Blog – Page 14 – Yohan Perera

A close-up, high-angle shot captures an open Space Gray MacBook Air laptop placed on a light wooden desk, angled from the lower right towards the upper left. The screen is illuminated, displaying a dark background with numerous colorful application icons arranged in a grid. The keyboard is visible, showing the black keys. To the left of the laptop, a red mug with white text and a dark-colored pen are partially visible. The background consists of a plain white wall, with a hint of a power outlet or similar fixture in the upper right corner.

Farewell Windows. Hello macOS

On the 19th of this month, I bought my brand-new 13” MacBook Air powered by Apple’s flagship M1 chip. I have never owned an Apple device before so this happens to be my first time. Today I would like to share with you a few facts I like and don’t like about it in comparison…

A slightly faded, low-angle shot shows a young child with dark hair sitting on the shoulders of an adult, who is partially visible on the right. The child, wearing a light-colored long-sleeved shirt and pants, looks thoughtfully to the right. In the background, there are trees, a cloudy sky, and faint indications of a gathering with white flags or banners, suggesting an outdoor event like a road race.

Reflections: In Loving Memory of My Father

Even as I solemnly and gratefully celebrate my beloved father’s life on the occasion of his first death anniversary, I feel moved to share with you three important thoughts that have come to my heart and mind during my reflections on his remarkable life and his passing over these past eleven months. These reflections have…

A slightly elevated eye-level shot captures a middle-aged man pushing an elderly woman in a wheelchair on the right side of a paved road. The man, on the left, is wearing a striped short-sleeved shirt, light-colored pants, and a cap, looking slightly upwards and to the left. The woman, on the right, is seated in a light green wheelchair, wearing a dark green top, patterned pants, and a dark scarf wrapped around her head and neck. She looks upwards with a serene expression. The road is clear, with a low, well-maintained hedge and a sidewalk on the right side, separating it from houses and what appear to be power poles and trees. In the background, on the road, a person on a motorcycle is visible. The scene is brightly lit by natural light.

Honour Your Parents: Why and How?

On October 13, 2015, the police rescued a father aged 73 who had been imprisoned in a dog cage by his daughter. According to that report, the woman’s dogs slept on a bed inside the house [source: Daily News]. In Sri Lankan culture, treating our parents with love and care is a core principle and…

A close-up of a detailed anatomical model of a human heart resting on an open medical textbook. The pages of the book are visible, showing text and diagrams of ECG heart rhythms.

Five Signs of an Uneducated Heart

Socrates said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” It means education that doesn’t bring behavioural change is useless. Socrates believed an individual’s behaviour was driven by his heart. Therefore, according to Socratic philosophy, an uneducated heart is as bad as no education at all. Sri Lanka’s population had an…

A low-angle view from across a bed showing the silhouette of a woman's figure standing in front of a bright window. She is holding a sheer curtain in a dimly lit, blue-toned room.

Don’t Fall Prey to Online Sexploitation

The day I read “Porn and Nudes: Delving into Cyber Exploitation in Sri Lanka” by Ms Piyumi Fonseka, on Daily Mirror Online was the day I got the shock of a lifetime! I know revenge porn and home-brewed pornography have been around since the inception of the internet in Sri Lanka. However, I didn’t know…

Two women stand on a sidewalk against a large brick wall, looking up at the dozens of security cameras mounted in neat rows across the wall above them.

Four Mistakes that could Undermine Your Privacy

Since Facebook announced its most recent privacy policy update for WhatsApp in early 2021, a significant number of users concerned about their digital privacy began abandoning the platform in search of safer alternatives. Many turned to Signal and Telegram, believing that switching apps would be enough to protect their personal information from being misused or…

A close-up shot focuses on a person's hands as they engage in online shopping or banking. The person's left hand, with manicured nails, is positioned over the keyboard of an open silver laptop, seemingly typing. Their right hand holds a white "mBank" debit card with colorful letters (orange "m," red "B," green "a," yellow "n," and red "k") and a small signal icon for contactless payment. The laptop screen is blurred in the background but shows what appears to be a website interface. The setting suggests a clean, possibly home or office, environment with a light-colored surface.

Ground Rules for Online Banking and Shopping

Even though online banking and grocery shopping have existed in Sri Lanka for many years, the majority of Sri Lankans preferred doing these things offline. That was before COVID-19 gave them a limited array of options. According to a study conducted by “Survey Research Lanka” with 580 samples collected from the nine provinces, 47% of…

A cartoon illustration of a penguin in an arctic scene. A large penguin stands in the foreground on the ice, with several other penguins, icebergs, and the ocean visible in the background.

Microsoft loves Linux: Three Lessons to Live By

Microsoft’s complex relationship with Linux has evolved dramatically over the years, but a turning point came in 2014 when CEO Satya Nadella openly declared, “Microsoft loves Linux” during a media event—perhaps the first truly candid admission of its shifting stance. For those unfamiliar, Linux is a powerful, flexible, and highly efficient operating system that outperforms…

An indoor desk setup for working smart features an open MacBook on the left displaying photo editing software with an image of a child. To the right of the laptop, a teal notebook with a pen rests on a piece of paper, and behind it, a "MARCO 2016" calendar. In the background, a collection of books, decorative items, and a wicker basket are visible, all bathed in warm, soft light from a nearby window with vertical blinds, suggesting a productive and organized workspace.

Working Smart: 3 Unconventional Tips

Although the idea of working smarter rather than harder has existed for many decades, it was actually Allen F. Morgenstern, an industrial engineer, who first coined the phrase “work smarter not harder” back in 1930. Since then, this concept has gained immense popularity and relevance in various fields including business, education, and personal productivity. Today,…

A somber image depicts a person in silhouette, sitting alone on a wooden pier with their head bowed and arms wrapped around their knees, facing a body of water reflecting the setting or rising sun. The scene evokes feelings of profound sadness, isolation, and contemplation of suicide.

Choosing Life: A Second Thought on Suicide

Update: This article was revised on July 17, 2024. The title was changed from “Contemplating Suicide? Contemplate Again!” to “Choosing Life: A Second Thought on Suicide.” Suicide poses a grave and pervasive challenge to our island nation today. Dr Neil Fernando, head of the National Institute of Mental Health, emphasized back in September 2011 that…