Examination

Other than Manila, no Asian city takes Christmas as seriously as Colombo. Some traditions are dying and new ones are emerging. As many migrate, armed with milk wine, salt beef, and figgy pudding, Burgher aunties and uncles fight the good fight to preserve the best of Christmas past.

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?

By clothing the presidency in such overmighty power, J.R.'s constitution magnified folly into catastrophe. Black July, the referendum that made a mockery of democracy, Indian intervention, all the way to Gota’s disastrous economic collapse — all bore the imprint of unchecked authority.

As war and the economic crises choked the domestic industry, some construction companies have looked to foreign markets. Today, Sri Lankan builders sign their names on projects from Uganda to Oman. But local conditions still clip their wings.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.