Several people across, the country, have reported being victims of ATM fraud within the last few weeks.

“There is no easy walk to freedom, anywhere. For, to be free, is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”.

Anuradhapura: It may be a little brown caterpillar but, it had already held countries to ransom. The latest in the long list of countries which had to suffer under the might of this ‘little brown caterpillar’ is Sri Lanka. The first caterpillar was recorded on Sri Lankan soil in early October last year. In less than four months it had become a national and political problem.

Our island is famous for its Buddhist art and architecture, particularly, the massive dagobas and Buddha statues in the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Yet, many visitors don’t realize that another impressive repository of Buddhist art and architecture beckon just ten kilometres outside Colombo along the Kandy Road.

A significant landmark along Baseline Road is the Welikada Prison. It is a building complex at which motorists and passersby don’t care to give a second glance. Yet within its vast confines are cell blocks that house men and women. They have entered the prison for an assortment of crimes from basic theft to rape and bloody murder. Entering through the main gate of the prison head quarters I sat in the lobby. A few inmates clad in maroon shirt and sarong, are going about some tasks in the administration block. Three inmates clad in white jumper (shorts) and round collar shirt sweep the garden. A mynah (bird) descends and sits on a table, tapping her yellow beak. An old inmate drops his broom and opens the garden tap and collects water in both hands. Within seconds the mynah is perched on his hand and drinks gratefully. It was a touching sight, a prisoner offering hope to a feathered friend. A guard tells me the mynah is a daily visitor.

‘The world’s an inn, and death the journey’s end’ - John Dryden

Political events in the recent past have tried and tested the country’s separation of the power among the main three pillars of governance and the Supremacy of the Constitution.

Where were you at 9.36 a.m. on December 26, 2004? That has become one of the definitive questions such as, “where were you when John F. Kennedy was shot?” It is a moment that we will all remember, as long as we live. Indeed, the Indian Ocean tsunami is the most catastrophic event in living memory for many of us. And 14 years have passed since that fateful day, which saw the deaths of nearly 240,000 people across 14 countries in Asia and Africa.

Hold on for a moment. Dear reader, you would have heard numerous stories and read articles about sexual harassment on public transport. This is another such article, but we encourage you to take a few minutes to read on especially because sexual harassment in Sri Lanka’s public transportation system is still prevalent, and experts say that reporting mechanisms are still very weak.