Sri Lanka
Trouble in Paradise
While Sri Lanka aims to attract millions of tourists to boost its economy, concerns are rising about tourism’s impact on local communities — from the displacement of local businesses by those catering to outsiders, to the exploitation of local resources and the segregation of spaces to make them exclusive to foreigners.
Addicts in Remand
Extrajudicial executions, police raids on low-income neighborhoods, media demonization of addicts and court-mandated rehabilitation at army-run centers have raised concerns about the criminalization of substance abuse in Sri Lanka.
Why Short Eats Are an Emblem of Sri Lankan Identity
In Sri Lanka, short eats can be had at all times and for all meals. You can find them by the beach and on busy roads, at birthday parties and high teas. They bind communities together, hold stories of the nation’s centuries-long history and have emerged as a symbol of the Sri Lankan identity.
Sri Lanka’s Uncomfortable Relationship With Its Disappeared
Over three decades, more than 30 mass graves have been found in Sri Lanka, believed to be of those who disappeared during the civil war and armed communist rebellions. But efforts to uncover the truth are continually obstructed by the authorities, making families — seeking closure — live and die without answers.
Human-Elephant Conflict Is Rising in Sri Lanka
Historically, elephants and humans lived in harmony in Sri Lanka, but deforestation, haphazard cultivation methods and massive development projects have now led to increasing human-elephant conflict.
In Sri Lanka, Economic Crisis Alters the Taste of Tea
If there is one thing that illustrates the story of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, it’s milk powder. Integral to the country’s tea culture, it is unaffordable now, forcing locals to find alternatives.
In Sri Lanka, Tamils Are Divided Over the Tigers’ Militant Legacy
Every year, Nov. 27 is commemorated as “Maaveerar Naal” or “Heroes Day,” when Tamils in Sri Lanka remember the fallen LTTE cadres. Since the civil war ended in 2009, the day has taken on additional significance. But who gets to be a “hero” is complicated and contested.