Stories about Sri Lanka
Understanding lingering poverty and malnutrition in the aftermath of Sri Lanka's economic crisis
" ... [D]espite economic expansion, poverty and vulnerability levels are elevated, food insecurity is widespread, and health outcomes have deteriorated."
Digital partisans: Dissecting Facebook sentiment towards Sri Lanka's main presidential candidates
Facebook’s approximately eight and a half million users in Sri Lanka post far more content and commentary at any time and on any issue or politician than other social media platforms.
Sri Lanka elections: Will the real Wickremesinghe, Premadasa and Dissanayake please stand up?
Over 4,000 tweets associated with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake were analyzed to uncover their artificially constructed identities.
Minority journalists are under threat in South Asia
Journalists in South Asia face threats, censorship, legal obstacles, and physical and mental challenges. Minority journalists, however, encounter extra barriers and are especially vulnerable to increased risks and difficulties.
A farming community's fight for land and legacy in Sri Lanka
A story of resilience and resistance emerges in the struggle between farmers and the authorities in Uva Province over a land-grab of maize fields for a proposed sugarcane factory.
A quest for fairness by fishermen in the western Sri Lankan city of Negombo
"Their protest ... resonating within the halls of the Archdiocese of Colombo, speaks to a deeper narrative of conflict, resource management and the pursuit of fairness within the church community."
Greenpeace opens office in Sri Lanka amid ongoing climate crisis
Global Voices' partner Groundviews spoke to Executive Director of Greenpeace South Asia, Binu Jacob, about the climate challenges facing the region and the role of Greenpeace in combatting climate injustice.
Looking forward to 2024: A year of crucial elections in South Asia
In 2023, pre-election implications were evident in certain South Asian nations as repressive laws stifled free expression and targeted critics. Opposition leaders faced arrests and judicial harassment, reflecting a concerning trend.
The UK and Sri Lanka: A comparison of two online safety bills
Human rights defender Sajini Wickramasinghe analyses the UK online safety bill to explain how certain serious concerns in the impending Sri Lankan bill can be addressed and tackled.
Microplastic pollution in Sri Lanka: A silent killer in the making
Microplastics are toxic to all living beings. Until we can replace plastics or combat microplastics, the general rule must be to avoid any indiscriminate usage of plastics in our lives.
Sri Lanka's LGBTQ+ community holds Pride events demanding an end to discrimination
Civil society and LGBTQ+ activists in Sri Lanka arranged a series of vibrant and empowering Pride events advocating for equality and demanding an end to discrimination.
Comedian and YouTube content creator arrested in Sri Lanka over satire on Buddhism
The recent arrests of stand-up comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya and social media activist Bruno Divakara have sparked new public debate about the issue of free expressions and the boundaries of comedy.
Sri Lanka's proposed anti-terrorism law aims to curb civil protests
There is growing dissent within Sri Lanka against the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which is intended to replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the accompanying bill.
Rescued at sea, why do Rohingya refugees end up in Sri Lankan detention centers?
" ... [T]hey had not landed illegally or even tried to enter Sri Lanka illegally but had been brought in by navy personnel who had rescued them from a boat in distress."
Climate change, digital authoritarianism and disinformation campaigns ruled in South Asia in 2022
With 2022 nearly over, situations in countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were extremely difficult. So, what did this year hold in store for South Asia? Read on.
Research flags Sri Lanka where over 9.5 million people may descend into poverty
The ongoing economic crisis, food inflation, and job losses in Sri Lanka have impacted negatively on living conditions and are expected to increase poverty substantially in the country.
Looking at the GotaGoGama protests as a learning curve for Sri Lanka
A month after GotaGoGama came to a close, one wonders how have its ideas taken root in the minds of the thousands who engaged with this space of learning.
Sri Lanka: The evolution of the Gotagogama protest site and its periphery, in photos
Sri Lankan photographer Sandesh Bartlett captures how the peaceful occupy protest against the Rajapaksa government at Galle Face Green in the capital Colombo materialized, from March to July 2022.
A new era of politics begins in Sri Lanka
A peaceful mass uprising on July 9 brought about the end of a political era that started with the promulgation of the 1978 constitution of Sri Lanka, which undermined democracy.
Sri Lankan president agrees to resign after protesters storm his official residence
Sri Lanka witnessed a successful people's uprising on July 9, 2022, as they demanded the resignation of the President due to rising prices and acute shortage of fuel, food and medicines.
In Sri Lanka, state-sponsored disinformation and suppression of dissent taint COVID-19 response
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sri Lankan government has used the digital space to further an authoritarian agenda, affecting the digital rights and freedoms of citizens.
