A few weeks ago, I received a message from my cousin asking if I had any videos of her father from when he visited us in Denmark. I believe it was in 1996 when he came to see us.

Less than one year later, he was assassinated in Sri Lanka by the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) during a school opening ceremony. It was July 5, 1997.

After the war in Ukraine began, Europe started imposing sanctions on Russia. One sanction followed another in an attempt to pressure Russia, eventually leading to sanctions on trading Russian energy. This meant saying goodbye to cheap energy from Russia. Part of the sanctions was enacted to “punish” Russia—an invading country should feel the consequences.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the world has witnessed a brutal conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions. While at first glance it appears to be a war between Russia and Ukraine, the roots of the conflict run much deeper. In reality, it is the result of decades of unresolved tensions between Russia and the West, particularly NATO.

As I mentioned earlier, Sri Lanka has a new president. When I say "new," it truly feels like a fresh start. He has only been in power for less than 14 days, but already, people across the country—and even those living abroad—are sensing that change is coming. There's a palpable sense of excitement and hope in the air.

Sri Lanka has just made history again, with the appointment of Harini Amarasuriya as the country’s third female Prime Minister. It’s an inspiring moment, especially knowing she follows in the footsteps of two remarkable women, Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Sri Lanka has entered a new chapter with the election of a new president. After years of economic challenges, including mounting debt, fuel shortages, and a scarcity of essential goods, the people of Sri Lanka were yearning for change. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took over after the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, played a crucial role in stabilising the country’s economy.

As Sri Lanka approaches its upcoming presidential election, it’s clear that a wind of change is sweeping through the political landscape. After reading several articles and spending some time catching up, it's hard to ignore the growing momentum around AK Dissanayake, the leader of the NPP/JVP.