By Raj Gonsalkorale Donald Trump – US will ‘obliterate’ Iran’s power plants if Strait of Hormuz are not open before the 48-hour deadline Iran – ‘‘If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the United States and the (Israeli) regime in the region […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale There is a time to play politics, a time to destabilize governments for political gain and a time to hide the truth from the people, again, for political gain. This is not that time as the consequences arising from the war in the Middle East is far too devastating for the global […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Unworthy Wearer: “Whoever, being depraved, devoid of self-control and truthfulness, should don the monk’s yellow robe, he surely is not worthy of the robe”. Worthy Wearer: “But whoever is purged of depravity, well-established in virtues and filled with self-control and truthfulness, he indeed is worthy of the yellow robe” –Dhammapada (Verses 9-10) In a world where […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale In the latest escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz According to Science Direct, Sri Lanka imports nearly all of its oil and gas, relying heavily on the Middle East, with major suppliers being Oman, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain. The country […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Sri Lanka drugs and medical supplies requirements are met through three sources. The State hospital system is supplied by the State Pharmaceuticals corporation (SPC), and the private sector is supplied by the SPC as well as private importers, and statistics show that the private importer share of total imports is around 60% […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale We are all human beings, and our nationality and religion are simply accidents of birth –Venkatraman Ramakrishnan – British American structural biologist and former president of the Royal Society In this day and age, when volumes of Buddha Dharma texts are needed to explain the doctrine and the pathway to attain the […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale When you are in local government, you are on the ground, and you are looking into the eyes and hearts of the people you are there to serve. It teaches you to listen; it teaches you to be expansive in the people with whom you talk to, and I think that that […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Never waste a crisis- former Foreign Minister Ali Sabri called on the country’s leaders to use the national tragedy as an opportunity for transformative, long-term reform and reconstruction. He went on to say how Germany rebuilt industrial power from war ruins. How Japan re-engineered resilience after disaster.  how the Philippines revived agriculture […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale The plantation industry is a major source of foreign exchange for Sri Lanka, with total annual export earnings of approximately $4-5 billion USD in recent years. The sector contributes around 24% of the country’s total export earnings. In terms of direct and indirect employment, the sector probably provides such employment opportunities to more than 3 […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Community members drawn from grassroots who have experienced and dealt with challenges at that level and who have much to share with countless numbers of people in similar situations become community scientists who offer suggestions for advancing the health and well-being of communities based on their experience and acquired expertise. A unique […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Changing the world begins with changing our minds. In the midst of growing global crises, including climate change, increasing polarization, inequality, and an overarching sense of disconnection from those around us and the natural world, it’s not a stretch to say that humanity needs change. Without question, the external systems and structures […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Sri Lanka GDP growth rate needs to rise above 8% over ten years to achieve a GDP of USD 200 million and a GDP per capita of USD 9000 to qualify as an upper middle-class status. A high-income status requires a per capita of $13,846 or more. Can Sri Lanka achieve these […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Globally, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to business self-regulation with the aim of being socially accountable.” From a broader perspective this definition includes improving working conditions, reducing carbon footprints, participating in Fairtrade, and many more actions. On its most basic level, CSR is a manifestation of a business’ recognition of a duty to […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Some are more equal than others” is a paradoxical phrase from George Orwell’s allegorical novel Animal Farm that highlights societal hypocrisy, where the concept of equality is proclaimed but a privileged few receive preferential treatment Theatrics in Sri Lankan politics has reached a crescendo with the arrest, remanding and bail out of Mr […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale On 21 November 1938, Hitler met with the South African defence minister Oswald Pirow and told him that the Jews would be killed if war broke out. The same month, an official of Hitler’s chancellery told a British diplomat of German plans “to get rid of [German] Jews, either by emigration or if necessary, […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Currently, one in every six individuals in Sri Lanka suffers from multidimensional poverty, with 95.3% of this population residing in rural and estate areas. The continued existence of this condition negatively impacts the country’s economic and productive potential. This initiative seeks to address the situation by strengthening social protection and strategically targeting […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Sri Lanka has to navigate its foreign policy within turbulent waters considering its pivotal location in the Indian ocean. Being the neighbor to India, a regional power which some consider an emerging superpower, and which shows a kind of political bi polarity, with shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels, often resulting […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale The geographic terms Israel” and Palestine” have a long history and specific connotations for Jews and Arabs with respect to their competing claims to the same land. The only way forward for Jewish Israelis and Palestinian Arabs is to cease looking backwards. Dr Daniel Miller – https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/ australianoutlook/israel-and-palestine-where-should-history-begin-and-should-it-matter/ The article by Dr […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale In a letter addressed to the Health Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) pointed out that medical staff are increasingly being forced to request patients to obtain medicines, consumables, and laboratory investigations from external sources, an act that, in the absence of official guidance, has subjected them to […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Drug use disorders, a pressing issue globally, have particularly strained Sri Lanka’s public health and security systems, affecting its youth and communities. Sri Lanka has witnessed a troubling rise in drug-related issues, with a 13% increase in arrests for drug offenses during the 2022 economic crisis, totalling 152,979 individuals. The infiltration of […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale “Free” critical thinking, in a philosophical sense, refers to the ability to think independently, without being unduly influenced by external pressures or internal biases. It involves questioning assumptions, analysing information objectively, and forming reasoned judgments based on evidence and logic. Essentially, it’s about thinking critically for oneself, rather than passively accepting information or opinions.  Keeping […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Venerable Walpola Rahula Thero’s 118th death anniversary fell on the 9th of May. On the 24th of May, a commemorative event is being organised by the Walpola Rahula Foundation Trust chaired by his only Monk pupil Venerable Galkande Dhammananda at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. It is timely and of significant relevance […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Good ideas fail automatically. In a competitive environment and with limited resources, political parties need robust strategies to maximise their chances to win. In every day’s working routines, there is often a high focus on action and reaction – and little to no direction due to an unclear or non-existent strategy – […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale The trees The quotation “Missing the wood for the trees” means being unable to see the whole picture or larger context because one is fixated on minor details or individual components. It suggests a lack of perspective and an inability to understand the bigger picture due to being too focused on the small parts.  […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Going by some decisions taken by US Presidents that have had very negative consequences for the USA itself and other countries, a dilemma does arise about democracy and what it means and how it is exercised in the USA. The latest being the decision taken by one person, President Donald Trump, that […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Considering the instances where proliferation of waste dumping is increasing, and the ongoing deaths and injuries  due to maniacal driving by bus drivers, and others, one cannot but feel that the much-publicized Clean Sri Lanka concept has not yet got off ground as desired.  The government needs to lift their game or […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale GDP Is the wrong tool for measuring what matters – It’s time to replace gross domestic product with real metrics of well-being and sustainability– Joseph E. Stiglitz A country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the standard measure of the total value of all goods and services produced within its borders during a specific […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale Much research has been done by numerous experts on the future of the plantation industry involving tea, rubber and coconut. While very valuable strategic options have been provided and focus shifted to existing and emerging technology as a futuristic vision, critical grass roots activities have not been adequately addressed. Who will pluck […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale High road crash fatality and injury rates on Sri Lanka’s roads are undermining the economic growth and progress made over the past decade on reducing poverty and boosting prosperity. Estimated annual road crash deaths per capita in Sri Lanka are twice the average rate in high-income countries and five times that of […]

By Raj Gonsalkorale This endeavour goes beyond merely cleaning up the environment. It aspires to restore the deeply eroded and deteriorated social and environmental fabric of our motherland. We aim to create cleanliness and rejuvenation across all sectors of society – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake unveiling the Clean Sri Lanka initiative on the 1st of […]