Sri Lankan journalism has lost one of its most consequential—and quietly courageous—practitioners with the passing of Iqbal Athaas. In a profession often tempted by proximity […]
Author: Faraz Shauketaly
Easter Without Answers: Why Power Has Still Failed the Dead
“no majority, however large, can outrun that truth” Nearly seven years after the Easter Sunday bombings tore through churches and hotels, killing more than 270 […]
Two years on – is the bond matter being ignored?
In the 2024 presidential and parliamentary campaigns, the combined NPP/JVP made one pledge unusually clear and unusually loud: those responsible for the alleged Central Bank bond scam of […]
Rising Dengue Cases: Public Health, Governance, and Preparedness
Sri Lanka has reported over 2,000 dengue cases in the first month of 2026, raising alarms among public health authorities and local communities. The outbreak, […]
Tourism Target for 2026: Aspirations vs. Reality
Sri Lanka has officially set an ambitious target of 3 million tourist arrivals in 2026, signaling optimism that the island nation can rebound to pre-crisis […]
Emergency Powers, Again: How Temporary Measures Become Permanent Habits
Sunday political commentary repeatedly referenced “emergency provisions” used during disaster response — a phrase that has become dangerously normalised. Emergency powers are meant to be […]
Stability Fatigue: When a Country Grows Tired of Just Surviving
Perhaps the most telling theme across Sunday papers was emotional rather than analytical: exhaustion. The public mood is no longer panicked. It is no longer […]
Disaster Dashboards and Digital Transparency: When Visibility Replaces Accountability
One of the quieter but more celebrated announcements following the recent cyclone response was the launch of an online platform tracking damage, aid flows, and […]
Fiscal Silence and Sunday Optimism: What Isn’t Being Said About Public Finances
Business sections on Sunday were cautiously upbeat. Stability. Recovery. Normalisation. The language is familiar — and selective. What is largely absent is a clear discussion […]
Social Media, Mistrust, and the New Information Asymmetry
Another undercurrent in Sunday coverage was the speed with which misinformation spreads — especially around disaster aid, corruption claims, and policy decisions. The instinctive response […]
Credit Growth and Quiet Optimism: Reading Between Economic Headlines
Sunday business pages carried cautious optimism: private credit growth, stabilising indicators, and signs of economic normalisation. After years of contraction, even modest improvements feel significant. […]
Banning Cigarettes for the Future: Public Health Meets Political Reality
The proposal to ban cigarette sales to those born after 2010 made Sunday headlines as a bold, forward- looking public health intervention. Conceptually, it is […]
Reconstruction Season Again: When Disasters Become Development Narratives
Sri Lanka’s Sunday papers this week were thick with images of bridges reopened, roads cleared, and ministers pointing at freshly laid concrete. Cyclone recovery, once […]
Cyclone Aid, Viral Videos, and Why Mistrust Travels Faster Than Facts
A viral video alleging misuse of cyclone aid has circulated rapidly, highlighting the fragility of public trust in Sri Lanka. Clarifications and corrections have followed, […]
Tourist Arrivals Are Up – But Is Sri Lanka Recovering or Just Counting Heads?
Sri Lanka recorded a 4.2% increase in tourist arrivals in December 2025, a figure widely cited as evidence of economic recovery. The narrative is simple […]