Spotlight Kelani valley line derailed: How Colombo’s multi-billion dollar railway modernisation went off track Words by The Examiner Colombo traffic will get worse as car imports resume, the economy recovers, and migration into the city accelerates. Public transport remains a key barrier to growth, and railways are the pain point. Their modernisation was to kick-off with the Kelani Valley Line’s upgrade. But the project derailed Read more →
Spotlight Policing the police: how uniformed torturers get away with it Words by The Examiner Despite Supreme Court judgements against them, torturers remain in police service, and sometimes even get promoted. Neither the police department nor the national police commission takes discipline seriously. Read more →
Spotlight Pilgrims on conquered land: how Sinhalese tour groups are erasing history in Jaffna Words by The Examiner This week, Lonely Planet included Jaffna in its list of best cities to visit in 2026. Three months ago, The Examiner accompanied a tour group, travelling to Jaffna from the south. The three-day tour revealed a sobering image of reconciliation, sixteen years since 2009. Read more →
Spotlight Paperless state: the promise and power of digital ID Words by The Examiner The government’s digital ID project is shrouded in secrecy and controversy. With huge benefits to the public on one hand and risks to privacy and security on the other, can the government win trust for digital governance? Read more →
Spotlight The government’s first real budget Words by The Examiner The Government will present its first full-cycle budget early next month. Promises are cheap but delivery is much harder. As implementation is so difficult and takes so long, getting policy right becomes even more imperative. Read more →
Spotlight After the children leave: old age in an ageing island Words by The Examiner Elder care in Sri Lanka is changing. As the island’s population ages, youth migrate, and the cost of care rises, this Examination asks what elders want. And whether their wishes can keep pace with society’s rapid changes. Read more →
Chaura rejina crowned Sri Lanka’s best president Words by The Examiner Presidents and prime ministers can make, or break, a nation. In this two-part series, we ask who led Sri Lanka best, and who led us worst. Read more →
Spotlight Prophet Jerome: The man behind the miracle Words by The Examiner Before Jerome Fernando became a controversial preacher, he was a disciplined cricketer and smooth-talking corporate executive. Today, operating a web of international companies, chairing several businesses, and drawing billions of rupees, he has come under fire — and scrutiny. Read more →
Spotlight Number two priority: How Colombo’s urban planners forgot toilets Words by The Examiner For Chamari, a lottery booth doubles as a changing room. Like her, thousands of women powering Colombo’s economy struggle for dignity in a city that forgets a basic need: toilets. Read more →
Spotlight The Malabar model: mapping economies across the Gulf of Mannar Words by The Examiner Marxists commanding a capitalist economy, sluggish growth supporting precocious human development, and rentiers relying on Gulf remittances. No, this isn’t Lanka. It’s Kerala, as sketched-out by Tirthankar Roy and K. Ravi Raman in their new economic history of Kerala. Read more →