Senior journalist Dharman Wickremaratne’s latest Sinhala book, The Unseen Side of the Daya Pathirana Murder, will be launched on 21 January 2026 at 3.00 p.m. at the National Library and Documentation Services Board Auditorium, Colombo 7.

The book examines the first recorded murder within Sri Lanka’s student movement during the 2nd JVP insurrection, focusing on the killing of Daya Pathirana, who was the leader of the Independent Student Union of the University of Colombo. It documents the murder and the surrounding events in detail, naming individuals involved and placing the incident within its broader political and social context.

The publication consists of 392 pages and includes over 100 photographs. This is Dharman Wickremaratne’s fifth book dealing with the second JVP insurrection and his 56th book overall.

The launch ceremony will be chaired by President’s Counsel Dr. Wijedasa Rajapakshe. Speeches will be delivered by Engineer Champika Ranawaka, a former student leader of the University of Moratuwa; Professor Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, a former active member of the Independent Student Union; and Gevindu Kumaratunga, a former student leader of the University of Colombo. The event will be conducted by Montegu Sarathchandra. The programme will be open to the general public. For further information, please contact: 071-2733986.

The 2nd JVP insurrection, which lasted from 1986 to 1990, has been the subject of several of Wickremaratne’s earlier works, including Ginnen Upan Gini Pupuru, Satanin Satana, Comrade Lionel, and Premakeerthi Ghathane Sulamula. These publications were well received by both readers and critics.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, together with the American Chamber of Commerce, Exporters Association of Sri Lanka, Federation of Renewable Energy Developers, Joint Apparel Association Forum, National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies, has submitted joint observations on the Draft National Electricity Policy, highlighting that several key issues have not been adequately addressed.

Whilst recognizing the need for reform in the electricity sector, the submission flags several gaps in the draft policy that require closer attention. Key areas such as affordability, decarbonisation commitments, incentives for renewable energy, competition, and the long-term financial health of the sector are either missing or not addressed in sufficient depth.

The proposed tariff revisions outlined in the draft energy policy raise concerns, particularly regarding the removal of cross-subsidies and the proposal to restrict subsidies exclusively to households consuming less than 30 kWh per month. Without detailed analysis, these measures could weaken access to sustainable and affordable energy and potentially lead to fiscal risks.

The provisions allowing uncompensated curtailment, removing feed-in tariffs, and imposing mandatory time-of-use tariffs on rooftop solar users could make renewable energy projects un-bankable for international lenders, thereby increasing the cost of capital for Sri Lanka.

Calling for a more future-focused approach, the submission stresses the need for a policy that refl    ects modern electricity systems, including planning for the energy transition, energy storage, market competition, cross-border electricity trading, and emerging technologies.

The Chambers and Associations request a comprehensive revision of the Draft National Electricity Policy, alignment with the Electricity Act, and resubmission following substantive consultation, and reiterate support to engage constructively with policymakers to shape a policy that supports affordability, investment confidence, and Sri Lanka’s long-term energy security.

Link to submission – www.chamber.lk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/joint-submission-on-national-electricity-policy.pdf

Sri Lanka has recorded a significant achievement in the international Scrabble stage with the appointment of three of its representatives to key subcommittees of the World English-Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA), the global governing body for Scrabble.

Imeth De Silva has been appointed as the Sri Lankan Representative to the World Youth Scrabble Committee and also as a member of the Communications, Media and Publicity Committee. A former National Scrabble Champion and former Secretary of the Scrabble Federation of Sri Lanka, De Silva is actively involved in youth development, coaching, tournament organisation, and Scrabble promotion. He also represented Sri Lanka at the World Scrabble Championship last year. Through his roles at WESPA, he will contribute to the growth of youth Scrabble globally while supporting international communication, media engagement, and publicity initiatives.

Kavindu Malawaraarachchi, a prominent youth Scrabble player and Second Runner-up at the WESPA Youth Cup 2023, has been appointed to the Virtual Scrabble Subcommittee of WESPA. He currently serves as Assistant Secretary of the Scrabble Federation of Sri Lanka and Vice President of the Sri Lanka Scrabble League. With a professional background in the technology sector, Malawaraarachchi aims to contribute to the development of Scrabble-related software and promote Scrabble as a competitive e-sport on the global stage.

Thumal Thejana Kariyapperuma, a respected Scrabble coach with over 14 years of experience, has been selected as a Member of the Rules Subcommittee of WESPA. He is the current Secretary of the Scrabble Federation of Sri Lanka and the President and Co-Founder of the Western Scrabble League. In his WESPA role, he contributes to the development and standardisation of international Scrabble rules, ensuring fair and high-quality competition worldwide.