Niveja Assalaarachchi
The coverage of Global South’s news is biased
December 20, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer A few months ago, two news stories caught my attention. On September 3, a funicular in Portugal’s capital Lisbon derailed, killing 16 people. This horrible tragedy, caused by a steel wire breaking, was reported across the world, with sympathies pouring in for the victims. The very next day, a bus travelling near the mountainous town of Wellawaya in Sri Lanka careened off a cliff, killing 15 people and injuring 16. Two accidents, happening within days of each other, with a nearly identical death toll. Yet, I would bet that most in the West would not…
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Metro Vancouver passes pared-down budget
December 20, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer On October 31, the Metro Vancouver Regional District passed its budget for the 2026 fiscal year. It focuses on “drinking water, waste management, solid waste management, regional planning, regional parks, and more,” according to a…
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Cultural appropriation isn’t quirky, it’s deeply problematic
December 20, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer What is a culture? Various things: customs, food, language, and among many other significant aspects — clothing. Clothing visually represents its people and is shaped by the environment it’s crafted and worn in, in addition…
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SFYou: Dr. Shivaji Mukherjee
December 19, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi Editor’s note: In the printed version of this article, The Peak mistakenly noted that Mukherjee is an assistant professor at SFU. This is incorrect, as he is an associate professor at SFU, and the piece has been…
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Art exhibition protests Canada’s oil industry on campus
December 19, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer On November 6, the “Banks Off Campus Day of Action” art exhibition was held at the Student Union Building social stage to showcase George Rammell’s art. Rammell is a Gambier Island-based artist whose work focuses…
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Student journalism’s role in our media cycle can’t be ignored
December 18, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer The media landscape we live in is diverse. From social media platforms, to traditional news sources like cable news, there are many different ways in which we can consume media. However another form stands: the…
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SFU students struggle to pay tuition due to BC public workers’ strike
December 18, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer The BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), which represents over 95,000 workers in the province, began strike action in early September over wage and job condition disputes. Since then, mediation efforts between the provincial government and…
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Embark Sustainability expresses solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla
December 18, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer On October 7, Embark Sustainability released a statement of solidarity for the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian-led convoy of activists from 47 countries aiming to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. The flotilla is the largest…
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The Mush Hole comes to Vancouver
December 18, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer Content warning: Mention of residential schools The Kaha:wi Dance Theatre (KDT) will, for the first time, bring their show The Mush Hole to Vancouver. The Toronto-based studio will be performing at Vancouver Cultch’s Historic Theatre…
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Halal restaurant recommendations in Metro Vancouver
November 11, 2025By: Niveja Assalaarachchi, News Writer October marks Islamic History Month in Canada, highlighting the many contributions of Muslim Canadians to society. One of the hallmarks of life for Muslims is the consumption of Halal (حلال) food. Roughly translating to “permissible”…
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