Do we have to celebrate these 40 years?

Forty years ago this day, Ranil Wickremesinghe was only 28 years old when sworn in as a UNP Member of Parliament from the government ranks. It was also 40 years ago that J. R. Jayewardene (JRJ), as Head of State and after leading the UNP government to victory in 1977 July, opened up the economy for free trade.

Public officers should have courage to say ‘No’ to the minister -Jinasiri Dadallage

In a recent interview, senior civil servant Jinasiri Dadallage spoke about the public sector of the country. He is presently functioning as the Advisor to Prime Minister’s Public Relations Office. Excerpts of the interview:  

Dismay As Sri Lanka Battles Inadequacies In Implementing Dengue Vaccine

It has become nothing but humdrum when it comes to warning the general public in taking precautions against dengue. Something that we all know, despite every measure being taken, is that the disease can’t be eradicated overnight. 

Enter the Religious Police: Mutaween Style

Not for the first time the Police Department has taken upon itself the mantle of protecting Buddhism and detained an Indian girl touring Sri Lanka allegedly for wearing a t- shirt with a supposed image of Lord Buddha. Don’t brand me as being cynical, but isn’t this the very Department that has won the dubious title of being the most corrupt of all state institutions? Yet, I presume, a bad reputation doesn’t prevent one from do

President inquires into drug destroying mechanism

The detection of hauls of drugs, from time, has raised many an eyebrow in the society. Recently there was the discovery of a haul of cocaine in a sugar container bound for Lanka Sathosa, a state owned retail chain. The sugar import had originated from Brazil.   

The fault is in the constellations and not the stars

The people who pretended to be fast asleep during the JRJ-Premadasa tyranny, who were half-asleep during the CBK years and were wide awake during the Rajapaksa tenure, have return to feigned-sleep all over again.

Archibiotect for a greener tomorrow

In this modern era, one of our most important missions is the battle against climate change. This is a reality though the United States President Donald Trump claims climate change is a Chinese hoax. It is in one of the many absurdities which have caused concern among some international analysts that the Trump administration appears to be going crazy with its contradictory claims or twitter messages causing outrage or amusement.

‘Majority SLFP MPs would remain with Government’

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe reached the 40th milepost in his Political Career recently. He also earned the reputation of being in Parliament continuously for 40 years. This interview with Premier Wickremesinghe touches on both his experiences in the political arena as well as the current political situation in the country.  

A political leader with the power of vision

A benevolent leadership is essentially a victory for the common man. Rulers of the past accomplished farsighted schemes for the welfare and survival of future generations. Today, a rare opportunity has arisen for us to appreciate and congratulate Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for the unique services he has rendered to the nation during the past 40 years as a Member of Parliament.  

Mr. President and Mr. Prime Minister…people are hearing what you’re not saying!

The biggest issue before us isn’t that we aren’t listening. But that we are hearing what we don’t want to hear. The people tend to pay more attention to the President and Prime Minister. They represent the respective partners of the coalition. 

LIBERALISM WITHOUT DEMOCRACY

The worst thing about Hambantota is Trincomalee. The Chinese are not our neighbours; we have no border with China and thus no deeply inscribed history of incursions and annexation; there is no Chinese minority on the island and China never intervened in our conflicts or supported cross-border terrorism.

Rs. 16 million a day to maintain parliament;MAINTAIN THE DIGNITY OF PUBLIC FUNDS

With parliamentary sittings now being telecast live on national television and schoolchildren regularly coming to the public gallery to see what their so called supreme legislators are doing in Parliament, it is vital that strict discipline and a code of conduct be maintained.   

Hambantota Port agreement has provisions disadvantageous to sl –Trade Union leader

Hot on the heels of the government inking the Hambantota Port deal, D.J. Rajakaruna, Convener of the Joint Trade Union Alliance in the petroleum sector, speaks about its implications to the country and its economy at large. Excerpts:  

Counter Point Opinion and fact:Fact or fiction?

It was with much trepidation that I read a full page interview of Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thero in the published on 26th July 2017. The title itself pointed to a sentiment I myself share; that it’s time the country departs from ‘Colombo 07’ thinking; but the departure suggested by the Venerable Thera in the interview by Kelum Bandara,

MR-RW Confrontation in 2020 will do Neither any good

Aggregated vote difference between the candidates, stood at a meager 1.8% votes [50.2.to 48.4]; going for the second round preferences, winner vaulted over the cross bar at 28,632 votes. 8527 braved to vote in Jaffna District, notwithstanding the LTTE prohibition amounting to 1.2% of the registered voters of 701,938 from 11 electorates. 

Mangala responds to GL: The ICC doesn’t have jurisdiction over SL

The following is a response sent to us by Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera. International legal practitioners both here....

Are all men equal before the law? - EDITORIAL

Three similar incidents that took place last week and should have drawn the attention of civil rights movements and human rights....

Ravi K and the Penthouse: The acid test for Yahapalana integrity

This government has routinely blamed the corruption of the former regime for the current economic hardships in the country. Now, how....

Maths, idiocy and all those sums which don’t add up

It’s funny how people don’t mention books any more. I don’t mean book reviews, but as an aside in an article, or in conversation, during lunch....

Tiny Bhutan finds itself in Sino—Indian cleft stick

Tiny Bhutan, which has earned the epithet of being the “happiest place on earth” as per the new concept of Gross National Happiness....

I can’t do wonders within two years -Thalatha

Foreign Employment Minister Thalatha Athukorale was offered the ‘Woman of the Year’ award at the Top “50” Professional and Career Women....

President should form a new Govt. - Dayasiri

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, in an interview with Daily Mirror, elaborates about the formation of a new govt. under the leadership of.....

SHariF’S fall AND will we probe the panama papers? - EDITORIAL

On Friday July 28, 2017, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was forced to resign as Prime Minister of Pakistan after the....

Self-interest and weakening of rule-based systems of Governance

Patron client politics, informal social networks and corruption have been mostly responsible for the weakening of rule-based....

Vetoing women prejudic in politics

The year 1931 marked a milestone in the history of Sri Lanka, with women receiving the right to vote and get involved....

Use Water Sparingly Before We Are Left High and Dry - EDITORIAL

Though the United States isolationist President Donald Trump and his business associates are cynically dismissing climate....

Our violent world?

The most peaceful countries in the world are Iceland, Portugal, Austria, New Zealand and Denmark, according to the.....

Stooping to win

Thirty years ago on this day (July 29th 1987) an accord was signed by the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Junius Richard Jayewardene the then President of Sri Lanka in Colombo that had far reaching implications for both the tear drop island in the Indian Ocean and its giant neighbour. 

Strikes should strike a balance

With fuel supplies being gradually restored to normal by yesterday evening, there appeared to be widespread public support for the national unity government’s decision to crack down and issue a gazette notification declaring fuel supplies as an essential service.

Jerusalem: Horror in the holy city

Etymologically, Jerusalem means ‘the foundation of peace’. But Jerusalem, one of the oldest cities in the world, has seen enough wars and violence and more will be its lot in the future, too. Clashes since July 14 in the nearly 5,000-year-old city, considered sacred by Jews, Christians and Muslims, have raised fears of a Palestinian uprising or the third Intifada.