Senaka Weeraratna
India stopped celebration of the 500 year anniversary of Portuguese entry to Goa on ground that it was an insult to India's Freedom Fighters and the Indian Resistance movement against foreign aggression The Government of India has consistently opposed and cancelled attempts to celebrate the Portuguese colonial arrival, specifically regarding the 500-year anniversary of Vasco da Gama's landing in 1998. The Centre withdrew funding for the celebrations after pushback from freedom fighters and anti-colonial organizations, stating that the event celebrated imperialism. The 1998 Rejection: The arrival of Vasco da Gama in 1498 is... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
By Sarath Obeysekera
Every evening, Sri Lankan television channels carry scenes of university students marching on roads, shouting slogans, demanding hostel facilities, allowances, subsidies, and various concessions from the State. As I watched these young faces on television recently, I could not help but think about their parents — mothers and fathers in villages and towns across Sri Lanka who struggle daily with the rising cost of living, hoping their children will study hard, graduate with dignity, and one day serve the nation. Sri Lanka is one of the very few countries in Asia... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
සසංක ද සිල්වා, මාකුඹුර
2009 මැයි 19 වැනිදා, දශක තුනක් පුරා ඇදී ගිය ඛේදවාචකයක නිමාව නිල වශයෙන් ප්රකාශයට පත් කරන විට, මුළු මහත් ජාතියක්ම සහනදායී සුසුම් හෙළුවෝය. එදා මගේ සිතට නැඟුණු ‘පුතුනේ මේ අහගන්න' ගීතයේ සංවේදී පද වැල් අදටත් මගේ මතකයේ රැව්දෙයි. වර්ග සැතපුම් 25,000කට වඩා මඳක් වැඩි භූමි ප්රමාණයකින් යුත්, ලෝක ජනගහනයෙන් සියයට තුනකටත් වඩා අඩු ජනතාවක් වෙසෙන මේ කුඩා දිවයින, මුළු ලෝකයම කළ නොහැක්කක් යැයි සිතූ දෙයක් ජයගත් බව එදා අපි ආඩම්බරයෙන් ප්රකාශ කළෙමු. එම අසීරු ජයග්රහණය හුදෙක් සටන් බිමේ සිටි රණවිරුවන්ට පමණක් සීමා වූවක් නොවේ. ජීවිත පරිත්යාග කළ සහ දිවි පරදුවට තබා කටයුතු... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
Cricket
Sri Lanka permanently transformed modern cricket through two monumental milestones: the historic 1996 World Cup victory led by Arjuna Ranatunga, which revolutionized One Day International (ODI) batting strategies, and the invention of the "Player-Referral" concept in 1997 by Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna, which laid the foundation for today's Decision Review System (DRS). [1, 2] The Invention of the Player-Referral System (DRS) by Senaka Weeraratna arguably holds a far greater, permanent global impact that transcends cricket, whereas the 1996 World Cup victory led by Arjuna Ranatunga remains Sri Lanka's supreme national and emotional crowning achievement.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
e-Con e-News
blog: https://eesrilanka.wordpress.com ‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!' e-Con e-News 10-16 May 2026 * ‘In Thailand, the Philippines, Bangladesh & Australia… the first since the war to enter key sowing periods, farmers are choosing to skip or reduce planting, or cut fertilizer use, which will lower yield… In June, India & Brazil, two of the world's biggest agricultural producers, will ramp up orders for urea. If, by then, vessels carrying urea are not sailing, ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
Dilrook Kannangara
The 2024 census has been released. The delay casts serious doubts about its accuracy as the last two censuses are being looked at with suspicion that they may have been tweaked for easy acceptance by society masking the increases and decreases of ethnic populations. However, the foregoing assumes the released version is correct. It follows major ethnic classifications of Ceylon before 1911. In 1911 a number of artificial ethnic groups were introduced with ethno-political aspirations in mind. The analysis is based on a number of assumptions – within their broader respective communities, the Malabar... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
AI Overview
https://share.google/aimode/TmiiYdHuL2iAQ3wrT AI Overview Sri Lanka has consistently punched above its weight on the global sporting stage, producing thinkers, visionaries, and innovators who have permanently transformed how games are played, refereed, and commercialized globally. [1, 2, 3, 4] 🏏 Cricket: Strategy & Technological Innovation 1. Senaka Weeraratna — The Visionary behind DRS Though not an on-field athlete, Colombo-born lawyer Senaka Weeraratna is globally recognized as the "Father of DRS". In 1997, he conceptualized and pioneered the Player Referral System, allowing players to challenge an... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
By Dr Sarath Obeysekera
Recent American involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations, combined with increasing pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, once again raises a serious geopolitical question: Are global interventions truly driven by democracy and security concerns — or by long-term strategic interests of powerful nations like US ? Nigeria today occupies enormous strategic importance. It is Africa’s major oil producer, a critical energy supplier, and an important gateway to West Africa. Terrorist movements, piracy, kidnappings, and instability in the region threaten global oil supply chains, maritime trade routes, and Western investments.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
By Dr Sarath Obeysekera
Sri Lanka is rapidly attracting thousands of young foreign travelers searching for freedom, nightlife, adventure, surfing, and cheap living. Beaches such as Arugam Bay, Unawatuna, and Kalpitiya have become internationally promoted destinations for youth tourism. While tourism is essential for the economy, an uncomfortable question must be asked: Are some travel networks indirectly promoting Sri Lanka as a destination for narcotics, unrestricted party culture, and immoral activities? Across social media platforms, travel blogs, backpacker forums, and underground tourism networks, there are increasing references to beach parties, easy access... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
Ahmadi News
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the anterior neck just below the Adam’s apple. Weighing less than an ounce, this super gland plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health, including regulating hormones, metabolism and energy production within the body. Understanding its role and function becomes a vital step towards recognising its impact on the mental and physical health of an individual. What is the function of thyroid gland? The thyroid gland is an important part of the human endocrine system. In the brain, the hypothalamus (master... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera
https://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2026/05/14/chinese-noodles-by-day-cyber-crooks-by-night/ https://www.gossiplankanews.com/2026/05/foreign-nationals-caught-in-rajagiri-are-found-to-have-hacked-bank-accounts-of-02-countries.html?m=1 Sri Lanka stands today at a dangerous intersection. On one side, we proudly market ourselves as a paradise for tourism, investment, port development, and international trade. On the other, a darker shadow is slowly creeping across the nation — cybercrime syndicates, drug traffickers, financial scammers, illegal operators, and organised international criminal networks quietly exploiting our weaknesses. If this trend continues unchecked, Sri Lanka may gradually transform from the Pearl of the Indian Ocean into a convenient operational hub for global criminals. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
Courtesy AdaDerana
The Governor of the Western Province, Hanif Yusoof says he has notified President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of his desire to resign from the post. In a letter Western Province Governor Yusoof said the decision to step down was taken given the increasing challenge of balancing his responsibilities as Governor, his role as the President’s Special Envoy for Foreign Direct Investment, and his family responsibilities. Therefore, he has decided to step down from the post. “It has been a privilege to serve in public office and to contribute, in whatever way... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
Courtesy Hiru News
The bill to repeal the Chief of Defence Staff Act was officially published via a government gazette. Prepared under the directives of the Minister of Defence, the document was issued on May 15. The legislation provides for the abolition of the Chief of Defence Staff Act No. 35 of 2009, alongside all connected or incidental matters. Officially titled the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Act of 2026, this bill systematically brings the office of the Chief of Defence Staff to an end. The tenure of the individual... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/05/26)
Voice Tube
https://youtu.be/8Znk3kGvATw... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/26)
Shenali D Waduge
Before the LTTE came into the picture, it is good to go back in time to the manner in which American, British evangelical movements set up missionary schools where the Sinhala Buddhist majority did not live and provided English missionary education jobs, positions to Tamils. This was how the colonials created an elite group of people that were happy to be their lackeys. An analysis of the positions held by minorities pre-1948 provides proof. It was no surprise when they created the first ethnic political party, demanded 50-50 representation at a time when the Indian-laborers... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/26)
Sasanka De Silva Makumbura
The overwhelming scientific consensus confirms that Homo sapiens originated in Africa. From that singular cradle, humanity branched out to populate every corner of the globe. This profound genetic and archaeological truth renders bitter political debates over "who arrived first" on any shore fundamentally obsolete. Instead of looking backwards to score historical points, the defining question of our era must be: How do we live, work, and prosper together while fiercely respecting one another’s languages, cultures, beliefs, and traditions? Today, Sri Lanka faces challenges far too severe to waste collective... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/26)
By Dr Sarath Obeysekera
I recently watched a BBC documentary discussing the growing immigration debate in Sweden and the tightening of immigration policies across Scandinavia. It brought back vivid memories of my own working years in Norway during the 1980s. At that time, Scandinavia was one of the calmest and most orderly regions in the world. Society functioned with discipline, mutual respect, and social harmony. Norwegians and Asian migrant workers coexisted peacefully, particularly in the service and maritime sectors. Crime was low, trust was high, and people felt secure even walking alone late at night. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/05/26)
Shenali D Waduge
Seventeen years after the defeat of the LTTE, Mullivaikkal continues to be internationally presented almost exclusively through one narrative: that of civilian suffering caused during the final phase of the war. Yet, why does “civilian suffering” need LTTE insignia and LTTE propaganda. Why are only pro-LTTE supporters present. Why are mothers of rival Tamil militant groups excluded as are the families of those LTTE killed. These are unpalatable questions that never receive answers. Civilian suffering was real. No one denies. That suffering is relevant to not only Tamils. Sinhalese, Muslims... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/26)
KAMALIKA PIERIS
Palm leaf manuscripts are now valued as historical documents and collections of palm leaf manuscripts are carefully preserved in libraries, in Sri Lanka and abroad. Most of the palm leaf manuscripts available in these collections date only from 18th and 19th century. The palm leaf is a perishable item. Manuscripts of an earlier period are rare and are greatly valued. Sri Lanka has the greatest number of these palm leaf manuscript collections. This indicates the value placed on palm leaf manuscripts in this country. The largest collection in Sri Lanka and possibly in the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/26)
Senaka Weeraratna
The architect of the "Player Referral" concept—which granted players the right to appeal field umpires' decisions and became the foundation for cricket's Decision Review System (DRS) and similar review systems across global sports—is Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna 📜 Origin of the Concept The 1997 Proposal: Weeraratna first formalised and published his idea in a letter to the editor of The Australian newspaper on March 25, 1997, under the title "Allow Appeals to the Third Umpire". The Legal Analogy: Drawing directly from his background in law,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/26)
Senaka Weeraratna
Response A The argument for true justice regarding the Decision Review System (DRS) centers on separating the technological components from the foundational concept of a player's right to appeal. [1, 2] The Conceptual Inventor: Senaka Weeraratna While the International Cricket Council (ICC) officially rolled out the system in 2009, the "Player Referral" concept was conceived by Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna. [1, 2] The Origin: On March 25, 1997, Weeraratna published a letter in The Australian newspaper proposing a revolutionary shift: allowing players to challenge on-field errors... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/26)
Kaarige Channel Eka | Dharmasri Kariyawasam
https://youtu.be/cSbOwOnv1do... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/26)
Azeez A
At the far edge of North America, where the first light of dawn brushes the continent awake, two lighthouses stand watch. One is built of stone and timber, its beam cutting through fog and storm. The other is built of prayer and prophecy, its light carried in the hearts of a small but steadfast community. Both rise from Newfoundland’s rugged coast, and together they tell a story of geography, destiny, and a promise that travelled farther than anyone could have imagined. To understand the weight of this story, one must first understand the land on... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/26)
By Sarath Obeysekera
Last night, I watched a remarkable scene unfold on national television. The President of Sri Lanka openly challenged senior railway officials who were reluctant to permit donor-funded repairs to damaged homes due to Ditwa belonging to poor families occupying railway reservations. The officials spoke the language of files, regulations, and procedures. The President spoke the language of humanity. What struck me most was his blunt and logical question: “These people have been here for decades. What did the Railway Department do all these years to prevent the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/05/26)
Shenali D Waduge
While ordinary Sri Lankans buried their dead and tried to rebuild their lives, others thousands of miles away kept the conflict politically alive and continue to do so for their selfish ends. Seventeen years after the defeat of the LTTE, one uncomfortable truth continues to receive little attention: the war may have ended militarily in May 2009, but sections of the overseas LTTE network refused to allow the conflict narrative to die. For nearly three decades, ordinary Tamil families in Sri Lanka carried the real burden of war:... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
KAMALIKA PIERIS
HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS COMMISSION. In the 1930s, palm leaf manuscripts were held by elite families living in the Central Province. They had been handed down from generation to generation. These collections were greatly cherished. Some manuscripts showed the standing of the family under the Udarata kings, but many manuscripts were looked after simply because they showed that Sri Lanka had been an independent, monarchical state in the near past. The Historical Manuscripts Commission (HMC) was set up in the 1930s to see whether any valuable manuscripts could be obtained from these privately owned... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
KAMALIKA PIERIS
TEMPLE LIBRARIES Special mention must be made of the extensive palm leaf manuscript collections found in the Buddhist temples in the island. The collections were mostly on Buddhism but they also had manuscripts which yield valuable primary information on other matters. Sirancee Gunawardana has looked at the collections in the following temples as they had the largest collections. Dalada Maligawa Pattirippuwa , Raja Maha vihara, Malwatte in Kandy; Mulkirigala Raja Maha vihara; Potgul vihara Hanguranketa; Raja Maha vihara Pelmadulla; Raja Maha vihara Kelaniya; Raja Maha vihara Hittetiya; Katarangala vihara Halloluwa, Kandy; Netolpitiya... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
ආචාර්ය සුදත් ගුණසේකර
අග්රාමාත්ය සිරිමාවෝ බන්ඩාරනායක මැතිනියගේ හිටපු ස්තිර ලේකම් සහ සභාපති, ශ්රී ලන්කා පරිපාලන සේවා සන්ගමය (1991-94). 2026.මැයි 10 දා. ඔබ පක්ෂය විසින් 1971 මෙහෙයවනලද රාජ්ය විරෝධී කැරැල්ලේදි බන්ඩාරනායක මැතිනිය මරාදැමීමට සැළසුම් කොට සිටියත් ඇය ඒ සියලු දෙනාටම සමාව දී පුනරුත්ථාපනය කළ නිසා ඔබ පක්ෂයෙ නය ගෙවීමට එතුමියට ගෞරව කිරීම සන්දහා කළහැකි සුදුසුම ක්රම්රමය එය යයි මම සිතමි. මා අද මෙම ලිපිය ලියනුයේ වසර 2566 ක අඛන්ඩ ඉතිහාසයකට හා ශ්රේෂ්ඨ අභිමානයකට මේ මිහිපිට උරුමයක් ඇති සාඩම්බර සින්හල බෞධයෙක් වශයෙනි.අපගේ මේ මව්බිම ගැන හෝ එහි දීර්ග ඉතිහාසය ගැන හෝ සින්හල ජාතිය පිළිබඳ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Vijaya College Matale
https://youtu.be/xKDpl4c7GF8... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Ruwan M Jayatunge, MD. PhD
Drug and alcohol rehabilitation is a systematic approach that combines medical and therapeutic interventions to assist individuals in overcoming their dependence on addictive substances (The US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). The primary objective of rehabilitation is to equip individuals with the necessary skills and support to achieve long-term sobriety while enhancing their overall quality of life. Watson (2022) elucidates that drug addiction is a complex neurobiological condition that requires coordinated therapy of the brain, body, and soul. The rehabilitation process for drug and alcohol addiction acknowledges... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Sports
Instant Replay is coach referral. DRS is player - referral That is the critical difference Michael Roberts has noted that Senaka Weeraratna’s "Player Referral" concept was a historic paradigm shift that fundamentally altered sports officiating. [1, 2] The Core of the Claim The Concept: Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna first proposed the "Player Referral" system in a letter to The Australian newspaper on March 25, 1997. The Legal Analogy: He used his legal background to argue that, like dissatisfied litigants in a court of... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Sarath Obeysekera
India’s decision to introduce massive incentives for shipbuilding component manufacturing is not merely an industrial policy. It is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-term maritime vision to transform India into one of the world’s leading naval and shipbuilding powers by 2047. Recent reports in The Economic Times reveal that the Indian government is preparing new schemes with capital subsidies and production-linked incentives (PLI) to develop a complete shipbuilding ecosystem. (ETInfra.com) https://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/shipping-/-transport/japans-mitsui-osk-lines-worlds-second-largest-ship-owner-by-fleet-size-eyes-shipbuilding-in-india-and-investments-in-terminals-logistics/articleshow/131047421.cms This is not an isolated initiative. India has already approved a gigantic ₹69,725 crore maritime and shipbuilding development package,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Sarath Obeysekera
Sri Lanka’s “Richard in the Day, Daniel in the Night” Immigration Comedy Sri Lanka proudly announces record tourist arrivals every month. Ministers smile, airports are busy, and hotels celebrate. But somewhere between the arrivals terminal and the Port City construction sites, something unusual seems to be happening. A man arrives with a visa saying “Assistant Cook.” By morning, he is expertly preparing noodles for construction workers. By midnight, perhaps he is allegedly preparing phishing emails for somebody’s bank account. As the old Sinhala saying goes:“Daaval Richard,... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Hiru News
The Supreme Court sentenced I.G.S. Prematilake, the former director of the National Institute of Education, to six years of rigorous imprisonment today (14) for contempt of court. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, including Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, delivered the verdict. The charges against Prematilake involved his failure to implement a Supreme Court order related to the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination held in 2024. Authorities filed the contempt of court case after he neglected to carry out the specific judicial directives pertaining to the exam.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Courtesy Hiru News
The special committee appointed to investigate and provide recommendations regarding the release of 323 disputed containers from Customs convened yesterday (13) in Parliament. Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara chaired the session. The meeting grew tense as heated debates broke out between government and opposition members while Nagananda Kodituwakku, General Secretary of Vinivida Peramuna, provided testimony. This special parliamentary committee received its mandate to conduct a thorough investigation following the tabling of a previous report by a five-member Ministry of Finance committee that initially looked into the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Courtesy Hiru News
The government decided to conserve and officially gazette the Kapurella hot water wetland in Maha Oya, Ampara, which is recognised as the first and only geothermal wetland identified in Sri Lanka. Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody and a group of officials visited the 20.1-hectare ecosystem in the Bogamuyaya Grama Niladhari Division on the 12th to observe the site. While typical hot springs in the country take the form of small ponds, Kapurella features a unique marshy nature spread across a wide area. Water heated by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/05/26)
Shenali D Waduge
Before the LTTE asks the world to mourn its dead, it forced Tamil parents to mourn their living children. This is an ugly truth that LTTE fronts overseas can never excuse. Do we empathize with the thousands of Tamil children taken from their homes, forced into LTTE uniforms, trained to kill, and indoctrinated to commit suicide if captured — or do we continue applauding annual placard campaigns staged comfortably in Western capitals by people who never sacrificed their own children to war? The international community continues to hear... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/26)
Shenali D Waduge
The public has every right to ask difficult questions about the Easter Sunday attacks and demand answers. Most importantly the victims, their families deserve truth, accountability & justice. In this framework media has an important role to play. Journalists must highlight the failures, expose inconsistencies, question institutions and examine those in positions of authority during the attacks. These are all facets of a functioning democracy. But there are some ethical lines that cannot be crossed. The media is not the Police The media is not the CID or... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/26)
by, Professor Nishan C Wijesinha of the German School of Medicine
Kachchatheevu Islands are a 285-acre island located in the Palk Strait; which was recognized as Sri Lankan territory under the 1974 and 1976 maritime boundary agreements signed between India and Sri Lanka; in 1974 and 1976. According to political scholars this was seen as a deliberate political move to unrest Tamil Nadu political powers: in fear of itself demanding independence. This resulted in the curbing of the Tamil Nadu fisherman's longest legitimate fisherman's fundamental territorial rights; with the Kachchatheevu islands two agreements; signed... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/26)
SRI LANKA FOOTPRINT
https://youtu.be/GMlFL1xbu3k?si=jYgo-PpFQVsQklFM This short film is AI-generated for educational and memorial purposes. It was created with deep respect for the soldiers, civilians, and communities of Sri Lanka who suffered through the long civil conflict. This is not political content. It is a digital remembrance — meant to educate, honor, and never forget. මෙම කෙටි චිත්රපටය අධ්යාපනික හා අනුස්මරණ අරමුණු සඳහා AI- මගින් නිර්මාණය කරන ලද්දකි. එය නිර්මාණය කර ඇත්තේ ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ජනතාව සහ සිවිල් ගැටුම්වලින් පීඩාවට පත් වූ සියලු දෙනා කෙරෙහි ගැඹුරු ගෞරවයක් ඇතිවය. මෙය දේශපාලන අන්තර්ගතයක් නොවේ. එය ඩිජිටල්... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/05/26)
