TO HOODWINK THE PUBLIC

National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection was established in 2007 with the purposes of making sure that the fundamental rights of all consumers are upheld and protected by the government and corporations and fighting against violations of consumer rights.   

The small problem of the big parties

How many times have we heard that there’s no room for any third party in Sri Lankan politics? ‘Third party’ as in an entity other than the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the United National Party or else coalitions led by one of both. True, parties with extremely modest strength have on many an occasion effected change, played king-maker and even been part of governments; but always, always, it has been either the UNP or the SLFP

APRC Constitution proposal of 2010: A via media for Govt. and Opposition

The new Constitution proposals of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly are already facing criticism by the Joint opposition in Parliament and there are protests and agitation outside parliament by nationalist elements. 

NPC Crisis: Fire extinguished, but ember is aglow

The fire is extinguished, but the ember is still aglow as goes the saying. This is how political tension in the Northern Provincial Council persists after the move to unseat Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran through a no confidence motion, is described in political circles.  

Poorest countries doing the most for refugees

On World Refugee Day, June 20, we commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. The United Nations says that this year, World Refugee Day also marks a key moment for the people to show support for families forced to flee. To do this, the UN Refugee Agency launched the ‘With Refugees’ petition in June last year to send a message to governments that they must work together and do their fair share for refu

These must stop now

Back in 2007 I was on an agricultural training program and giving a talk to farmers in the Aluvihare area of Matale about the various crises in transport, food, energy, climate, finance and garbage. 

Ali Baba at Cricket and Politics

Cricket did not bring fame and shame, as ousting terrorism did, by the euphoria and despair that followed. Cricket is a ‘small–time’ game played earnestly by eight nations, while most people on planet earth face lethal terrorism - overcame it by getting the act right, ignoring advice from roaming busybodies presently recipients of smaller doses and reacting worse than the long suffered locals. 

Corruption of power and power of corruption

Political power is not just a tool in the hands of those who hold it. It is not a license that guarantees immunity for all crimes that are committed under the cover of that license. It is not a power vested in the holder to run amok with all what is inside the national coffers. It does not give any power whatsoever to those who wield it with unlimited and unchecked supremacy to decree what is right and what is wrong.

Tamil People Seek New Political Leadership - Suresh Premachandran

Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) leader Suresh Premachandran, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the future of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the aftermath of the no confidence motion against Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran. The excerpts:

Why do we root for the underdog? - EDITORIAL

Who says the Sinhalese are anti-Muslim? The way in which the Sinhalese craved for and cheered the victory of the Pakistan team at the ICC finals against India on Sunday leaves very little doubt that the community is inherently prejudicial against Muslims as a group, local or otherwise. If not for the politicians from both sides who instigate people with their inflammatory speeches and misinformation, the two communities would have been left wit

Dilemmas and Dialectics of Culture

The recent death of Prof. Siri Gunasinghe led to a rich discussion of the question of Sinhala -- and Ceylonese/Sri Lankan -- culture. Sri Lanka (and earlier Ceylon) has witnessed not only a clash of cultures but clashes within cultures. While there has been a clash between the Westernized and the anti-western elites, within Sinhala culture itself there has been a clash between the moderns and the traditionalists, and within the westernized elit

Why newspaper ads won’t end students’ protests: Teach them English instead

A little anecdote about one of America’s most left leaning liberal arts schools brought back memories of my undergraduate days.....

What was given to me is not what I asked for

Newly-appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, in an interview with Dailymirror, charged that someone envious of his success story as the Finance Minister was behind his transfer to a new portfolio. Also, he said he would introduce commercial diplomacy to the foreign policy as a prioritized matter. Excerpts:  

In politics, self takes precedence over nation - EDITORIAL

When it comes to politics there is no difference between the North and South. In both parts of the country one’s self comes first....

The dwindling tobacco industry Tobacco, no more

The Daily Mirror spoke to the CEO of Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC) Pubudu Sumanasekera on the hazards.....

GRENFEL TOWERS FIRE: THE PRICE OF PROFIT AT ANY COST

On June 14, 2017, London’s Grenfell Towers, owned by the Borough Council in Kensington and Chelsea (Local Government Authority), and....

DUDLEY, THE GREAT LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

Today, with the return to democracy, we think back to the greatest liberal democrat of them all, the late Dudley....

Micro-finance and Leasing: Today’s Loan Sharks

It has taken the Central Bank many years to see what some of us have been pointing to since the war ended – that people....

Arms Sales and Global Conflicts

On June 14, the United States sealed a US $ 12 billion worth of combat aircraft deal with Qatar. This arms deal surprised.....

Need a Ginger Group to ‘Gun for Inept and Corrupt Ministers’!

The Government submitted its 3rd instalment of a Supplementary Estimate seeking the approval of the House for a sum of Rs. 329 million to purchase eight more luxury vehicles for Ministers that included, those who sold their permits and a few rejected by voters, but came though the back door. 

Some questions on floods in south west Sri Lanka

The  of June 1 gives on Page 14 a discussion of rainfall predictions in the current season. Talking with an Irrigation Engineer cum Hydrology specialist, who has also a role in international consultancies, I raised some questions, which I would like to share, as well as the answers given by him. 

Trump may play nationalist card to avoid impeachment threat

“The best lack all conviction”, wrote the Irish poet, William Yeats, “while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” 

Stop labouring children!

Monday June 12 was the world day against child labour and the International Labour Organization has said it has launched this day to focus attention on the global extent of child labour, the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.  

Israeli factor in the Saudi-Qatar crisis

Notwithstanding a maverick President in the White House and China’s meteoric rise as a world power, the United States still sets the world agenda – and there is often an Israeli factor when it comes to the Middle East.

Wigneswaran 's anti-corruption drive eclipsed by sectarian politics

The Northern Provincial Council is a unique entity compared to the other eight Provincial Councils due to its actions independent of the Central Government. 

RTI Commission takes up Questions of Public Accountability

It is encouraging to see that despite being severely cash-strapped due to the absence of an independent allocation in the 2017 National Budget, the RTI Commission of Sri Lanka has begun hearing appeals and concluded several hearings under the globally acclaimed RTI Act No:12 of 2016. 

Social networking lands teacher in trouble

Social networking outlets such as Facebook are used by people to express their personal opinions and views about issues they are interested in. Recently, a male teacher of Kuliyapitiya Central College faced repercussions from the Education Ministry allegedly for posting critical poems, which the Ministry had apparently not approved, on his Facebook page and it resulted in his being transferred to the Narammala Mayurapada Central College.

Turbulence hits Sri Lankan Airlines

The revitalization of loss-making state institutions was a main slogan advocated by the new government after assuming duties. In fact, it sought a mandate from people to act on this. Key among them is the plan worked out to restructure Sri Lankan Airlines which is the national flag carrier of the country in partnership with a private investor.   

Three years since Aluthgama, Beruwala..... Hopes for Peaceful co-existence remain more elusive than

Exactly three years have lapsed since the Aluthgama riots - a seismic event in the history of Sri Lanka’s troubled ethnic relations. June 15 and 16, 2014 saw mobs in a well-organised manner, unleash collective violence on Muslim-owned businesses and homes in Aluthgama, Beruwala, Dharga Town, Welipenna and Matugama in the district of Kalutara, located along the island’s south-western coastal belt. The rioting resulted in the loss of

govt should not create unrealistic expectations about GSP Plus

The European Union restored GSP+ to Sri Lanka on 19 May 2017. The EU has three GSP schemes. The GSP scheme for the least developed countries with a per capita income below USD 1,025 provides zero duty access to the EU market.