A guard on a train derailed in Sri Lanka by a tsunami recounts the tale a decade after the disaster that left more than 1,500 dead.

It’s rainy season in Sri Lanka. Tropical storms, torrential rain and surprise sunshine perfectly capture the mood of uncertainty and fear gripping the country ahead of the general election set for the 8th of January next year.

England’s cricketers are in Colombo and about to begin a seven-match series against Sri Lanka but they have all had Australia on their minds. The focus has not been on the Australasian World Cup, for which they are preparing here, but the plight of Phil Hughes, in hospital in Sydney after being struck on the head while batting in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.

The study investigated combat related PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and psychosocial problems among Army servicemen who fought in the Eelam War in Sri Lanka. A total of eight hundred and twenty four (824) Sri Lankan Army servicemen of the infantry and services units who were referred to the Psychiatric ward Military Hospital Colombo were screened for combat related PTSD in the period August 2002 to March 2006. The soldiers were administered the PTSD Check List based on DSM 4 with a structured face to face interview  by the Consultant Psychiatrist of the Sri Lanka Army. Among the eight hundred and twenty four (824) Sri Lankan Army servicemen fifty six (56) were found with full blown symptoms of PTSD. The combatants with PTSD experienced psychosocial problems that affected their military, personal and family lives. Disciplinary infractions, low motivation, suicidal ideation, alcohol and substance abuse and family violence were identified among the victims. Effective interventions would be needed to treat combatants with combat related PTSD.

1.YOUR FEELINGS

"It's alright to feel bad some days, but if you continue to feel depressed, the situation needs to be addressed. Sometimes, you you may not be able to tell your parents everything, but you can tell a friend," says Parineeti. Worried that your friend is the one feeling low? "The most important thing is listening to the person, showing you care," agrees Dr Nicole Highet, Deputy CEO and psychologist, Beyondblue.

The best, as they say, must not be the enemy of the good. I have long advocated that the best kind of candidacy for the Opposition would have been or would be a Karu-Sajith or Sajith-Karu ticket, i.e. a ticket that symbolized the UNP Reformist option of 2011-2013. That ticket no longer exists. That bitter fact is probably far more Karu’s fault than that of anyone else, but right now, all that must be regarded as water under the bridge.

There's no easy way to say this: You're eating too much chocolate, all of you. And it's getting so out of hand that the world could be headed towards a potentially disastrous (if you love chocolate) scenario if it doesn't stop.