Rishini Weeraratne
Rishini Weeraratne is a prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s media industry, with an impressive portfolio spanning journalism, digital media, and content strategy. As the Editor of The Sun (Sri Lanka) and The Weekend Online at the Daily Mirror, she plays a pivotal role in shaping thought-provoking and engaging content. In her capacity as Head of Social Media at Wijeya Newspapers Limited, she oversees the social media strategy for leading platforms, including Daily Mirror Online, Lankadeepa Online, Tamil Mirror Online, HI!! Online, Daily FT Online, Times Online, WNow English, and WNow Sinhala. Beyond her editorial work, Rishini is the author of ‘She Can,’ a widely followed weekly column celebrating the stories of empowered women in Sri Lanka and beyond. Her writing extends to fashion, events, lifestyle, world entertainment news, and trending global topics, reflecting her versatile approach to journalism. Recognized for her contributions to digital media, Rishini was honoured with the Top50 Professional and Career Women’s Global Award in 2023 for Leadership in Digital Media in Sri Lanka by Women in Management, IFC (a member of the World Bank Group), and Australia Aid. In August 2025, she received the Sri Lanka Vanitha-Abhimana Award in the Corporate and Professional Sector, and in October 2025, she was named Legendary Woman of the Year 2025 for Pioneering Digital Media in Sri Lanka. In December 2025, she was the recipient of the Media Personality of the Year award at the 2025 Golden Business Awards. In April 2026, she was the recipient of the Platinum Excellence Award for ‘Media Influence, Storytelling and Women Empowerment.’ Rishini is also the Ambassador in Sri Lanka for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR, UK) and The Halo Trust. Under her guidance, her team has achieved significant accolades, including Social Media House of the Year (2020, New Generation Awards), Youth Corporate Award (2021, New Generation Awards) and the Silver Award from YouTube for both Daily Mirror Online and Lankadeepa Online. Currently, Rishini divides her time between London and Colombo, continuing to drive innovation in media while championing powerful storytelling across multiple platforms.
Chasing Tulips, Finding Stillness in Amsterdam
The last time I came to Amsterdam, I arrived with a different kind of hunger. It was a decade ago, in another version of my life, when cities were measured by their nightlife and memories were stitched together in the blur between bars and laughter and long, unplanned nights. Amsterdam then was loud and electric, a place of fleeting connections and neon reflections in the canals. This time, I arrive differently. It is Good Friday when I leave L
Twenty-One: The Courage to Begin.
Turning twenty-one is not just a birthday. It is a quiet crossing. A threshold that feels both electric and strangely tender. You stand at the edge of something vast, holding everything you have been and everything you might become in the same breath. There is no ceremony for it beyond cake and candles, but inside, something shifts. The world opens wider. The mirror looks different. You begin to see yourself not just as a daughter or a student o
CIPR International to Host Global Webinar on “Building a Nation’s Narrative.”
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) International announced an upcoming high-level global webinar titled “From Stereotypes to Strategy: Building a Nation’s Narrative,” scheduled for the 30th of
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art in London
Elsa Schiaparelli’s world is one where fashion is not simply worn, it is imagined, questioned, and entirely redefined. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London is nothing short of extraordinary.
Sir Nishan Canagarajah: From Jaffna to Knighthood Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, UK
It is not often that one gets the opportunity to sit across from someone who has been knighted, and rarer still when that individual is a proud Sri Lankan whose journey began on our island and rose to global distinction. Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah is one such figure. From his early years in Jaffna to leading the University of Leicester as Vice Chancellor, his story is one of resilience, intellect and quiet determination. I was introduced to
LOPA PATEL, MBE CHAIRPERSON, DIVERSITY UK
I was first introduced to digital media entrepreneur Lopa Patel by Daily Mirror columnist Farzana Baduel at an Indiaspora reception held at the House of Commons during Diwali in 2025. What began as a brief
International Women’s Day: Celebrating Equality in a World Where It Remains a Distant Dream
Every year on the 8th of March the world celebrates International Women’s Day. Governments release statements. Corporations post slogans about empowerment. Social media fills with tributes to strong women. Yet beyond the flowers, hashtags and panel discussions lies a brutal truth. For hundreds of millions of women and girls, equality is not a lived reality but a distant promise. The numbers alone are staggering. According to the World Health Orga
Children Need Families Not Orphanages! The 21 Year Fight of Lynn Stanier
She describes herself simply as a mother from the United Kingdom. Yet over the past 21 years, Lynn Stanier has become one of the most influential voices advocating for an end to child institutionalisation in Sri Lanka. As Founder and CEO of Their Future Today, a child protection charity working across Sri Lanka, she has dedicated more than two decades to reuniting children with families, preventing unnecessary separation and building alternatives
Hoppers Opens in Shoreditch: A New Decade of Discovery Where Sri Lanka Meets South India.
Ten years on from the opening of its cult Soho original, Hoppers has arrived in East London with the launch of Hoppers Shoreditch, its fourth London restaurant and the start of a new chapter for one of
Finding Picasso in Barcelona A Personal Journey Through Art and Emotion
The museum is set inside a group of old townhouses, and nothing about it feels showy or overwhelming. There is no dramatic entrance and no pressure to rush. You move from room to room slowly, almost
The Mountain of Miracles Inside Montserrat Monastery
They rose around the basilica like ancient giants, standing in silent devotion, as though they were worshipping and guarding the sanctuary at their feet. The mountain is called Montserrat, meaning
Stephanie Siriwardene Beyond the Crown: Reform, Controversy, and a Vision for Dignity
When Sri Lanka first encountered Stephanie Siriwardene on the pageant stage, winning titles, captivating audiences, and representing the island with poise, few could have predicted that her most consequential work would extend far beyond beauty and glamour. Today, Stephanie is no ordinary celebrity advocate.
From Corporate Suits to Creative Freedom: Preethi Nair on Storytelling, Identity and Courage.
I first met Preethi Nair on a cold Autumn, London evening, alongside The Sun (Daily Mirror) columnist, Farzana Baduel, during a night out at Soho Theatre. We were there to watch comedian Hasan Al-Habib’s sharp and subversive Death to the West Midlands, but before the lights dimmed and the laughter began, the conversation unfolded over pizza and wine. It was one of those pre-show dinners that unexpectedly becomes the main event. We spoke about her
East Meets West at the Royal Academy of Arts, London
The Royal Academy of Arts has long served as a bridge between artistic traditions from across the globe, but with The Story of South Asian Art: Mrinalini Mukherjee and Her Circle, the institution directs its focus more intentionally toward South Asian creativity, reframing modernism as a truly global phenomenon. The exhibition explores the roots of the Indian modernist art movement while challenging the dominant Euro-centric narrative that has lo
Raising Boys to Respect Women and Ending a Culture That Punishes ‘Her’ Instead of Holding ‘Him’ Accountable
Teaching boys to respect women must begin early because beliefs formed in childhood do not soften with time. They harden. They are normalised. They are defended by culture, tradition, and silence. For
IN CONVERSATION | SASKIA FERNANDO
As the Founder and CEO of Saskia Fernando Gallery, Saskia Fernando has spent more than sixteen years shaping the trajectory of Sri Lankan contemporary art both locally and internationally. Establishing the gallery at a time when the country’s art landscape was largely focused on decorative practices and modernist traditions, she made a decisive shift toward nurturing contemporary voices. Her long-term investment in artist development, institution
2026 New Year
As we welcome the New Year, I extend my warmest wishes to all readers of The Sun (Daily Mirror). A new year is more than a change of date, it is an invitation to renew our hopes, strengthen our resolve, and move forward with purpose and compassion. The year gone by has reminded us of the value of resilience, unity, and informed dialogue. May the year ahead bring peace to our homes, progress to our nation, and opportunity to every citizen. Let us
Popular New Year Resolutions and the Hope for a Fresh Start
Every year as the calendar turns and a fresh January begins millions of people around the world pause to reflect on their lives and imagine how they might improve the year ahead. This moment of reflection has given rise to the tradition of New Year resolutions which are promises people make to themselves in hopes of personal growth happiness or success. While the specific goals may change with time culture or age the underlying desire remains the
Meandering Moods: An Intimate Conversation with Artist Shanthi Shanmuganathan
In her latest exhibition, Meandering Moods, artist Shanthi Shanmuganathan invites viewers to journey through a kaleidoscope of emotion, culture, and memory. Drawing on a rich tapestry of personal
Capacity-Building Programme for Sri Lankan Gem and Jewellery Sector.
A 20-member delegation of professionals from Sri Lanka’s Gem and Jewellery sector visited India from 1–20 December 2025 to participate in a specialised Training and Capacity-Building Programme. The delegation comprised experts representing the gemstone cutting and polishing segments of Sri Lanka’s renowned Gem and Jewellery industry, reflecting the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance technical expertise and global competitiveness. The programme
