In the capital of Sri Lanka, public spaces for children to play are disappearing, hitting working-class communities hard. In Slave Island, historic gathering places have been privatised through opaque procedures and political pressure. The phenomenon is accelerated by urban regeneration programmes.

Some officers were detained and suspended after Father Milan Priyadarshana was beaten while returning home from an evening service. This morning, the Archdiocese of Colombo organised a silent demonstration against police violence and abuse.

For three years, waste has been accumulating in the municipality of the Southern Province, causing a “strong and unpleasant odor.” Residents are calling for a “permanent and sustainable” solution, while the government and opposition trade accusations. Last week, three newborns in the area were hospitalized for respiratory problems, including a six-month-old baby in serious condition.

The play Yakawewata Nandikadal was born out of workshops promoted by the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) with communities affected by the war. Based on real-life stories, it is performed by non-professional actors and presented in Tamil and Sinhalese. It addresses pain, loss, and mutual distrust, calling for genuine cohesion and peaceful coexistence in Sri Lanka.

The annual festival celebrating the winter harvest with the sharing of a traditional dish has provided the opportunity to remember the injustices endured by the plantation workers community in Sri Lanka for more than two centuries. Damages caused by the recent Cyclone Ditwah has only worsened the situation.

Government plans to change the education system have sparked strong protests from teachers, parents, and academics. Criticism centres on flawed teaching materials and the additional costs to families, in a country still coping with the damage caused by recent extreme weather events and where many people still face great economic hardship