Ending ragging in Sri lanka’s universities - Part II

A strategic response looks to the causes of ragging rather than its symptoms. It is based on the answer to the question: why do....

Why Sarath Fonseka is good enough to confront strikes

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister, Rajitha Seneratne earlier confided to the media that President Maithripala Sirisena had asked Field....

After 100 days, Trump caught out by his own bombast - EDITORIAL

In the afterglow of his unexpected victory at the US presidential election Donald Trump the new American president, began his term....

May Day and its significance

May 1 is celebrated as International Labour Day in most countries except those under military dictatorship or authoritarian rule. In the United States of America and Canada, the first Monday in September is observed as Labour Day whilst the first Sunday in May is celebrated as Labour Day in Britain, which can be considered as being out of step. However, there is no other international celebration that generates more enthusiasm and fraternity as

May Day: Protests, Laws and the Attacks on Workers

The eight-hour working day has its legacy in a long history of May Day protests. Over 150 years ago, in 1866, the first general congress of the International Workingmen’s Association, commonly known as the First International, resolved that the eight-hour working day would be one of the primary demands of the workers of the world.

A worker reads history

The worker reads history on the very first day of May every year. It is called MAY DAY. Its genesis is related to the sweat of the proletariat. Yet, its spirit seems to have been robbed by the capitalists in the course of time. The drastic consequence is that the sacred meaning of the word has almost become a misnomer. It’s another glaring daylight robbery in the very presence of the rightful heirs of the day.  

The true meaning of May Day

It’s not about workers, their trials and tribulations. It is not about unfair terms of exchange. It is not about capitalism, the extraction of surplus value and the immiseration of the working class. It is not even about class consciousness. May Day is a spectacle, a show where the political biggies flex muscles, brag about achievements and beat chests about prevailing over all manner of obstacles or else fervent vows to oust the ruling c

May Day Mayhem

May Day was born in 1884, flagged by blood-splattered clothes of martyrs who sacrificed their lives for a worthy cause in Illinois, Chicago, USA — The Blues and Greens here in Sri Lanka with lost memories of a proletariat struggle have vandalised the consecrated concept turning it into a disgusting political ‘extravaganza.’

Journalists for social justice

Next Wednesday, May 3 is World Press Freedom Day and the United Nations in a statement says the year’s theme is “Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies”. Indeed a deep and significant theme which journalists need to reflect upon, especially in Sri Lanka where after January 2015 with the restoration of media freedom, we have also seen many instances of the misuse

“We only supported Federalism as a demand by the Tamils”

When we were political cubs, we knew of Chelvanayagam as one who was the ‘father’ figure of Tamil nationalism. He was a Tamil political leader who was affectionately called ‘Thanthai’ – meaning ‘Father’ – Chelva. Samuel James Velupillai Chelvanayagam dominated Tamil politics in the first three decades of post independent Ceylon. 

French election demonstrates Europe’s strength

The result of the first round of the French presidential election has given the Euro-pessimists a knock over the head. About time too. The European Union is not going to face a break up. Big crises come but they also go. The Euro currency crisis was not dealt with as well as it should have been -- austerity was the policy of the long way round -- but it passed. The great immigration crisis has been contained and the number of would-be refugees ha

Give May Day back to the ‘Saadukin Pelenawun’

With the social revolution in 1956, the then Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike—activating the ‘Pancha Maha Balawegaya’ comprising the Sangha, Veda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru—declared May Day as a holiday and provided many benefits for millions of workers and their families. There were short term and long term benefits, the most important being the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF)  which unfortunately during the past dec

Pointless, aimless May Day

May Day or the International Workers’ Day has long lost its purpose and spirit. However, in Sri Lanka the first of May is still a general holiday and political parties using it to boost their images by showcasing their strength by gathering as much supporters as possible to a place to hold processions and rallies. 

Avoid war and save Mother Earth

The earth continues its rotation on its axis and moves along its orbit around the Sun, suffering in silence and not knowing what poisonous attack it will suffer next.  Most of the Earth’s inhabitants go about with their daily chores without pausing for a moment to take a look at the danger lurking in the shadows.  They apparently know not that tomorrow will not be like today, if war erupts in the Korean peninsula.

The bourgeoisie that never was

History almost always leaves behind lessons that are never learnt. That is why (quoting Santayana) those who forget it are condemned to repeat it and why (quoting Marx) it repeats itself first as tragedy, second as farce. This forget-factor is probably the main reason why our people undergo tragedy, again and again, and still manage to resolve for them. 

Federalism: Why only for Tamils?

“We  must ask, why Federalism to Tamils? Why not to the Sinhalese in the South? We need Federalism for South because centralised power from 1947 Parliament to 2017, for 70 years, have failed to develop the rural Sinhala society” said Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine of this “Unity Government” delivering the keynote address at the S.J.V. Chelvanayagam commemoration on Wednesd

Garbage IS a gold mine for CMC & politicians

About 30 years ago there was a beautiful paddy land known as Pothuvil Kumbura. In the canals that bordered it people even used to bathe. In 1989 under the land reclamation policy, this land was filled up. Afterwards towards 2000-2001 this paddy land was further filled up by soil and garbage. This was done with the intention of some development activity. Around 2008-2009 garbage collected from Colombo was dumped at Bloemendhal dumping yard.

Govt. contemplates rigid control on Trade Union action

Around 1,500 petroleum workers could cripple fuel distribution in the country through their strike action. This appeared to have rung alarm bells for the Cabinet Ministers regarding the operation of state affairs smoothly. It became apparent at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting when they remarked that a handful of workers should not be allowed to bring the activities of the government to a standstill in this manner. They floated the idea for a co

“I am not a person who goes after portfolios” Arjuna Ranatunga

The Hambantota Port development deal was frowned upon as a loss-making venture during the previous government. With China gaining prosperity over Sri Lanka, the Port too would fall in to their hands as means of development. Major changes were done to this deal including bringing down the 199 year lease to 50-70 years and giving only 60% of shares to the Chinese company. In addition to that, India has shown an interest in commencing operations o

The repeated errors of self-inflicted torture

Any conflagration and especially one marked by the clash of arms that lasts over several decades can be defined in multiple ways. For some, the conflict in Sri Lanka, was a matter between the Sinhalese and Tamils. They call it ‘Ethnic Conflict’. Others could say that it was a battle between state entities and a terrorist outfit or one between democracy and insurgency.   

Preventing climate change, our sacred duty

Around the world in some 600 cities, hundreds of millions of people marched last Saturday, April 22 to mark Earth Day, emphasising the significance of evidence–based science on issues ranging from climate change to new technology. It was essentially a people–based mass movement though United States President Donald Trump says he wants to put American business interests first and has slashed funds for the US Environmental Protection

“Govt co-sponsorship of UNHRC Resolution tantamount to an innocent man offering a sword to behead hi

The simple reason is that the OHCHR report is very serious. It makes very serious allegations against our armed forces.

International Pressure should be maintained on Government

The resolution on Sri Lanka that gave Sri Lanka the additional two years that the government sought to deliver on commitments made 18 months ago.

An eminently readable collection of vignettes

Lakshman Ratnapala’s second volume in a year, Soaring Spirits and Shooting Stars, though smaller in size than the first best seller, Flickering Fortunes, is eminently readable....

RANIL’S GREAT GAME SERVED BY OPPOSITION’S GAME OF THRONES

“Will they leave?” was the urgent question President Premadasa posed to me after having kept me behind as Varadarajah Perumal and the others left the meeting at Sucharitha...

SWRD myth and reality…

S W R D Bandaranaike, the fourth Prime Minister of Ceylon, was assassinated by a Buddhist monk. A cruel conspiracy was hatched and executed to almost perfect precision....

When garbage is a gold mine for politicos

President Maithripala Sirisena has told the newspaper editors and the heads of the electronic media institutions last week that he would appoint a retired judge to investigate the causes that led to the Meethotamulla garbage tragedy, which left 32 people killed, eight missing and hundreds homeless....

Ending Ragging in Sri Lanka’s Universities

It is a familiar cycle. An incident of ragging makes national headlines. Reactions of shock and horror follow: “How could this happen?.....

WASTE NOT WASTE: WASTE IS GOLD

Waste is Gold in other parts of the world, managing to derive the power, fertilizer, chemicals, and many other subsidiaries for their....

Garbage politics and bigger political issues

The government is reportedly considering bringing garbage disposal under a centralized authority and to legislate a law on garbage.....