LankaWeb News Archive

Where is Sri Lanka’s Shaheed Drone?
Dilrook Kannangara
There are a number of wars raging g around the world and a few more are on the planning stage. Drone warfare dominates every one of them. Among drones, the king is inevitably the mighty Shaheed drone. Shaheed and its copies in many countries, including its Russian, American, Chinese, Indian, Israeli, Turkish, etc. variants are highly effective due to low cost, simplicity, high impact, versatility, short time it takes to launch and hit targets and range. Why waste manned aircraft and artillery when a cheap but sizable enough drone can do the job at a fraction... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

An Open Letter to the Minister of Lands
By Concerned Citizen
To: The Hon Minister I refer to the timely and eye-opening article written by that erudite journalist Shenali Waduge “ The Legal Defects in Sri Lanka’s Land Registry: Two Registers with a Flawed Digitalisation Programme” at https://www.shenaliwaduge.com/the-legal-defects-in-sri-lankas-land-registry-two-registers-with-a-flawed-digitalisation-programme/ The Article clearly shows (as has been the experience of all other nations which had practiced the deed system) that the Deeds Register like that under Ord 23 of 1927 is the only practical path to achieve international standards. Since the enactment of Act No. 21 of 1998 (Bim Saviya), Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

The Diaspora Dilemma: Hindrance or Potential Asset for Sri Lanka?
Sasanka De Silva
A country’s diaspora should naturally be one of its greatest strategic assets. Living in developed nations, overseas citizens gain access to advanced infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and global networks. In an ideal scenario, they leverage these advantages to bring facilities, expertise, and investment back to their motherland. Regional neighbours offer clear examples of this in action—diaspora communities actively contributing to building schools, hospitals, airports, and modern road networks in their homelands. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka’s experience often tells a different story. Where the Focus Lies Instead of channelling knowledge... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

Unity Is the Strength of a Reform Government – A Lesson from History
By Dr. Sarath Obeysekera
Governments are rarely defeated by their opponents alone. More often, they are weakened by divisions from within There are examples in Sri Lanka in the past The Bolshevik Revolution succeeded because its leaders were united in achieving a common objective. Lenin, Trotsky and others worked together to overthrow the old regime and defend the revolution during its formative years. It was only after Lenin’s illness and death that deep divisions among the leadership intensified, leading to a destructive struggle for power. Whatever one’s opinion of Soviet history, one lesson remains... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

Development Requires Decisive Leadership – But Also Institutional Cohesion
By Dr. Sarath Obeysekera
History repeatedly demonstrates that nations achieve rapid transformation when the institutions of the State work towards a common national purpose rather than pulling in different directions. Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew, South Korea during its industrialisation, and China under Deng Xiaoping all illustrate how determined executive leadership, supported by functioning state institutions, accelerated economic development, attracted investment, built infrastructure, and lifted millions out of poverty. While their political systems differed, they shared one characteristic: the machinery of government acted with a common national objective. Sri Lanka today faces a different... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

Deputy Minister of Defence Calls on Youth to Champion National Unity for Country's Development
Ministry of Defence - Media Centre
Addressing National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets at the opening ceremony of the NCC Inter-Provincial Youth Exchange Programme, held at St. Joseph's College, Trincomalee, on 30 July as the Chief Guest, Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) urged the youth to transform diversity into a catalyst for nation-building. In his address, the Deputy Minister underscored the vital role of youth in fostering national reconciliation and lasting unity, emphasizing that peace is built not merely through the absence of conflict but through trust, understanding and meaningful engagement among communities.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

Jan 29, 2017 – The President has now instructed that the CCEM must hereafter submit its decisions to the relevant subject minister, who must then submit their concurrence ……..
Dr Sarath Obeyekera
https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2017/02/12/jan-29-2017-the-president-has-now-instructed-that-the-ccem-must-hereafter-submit-its-decisions-to-the-relevant-subject-minister-who-must-then-submit-their-concurrence/... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

The Legal Defects in Sri Lanka’s Land Registry: Two Registers with a Flawed Digitalisation Programme
Shenali D Waduge
Sri Lanka is being rapidly moved towards a digitalisation of its land records. Digital technology can undoubtedly improve efficiency, but digitalising an unreliable legal system will not create a reliable land register or any relief for land owners and even a government who has to answer long term consequences. Before investing billions in digital transformation, a Government must first correct the legal defects that have existed for decades. Why have the digital gurus tasked to roll out digitalization not seen this stark reality and commenced remedies to this issue first? Currently,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

Were the Kuthodaw marble inscriptions created to protect Buddhism from British colonial rule?
by Maung Maung Nyunt, The Buddhist Channel, 12 July 2026
Yangon, Myanmar -- The 729 marble slabs at Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay, often called "the world's largest book," represent one of the most ambitious projects of Buddhist preservation ever undertaken. Completed in 1868 under King Mindon, these stone tablets contain the complete Pali Tipiṭaka, the Vinaya, Sutta, and Abhidhamma Piṭakas, inscribed across 1,460 pages, each slab five feet tall and five inches thick, housed in its own small shrine arranged around a central golden pagoda. Yet the question of why this monumental work was commissioned points... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

Beyond Cakes and Caregiving and garment industry It Is Time to Redefine Women’s Empowerment in Sri Lanka
By Dr. Sarath Obeysekera
For decades, Sri Lanka has proudly spoken about women’s empowerment. Every government has launched programmes under this banner, and millions of rupees have been spent on training and awareness. Yet one fundamental question remains: Have we truly empowered women, or have we merely confined them to traditional occupations under a new label? Most vocational programmes offered to women still revolve around cake making, beauty culture, tailoring, housekeeping, food processing, childcare and elderly care. While these are respectable professions, they represent only a narrow segment of the opportunities available to women... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 01/08/26)

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