Features

Asia

Analyzing the World Happiness Report 2026: The big question: How happy are Commonwealth nations?

India (Commonwealth Union)_ The World Happiness Report 2026 offers a detailed picture of how people throughout the world feel about their lives. Based on responses from 147 countries, the study adopts a simple yet powerful concept. Accordingly, respondents were asked to imagine their lives as a ladder, with 0 representing the worst possible existence and 10 representing the best. This method offers a clear, human viewpoint on well-being that goes beyond economic indicators.   This year’s findings show a generally positive trend. Around 79 countries have seen improvements in life satisfaction over time. Yet, the results also highlight a more complex...
Opinion

Where does true liberation for women begin?

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon -
International Women’s Day is often centred on rights, representation, education and economic independence of women. Each day we see women, around the world, continue to push boundaries and challenge structures that once confined them. Amidst these important discussions, a quieter and more profound question emerges. What does it truly mean to be free?   Venerable Bhikkhuni Gotami joined the Commonwealth Union in a discussion to explore this deeper dimension of liberation...
Opinion

Why International Women’s Day must be about economic empowerment

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon -
Excerpts of an interview with Banan Massoud ElSayed, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at Education Above All Foundation Every year on March 8, International Women’s Day is marked by panels, pledges, purple logos, and powerful statements about equality. Visibility matters. Advocacy matters. But women do not achieve empowerment through symbolism alone. Real empowerment is built through economic security, agency, and the ability to make informed decisions about one's own life. In...
Perceptive Lens

How a stipend scheme brings children back to classrooms in Balochistan, Pakistan

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon -
On most mornings in Panjgur, a dusty town in southern Balochistan, the school bell rings long before the day’s labour begins. For years, 13-year-old Suleman listened to its chime from a distance, its sound floating across fields and unfinished roads, while he prepared for work instead of class. Books, uniforms and transport were expenses his family simply could not afford. “We had to choose between eating and educating,” his...
Commonwealth Diaspora

How India’s Kanchipuram saree quietly reached the global fashion stage!

Sarojini P -
India (Commonwealth Union)_ For millennia, the saree has been one of India's most recognizable emblems. It is more than just an item of clothing, as it embodies tradition, uniqueness, and elegance. Historians attribute the saree's origins to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, suggesting that the garment has been part of the region's tradition for thousands of years. Today, it is still worn during religious rituals, weddings, and cultural events....
Editorial

Commonwealth Day: Renewing a Shared Commitment in a Changing World

S De Silva -
Editorial (Commonwealth Union) – As the world goes through rapid changes with new challenges as a result of the recent war, the possible role of the Commonwealth as a force for regional corporations and interconnectivity becomes more evident on Commonwealth Day.   The global unrest shows the need for organisations such as the Commonwealth to serve as neutral players amidst uncertainty to remedy issues that can arise from conflict, such as...
Asia

Big moments from Modi’s high-stakes Israel visit!

Sarojini P -
India (Commonwealth Union)_ Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tel Aviv for a two-day state visit that further strengthened India’s steadily growing partnership with Israel. This is his second visit to the country in nine years, following his historic 2017 trip, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister. That earlier visit marked a turning point in ties between the two nations. Over the past decade, India and Israel...