Menstrual products in Sri Lanka have never been cheap. A study conducted on the taxes imposed on sanitary pads and tampons found that these products are taxed at 42.9%, with border tariffs and the local VAT contributing to the total…
A morsel for the queer folk? Queerbaiting in mainstream media
Former One Direction band member Harry Styles came under fire recently when he was accused of queerbaiting by music critics and general audiences, who claimed that Styles had profited off his perceived ‘queerness’ due to his adopted LGBTQ+ aesthetic. Queerbaiting…
The new man: K-pop is normalising men in makeup
The growing popularity of K-pop has paved the way for the continued expansion of the ‘Hallyu Wave’ which refers to the increase in global popularity of South Korean culture since the 1990s. However, this wave is no longer limited to…
Are all travel influencers women? Travel influencers and the male gaze
The title of influencer tends to leave a sour taste in the mouths of anyone who utters it and even to this day, despite the prevalence of social media ‘influencers,’ people, especially influencers themselves, still baulk at the thought of…
House of the Dragon: Perhaps a blatant cash grab but fans are hopeful
The first episode of HBO’s new series ‘House of the Dragon’ aired on 21 August 2022. Arriving three years after the much-maligned finale of ‘Game of Thrones,’ the prequel series has had its work cut out for it from the…
Not all pets are made equal
The true cost of breed manipulation Our pets, when we really think about it, are not naturally occurring animals. The first dogs, as the story goes, were friendly wolves who became domesticated over time to become man’s best friend. But…
The new fan experience: Concert live tours for non-musical acts
BL shows are now live and in-person In mid-July, the Thai entertainment and production company Be On Cloud announced that the cast of its LGBTQ+-themed Thai action romance series ‘KinnPorsche’ would be going on ‘tour’. The KinnPorsche cast is set…
Dilanka Kumara on winning for Sri Lanka
Dilanka Isuru Kumara recently won the Bronze medal in the 55 kg event category of weightlifting at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. Kumara lifted a total weight of 225 kg in the men’s weightlifting competition. The Gold for…
Don’t ask influencers who they’re with (Unless they tell you themselves)
Social media is a blessing and curse. It is wonderfully positive in how it has brought people together so that ordinary people are able to have a platform and be heard even if they are not famous or a public…
Kataragama Perahera
A momentary reprieve for the faithful Thursday, 11 August, marked the beginning of the annual Esala Festival held in Kataragama and the city saw droves of people from around the island crowding to the holy ground near the Kirivehera Raja…
