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A split-screen composition contrasts old and new methods of online banking. On the left, a person holds a physical "Sampath Web Card" in front of a vintage computer monitor displaying a shopping cart loading icon. On the right, a person holds a modern smartphone showing a digital version of the card with a successful transaction checkmark, set against a backdrop of glowing digital security icons like a padlock and cloud, representing the evolution to secure, mobile-first financial technology.

Sampath Web Card: Is it still relevant in the year 2026?

Today, Gen Z Sri Lankans enjoy fast internet and e-commerce solutions such as Daraz, but Xennials remember a very different digital landscape. In the 1990s, e-commerce was only heard of, and for most people, it was a distant dream. By the mid-2000s, with online storefronts like “Akasa Kade,” early e-commerce emerged, supported by cautious online…

A close-up, high-resolution shot of a smartphone screen displaying the blue and white PayPal application icon, positioned amongst other app icons on a dark background.

PayPal: Tips for Linking Your Account to a Sri Lankan Bank

Yesterday, my smartphone chimed with a push notification from Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, announcing a new app update that would allow customers to link their PayPal accounts directly to their savings accounts. Since PayPal had officially launched in Sri Lanka just eleven days earlier [Full Story], I was eager to complete the setup with…

A photograph taken from a first-person perspective, showing a hand centered in the frame, holding a single, silvery-reflective Memorex CD-R labeled in black marker with the handwritten text "Madura" at the top. The hand is in clear focus, with the CD held over a complete vintage-style desktop computer setup on a wooden desk. The setup includes an HP monitor displaying a detailed, realistic Windows XP desktop with the Start menu open; a black and silver HP Pavilion PC tower; two black Creative speakers; a black keyboard; and a mouse. Several technical books (with titles like "Inside SQL Server 2000," "Visual Basic .NET," "Windows XP") and small potted plants are visible on the desk behind the computer equipment.

Madura English–Sinhala Dictionary: Who Really Built It?

I still remember receiving my first English–Sinhala dictionary, a used Gunapala Malalasekara 1st edition published by M.D. Gunasena, priced at 45 rupees, originally belonged to my late father. It was 1997, the same year Wijeya Newspapers launched “පරිගණක” as a tabloid-style free supplement to ලංකාදීප, before turning it into a standalone paid magazine later. In…

A single person, a woman with dark hair, is sitting alone in the middle of a row of empty red theater seats, which recede into the darkness. She is wearing 3D glasses, a dark sparkly top, and a brown shaggy fur coat. She is bringing a piece of popcorn from a large, yellow and red striped bucket with a cartoon logo to her mouth. Her gaze is straight ahead, as if watching a screen. A seat number "1" is visible on the armrest to her right. The scene is lit with direct light, casting shadows.

4 Final Films that Concluded their Franchises Well

Film franchises rarely know when to stop. When a film becomes successful, studios often produce sequels, prequels, and spin-offs in the hope of extending the life of a profitable story. As a result, many franchises continue long after their natural conclusion, gradually losing the clarity and purpose that made them compelling in the first place….

Jerome Fernando, a prominent figure representing a modern movement of Christianity in Sri Lanka, wearing a yellow kurta and a gold cross necklace while holding a microphone; the background features the bold text "LION FROM ASIA."

I rebranded Christianity in Sri Lanka! Jerome Fernando’s Arrogance

I am heartbroken by Jerome Fernando’s recent declaration in the Daily Mirror online on 23 December 2025, titled “I rebranded Christianity in this country, and some don’t like it.” Reading his words stirred a deep sense of grief, not only because of the audacity in claiming such authority but also because of the subtle message…

A black and white image of a damaged Sri Lankan passport's personal details page, featuring a photo of a young woman wearing a hijab. The visible, partially illegible text includes the name **NAFEEK**, **RIZANA**, **SRI LANKAN**, a date of birth **02/02/1982**, a date of issue **16/03/2005**, and a date of expiry **16/03/2010**. The text **P.A.** and **L.X.A.** are also visible near the top. Some areas of the text, particularly over the second photo, are obscured by a faint, dotted pattern.

Sands of Time: Remembering Rizana Nafeek

On 14 November 2025, NewsWire reported the death of a young Sri Lankan who had travelled to Israel for construction work and was fatally stabbed after an alcohol-related clash the previous night. Another Sri Lankan died on 20 November after being hospitalized with a heart condition. These events emerged at a time when Israel faces…

A graphic on a dark blue background featuring a confused man looking at a laptop with a red padlock and a red warning sign. The white text reads, "CANVA OR RANSOMWARE: THE HIDDEN DANGER OF RESOLD TEAM SEATS."

Canva or Ransomware: The Hidden Danger of Resold Team Seats

Many users in developing countries struggle to afford Canva’s official subscription fees, even though the pricing is reasonable globally. This has given rise to shady resellers who exploit the situation by creating Canva Team accounts and selling individual seats to unsuspecting buyers for a fraction of the cost, sometimes as low as 300 LKR for…

A graphic illustration showing a smartphone with the green WhatsApp logo and wordmark, positioned beside a large, bright orange/red skull, suggesting a warning about risks or disasters.

3 Disasters Associated with WhatsApp: How to Prevent Them?

WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business have become essential communication tools woven deeply into modern life. Losing access to either platform now feels as serious as losing access to an email account, with the potential to disrupt daily routines, professional responsibilities, and even financial stability. The Business version offers features valuable to companies of every size, while…

A retail box of medicine, branded "GABIX™ (GABAPENTIN CAPSULES USP)", containing 10 capsules of 100mg each. The box is predominantly white and turquoise/blue with a geometric design. The manufacturer is listed as Getz Pharma. The box is placed on a slightly visible, dark-colored world map surface.

Gabix: The Prescription I Still Can’t Fill

Sri Lanka has a long-standing habit of turning to two overly simplistic responses when faced with complex problems. The first is the impulse to throw the baby out with the bathwater, a habit that leads to discarding entire systems or practices instead of removing only the harmful parts. This reflex wipes out what works along…

A horizontal line of five popular **web browser application icons** on a dark purple and blue gradient background. From left to right, the icons are: **Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera Browser,** and **Brave,** each with a small shortcut arrow overlaid.

From Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 to Brave

Web browsers have come a long way since the late 90s, evolving from simple tools that loaded web pages to complex ecosystems that shape how we experience the internet. For me, that evolution has been deeply personal. Every browser I’ve used tells part of my story—how my needs changed, how the web matured, and how…

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