Aswesuma Cover
|

Aswesuma, Poverty, and Terrorism

Launch of two important reports

Do you remember the time when violence erupted in our country during the peak of the economic crisis in 2022, with houses and vehicles set ablaze and even murders taking place? Many predicted that the worsening economic crisis would lead to an increase in poverty, which in turn could fuel violence, chaos, and even terrorism….

anurakumara
|

International Media Brands Sri Lanka’s New President Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a Marxist Anti-Establishment Leader

Ajith Parakum Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent election as Sri Lanka’s president has drawn significant attention from international media, with many outlets branding him as both a Marxist and an anti-establishment leader. Media coverage highlights Dissanayake’s long-standing association with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a party with Marxist roots that once led armed insurrections in Sri…

ranil
|

Synchronicity in Sri Lankan Politics

Carl Jung's Theory Reflected in Politics and Society

Ajith Parakum Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, delved deeply into the human psyche, introducing groundbreaking concepts like the collective unconscious, archetypes, and synchronicity. Jung believed in the significance of individuation and spiritual growth, leaving a profound impact on psychology, philosophy, and modern thinking about the unconscious mind. Synchronicity, one of…

Sri Lanka Customs
|

Customs Denies NPP Candidate’s Claim of 1.1 Trillion Rupees in Tax Arrears

Sri Lanka Customs has refuted a claim made by NPP Presidential Candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who alleged that the department has an outstanding tax arrear of 1.1 trillion rupees. According to the Customs Department, the actual amount of outstanding taxes is 58 billion rupees. Customs officials clarified that the 58 billion rupees in tax arrears…

New Laws to Combat Corruption and Recover Stolen Assets in Sri Lanka Minister Ali Sabry
|

New Laws to Combat Corruption and Recover Stolen Assets in Sri Lanka

Minister Ali Sabry

Justice Minister M.U.M. Ali Sabry announced that the government has gazetted a new law aimed at recovering assets acquired through criminal activities. This legislation will empower authorities to pursue legal action against individuals holding unlawfully obtained wealth and enforce stricter measures against corruption. The minister highlighted the Anti-Corruption Act No. 19 of 2013, which was…

Counting elephants
|

Sri Lanka Completes First Elephant Census in Over a Decade Amid Controversy and Hope

Mongabay

Sri Lanka has completed its first national elephant census in over a decade, a crucial step in understanding the country’s elephant population amid growing concerns over human-wildlife conflicts and habitat loss. Conducted between September 13 and 15, the survey has sparked both optimism and skepticism among conservationists and wildlife experts. While the government claims the…

Election Commission and Voter's rights
|

Freedom of Expression, Elections, and the Legality of Suppressing a Writer’s Voice in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, the Election Commission bears the primary responsibility of ensuring that electoral processes are conducted independently, impartially, and fairly. The Constitution of Sri Lanka establishes the Election Commission as an independent entity to oversee the organization of Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial, and Local Government elections in line with the laws enacted by Parliament and…

economy
|

Financial Crisis and IMF Conditionality

When a country faces a severe financial crisis, it becomes increasingly clear that moving forward without the agreements and conditional frameworks of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is nearly impossible. Global experiences have demonstrated time and again that economies emerging from financial turmoil often require the structured support and oversight of the IMF to stabilize…

school1
|

Sri Lanka’s Private Schools and the Lack of Regulation

The 2022 Annual Report of the National Education Commission highlights a critical issue within Sri Lanka’s education sector: the lack of effective regulation and oversight for private schools. As of 2022, there are 80 government-approved private schools and 395 international schools operating in the country, with a total student population nearing 300,000. Government-approved private schools…

postal-vote
|

Voting Rights of around 20,000 Sri Lankans Blocked

In 1931, Sri Lanka earned the right to the universal franchise, a milestone that allowed the nation’s citizens to participate in the electoral process. However, not all Sri Lankans fully enjoy this right even today. Among those excluded are Buddhist nuns, prisoners, and approximately 10% of the immigrant population. Recently, the Committee for Safeguarding Prisoners’…