Thomas Mann’s books are often doorstoppers. But fast-forward to the action this evening, with a film adaptation of Death in Venice. Meanwhile the French have apparently replaced replaced sleighs with scooters, in this Christmas

Doppler radar is vital for cyclone prediction. Despite trying for nearly two decades, Sri Lanka is the only country in the region without it. Met department mismanagement and negligence are the main cause, say audit reports. Ironically, Sri Lanka operated cyclone prediction radar in the 1980s.

The JVP-NPP government enjoys an unprecedented 159-seat supermajority in parliament. But a year after coming into power, sweeping rights-based reforms remain elusive. Will the promised system change truly materialise?

From boardrooms to Pettah there is consensus on the cause for the rupee’s fall: lifting the vehicle import ban. This is partly true. But the rupee’s rise or fall in the long run doesn’t depend on specific goods. It depends on the supply of money, argues Ravi Ratnasabapathy in this op-ed.

Year-end blues straining your relationship? Take your beau to the Goethe for a film this evening.  Watch how the Cubans navigate love and wars of the soul.  Still single? Band your friends together for two

Sri Lanka, while disaster-ready for milder cyclones, isn’t prepared for Ditwah-level devastation. In the weeks to come, audits will assess the gaps in our disaster management systems. But for now, we look at what worked and what didn’t – asking if any of the 486 deaths could have been avoided.

People are dying of water-borne diseases, while food prices are likely to remain elevated. Most businesses in affected areas are operational, but not yet operating at capacity. Tea exports likely to fall by 10 percent. Damage to roads and bridges is severe. Reconstruction could take up to two years.