Category: People
How can we adjust our capitalist system to face post COVID-19 challenges?
An article by Tharaka Balasuriya With the chaos resulting from Covid 19, many have questioned the effectiveness of the neoliberal economic model. A debate about the negative impacts of the open economic system has been on going in Sri Lanka ever since the introduction of free market reforms in 1977. Although successive governments have experimented […]
Living with (and life after) COVID-19
An article by Tharaka Balasuriya COVID-19 will drastically change the manner in which we live, work, communicate and interact. The degree of change induced in society will be beyond the impact of the virus. As of yet, there is no definite scientific conclusion as to when the pandemic is expected to end, although most mathematical […]
Curfew, Lock down and Economic Livelihoods
By Sharhan Muhseen 6th April 2020 National policymakers have been grappling on the right balance between lockdowns (total or partial) and maintaining a functioning economy to safeguard the livelihood of its citizens and viability of its corporate sector. Whilst no solution seems optimal, the need for a well-orchestrated recovery strategy is central to avoid a […]
Sri Lanka curfew update
Apr 06, 2020 (LBO) – The curfew currently in force in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy and Jaffna which have been designated as high risk zones will remain effective until further notice. In all other districts, curfew which was lifted at 6.00am today, Monday the 6th and was reimposed at 2.00 pm […]
Sri Lanka missions in South Asia work towards ensuring safety of locals expatriates
Mar 31, 2020 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Missions in South Asia, in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, have been closely engaging with the Sri Lankan communities overseas and are working towards assisting and facilitating the many Sri Lankan expatriates in the region in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic. Mission wise, databases of Sri Lankan students and other expatriates are being compiled by the Missions with a view to keeping in close contact […]
National carrier brings down medical aid from China
Mar 30, 2020 (LBO) – SriLankan Airlines, uplifted a consignment of medical aid from Shanghai, China recently. This was a donation made by the Sri Lankan Community in China through the Consulate Generals of Sri Lanka in Guangzhou and Shanghai, facilitated by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in China. The consignment contained essential medical items […]
H2O1 in discussions with the Water Board on feasibility of implementing advanced water treatment technology in Sri Lanka
H2O ONE and its Singaporean technical partner ACE WATER met with Deputy General Manager Lasantha Weerasekara and staff members at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) headquarters at Ratmalana. The H2O ONE and ACE WATER team also met with the officials of Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and leading private sector corporates as part […]
Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation Donate Medical Supplies to 10 More Asian Nations
The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation today announced plans to donate much-needed medical supplies to 10 more countries in Asia to help the global fight against COVID-19. The governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will receive from the two foundations a donation totaling 1.8 million masks, […]
BBK Partnership, Jaffna’s accountants to the World
I first heard of the BBK Partnership Sri Lanka in 2015. I first spoke with its co-founder Anandan Arnold in 2018, and finally met him in March 2020 at a hospital in Manipay Jaffna. He was dressed rather informally for a Partner of London’s BBK Partnership of Chartered Accountants. Anandan (pictured below on the right) […]
President proposes collective SAARC response to fight COVID – 19
Mar 16, 2020 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today (15) proposed to leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to formulate a collective response to combat COVID – 19. He further called for SAARC Ministerial Meeting to discuss measures to overcome this deadly health threat. President Rajapaksa made these proposals participating in a […]
Tribute: Upali Wijewardene 1938 – 1983
February 13, 2020 (LBO) – By: Ranjit Hulugalle On February 13th 1983, Upali Wijewardene’s plane went missing, and the tycoon was thus gone too soon at the tender age of 44. Whilst there are many theories about what happened, the one that I tend to believe is that there was some malfunction in his Lear […]
Tribute: Ladies College girl Viola Welikala turns 100 today
February 6, 2020 (LBO) – Some say only the good die young, however, I can assure you that this is not the case. Today at 100, one of the unknown greats is still very much alive in mind, body and soul. This great lady is my grandmother, Viola Welikala, who is 100 years of age […]