Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Lecturer, researcher, veteran journalist, correspondent AsiaNews, Rome, Italy. BA (English) and MA (Political Science) University of Kelaniya and PGDIR (BCIS).

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Articles

Muhamalai: mine clearance completed in one of the world's worst minefields

4 days ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Sri Lanka has received some long-awaited good news, with a large part of the island nation made safer. Last week, the HALO Trust, the largest humanitarian organisation for mine clearance, completed the process of demining northern Muhamalai (Northern Province) in cooperation with a major Sri Lankan demining agency. Thanks to decades of joint efforts, residents, once displaced by war, can finally return to their homes.
Colombo: Israel and Iran war poses risks to stability and economic recovery

1 week ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) - Growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the latest of which is the war that Israel launched against Iran a week ago, are having far-reaching consequences in many Asian countries, as is currently the case in Sri Lanka. The island is in a delicate position, especially in economic terms, which could have a significant impact on the country's financial stability and fragile recovery in recent times.
Colombo: Sri Lankan tourists protest against “discrimination” compared to foreigners

2 weeks ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) - Controversy is raging in Sri Lanka over the different treatment of local and foreign tourists by institutions and facilities. In recent times, there have been increasing complaints from citizens in various tourist areas of unequal treatment and discrimination by tourist service providers not registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
Sri Lankan research team identifies fungus that attacks rubber plants

3 weeks ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) – A team of researchers at the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka (RRISL) has identified – first in the world – the fungus responsible for Colletotrichum tropicale, a disease (anthracnose) characteristic of plants found in tropical and subtropical areas. The fungus is a global problem that affects particularly rubber cultivation.
Oluvil Port, Sri Lanka’s ‘White Elephant’

1 month ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Inaugurated in 2013 with the aim of revitalising the local economy and attracting foreign investment, the port of Oluvil in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province has become what many observers now call a "white elephant" – a foreign-funded development that has lain unused for over two decades and caused significant environmental and social harm. The port has become inoperable due to the accumulation of sand dunes at its entrance, which prevent boats from entering.
Local Elections in Sri Lanka: No win for government or opposition

1 month ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) – With the elections for the renewal of municipal and local council leaders concluded, the struggle for leadership in over 150 councils remains open and uncertain, where no party or group holds an absolute majority in a context characterised by ambiguity.
Sri Lanka’s education system indicted after a 15-year-old abuse victim commits suicide

1 month ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Hundreds of students and parents have been protesting in Colombo in the past few days, demanding justice for 15-year-old Amshika, a student at the Ramanathan Hindu Ladies' College, Bambalapitiya District. The young woman committed suicide on 29 April after months of neglect and public shaming, according to the family. She was preparing for ordinary level exams when, in October 2024, her math teacher allegedly sexually abused her.
Trump's tariffs badly impact women workers in Sri Lanka

1 month ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) – About a million women workers in key export sectors will lose their job and income if the 44 per cent tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump come into force at the end of the 90-day pause. Sri Lanka's main export industries such as apparel, tea, gems, rubber and cinnamon, which employ mostly women, will be the most affected by the new tariffs since the US market is one of their most lucrative.
Mosquitoes, mice and termites now live in ministerial residences in Colombo

2 months ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) – Mosquitoes proliferate in several ministerial residences (including those used by former presidents). Houses are degrading because termites and mice take refuge in buildings that are almost 100 years old. The gardens of the houses are overgrown with weeds and the roofs and gutters are full of leaves.
Colombo's palm oil paradox

2 months ago | asianews.it | Arundathie Abeysinghe

Colombo (AsiaNews) - One of the mafia of large companies that do not consider the impact on the environment. A general ban that ultimately only harms new, environmentally friendly crops. This sums up the paradox surrounding palm oil in Sri Lanka. There are 13,000 acres of land in the country cultivated by private owners for this purpose, with the stated goal of soon reaching 20,000 acres.