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Who Will Tame the Beasts on Our Roads?

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Sri Lanka's public road transport has long been a menace on the roads. For decades, citizens have endured the daily trauma of riding in filthy, overcrowded, and dangerously maintained buses, often driven by men who appear to treat roads like racetracks. Public transport, instead of being a symbol of convenience and safety, has mutated into a moving hazard. What’s worse is the widespread sense of impunity that emboldens such behaviour. Passengers are neither treated with dignity nor transported with care. Many are forced to cling to handrails for dear life, endure ear-splitting music, and inhale noxious exhaust fumes. Add to that the daily reports of reckless overtaking, red-light jumping, and frequent collisions, and it becomes painfully clear: the system is broken. The Sri Lanka Police, tasked with upholding road safety, appears more interested in extracting bribes than enforcing the law. Traffic violations go unchecked, and in the rare event that a serious accident draws medi...
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Hitchhiking in Sri Lanka: Why It’s Rare for Locals but Easy for Tourists

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Is Hitchhiking Common in Sri Lanka? Hitchhiking in Sri Lanka is not a typical practice among locals. For most Sri Lankans, the idea of thumbing a ride from strangers is unfamiliar and rarely seen. Public buses, tuk-tuks, and trains are the go-to transport options for locals, even in rural areas. Culturally, hitchhiking is “nearly an unknown concept” on the island. Why Tourists Succeed at Hitchhiking Despite the unfamiliarity of the practice among locals, many foreign travellers—particularly Westerners or “ suddhas ” (a colloquial Sinhala term for white people)—find hitchhiking surprisingly easy and effective in Sri Lanka. Drivers are often curious about travellers and may stop simply to have a conversation or hear a good story. The interactions are usually warm and welcoming, with many travellers describing it as a unique and enriching cultural exchange. However, long, continuous rides are rare. You’re more likely to hop from one short ride to another, as most drivers only travel p...
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Unravelling the Theories Behind the Tragedy

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The recent crash of Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, has left the aviation world in shock and mourning.  With over 270 lives lost, including passengers and those on the ground, the incident has triggered a sweeping investigation by Indian and international authorities.  As speculation swirls on social media, ranging from pilot error to design flaws, here is a comprehensive summary of the leading theories and the current state of the investigation. Current Status of the Investigation Both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR)—collectively known as the "black boxes"—have been recovered and are being analysed by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) with support from US and UK teams. The investigation is expected to be lengthy due to the extent of the wreckage and the complexity of the case. A high-level committee has been formed by the Indian g...
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