In the fishing village of Oori, two mothers await news of their young daughters who were taken to a care home three months ago after their alleged rape by members of the Sri Lankan navy.

The Northern Provincial Council has asked the Sri Lankan defence forces to vacate from their province. According to the TNA leaders the army occupies nearly 25 per cent of the total land area in the province. But according to the Sri Lankan ministry of defence the total area under the forces in NPC is less than five per cent. Isn’t the army justified in occupying a small portion of land in a former conflict zone? What are your comments?

Everything from yoga to kick boxing is gripping minds in the name of fitness these days. Hence, it is not surprising to see a gym or salsa class at every corner of the city. Those who don’t go to any formal exercise paradise will be doing brisk walking in the early hours or doing funny-looking asanas or yogic breathing. All this is being done in the name of fitness. But, how fine are such fitness regimes or do they give more pain than pleasure? Let’s find out.

Christopher Columbus, an Italian voyager once referred to papayas as the fruit of the angels. The fruit which is extremely rich in Vitamin C has a wide range of health benefits making it a great fruit option to include in your diet. Here are some of the top health benefits of papaya.

Did you hear the one about the woman who longed for the perfect manicure and yet could not stop biting her nails? Her friend recommended yoga. A short while later this friend congratulated her on her beautiful manicure, pleased that yoga had helped. “It certainly did!” the woman replied; “Now I am biting my toe nails instead!”

Sri Lanka will host the World Biodiversity Congress (WBC) Nov. 24-27. Given its long and active history of preserving biodiversity, it would be most appropriate for Sri Lanka to be the next host of this global event, which also marks the U.N.’s Decade on Biodiversity.

As the feline turns 40 she’s more powerful than ever. But how did she become a brand worth $7bn? Michael Fitzpatrick reports.

From an investor’s point of view, the case for Sri Lanka is getting strong. In the rear view mirror, yet still lurking and causing hesitation for some, are the Sri Lankan Civil War that ended in 2009 and the market bubbles that followed the war’s end through 2011. While there are risks to investing anywhere, Sri Lanka has one of the best cases for an economy with the stars aligned in its favor.