spotlight

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.

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.

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.

Authorities removed hundreds of unauthorised coastal buildings this year. But when they tried to demolish an illegal cafe on Trinco’s public beach, monks erected a Buddha statue. The authenticity of the monks’ Pooja Bhoomi deed is in question and officials object to the law’s selective application.

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.