report that the headstones of fallen…
By Minoli Gunarathna
Climate change refers to long-term, major changes in the global climate. Given the increasingly dire global climate situation, international cooperation must be prioritised. Climate diplomacy is a strategy approach that highlights the need of incorporating climate goals and addressing climate-related concerns at the highest level of diplomatic interaction and across multiple policy…
By Britney Martil
A comprehensive assessment of the Azerbaijan-Armenia war over Nagorno-Karabakh uncovers a complex and deeply ingrained geopolitical history in the Caucasus area. Originating in the aftermath of World War I and the subsequent collapse of the Russian Empire, the resultant power vacuum afforded Azerbaijan and Armenia the opportunity to declare their independence.
The…
By Jagath Liyanaarachchi
Online Safety Bill
As per the directive of the Minister of Public Security, Tiran Alles, the Online Safety Bill was published in the Gazette on September 18, 2023. On October 10, 2023, the bill was tabled in the Parliament for the first reading.
The Bill envisages the establishment of a Commission for…
By Lakmali Bhagya Manamperi
The responsibility of the international community for the protection of innocent civilians during times of humanitarian crisis has come to light with the recent escalation of the conflict in Palestine.
The attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects are a clear violation of international humanitarian norms and can no better be named…
The failure to tackle poor governance has long since been a thorn in the side of Sri Lanka’s developmental efforts. Governance issues linked to the economy have become especially relevant in recent times since demands for system-wide change expressed during the 2022 crisis remains fresh in the minds of many.
But despite eloquent campaign promises,…
By Sanja de Silva Jayatilleka
The Valdai Discussion Club, established in 2004, held its 20th meeting in Sochi, Russia from October 2 to 5, seeing over 140 “leading experts” from 42 countries attending the conference despite ongoing hostilities between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin attended the conference for the plenary session on…
By Rathindra Kuruwita
On October 7, Hamas launched a rocket barrage of at least 3,000 missiles against Israel. This was followed by an invasion by land and on air. Militants broke through the Gaza-Israel barrier and forced their way through the Gaza border, entering and attacking Israeli communities and military installations, and killing at…
By Chiranjeewa Desaduni
The National Research Council (NRC) of Sri Lanka offers vital financial support to scientists operating in the public sector. As of 2023, the NRC's annual budget stands at LKR 80 million.
In a notable stride in 2013, the NRC, with the Ministry of Technology and Research, initiated a program aimed at invigorating…
By Jagath Liyanarachchi
On September 18, 2023, the Draft Online Safety Bill was published in the Sri Lankan Government Gazette on the orders of the Minister of Justice. The following is a brief introduction to the Bill.
Objectives of the Bill
As stated in Section 3, the purpose of the Bill is
1/ To protect…
By Uditha Devapriya
The last week has been very busy for President Ranil Wickremesinghe. First he travelled to Cuba, in time for the G77 Plus China Heads of State Summit in Havana from September 15 to 16. Largely dismissed by the Western press, the Summit saw the participation of delegations from more than a…
The emergence of new economic powerhouses within Africa has been a defining recent phenomenon.
These emerging powers are playing an increasingly pivotal role in shaping the continent's economic landscape, challenging established norms, and spearheading transformative development. Emerging powers like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia are driving this change in Africa's trajectory, along with other…