President Maithripala Sirisena gave instructions this week to cancel the licenses of timber mill owners in possession of illegal timber Addressing environmental officials, the President focused on Forest Conservation and Tree Planting programs in keeping with the World Environment Day which falls on June 5, 2019. He also ordered that unutilised lands belonging to the Land Reformation Commission and the Sri Lanka Cashew Cooperation to be used in a program to increase the country’s forest density by 32% by 2030.

The opportunity to defend the motherland is bestowed on a select few. This becomes even more exclusive for those women aspiring to serve in the Special Task Force of the Sri Lanka Police.

The reconstruction of the churches hit by the Easter Sunday tragedy is underway, marking the beginning of a long walk towards normalcy

Over eight bhikkhus clad in deep saffron robes that cover both shoulders and carrying begging bowls were present for the midday dana (alms). Indeed, it was a rare sight to see them walk silently on pindapatha down the pathway under a forest canopy, in keeping with tradition dating back to the days of the Buddha when bhikkhus went on alms rounds for their food.

Black Easter has become international news thanks in great part to the claim by Daesh (IS) that it was responsible. The attack which reached new heights in terms of the horror and barbaric nature of the attack in which over 45 children lost their lives, is set to change the political landscape in Sri Lanka. In fact, that change is very much underway.

The Easter Sunday attacks two weeks ago were a reminder of how important it is for a nation, union or an establishment to be prepared to combat and prevent terrorism, that a state cannot completely divorce itself from terrorism and that no nation can be safe from global terrorism in this day and age.

On Easter Sunday, my wife and I attended the Easter Sunday Mass at 6:30 a.m. at All Saints Church, Colombo 8, then visited Cinnamon Grand, returned home by around 9:15 a.m. only to hear the reports of explosions in three churches in Negombo, Batticaloa and  Kochchikade. 

Over 325 people were killed in the recent Easter Sunday multiple attacks, seemingly echoing the attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, sometime back. Media commentators have invoked the resilience of Sri Lankans to terrorism, expressing their stoic refusal to be terrified.

Have you ever wondered just how lucky you are to be reading this newspaper, whether in print or on a device? You’re lucky because that already puts you in the better-off 10 percent of the Sri Lankan population. This story is about my friend Andy Kularatne who died last month; through it, I want to show you, and the other 90 percent of our countrymen who cannot afford a newspaper, just how lucky we actually are.