PPP model better option for public enterprises with strategic importance- German expert

Andreas Hergenröther, a German economic expert with speacial knowledge about Asia, shares his insights on the merits of Private Public Partnership (PPP) models for Sri Lanka to revive the economy. He underscores...

‘Year of the Girl Child’ and abuse of children

October 11 is commemorated the world over as the year of the ‘Girl Child’.The International Day of the Girl Child was first focused on, at the Beijing Declaration in 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing.

India shows its hand in Geneva

Indra Mani Pandey. Remember the name. He’s India’s Permanent Representative in Geneva. He’s no novice in matters diplomatic, having joined the service more than 30 years ago.

Protest justified, but No to toddlers used as human shields - EDITORIAL

The people of Sri Lanka are going through extremely difficult times. They are hungry and rightfully they are protesting. This is especially....

Heavy toll of reporting SL’s mass protests: “We are gasping for breath”

On April 1 this year I awoke to over 500 messages that had accumulated on my phone overnight. For weeks, my home country of....

From Middle to Low Income: A new low of self-degradation

The Cabinet this week will take up a proposal to voluntarily downgrade Sri Lanka from a Middle- Income Country to a Low-Income country.....

Chicanery over Constitutional reform - EDITORIAL

The abolition of executive Presidency in general and the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution currently are best two cases.....

The geopolitics of voting on the Sri Lanka resolution at UNHRC

Looking at the voting on the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution on Sri Lanka on October 6, it appears that the decisions taken....

60th Anniversary of the Field Officers’ Association of the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Ltd

An all-religious ceremony and a milk rice alms offering was held at Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy on 16.09.2022 to Mark the 60th Anniversary.....

Needs, wants and destructive greed

Our country, in the words of no less a person than our president, is bankrupt. To use a colloquialism, we are ‘stone broke’. Our international debt which we are unable to repay and have defaulted stands at a staggering US$ 51 billion.

22nd Death Anniversary World’s First Woman Head of State –Sirimavo Bandaranaike

Volumes have been written on her ‘Temple Trees’ days but her nursery, pre-teen, adolescent and young housewife times at ‘Ella

Within five years every person will be protected by early warning systems

Sri Lanka is facing the worst disaster since independence in 1948. Though the new President Ranil Wickremesinghe is taking practical steps nationally and internationally to reduce the heavy socio-economic burdens on the people,

Hounding protesters at the cost of GSP concessions

The government seems to be more interested in suppression of people’s agitations rather than looking into the root causes of them and resolving those issues for good.

No place in democracy for a bureau of political rehabilitation

The Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill presented by the Minister of Justice is a shocking legislative proposal that must be rejected by the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Showing teachers love must go beyond gifts - EDITORIAL

Much is spoken of students and their achievements, but seldom are teachers highlighted for their contributions made to the field of education. We all know that teachers draw paltry salaries. However....

Ukraine war: Putin is no pushover

So Ukraine is winning the war against mighty Russia, an enemy which is armed to the teeth with earth-destroying nuclear weapons. It appears to be so if we are to believe western media...

Moral-Police’ amid liberal aiders and abettors…

In some corner of the world, atop a mountain, in a cave, by a stream, in a coffee shop or a corporate office, there could be someone who is a saint.

How the other half lives...

A tourist fresh from his/her homeland walking or driving along the roads of Colombo, could not be faulted for mistaking our country as a middle income nation. Luxury apartments and shopping malls have sprung up in all parts of the capital. Fancy and latest vehicles speed along our somewhat bumpy roads. Pubs and night clubs still remain well patronized.

Ranil’s bid to revive SL - Singapore FTA appears unrealistic

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo on Tuesday, that Sri Lanka....

Power hunger and war in Ukraine - EDITORIAL

On an everyday basis, international news headlines are filled with gory stories of death and destruction coming out of the war in....

Govt. needs to prioritise reform not repression

In view of the repression on peaceful protesters and the present Government’s failure to resolve the issues faced by the people....

The unending power crisis

Against a huge increase in electricity tariff having been announced last month, the authorities are warning of longer hours of

Revoking HSZs: President’s first act of ‘independence’ against his backers’ wishes

President Ranil Wickremesinghe during the weekend revoked a previous Gazette notification that declared several areas of Colombo as High-Security Zones (HSZs), but not before the original proclamation caused an uproar. On Saturd

Universal jurisdiction Last Resort to Prosecute International Crimes?

The need for justice, truth and reparation for crimes under international law, human rights violations and abuses committed by state officials and armed opposition groups has been.....

It’s time to end exploitative legacy on our estates - EDITORIAL

The export of tea is one of our country’s main export earners and Sri Lanka’s tea industry performed well in 2021 earning US$ 1.3 billion, despite lower yields and higher costs of production. Chairman of....

Govt. delays payments to organic fertilizer suppliers

There is no national policy for fertilizer. “Our attempt is to supply fertilizer for the Maha Season. If farming becomes a success, we could manage the rest of our problems. We have to increase our.....

An indication of economy further worsening

It is interesting to note President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a gazette notification on September 23 declaring several High Security Zones (HSZs) in Colombo and suburbs under the Official Secrets Act of 1955. The legality of the gazette has to be decided by a court of law, but it is amusing to hear HSZs having been established under the Official Secrets Act.

Girl leaders: Role models speak a 1000 words

Famous French singer, actor and entertainer Maurice Chevalier entertained us with a beautiful song about little girls. It goes like this:

Let’s ponder on the proposal to change ‘youth’ to children - EDITORIAL

It was reported the other day that Sri Lanka is set to change the legal definition of youth so that in future individuals who are young and coming under the age of 18 and below would be referred....

The Mahsa Amini case: To veil or not veil

The controversy over a piece of Muslim women’s clothing is once again making international headlines. This time following the death of a young woman in Iran after her arrest by the country’s morality....