Senaka Weeraratna
Justice Radhabinod Pal (1886–1967), the only judge at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal (1946–1948) to find all Japanese defendants not guilty, remains a towering figure in international law for his critique of "Victor's Justice". The call for his posthumous felicitation in Sri Lanka centers on his rejection of retroactive laws and his stance that conquerors should not pass judgment on the conquered. This sentiment aligns historically with Sri Lanka's own diplomatic legacy, most notably the 1951 San Francisco Peace Conference speech by J.R. Jayewardene, who invoked the Buddha's words—"Hatred ceases not by hatred, but... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/04/26)
by Garvin Karunaratne
No dollars to face imports. Perhaps what I did in Bangladesh to create the Youth Self Employment Programme- is a story that offers ideas and a way. It all happened in the Bangladesh Secretariat, three days after General Ershard took over the country in a bloodless coup on the 24 th of March 1982. The Minister for Youth Development was clamped in prison and the work of the Ministry was in jeopardy. The third in command, Air Vice Marshall Aminul Islam, the Minister for Labour and Manpower evaluated the work done by the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/04/26)
By Raj Gonsalkorale
Legitimate questions could be asked about Prince Vijaya's voyage. Why was he coming towards Sri Lanka? Was he actually headed to Sri Lanka? He had no known association with Buddhism, so he would not have made the voyage as a missionary to introduce Buddhism to Sri Lanka. As a trader? Very likely. If so, would he choose a relatively less attractive destination for trading, or would he choose an attractive destination worth his while and go to a place like Korkai, situated at the mouth of the Thamirabarani river in the Southern part of India... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/04/26)
By Garvin Karunaratne
It all happened in the Bangladesh Secretariat, three days after General Ershard took over the country in a bloodless coup on the 24 th of March 1982. The Minister for Youth Development was clamped in prison and the work of the Ministry was in jeopardy. The third in command, Air Vice Marshall Aminul Islam, the Minister for Labour and Manpower evaluated the work done by the Ministry. Suddenly at the close, he realized that I was an outsider and inquired who I was and I was then introduced as the Commonwealth Fund Advisor to the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/04/26)
By Sarath Wijesinghe
Sarath Wijesinghe President's counsel former Ambassador to UAE and Israel and former chairman consumer Affairs Authority Ombudsman System world over and Sri Lanka a necessity today Ombudsman is a unique system used in many parts of the world successfully in place of expensive litigation and to settle matters in a friendlier and more amicable way. Litigation as we all know is very expensive cumbersome and time consuming. Ombudsman may be appointed by the government or private entities and groups to themselves ot to cover the entire country. Sri Lankan constitution provides... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/04/26)
Bahman Mohasses (Iran), Untitled, 1968. Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research
The illegal US-Israeli war on Iran is exposing the Oil-Dollar-Wall Street complex that binds oil, financial markets, and dollar power, with consequences that reach far beyond the region. As you and I worry about how war and inflation will impact our families and nations, bond traders are fixated on the numbers on their screens, calculating what might happen to seemingly arcane financial instruments. Their job is to protect the treasure of the wealthy. For the past fifty years, the relative stability of the US dollar –... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/04/26)
By Sarath Obeysekera
Since the end of World War II, several nations have transformed themselves from poverty to prosperity within a generation. Countries such as Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew, South Korea during the era of Park Chung-hee, and Rwanda under Paul Kagame have demonstrated how strong leadership can accelerate national development. Similarly, several Middle Eastern states such as United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have leveraged centralized governance structures to implement long-term economic strategies with remarkable speed. The Common Factor: Discipline and Direction In each of these cases, rapid development was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/04/26)
Courtesy Hiru News
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Energy Ministry Secretary Professor Udayanga Hemapala resigned from their respective positions. They submitted their resignation letters to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to facilitate an impartial and independent investigation by the Special Presidential Commission examining the coal importation process.... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 18/04/26)
By Rohana R. Wasala
Continued from Tuesday, April 07, 2026 The Island daily the next day (Monday, December 11, 2017) carried KD’s reply to another writer, Bodhi Dhanapala from Canada, who had made a reference to him in an earlier article to the same paper. I was sure then that Bodhi Dhanapala would respond to him appropriately in due course. As I anticipated, BD’s response appeared in The Island of December 16, 2017. It was an excellent reply to KD, in my opinion. But first let me recall what KD said in reply to Dhanapala in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/04/26)
Senaka Weeraratna
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE), or the Tokyo Trial (1946–1948), remains a cornerstone for debating the legitimacy of international criminal law. While often overshadowed by Nuremberg, the Tokyo Trial's "one-sided" nature and the radical dissent of Justice Radhabinod Pal have gained renewed relevance in contemporary legal discourse, especially in post-colonial contexts like Sri Lanka. The "Kangaroo Court" Critique Critics and historians have often labeled the Tokyo proceedings a "victor’s justice" or a political trial rather than a purely judicial one. Key arguments supporting this "Kangaroo Court" characterization... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 17/04/26)
සසංක ද සිල්වා මකුඹුර
සතුට සැමරීම වරදක් නොවේ. නමුත් අපේ සතුට තවත් කෙනෙකුගේ කඳුළක් හෝ පීඩාවක් බවට පත්වන තැන එය "සතුටක්" ලෙස හැඳින්විය හැකිද? දශක හයකට අධික ජීවිත අත්දැකීම් දෙස ආපසු හැරී බලන විට, ගිනිකෙළි සහ අහස්කූරුවලින් සිදුවන විනාශය අද වන විට බරපතල සමාජීය සහ පාරිසරික ගැටලුවක් වී හමාරයි. එදා සහ අද: වෙනස් වූ වහලවල් - නොමියුනු අනතුර! මීට වසර හැටකට පෙර, මා ඇස්පනාපිටම දුටු සිදුවීමක් තිබේ. මුහුදු වෙරළේ තිබූ ධීවරයන්ගේ පොල් අතු සෙවිලි කළ නිවසකට වැදුණු එකම එක අහස්කූරක ගිනි පුපුරකින්, මුළු නිවාස පේළියම ගිනිබත් වීමට ගතවූයේ ඉතා සුළු වේලාවකි. මුහුදු හුළඟත් සමඟ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/04/26)
By Dr Sarath Obeysekera
A prolonged conflict in the Middle East has the potential to trigger a global economic slowdown, driven by rising oil prices, disrupted supply chains, and reduced investor confidence. For a country like Sri Lanka—highly dependent on imports, remittances, and external financing—such a recession could be particularly challenging. However, crisis also present opportunities for disciplined nations to reset, reorganize, and rebuild stronger. Sri Lanka must respond with urgency, unity, and pragmatic leadership. The focus should be on internal resilience, efficient governance, and visible economic activity that attracts foreign investment. Mobilizing Youth... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/04/26)
India Today Global
India has made a major strategic move in Sri Lanka by acquiring a controlling stake in Colombo Dockyard, marking its first-ever takeover of a foreign shipbuilding facility. Led by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, the deal gives India a 51 per cent stake in Sri Lanka’s largest and most established shipyard, located within the crucial Port of Colombo. https://youtu.be/wdEH_5B1NPU... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 16/04/26)
Dr. Alon Ben-Meir
For decades, five powerful actors—the United States, the Arab states, the European Union, AIPAC, and Israel’s own opposition—have all claimed to seek Israeli-Palestinian peace while enabling permanent occupation, together burying the two state solution. The Five Enablers Of The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Every powerful actor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict professes to seek peace. The US and EU repeat the two state mantra, the Arab states invoke Palestinian rights, AIPAC proclaims its defense of Israel’s security, and Israeli opposition parties promise “responsible” leadership and stability. Yet each, in its own way, has enabled... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/04/26)
Senaka Weeraratna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUSiPHe_huw The fastest-conquering empire in world history took 75 years to fail in India. This is not a footnote. This is the most suppressed military story in medieval history. A forensic breakdown of 13 Arab expeditions, 5 dead commanders, and the Hindu kingdoms that broke the Umayyad Caliphate — backed by their own documents. The Arab Caliphate conquered Persia in months. Spain in an afternoon. But when they reached the Indus, something different happened. 75 years. 13 expeditions. 5 commanders killed in the field. And a final admission from the... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/04/26)
Senaka Weeraratna
Sri Lanka's Legal Education system values uncritically the inheritance of Roman - Dutch Law but nobody has ever complained that the very same Roman Dutch law was used by the Dutch East India Company to issue Placarts banning Buddhism and Hinduism as Cannibal faiths in 1711 and 1732. Sri Lanka's law schools have yet to draw attention to this unpardonable failing in the Dutch colonial administration and Roman - Dutch Law that is still misleadingly taught as a neutral framework of legal principles. It has always been an instrument of colonial control especially in... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/04/26)
Credits: Organised by the Sinhala Association (UK)
https://youtu.be/7yapVYRlqFg?si=_C8oNk-8FSIYTrJ3 Apr 12, 2026 srilankahistory Channel4 RightToReply This rare archival footage captures a historic Channel 4 UK “Right to Reply” programme (1986), featuring a response to the controversial documentary “A Troubled Paradise” (1985), produced by Tim Cooper. The programme presents a critical perspective from Douglas Wickramaratne, alongside Chandra Monerawela, then High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to the United Kingdom, addressing concerns of bias and misrepresentation in the original broadcast. This is a significant moment in media history, highlighting... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/04/26)
Courtesy BBC
https://youtu.be/2Mx1lTi3uYI... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 15/04/26)
Asoka Bandarage
Colonial and Neoliberal Origins: Ecological and Collective Alternatives About this book https://www.degruyter.com/document/isbn/9783111203454/html?lang=en Now in Paperback This book provides a broad picture of Sri Lanka’s on-going political and economic crisis as the culmination of several centuries of colonial and neo-colonial developments. The book presents the Sri Lankan crisis as an exemplification of a broader global existential crisis facing more and more debt trapped countries, especially in the post-colonial Global South. The book's in-depth case study raises important questions pertaining to sovereignty and political and economic democracy in Sri Lanka... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
by Garvin Karunaratne
I enclose a write upon the Youth Self Employment Programme of Bangladesh, I initiated in Bangladesh which has now grown to international level. The Youth Self Employment Programme of Bangladesh, a Programme that has created three million youth entrepreneurs in four decades.
by Garvin Karunaratne It all happened in the Bangladesh Secretariat, three days after General Ershard took over the country in a bloodless coup on the 24 th of March 1982. The Minister for Youth Development was clamped in prison and the work of the Ministry was... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
Senaka Weeraratna
During the Dutch colonial period in Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the Dutch East India Company (VOC) issued several Placaaten (decrees or edicts) designed to suppress non-Protestant religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism, with particularly severe actions taken in the 1710s and 1730s. Prohibition Laws: In 1711, the Dutch implemented laws banning the practice of both Hinduism and Buddhism, labeling them as "cannibal-faiths". 1732-1733 Actions: As residents frequently ignored these decrees, the Dutch intensified their measures. In 1732, an order was issued directing all village headmen to eliminate Buddhist temples within their areas. ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
Senaka Weeraratna
SenakaWeeraratna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ0Ul2Wl4Pk 0 seconds ago Christopher Schweitzer was a German serving in the Dutch forces in Ceylon. The voyage of Christopher Schweitzer from Wurtenberg, Germany who spent time in Ceylon in the 1670s has left an interesting account. While in Ceylon between 1676 - 1682 Schweitzer refers to the visit of a Persian Delegation to the Kingdom of Kandy probably in 1679. While stationed in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) as a soldier and clerk for the Dutch East India Company ( VOC) between 1676 and 1682, Christopher... -Full Story-
(LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
Nava Thakuria
After Assam, Keralam and Puducherry (union territory), the State legislative assembly elections are knocking at the doors of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in the second half of April 2026. Meanwhile, the millions of voters have shown an extraordinary commitment to electoral politics as they participated in the largely peaceful single-phase assembly polls on 9 April recording a high voters’ turnout. Assam recorded 85.96% voter participation in 126 assembly seats, where Puducherry showcased over 90% voting in 30 constituencies followed by Keralam (140 seats) with nearly 80% turnout. Assam’s 2.50 crore electorates (including 1.25... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
Source: AI Overview
ICC is duty bound to uphold and promote the ' Spirit of Cricket'. ' Natural Justice ' is a cardinal component of the latter. ICC is mandated by its fundamentals to resolve the dispute on the ownership of Player Referral (DRS) Intellectual Property by invoking Natural Justice principles rather than misleading legal jargon that brings no relief to the true inventor of Player Relief. The dispute over the Intellectual Property (IP) ownership of the Player Referral/Decision Review System (DRS) has evolved into a significant ethical challenge for the International Cricket Council (ICC), with... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
Dr Sarath Obeysekera
The recent recognition of NDB Bank as a top performer at Euromoney 2026, prominently featured in the Sunday papers, painted a picture of strength, resilience, and institutional excellence. Yet, within days, the public has been confronted with deeply troubling revelations of alleged fraud within the same institution. This stark contrast between celebrated success and emerging scandal raises urgent questions about governance, oversight, and the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s accelerating push toward digitization in banking and finance. At a time when the Government is championing digital transformation across all sectors—particularly financial services—this incident exposes... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
Desert Wanderer … with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi SEE https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/08/ceasefire-deal-iran-us-israel-war-trump/ The negotiations in Islamabad have ended without an agreement. Rather than engaging in genuine diplomacy, the United States attempted to bully the Iranian negotiators into accepting their demands unconditionally or facing annihilation. JD Vance proved to be a big disappointment in this regard; the negotiations in Pakistan were a waste of time and space, as American intentions were rotten from the start. This diplomatic failure is not an isolated event but rather a reflection of a broader, more violent strategy being championed by... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made two related claims about the government’s financing of LKR 500 billion for Cyclone Ditwah recovery : (1) it was from an existing Treasury [cash] balance of LKR 1,200 billion (or LKR 1.2 trillion), and (2) it was not drawn from borrowing or money printing. To assess both claims, FactCheck.lk reviewed the Ministry of Finance’s Annual Reports and the Budget, Economic and Fiscal Position Report 2026, focusing on the latest available data for 2025. On the Treasury balance: The above... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 14/04/26)
Shenali D Waduge
After nearly one year in detention (arrested by CID on 8 April 2025), NO Easter Sunday–related charges were filed agaist Pillayan when he was finally produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court on 2 April 2026. This is not a minor procedural detail. It creates a serious contradiction between the Government’s political narrative, CID investigations and its actual prosecutorial conduct before court. The most serious concern is that the strongest allegations were made under parliamentary privilege, where no evidentiary threshold applies and no judicial challenge is possible. The State... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
e-Con e-News
Posted byee ink.April 11, 2026Posted inUncategorizedTags:China, Cuba, history, imperialism, news, politics blog: https://eesrilanka.wordpress.com ‘Before you study the economics, study the economists!’ e-Con e-News 05-11 April 2026 * ‘Sri Lanka is also under a blockade like Cuba. You, me, we are all under a blockade. When the IMF – or any multilateral institution where the US Treasury is the main shareholder – imposes conditions on any government, or on our government, that’s… a different kind of blockade. Even if it works within international law... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
Dilrook Kannangara
NDB bank is again in the news for the second time in 6 months for another, second, fraud. This time it is over Rs.13 billion which makes it the biggest bank heist in the island, second only to the 2015 Central Bank bond fraud. The fraud amount is colossal and there is no way it could have escaped scrutiny of the internal finance function, external auditors (EY) and Independent Directors – each of them are (at least supposed to be) looking at financial health of the entity independently and with sufficient skepticism as required by Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
Courtesy: AI Overview
'User pays' principle must be applied with respect to use of Player Referral (DRS) in Cricket. Player Referral is an Intellectual Property Gold Mine for Sri Lanka. It has transcended Cricket and is now used in several other Sports. Not one red cent has so far been paid to Sri Lanka or its inventor despite its Sri Lankan origins. Being a financially struggling country and being dependent on others for sheer survival Sri Lanka cannot afford a costly legal battle to establish legal ownership of Player Referral. Therefore, the ICC must act in a... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
By Dr Sarath Obeysekera
“ Quote Peace talks between the United States, Israel, and Iran should have been mediated by an independent Buddhist country such as Thailand, Myanmar, or even Sri Lanka. If all three countries are on one side and another country brings in a Muslim perspective, the talks cannot be effectively mediated by a Muslim country. The Foreign Minister of Pakistan showed a partisan approach even before the peace talks began. This was evident when he published a statement against Israel. Another candidate could be China, which, with some level... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
AI Overview
Many International Sports that now adopt the Player - Referral method are legally bound to pay Royalties to Sri Lanka (Home country of the inventor). These sums are not small. Sri Lanka has a significant national stake in the global recognition of Senaka Weeraratna , a Sri Lankan lawyer, as the true inventor of the Player-Referral concept. This innovation serves as the foundation for the Decision Review System (DRS) in cricket and has influenced similar technology-based review systems in international sports like soccer (VAR), tennis, and rugby. Architect of a Revolution - First for a Sri... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
Truth with Chamuditha
https://youtu.be/BJOS37BQyKU... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
Source: AI Overview
The Kingdom of Kandy, the last independent Sinhala kingdom in Sri Lanka, was a Buddhist state governed by Nayak kings of Tamil origin from 1739 to 1815, who patronized the Buddhist religion despite their own Hindu heritage. Following the Kandyan Convention of 1815, the British promised in Article 5 to maintain and protect Buddhism ("the religion of Boodhoo") as inviolable. However, the British subsequently reneged on this promise, particularly after the 1817-1818 rebellion, reducing state patronage and, by 1853, formally separating the colonial government from the responsibility of protecting Buddhism. AI Overview ... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
by Arundathie Abeysinghe, Courtesy PIME Asia News
Studies by the University of Peradeniya show that atmospheric nitrogen can be fixed into the soil and rapidly improve it thanks to sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), reducing the need for chemical fertilisers, which are in short supply following the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Experts are urging the various stakeholders, including farmers, to leverage its potential to boost the country's food security. Colombo (AsiaNews) – A traditional plant could be the solution to Sri Lanka's fertiliser crisis, caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, reducing... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
Courtesy BBC News
Image caption,The Iran war has pushed prices up and caused long queues for fuel in Sri Lank Global Affairs Correspondent Published12 April 2026, 00:06 BST After floods devastated their village, Indrani Ravichandran and her family are back in their house, living in the only section that is still standing. They are among the many victims of Cyclone Ditwah that ravaged the country last November. The scale of the storm - and the destruction it wreaked - was unprecedented. Over just three... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 13/04/26)
Rohana R. Wasala
The following article is in felicitation for the 10th recorded ‘Melbourne Bak Maha Ulela’ event due to be held today (Sunday, April 12, 2026) at the Dandenong Showgrounds, off Bennet Street, Dandenong, Victoria State, Australia. As we know, it usually showcases customs, food, music, dances, and games traditionally associated with the hoary but hallowed Sinhala Aluth Avurudda. May this vibrant celebration of the Sinhala New Year festive season continue to enrich and empower our lives and strengthen our bonds of kinship wherever we happen to be in the world. The Sinhala Aluth Avurudda... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/04/26)
GeorgeGallowayOfficial
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BHzJcBGYrkk?feature=share... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/04/26)
Top News Lk
කවුරුහරි කියනවනම් මේක සර්ව ආගමික රටක් කියලා නෑ මහත්තයෝ මේක සිංහල බෞද්ධ රට නැගෙනහිර රට ඉඳි ගස් එහෙම හිටවන්නේ ඇයි කාටවත් මේ රට බෙදලා දෙන්න අපි ලෑස්ති නෑ https://youtu.be/OWv5LiBQRRk... -Full Story- (LankaWeb - 12/04/26)
