Build climate-resilient health systems

Climate change is happening. In recent years average temperatures across the globe have increased, with significant impact on humanity’s most precious resource – the environment. Water systems are under stress. Food sources are being imperilled. And areas once considered safe for settlement are being threatened and erased.   

RTI and Parliamentary Privilege

All those who wish good governance to flourish in Sri Lanka must welcome the RTI Commission’s recent orders directing the Northern Provincial Council to give information on appointments of management assistants and office assistants to the provincial councillors.

Dumbing-down to corruption-inevitability

Dr Harsha De Silva, Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Development, has come out strong on the subject of corruption. He has observed that the entire country is corrupt. The implication of course is that his government is also corrupt. He has said that he’s ‘sick of it all.’   

A Candle in the Wind

Today (August 31), the world commemorates the 20th death anniversary of Diana Princess of Wales. Princess Diana appeared on the British socio-political landscape when news of her romance with Britain’s heir to the throne Prince Charles broke and her fairy-tale wedding which was watched by millions across the globe in real time.   

The Govt. makes disproportionate investments on infrastructure

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, in an interview with Daily Mirror, spoke about the current status of the economy and politics in the country. Following are excerpts of the interview: 

Current Govt. worsened debt crisis -Bandula

Joint Opposition MP Bandula Gunawardane, in an interview with Daily Mirror, spoke about the current economic situation in the country. The following are excerpts of the interview.   

Santhutti paraman dhanan Wealth never led to happiness: rather, happiness is wealth

I am not overly fond of politicians. If I were to be brutally honest, I’d say I am not fond of them at all. Needless to say, in my life so far, I have never, of my free will, seen the insides of a polling station. Nor do I plan to. Be that as it may, quite a few of the present crop of leading politicians of all colours and agendas are my friends. 

20th Amendment: PCs respond from different viewpoints

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution has created an uproar in the Provincial Councils. The Bill primarily seeks to evolve a new electoral system based on a mix of the First Past the Post System and the Proportional Representation System. The Bill also seeks to provide for conducting polls to all the nine Provincial Councils on the same date. Until the new electoral system is evolved, the elections to the Provincial Councils whose terms expire

Bribery and corruption in pre-independence legislature

The unicameral legislature for Ceylon (Sri Lanka), The State Council [SC] was established in 1931 under the Donoughmore Constitution....

Yahapalanaya at risk

Good Governance, however much it looks easy to shout about on platform and introduce, is incredibly hard to sustain even for...

‘We’ll leave next step to Attorney General after we receive Commission Report’

Following are excerpts of an interview our sister paper ‘Sunday Lankadeepa’ did with President Maithripala Sirisena. Here the...

The Faustian bargain of the UNP

Today’s UNP is a party that hounds Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, but will staunchly defend  Rajitha Senaratne.  Today’s UNP, a....

The price of meddling with Military Lessons from France and the US

When President Barack Obama left office after two terms on a high note with a national approval rating of 57%, in the military it stood at just 36%.

‘It is impractical to dedicate separate court to hear specific cases’ - U R. de Silva

The President of  the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) U.R. de Silva in an interview with the Daily Mirror spoke on issues related to litigation, dealing with suspects in Police custody and the removal of MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe from the post of Justice Ministry. The following are excerpts of the interview:

‘People visit me only for a ‘selfie’ and I don’t like it’ -Uru varige Wannila Aththo

The Veddas or the indigenous people in Sri Lanka are the living relict of a tribe whose ancestry dates back to over thousand years. Having mastered their skills from hunting to preparing medicine, the Veddas have a closer connection with the country and nature than anyone of us. As members of the Yaksha tribe, their rituals include offering alms to the spirits of the dead. Although we have heard about just one tribe, the Veddas have several sub

Sri Lankan cricket losses and the wider Sri Lankan story

Simmering fan dissatisfaction exploded in the Pallekele cricket grounds on Sunday night -- certainly it was not a pleasant thing to see. The India-Sri Lanka third ODI was disrupted by bottle-tossing cricket fans for more than 30 minutes and riot police were called in, when India was just eight runs needed to win in 40 balls. The match resumed later and India won by six wickets.   

Has party politics let down the people?

Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has been quoted by several print and electronic media institutions as saying that there is an unusual drop in the registration of voters this year in Colombo and its suburbs.   

The phenomenon of Godmen in India

India abounds in Godmen - both genuine and fake. Some of them have had an unblemished record of spiritual and social service while others have sullied their names and even gone to prison for crimes including rape and murder.  

‘Free’ Health Insurance for school-goers? Channelling public funds for private profit...

On August 22, 2017, the Cabinet approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Education to introduce an insurance scheme for all school-goers between the ages of 5 and 19 years. The proposed insurance scheme, from last November’s budget proposals, is expected to cover 4.5 million students from all schools, including government, private (non-aided and aided), pirivena, and international schools, at an annual cost of Rs.2,700 million to

Need to eliminate State-Sponsored Financial Sins and Crimes

Present day Body Politic in Sri Lanka is suffering from an acute dearth of Professionals Intellectuals and well meaning individuals. Politics...

A response to summons of Court of History

I refer to the article titled “Let the Court of History summon all perception peddlers”, by Malinda Seneviratne in the Daily Mirror of August...

End the practice of Enforced disappearance - EDITORIAL

On Wednesday the 30th August the world over observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The aim....

Protecting sea lanes what is Sri Lanka’s role?

The new Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah’s commencement of duties merits special attention on account of some....

Whoever the minister: Fiat justitia - EDITORIAL

In a move that hopefully would expedite inquiries and the prosecution of cases involving allegations that some of the....

Please, Sounds Not Noise

Everyone has their favourite sounds- a ball on a cricket bat on a summer’s afternoon, birds singing, waves breaking on the....

Leaders in the past did not fear world powers

Whereas a Viceroy with practically unrestricted powers in exercising political control over a dependent State controlled the affairs....

Make medicines accessible for all

Access to medicines is a critical factor to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being of all people of all ages. Medicines....

Disappeared people: For family members, every minute is a minute too long

On next Wednesday August 30, the United Nations will mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. In a statement, the UN says, enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within society.

Barcelona terror: Muslims should act more sternly

The teen terror that shook Barcelona on August 17 is yet another horrendous act that calls for effective and urgent measures to deal with the issue of radicalization of the Muslim youth.  The international community’s failure to wipe out this menace is largely due to political games big powers play.

Wijeyadasa is gone:Will corruption be eliminated now?

It was Ravi Karunanyake, who resigned on August 10 as Foreign Affairs Minister, who paved the way for the dismissal of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe from the post of Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister on Wednesday