ARCHIVE SEARCH

1. Kalinga Seneviratne

(Contacts / Board of Directors)

Kalinga Seneviratne, INPS Southeast Asia Director, Dr. Kalinga Seneviratne is a Sri Lanka born journalist, radio broadcaster, television documentary maker and an international communications lecturer. ...

Created on

2. Australian PM Slated for Secret Ukraine Visit Amid Floods Back Home

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Australia's new Labour Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has been criticised on Twitter and some media for secretly making a trip to Ukraine to meet Vladimir Zelensky ...

Created on 06 July 2022

3. Tourism in Asia Hard Hit by Three Factors

(Asia-Pacific)

... in Sri Lanka.| Credit: Kalinga Seneviratne Before the pandemic, tourism brought in some USD 4 billion in foreign exchange revenue to the country each year. Tourism has been the third-largest foreign ...

Created on 19 June 2022

4. Tourism Collective Taps into Fiji’s Unique Culture, Ecosystems

(Asia-Pacific)

... – 17 June 2022] * Jone Salusalu is a 3rd-year journalism student at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Suva, Fiji. He was assisted in compiling this story by Dr Kalinga Seneviratne, consultant ...

Created on 17 June 2022

5. Fiji Govt's Indifference Threatens Levuka's World Heritage Stat

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne LEVUKA, Fiji (IDN) — This rugged island of Ovalau covered with greenery is only 13 km long and 10 km wide and is situated off the eastern coast of the main Fijian island of Viti ...

Created on 12 June 2022

6. South Pacific Plans Coordinated Action at UN Ocean Conference

(Oceans, seas and marine resources)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SUVA, Fiji (IDN) — This week, to coincide with the World Ocean Day (WOD) on June 8, South Pacific’s experts and stakeholders on the Oceans met here to plan coordinated action at ...

Created on 09 June 2022

7. Achieving SDGs by 2030 in Peril

(Food security, nutrition & sustainable agriculture)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — After two issues focusing mainly on the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war on the achievement of SDGs, this month we wanted to shift the focus, but it was not as easy ...

Created on 30 May 2022

8. South Pacific: Fiji Tourism Is Back on Its Feet with Focus on Sustainability

(Asia-Pacific)

... through an agreement with the newspaper. Image: Beachcomber Resort Island. Credit: Kalinga Seneviratne. IDN is the flagship agency of the Non-profit International Press Syndicate. Visit us on Facebook ...

Created on 23 May 2022

9. Philippines: Marcos Win Exposes Weakness of Democratic Processes

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The landslide victory in the May 9 presidential polls in the Philippines by Ferdinand Marcos jr the son of the former dictator of the same name who was forced to ...

Created on 14 May 2022

10. Australia’s Looming ‘Independent Day’

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — On May 21 when Australians go to the polls to elect a new government, the vast continent which was stolen from the indigenous people in 1788 and annexed to the British ...

Created on 07 May 2022

11. Australia: Major Parties Fight Shy of Making Healthcare an Election Issue

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — During the months-long Covid lockdowns across Australia in 2021, the reason given was that the country's public hospitals would be overwhelmed by the virus-infected ...

Created on 05 May 2022

12. Ukraine War Could Drive Millions Elsewhere into Starvation

(Poverty)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — While images of the war devastation in Ukraine have saturated the news bulletins around the world, a much more severe human disaster is unravelling in many other ...

Created on 22 April 2022

13. Sri Lanka’s Civil Unrest Should Trigger Alarm Bells Across Asia

(OPINION)

Viewpoint by Kalinga Seneviratne * SYDNEY (IDN) — Civil unrest spreading across Sri Lanka in the past few weeks resembles the beginnings of the Arab Spring uprising by youth frustrated with corrupt political ...

Created on 08 April 2022

14. A Timely Book to Encourage Teaching of Mindfulness to Children

(Quality Education)

By Kalinga Seneviratne This article is the 49th in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, flagship agency of the Non-profit International Press Syndicate. Click here ...

Created on 17 March 2022

15. Australia: Acquittal of White Police Officer of Murder Upsets Aborigines

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The acquittal of a White Police Officer of murdering an Aboriginal teenager over two years ago, has deeply upset the Aboriginal community with many weeping outside ...

Created on 12 March 2022

16. South Pacific: US Announce New South Pacific Strategy to Counter China

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Marking the first visit by a US Secretary of State in 37 years to South Pacific’s major power Fiji, Antony Blinken during his 8-hour stay on February 13 insisted ...

Created on 17 February 2022

17. Australia: Failed Anti-Religious Discrimination Bill Criticized for Promoting Discrimination

(Reduced Inequalities)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — A controversial Anti-Religious Discrimination Bill that was strongly supported by conservative Christian groups, an important vote bank for Prime Minister Scott ...

Created on 13 February 2022

18. The Geo-Political Battle in Asia About Democracy

(Asia-Pacific)

Analysis by Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — With the geo-political battle between China and the United States gathering momentum in Asia, whoever can define democracy better and demonstrate that it ...

Created on 15 January 2022

19. Sustainable Development Observer Issue 4 Focuses on Global Health Crisis

(Peace & Justice)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — This fourth issue of Sustainable Development Observer focuses on the global health crisis that has been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and pharmaceutical industry’s ...

Created on 07 January 2022

20. Geo-Political Battle in The South Pacific Hots Up as China Prepares to Send Police Officers to Solomon Islands

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — China will be sending a number of police officers along with riot-control gear such as shields and helmets for the Solomon Islands police, to help train the local ...

Created on 03 January 2022

21. Omicron Surge Forces Australia to Redefine COVID-19 Response

(Health & Well Being)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — In July 2021 Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Australians to go out and get vaccinated as the Delta variant of COVID-19 spread across the world. They were assured ...

Created on 31 December 2021

22. New Laos-China Rail Link Opens Up Southeast Asia for Trade and Tourism

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SINGAPORE (IDN) — A new 414 kilometres high-speed rail link between China and Laos has finally opened landlocked mountainous Laos to the region and made it possible for trade and ...

Created on 16 December 2021

23. The Nobel Peace Prize to Julian Assange Would Have Given Hope for Saving Global Democracy

(OPINION)

Viewpoint by Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — In the early 1980s when I was studying mass communications in Australia, our journalism lecturer told us that as journalists we will have to hold governments ...

Created on 08 December 2021

24. Sustainable Development Observer Issue 3 Focuses on COP 26 and Climate Change

(Climate Action)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The November 2021 issue of Sustainable Development Observer focuses on Climate Change and the COP26 summit in Glasgow. We look at the debate on methane gas reduction ...

Created on 03 December 2021

25. Solomon Islands: Geo-Political Battles Engulf the Pacific as Australia Sends Troops to Honiara

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The first batch of Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrived in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara on November 26 to help quell rioting, after the Prime Minister ...

Created on 26 November 2021

26. Universities Need to Be More Accessible Instead of a Privilege

(Quality Education)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — If we are going to create a better world in the post-pandemic era higher education (HE) systems need to be more flexible and accessible, and governments need to ...

Created on 24 November 2021

27. COP26: Final Communiqué Fails To Address Climate Change Impact On Food Security

(Climate Action)

Viewpoint by Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — About a third of global gas emissions come from agriculture and land use, yet, the final communiqué of COP26 failed to make any direct reference to the ...

Created on 15 November 2021

28. Ardern Loses the Gloss as New Zealanders Protest About COVID Restrictions

(Health & Well Being)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Last year, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was hailed by the western media as the heroine of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic because her country was able ...

Created on 10 November 2021

29. Australian PM Criticised for Presenting A “Plan Without a Plan” at COP26

(Climate Action)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison returned to Canberra on November 5 after presenting a “plan” to the UN climatic summit COP 26, which he claims will help ...

Created on 05 November 2021

30. IDN-INPS Southeast Asia's Second Sustainable Development Observe

(Peace & Justice)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY | BANGKOK (IDN) — The second issue of Sustainable Development Observer—an e-monthly of IDN-InDepthNews in association with INPS Southeast Asia with news and views on sustainable ...

Created on 30 October 2021

31. Nations Protecting "Greedy" Pharma Companies Threaten Global COVID-19 Recover

(Health & Well Being)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The European Union (EU), United Kingdom, Japan and Australia are holding the world hostage by refusing to support a waiver of COVID-19 vaccine patents for the world ...

Created on 23 October 2021

32. As Asia Grapples 'Living With COVID-19' Media May Need to Shed Adversarial Cultur

(OPINION)

Viewpoint By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Indonesia’s popular tourism islands of Bali opened for tourism October 14, while Thailand announced that from November 1 vaccinated travellers from 19 ...

Created on 15 October 2021

33. Sustainable Development Observer – A Promotional Blog

(Peace & Justice)

... perspectives we offer in this publication," says Dr Kalinga Seneviratne, Editor of the publication. He is also IDN's SDG Coordinator. "We will bring you the perspectives from the Global South with all of ...

Created on 28 September 2021

34. Tale Of Two Peoples’ Summits – Who Can Help to Feed the World?

(Food security, nutrition & sustainable agriculture)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — There were two “Peoples’ Food Summits” held on September 23, one hosted by the United Nations from New York with some world leaders appearing virtually, while the ...

Created on 26 September 2021

35. World Food Systems Summit Needs to Recognise Right of Farmers and People Not of Corporations’, Say Critics

(Food security, nutrition & sustainable agriculture)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The Heads of State and Government from more than 90 countries are expected to announce their commitments to transform food systems to achieve the Sustainable Development ...

Created on 22 September 2021

36. Alternative Noble Prize Recognition for Pakistan's Islamic Community Development Pionee

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — One of the five winners of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards—known as Asia’s Nobel Prizes—is Dr Muhammad Amjad Saquib the founder of Pakistan’s biggest community ...

Created on 15 September 2021

37. 9/11 Killed It, But Twenty Years on Global Justice Movement Is Poised to Reincarnate

(Peace & Justice)

Analysis by Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Since the attacks on the United States by 15 Saudi Arabian Islamic fanatics on September 11, 2001 (now known as 9/11) the world has been divided by a ‘war ...

Created on 09 September 2021

38. Suicides, Not Accidents, Are the Biggest Killer in The Construction Industry

(Decent Work & Economic Growth)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — It is news, when a worker falls off a construction site and dies, but not necessarily when a construction worker commits suicide. It may be a slow and quiet death, ...

Created on 08 September 2021

39. As Lockdown Fetish Fades, Australia Argues Over "Living With Covid

(Health & Well Being)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Last year, Australia was among the first countries to successfully battle the Covid-19 pandemic with lockdowns and efficient contact tracing, but, with the rapid ...

Created on 04 September 2021

40. ADB Warns Covid-19 Threatens Asia’s Progress Towards Achieving Global Development Goals

(Food security, nutrition & sustainable agriculture)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — A new report released by the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) says that an estimated 75 to 80 million people in the developing regions of Asia have been ...

Created on 01 September 2021

41. The West Spins A “Humanitarian” Tale, China Speaks at Human Rights Council of War Crimes in Afghanistan

(UN INSIDER)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — To cover up America and its allies humiliating defeat in Afghanistan, the Anglo-American media is spinning tales of a great “humanitarian” airlift to save Afghani ...

Created on 28 August 2021

42. New Book Explores How Adversarial Reporting Culture Drives Politicized COVID-19 Coverage

(Health & Well Being)

... 2, book’s co-editor Dr Kalinga Seneviratne, former Head of Research at the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre takes a comprehensive look at how the blame game developed in the international ...

Created on 27 August 2021

43. Filipino Medal Winners at Tokyo Olympics Show Sports Could Empower The “Economically Disabled”

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — As the Paralympics begin in Tokyo—a celebration of the athletics prowess of the “differently-abled”—it will be appropriate to look at how the Tokyo Olympic Games ...

Created on 22 August 2021

44. Australian Farmers Cry Out for Foreign Labour as Locals Shun “Slave Wages”

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Australia’s farming sector has been badly hit by the closing of the borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic and with the harvesting season on the horizon there is an ...

Created on 17 August 2021

45. Australia and New Zealand React To IPCC Report Warning With Rhetoric Rather Than Action

(Climate Action)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The most comprehensive report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a dire warning to countries in the Pacific region where ...

Created on 12 August 2021

46. Affordable Clean Cooking Technology Important To Achieving Sustainable Energy Access

(Affordable Clean Energy)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — In the Asia-Pacific region which is home to about 60 percent of the global population, some 1.6 billion people primarily rely on open fires or simple stoves fueled ...

Created on 07 August 2021

47. China Counters Western 'Hypocrisy' At UNHRC With Development Rights Pus

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY | GENEVA (IDN) — China came out with its guns blazing at the recently concluded 47th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) pointing out western hypocrisy ...

Created on 22 July 2021

48. Would The US Surrender to the Taliban Bring Peace to The Region?

(OPINION)

Viewpoint by Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — It may not be as dramatic as the Vietcong tanks crashing through the gates of the Presidential Palace in Saigon while the US airlifts its last troops by ...

Created on 19 July 2021

49. Australia’s Early Success In Controlling Covid Turns Sour

(Health & Well Being)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — Along with Singapore and New Zealand, Australia was considered as one of the top three safest countries in the world for having successfully fought the spread of ...

Created on 08 July 2021

50. China Accuses Australia of Sabotaging Its Vaccination Program in the South Pacific

(Health & Well Being)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN)—China and Australia have started another battle, this time over the Covid-19 vaccination roll out in the South Pacific. In a lengthy article on July 2, China's 'Global ...

Created on 06 July 2021

51. Battle To Ensure Safety in Bangladesh Garment Factories Continues as Safety Accord Is Extended

(Asia-Pacific)

By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The dark side of the global fashions industry was exposed in 2013 when over 1000 workers were killed in a factory fire and collapse. The global outrage resulted ...

Created on 02 June 2021