Blog - Page 4 of 19 - Yohan Perera

Technicity

Smart TV Buying Simplified: A Guide for Sri Lankans

In June 2011, Samsung introduced the first Smart TV to the Sri Lankan market, though the exact model and price remain unclear [source: Daily FT]. By 2018, a 65″ QLED Smart TV carried a hefty price tag of LKR 950,000—just LKR 50,000 short of a million rupees. Fast forward to 2025, and the same-sized Samsung…

A close-up, silhouetted shot of a spider hanging upside down on its web against a blurred background of a sunset sky. The sky transitions from a bright orange-pink at the top to a darker, muted blue-gray at the bottom.

The God Scam: A Faith-based Conspiracy or Just a Holy Prank?

Last year, I warned you about Eclipse Earn, a cryptocurrency scam that used professional websites and fake celebrity endorsements to lure unsuspecting victims. Unfortunately, this scam hasn’t disappeared—it continues to operate under various new names, deceiving more investors. These fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated, and it’s crucial to stay aware of such schemes. Today, I…

A close-up shot of a computer screen displaying the WordPress "Add Plugins" page. Several plugin options are visible, including "Classic Editor" and "Gutenberg," with details like active installations and star ratings. The left sidebar shows other WordPress dashboard menu items such as Dashboard, Posts, Media, and Plugins.

Mission-Critical Websites: 4 Best Practices for WordPress

This blog has been around for nearly five years, yet this is only my second post about WordPress. The reason is simple: most WordPress content out there is noise—recycled tutorials, shallow listicles, and SEO-driven fluff. I don’t write unless I have something meaningful to say, and when it comes to WordPress, that bar is high….

A dark, shadowy figure of a woman with long hair is superimposed with a vibrant, glowing overlay of blue and green binary code and digital information. The woman's face is dimly visible through the code, and the overall image evokes themes of data, technology, and perhaps the digital self or data privacy.

CREZU.LK: Loan Matchmaker or Data Broker?

My friend Nimendra James once remarked that we’re living in an information economy—one where time and data have become the most valuable commodities. Most Sri Lankans may not realize it, but when used strategically, data can be worth more than a mine of gold—especially when it’s data about you. Data can be collected for both…

A close-up of several children, likely from an African community, gathered together. The child in the center foreground is smiling broadly with an open mouth, revealing white teeth, and has one hand near their chin. Other children are visible around them, some looking towards the camera with smiles or curious expressions, while others are partially obscured. Their faces are predominantly dark-skinned, and some have braided hair. The background is blurry, suggesting a shallow depth of field, and appears to be other people or a crowded outdoor setting. The overall mood is one of joy and innocence.

Tears of the Sun: The Massacre of 70 Congolese Christians

The Hollywood film Tears of the Sun, starring Bruce Willis as a U.S. Navy SEAL, is set against the backdrop of a fictional civil war and ethnic cleansing in Nigeria. While the film centers on ethnic violence, it echoes the brutal reality many parts of the African Continent continue to face. On the other hand,…

Technicity

Smart, Not Standard: 3 Little-Known Ways to Harden WordPress Security

There are many websites owned by Sri Lankans that are WordPress-driven. WordCamp Sri Lanka, held in 2017, saw 183 local users come together to share ideas and grow the community—proof that WordPress has a strong presence here. However, with popularity comes risk. When it comes to WordPress security, most blog posts echo the same advice—use…

Two men are seated in chairs facing each other on a raised platform, engaged in what appears to be an interview or discussion. The setting features a dark background with reddish-brown paneled walls. On the left, an older man with grey hair is wearing a dark suit, a white shirt, and a green tie. He is gesturing with both hands as he speaks, leaning forward slightly. On the right, a younger man with short hair and a beard is wearing a dark suit, a white shirt, and a patterned red tie. He is holding papers in one hand and seems to be listening intently or making a point, with his other hand slightly raised. Between them, there's a small table with two glasses of water. The overall impression is that of a formal televised debate or interview.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Al Jazeera, and Bimal Rathnayake: A Study in Hypocrisy

On March 6, Al Jazeera’s Head to Head aired an interview between journalist Mehdi Hasan and former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The episode, later released on YouTube, purported to hold Wickremesinghe accountable but exposed Al Jazeera’s own double standards in the process. Hasan, known for his aggressive questioning, selectively framed issues while sidestepping contradictions…

A single human eye and part of a nose and mouth are visible peeking through a jagged, torn hole in a bright yellow surface, which appears to be paper or fabric. The eye is dark with a visible pupil and iris, and a hand with fingers slightly curled is positioned beneath the eye, as if holding the tear open or resting near the opening. The lighting highlights the texture of the torn yellow material and creates a shadow effect on the face, emphasizing the clandestine or watchful nature of the gaze.

10 Smartphone Apps that Threaten Your Privacy without You Knowing

Our daily lives are filled with subtle threats to our privacy, often without us even realizing it. In my 2021 blog post, “Four Mistakes That Could Undermine Your Privacy,” I discussed some of these hidden risks. That same year, I also wrote “I’m Sticking with WhatsApp: Here’s Why?” in response to the mass exodus of…

A very close-up, high-magnification shot of a housefly with prominent compound eyes and a textured body. The fly is perched on the edge of a vibrant green leaf, with a soft, blurred green background, indicating a shallow depth of field. Title: Close-up of a Housefly on a Green Leaf

A Buyer’s Guide to 11 Different Domestic Pesticides and Insecticides

When I was a toddler, there weren’t many pesticide or insecticide brands available. The only household insecticide we had was Baygon, which we used to deal with houseflies, mosquitoes, and other harmful insects. Aerosol sprays didn’t exist back then. Instead, insecticides were applied using a “Manual Pump Action Sprayer”—a tool that’s now considered a collector’s…

A young girl with long, reddish-blonde hair and large, framed glasses is seated cross-legged on a wooden table. She is wearing a light blue top, white tights or leggings, and ballet flats. Her attention is completely focused on a smartphone she holds in both hands. In the background, a large window with white curtains allows natural light into the room. To the left of the girl on the table, there's a stack of books and a container of colored pencils or markers. The overall scene suggests a quiet, focused moment of a child engaging with a digital device.

A Parent’s Guide to Productive Use of Social Media

I was compelled to write this blog post after seeing a Facebook post by a psychiatrist in Sri Lanka warning parents about the addictive nature of social media. While her concerns are valid and factually correct, my issue is that many professionals today focus solely on demonizing social media. Instead of repeatedly emphasizing its negative…