About Nalaka Gunawardene
A science writer by training, I've worked as a journalist and communication specialist across Asia for 25 years. During this time, I have variously been a news reporter, feature writer, radio presenter, TV quizmaster, documentary film producer, foreign correspondent and journalist trainer. I continue to juggle some of these roles, while also blogging and tweeting and column writing.
There's NOTHING OFFICIAL about this blog. In fact, there's NOTHING OFFICIAL about me! I've always stayed well clear of ALL centres of power and authority.
Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 19 May 2013 “Hey Mom, Look! There’s a negro woman on TV — and she ain’t cooking dinner!” So exclaimed a young Whoopi Goldberg when she … Continue reading →
Posted in Broadcasting, Culture, Innovation, Media, Poverty, Space Travel, Television, Women's Rights
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Tagged Arthur C Clarke, Captain James T Kirk, CGI, DeForest Kelley, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Dwayne Day, Gene Roddenberry, Guion "Guy" Bluford, International Space Station, James Doohan, Jr., Leonard Nimoy, Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott, Mae Jamison, Mr Spock, Nichelle Nichols, Sally Ride, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Uhura, United Star Ship Enterprise, Whoopi Goldberg, William Shatner
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Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 12 May 2013 Tuna Wars are hotting up in the Indian Ocean. At stake are the jobs of tens of thousands of fishermen, and nutrition of … Continue reading →
Posted in Communicating Development, Environment, Environmental management, Environmental policy, Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development
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Tagged 'Ferraris of the ocean’, Chagos marine reserve, Dr Barbara Block, Dr Nishad Jayasundara, Esperanza, Greenpeace, India, Indian Ocean, Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Oliver Knowles, Rainbow Warrior, Rolex Award for Enterprise, Skipjack tuna, Sri Lanka, The Maldives, Tuna Wars, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), yellowfin tuna
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Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 5 May 2013 May 3 was World Press Freedom Day – a misnomer in this multimedia age, but nevertheless a cause worth celebrating and defending. There … Continue reading →
Posted in Uncategorized
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Tagged Banyan News Reporters, Camillus Perera, D. E. M. O’Cracy, Dayasena Gunasinghe, Dekkoth Pathmawathie, Dr Riley Fernando, Eastern Bloc, freedom of expression, Gajaman, Groundviews, Journalism Deficit, Lankan memes, media freedom, Mediasaurus, political commentary, political satire, Ravaya, satire, Sellan Sena, Siribiris, Sirilal Kodikara, Soviet Union, Sundara Nihathamani de Mel, Sunday Lakbima, Tarzie Vittachi, Tikka, Wimalanath Weeraratne, Wimalege Colama, World Press Freedom Day
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Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 28 April 2013 One of my favourite cartoons on energy is one drawn years ago by Australian cartoonist Ron Tandberg. It shows two men standing on … Continue reading →
Posted in Air Pollution, Biofuels, Climate change, Communicating Development, Energy Conservation, Environmental management, Environmental policy, Green Economy, Power & Energy, Public health, Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development, Transport, Urban issues
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Tagged Asoka Abeygunawardana, coal, Dr Janaka Ratnasiri, energy efficiency, Energy Forum, energy independence, Good governance, Lalith Gunaratne, National Energy Policy and Strategy (NEPS), petroleum, power sector regulation, renewable energy, Ron Tandberg, Smart grid, solar photovoltaic, Sri Lanka oil imports 2012, sun, the ocean, transparency, trees, wind
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Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 21 April 2013 I enjoyed the mid April traditional New Year holidays for a very practical (and selfish) reason. When much of the country shuts down, … Continue reading →
Posted in Communicating Development, ICT, Poverty, Public perceptions, South Asia, Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development, Transport, Urban issues
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Tagged Anuradhapura, city 2.0, Colombar, Colombese, Colombish, Colomboan, Colomboid, Colombuvans, Dr B R Ambedkar, Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2012, future cities, Kotte, local government, Manu Joseph, Moratuwa, Negombo, obsolete cities, Pico Iyer, Pradeshiya Sabhas, Prof Ashley L S Perera, Sri Lanka’s Urban Vision, The Global Soul, UN-HABITAT, Village in the Jungle
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Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 14 April 2013 Last week’s column, on Sri Lanka’s climate change adaptation needs and priorities, elicited some predictable reactions. Environmentalist friends — with whom I frequently … Continue reading →
Posted in Air Pollution, Biofuels, Climate change, Communicating Development, Disaster Communication, Education, Energy Conservation, Environment, Environmental management, Environmental policy, Green Economy, Power & Energy, Public health, Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development, Transport
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Tagged biomass, Bjørn Lomborg, climate change, climate change adaptation, climate justice, climate mitigation, common but differentiated responsibilities, Dendro power, Earth Hour, Hydro power, mini hydro, National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS), Net Metering, Norochcholai coal power plant, per capita CO2 emissions, Professor Sarath Kotagama, renewable energy, Sri Lanka National Energy Policy and Strategies 2006, Sri Lanka National Transport Policy 2008, Sri Lanka Second National Communication to UNFCCC, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, wind power
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Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 7 April 2013 As Sri Lanka sizzles in April heat, some ask: is this due to global warming? Well, not exactly: high temperatures are typical for … Continue reading →
Posted in Agriculture, Climate change, Communicating Development, Disaster, Disaster Communication, Environment, Environmental management, Science Journalism, Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development, Water, Water management
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Tagged climate adaptation, climate change, Dr Mohan Munasinghe, Dr W L Sumathipala, droughts, floods, Hambantota port, IPCC, Jaffna Peninsula, landslides, Monsoon rains, National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS), Nayana N Mawilmada, sea level rise, Sri Lanka climate change secretariat, Trincomalee harbour
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Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 24 March 2013 When it comes to collectively and rationally managing our freshwater, many Lankans seem to suspend their good judgement. Any passing conspiracy theory, no … Continue reading →
Posted in Agriculture, Climate change, Communicating Development, Conspiracy Theories, Environment, Environmental management, Environmental policy, Public health, Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development, Water management
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Tagged Athula Senaratne, ‘drunk’ on water, Chatura Rodrigo, children of the Monsoon, climate change, Dr Rohan Samarajiva, Dr W L Sumathipala, foreign rain, Groundwater misuse, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Year of Water Cooperation, Monsoon rains, Ray Wijewardene, Sri Lanka Environmental Outlook 2009, System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Thirsty rice, water cycle, Water Profligacy, water scarcity, water stress, World Water Day
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Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 17 March 2013 See also: When Worlds Collide #53: Saving Lives on India’s ‘Mean Streets’ “You lay crushed Under twisted metal. I held you, stunned until … Continue reading →
Posted in Communicating Development, Disaster Communication, Documentary Film, Poverty, Public health, Road Safety, Sri Lanka, Transport
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Tagged child restraints, Decade of Action for Road Safety, drink-driving, Global status report on road safety 2013, Margaret Chan, motor cycle helmets, National Council for Road Safety (NCRS), Nellie Olang, seat belts, speed limits, University of Moratuwa, Violet Olang, Vivimarie VanderPoorten, WHO, World Health Organisation
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When Worlds Collide #65: When Making Fun is No Laughing Matter…
Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 5 May 2013 May 3 was World Press Freedom Day – a misnomer in this multimedia age, but nevertheless a cause worth celebrating and defending. There … Continue reading →