2021 developments By Shamindra Ferdinando Former President and SLFP leader Maithripala Sirisena, MP, was a notable absentee at the Government Party Leaders’ meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, on Dec 25th. Twice President, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa presided over the meeting. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who hadn’t obtained the membership of the SLPP (though he was that […]
by Dulara Vithana, Bhanushi Perera and Kaushalya Kariyawasam
The term, ‘online’, pertains to the Internet. The ‘consumer’ is a person who buys things or enlists services. Therefore, the ‘online consumer’ can be defined as a person who engages in activities and achieves his goals through the use of internet and social media networks. With increasing globalization, humans are becoming busier and more dependent on the Internet. As a result, the number of people who used computers and the internet has increased exponentially, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19, which upended the world and caused almost all countries to be locked down partially or completely. Educational activities from primary to university students, various work-related day-to-day activities, bank transactions, etc., have come to be conducted online, causing an unprecedented increase in the number of online consumers.
(Pic by Jeevan Chandimal/PMD)
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Last Monday’s briefing at the Presidential Secretariat (old parliament) on the status of the war-winning armed forces revealed the pathetic state of affairs during the yahapalana administration. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa chaired the Defence Ministry review which lasted several hours. After Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne addressed the gathering, respective service chiefs explained the crisis experienced by the armed forces during the 2015 to 2019 period.
Navy Chief VA Nishantha Ulugetenne and Airforce Chief AVM Sudarshana Pathirana explained how they were deprived of the required support to maintain available assets. There hadn’t been a similar meeting since the change of government in Nov 2019. The then government allowed the armed forces to deteriorate. The rapid deterioration had been all part of the yahapalana strategy meant to undermine the armed forces. Downsizing the Army had been one crucial aspect a
By Prof. Wimal Dissanayake
The Venerable Tirikiunamale Ananda Maha Nayaka Thera has written a reverential commemorative poem, titled
Guru Dev Samara, celebrating the life and times of his teacher the Reverend Ampitiye Rahula Maha Thera. It is a poem that deserves the critical attention of discerning readers primarily because of the dexterity with which the author has handled his chosen poetic meter and commanded it to perform a number of functions related to the vitality of the poetic text
Guru Dev Samara consists of 130 stanzas written in conformity to the
drutha vilambitha meter. As I will explain later, the choice of this meter is indeed a happy one. It serves to enhance the willed intensity of the poetic text.