Uthpala Wijesuriya

Thucydides over Herodotus. Researcher | Musician | Sports Enthusiast | Open Society Fellow | Salzburg Global Fellow

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

Exciting news, I have been selected for the 2025-2026 Open Society Fellowship. Based in Colombo, I am joining 30 other public intellectuals from seven global sites—vibrant centers of bold ideas and critical exchange.

[Open Society Foundations @OpenSociety]

Congratulations to the 2025 Open Society Fellows!

The fellows are a group of 31 public intellectuals from seven global cities who will help shape global conversations on the most pressing issues of our time:

Beirut 🇱🇧
Buenos Aires 🇦🇷
Colombo 🇱🇰
Dar es Salaam 🇹🇿
Jakarta 🇮🇩
Lagos 🇳🇬
Taipei 🇹🇼

The fellows bring innovative approaches to fundamental open society concerns including the state of democracy, the climate crisis, journalism, digital finance, nationalist movements, urbanism, migration, and more.

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

Found this while clearing the gallery.
Shot a couple of months back, while wandering Times Square. Food for thought.

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

Only 1 day left folks!

[National Law Students’ Conference @nlsc_lanka]

1 DAY MORE!

Don’t miss your chance to contribute innovative and practical solutions to meaningful policy discourse.

🔗 Competition guidelines: https://t.co/H0npyZoxq2

📅 Deadline: 6th September 2026
📧 Submit to: [email protected]

#NLSC2026
#LSU2026

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

It’s today!

[National Law Students’ Conference @nlsc_lanka]

HAPPENING TODAY!

Zoom Link: https://t.co/yE6rcMMusx

Meeting ID: 814 3310 5828
Passcode: 749729

Join us for an opportunity to strengthen your policy writing skills and gain valuable insight into developing a compelling Concept Note.

#NLSC2026
#LSU2026

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

See you tomorrow!

[National Law Students’ Conference @nlsc_lanka]

WORKSHOP ON WRITING CONCEPT NOTES

As part of the National Law Students’ Conference 2026, the Policy Drafting Competition presents a Workshop on Writing Concept Notes, designed to guide participants in developing effective and impactful concept notes.

#NLSC2026
#LSU2026

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

Deadline is approaching!

[National Law Students’ Conference @nlsc_lanka]

NLSC Policy Drafting Competition | Call for Submissions

Participants are invited to submit their Concept Notes to [email protected].

🔗 Updated Guidelines: https://t.co/H0npyZoxq2

#NLSC2026
#LSU2026

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

@DineshaSam Thank you so much, ma’am. We hope to get your insights for the improvements of the Conference.

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

Calling for concept papers!

[National Law Students’ Conference @nlsc_lanka]

Policy Drafting Competition | Call for Concept Papers

Submission Deadline: 6th September 2026

Guidelines: https://t.co/H0npyZoxq2

Bring forward an idea. Build a policy. Shape the future.

#NLSC2026 #LSU2026

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

Call for Abstracts!

[National Law Students’ Conference @nlsc_lanka]

Call for Abstracts

Submission Deadline: 15 August 2026

🔗 Guidelines for abstract submission: https://t.co/ZKf2QxYRfU

For any clarification:
Dini Weerakkody - 075 592 4667
Sahan Wiratunga - 077 508 5072

#NLSC2026 #LSU2026

[Rajni Gamage @Rajni_Gamage]

Yesterday, we did a Poson Dansala of cream bunis with Right to Information (RTI) awareness raising near Nugegoda station. RTI is a hard won right of citizens and maturing at a decade. But there is relatively less awareness of using it and a tool is only as useful as it's used.

[National Law Students’ Conference @nlsc_lanka]

Applications are now open for the Organising Committee of the National Law Students’ Conference 2026.

Deadline: 09th of April 2026, 11.59 PM
Apply now:
https://t.co/8PVCTF28UL

#NLSC2026
#LSU2026

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

Wait is over!

[National Law Students’ Conference @nlsc_lanka]

The eight-year wait is officially over! The Law Students’ Union of Sri Lanka is proud to bring back the National Law Students’ Conference. We are returning with a premier platform designed for the next generation of legal minds to connect and grow.

#NLSC2026 #LSU2026

[NewsWire 🇱🇰 @NewsWireLK]

Former CID OIC expresses regret to Nathasha Edirisooriya, new Police guidelines to be issued https://t.co/LqCf7FBpqq

[Talal Rafi @talalrafi7]

My comments on this. I see almost all Sri Lankans on social media supporting PickMe/Uber and not supporting the local tuk drivers. This is my view as well. If an Uber/PickMe driver can charge only Rs 200 while paying a percentage of that Rs 200 to the Uber/PickMe and still able to make a living, while the local tuk drivers do not give any commission to any platform but still charge Rs 500 for that same ride and complain that the govt has to save them, this is ridiculous. Once again, the local tuk drivers care about themselves and how they rip off consumers but now I see Sri Lankans on social media supporting as they see it from a consumer point of view.

BUT this same thing is happening in so many other sectors in Sri Lanka. Potato and onion farmers can't compete with imports and demand tariffs against potato and onion imports. In order to save a few potato and onion farmers, 22 million Sri Lankan have to consume potatoes and onions at a higher price. In the case of Uber/PickMe issue only certain tourists and locals are affected but in the case of potatoes/onions, entire country is affected. But I don't see this level of support on that front as few Sri Lankans know about how much Sri Lanka protects unproductive sectors.

22 million people consume so many goods at higher prices because Sri Lanka places tariffs to protect jobs in those sectors.

Of course, the counter argument for my comment would be "what about the Sri Lankan jobs lost if we allow imports?". As former Central Bank Governor Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy said recently the tariffs we charge on inputs for many industries is what makes our exports uncompetitive. When tariffs are placed for so many goods to protect local jobs, it means the Sri Lankan consumer has to pay higher prices for many products and services, which means the wages required for a Sri Lankan are higher resulting in our export sectors losing competitiveness and Sri Lanka not attracting FDI. I can type a lot more but I have spoken about this in detail which can be found on YouTube etc.

My point is what these Local Tuk drivers are asking for is what so many sectors in Sri Lanka have been getting for decades which has resulted in Sri Lanka having so many uncompetitive industries.

[M U M Ali Sabry @alisabrypc]

The President’s decision to extend relief to our cyclone affected citizens is both compassionate and economically sound.
When people are supported, life restarts and so does the economy.

Homes will be rebuilt, businesses will reopen, and communities will rise again.

Each moment we act is a step toward recovery.
🇱🇰

[Azzam Ameen @AzzamAmeen]

🆘 URGENT: Sri Lanka’s National Archives is seeking FREEZER facilities to save flood-damaged public records.

These include deeds, court files, land registries, financial records and documents needed for citizenship, pensions and legal ownership. Without freezing, mould will destroy them.

If you can provide freezer space or mobile freezer units, contact 24/7:

📞 077 6815551
Senior Archivist – Anuradha Adikaram

Help protect the legal identity and history of our people.

[NewsWire 🇱🇰 @NewsWireLK]

“History is not taught separately as Sinhala and Tamil. Instead, the subject is taught as Sri Lankan History, covering kings and kingdoms from various historical periods,” PM Harini Amarasuriya said, clarifying that no content related to Tamil history and artistic heritage has been removed from the subjects of History and Art.

[Umesh Moramudali @UmeshMoramudali]

I am a strong believer of state and this is why I keep insisting on increasing public sector pay. That’s essential to increase state capacity. State is accountable for people. Private sector is answerable to shareholders. Government shouldn’t let private sector running the state.

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

It’s not that the spirit wasn’t there before, but this year’s Christmas season feels different. It is deeply focused on helping one another, showing true empathy and understanding the struggles we all face.

[Uthpala Wijesuriya @uthpala__w]

How did two allies end up on the brink of war? The Afghan-Pakistan clashes are the latest eruption of a dispute over a line drawn in 1893. In my recent article in @factumlk, I explore the historical context of this conflict, the failed policies, and a potential solution.

[Factum @factumlk]

In this week’s Factum Perspective, Uthpala Wijesooriya revisits the Durand Line — the colonial faultline driving today’s Afghan-Pakistan clashes and continues to define South Asia’s geopolitics.

Read more here: https://t.co/QOOMGeMc76

#Factum #TheBalancedAnalysis

[Globe Eye News @GlobeEyeNews]

Vatican to open a prayer space inside its library to accommodate visiting Muslim scholars.