THE UNP’S FUTURE: WHO CAN SAVE THE PARTY?

I’ve spotted the personality who can save the UNP, either as Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition or Presidential candidate, in whichever order, but most certainly as a viable leader of the United National Party, be in in Government or Opposition.

No part of the country belongs exclusively to one ethnic group - Prof. K. M. de Silva

Professor Emeritus of  Sri Lanka History K. M. de Silva, in a detailed email interview with the , challenges the claim that the north and the east are the exclusive homeland of Tamil speaking people. 

Tamils have valid claim for homeland Prof. Pathmanathan

Emeritus Professor of History S. Pathmanathan, in an interview with Dailymirror, discusses the origins of settlements in Sri Lanka and argues for the Tamil Homeland concept from a historian’s point of view. Prof. Pathmanathan, who is also the Chancellor of Jaffna University, said both the Sinhalese and the Tamils have a common identity.  

Fasting without a cause

He was protesting against international interferences in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs, and survived his short-lived action to see his political fortunes decline; so much so that he is in remand prison now charged with misappropriating public property. 

Caution not to strike premature body blows on RTI

Sri Lankan activists who rushed precipitously to file Right to Information (RTI) requests for the Assets Declarations of the President and the Prime Minister may learn a wise thing or two from their Indian counterparts.   

Addressing the misconceptions on reform to MMDA

The pending reforms to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA) have resulted in both interest and controversy from within and outside the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. Some members of the community, perceive the reforms to be a result of ‘western/NGO’ pressure, whilst others believe that the reform is long overdue. In the ensuing debate there have been many perceptions and 

Vowed to cleanse India of all other religions

The selection of a 44-year-old Hindutva firebrand and Sanyasi turned politician, Yogi Adityanath as the Chief Minister (CM) of India’s largest State, Uttar Pradesh (UP) has sent shock waves amongst minorities throughout India.   

Separate Council for Muslims if North and East re-merged

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem, in an interview with Dailymirror speaks about the aspirations of Muslims in Constitution making and the current crisis of his party with the sacking of the General Secretary. Minister Hakeem, who is also the Urban Development, Water Supply and Drainage Minister, responds to allegations about radicalisation of his community. Excerpts:

MDMK, VCK hypocrisy blocks Rajinikanth’s visit to Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu superstar Rajinikanth on Saturday announced that he had decided not to attend an event to be held in Vavuniya on April 10 to hand over keys to 150 houses built by an Indian firm for people displaced by the war.

Vehicles for Ministers: What does it mean for democracy?

The government has sought parliamentary approval for Rs.288 million to buy vehicles for several ministers, deputy ministers and state ministers. This comes in the wake of a previous supplementary estimate to the tune of Rs.791 million approved by Parliament last year to purchase vehicles for 25 parliamentarians.   

Russia ready to rumble

The Sri Lankan President’s state visit to Russia symbolizes a pragmatic drift in Sri Lankan foreign policy, especially in the backdrop....

What is ‘UNRULY’ in Parliament?

Rs. 4.4 million is spent out of tax payer’s money for each day’s sittings in parliament. The three categories of members, namely, people’s....

Public policy failures, social unrest and economic decline

There are more than enough signs of social unrest in the country today. In fact, the prevailing state of affairs in could be described as.....

The ‘Ides of March’ and confusion compounded in Sri Lanka - EDITORIAL

On Thursday, March 23, Sri Lanka once again co-sponsored the US-sponsored UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) draft resolution.....

Tamil nationalist politics and the process of “traitorization” in Sri Lanka

Octogenarian leader of the Opposition Rajavarothayam Sampanthan in a hard-hitting Parliamentary speech made four weeks ago drew attention to the prevailing practice of persons being condemned as Traitors 

Don’t turn justice into a fast-moving comedy

At a national and international level, important factors such as the restoration of judicial independence, the independence of the police and the rule of law have been important factors in restoring Sri Lanka’s image and relationships for more trade and aid. However, certain parties or groups appear to be trying to undermine this or make it a political drama.   

The sweep of perpetual famine?

Once again the media are presenting us with the images of the mother of all famines -- stretching from Yemen to Somalia, to Sudan and South Sudan, to the Central African Republic and to northern Nigeria. It’s a bad famine but there have been bad famines in the not so distant past -- the great 

Palestinians need a hero, not a gutless Guterres

The stench that wafted across world politics last Friday was unbearable. It originated from a place where there was once an old slaughterhouse. The place now houses the 39-storey United Nations building, one of the most photographed world monuments.

The global burden of

Twenty-five years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared tuberculosis a pandemic and a global emergency and recommended revolutionary methods to control the disease, which was threatening to engulf the world. Those efforts appear to have paid off. Happily, the incidence (i.e; the number of new cases each year) of new tuberculosis cases has fallen by 1.5% every year since the year 2000 and is 18% lower now than it was in the year 2000,

‘Free Education’

Recent media reports say the GMOA has decided to keep away from private practice and channelling for 02 weeks from 30 March. Available numbers in past years show the month of April as a lean month for both private and public healthcare. Probably the habit of seeking medical treatment even for the common cold is overtaken by the festive mood, especially in the first two weeks up to Sinhala and Hindu New Year. The GMOA has thus chosen that lean per

We stand with Theresa May and the British people

First of all let us express our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the recent terrorist attack in London, those who were injured, the families of those who died and all the citizens of the United Kingdom. 

Fonseka’s claim on hit squads

The debate during the last lap of the war between the Army Commander, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the same period over the death squads allegedly used against many including journalists seems to be a mere coincidence with the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions. 

Bridging the Divide on Socioeconomic Rights in Sri Lanka

The constitutional status of economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights has been the subject of intense debate among scholars and practitioners in Sri Lanka. This debate is featured in ongoing discussions on constitutional reform. The question of whether to make ESC rights ‘justiciable’ under the new constitution now vexes Sri Lanka’s constitution-makers.  

UNHRC Resolution: Confusion over who committed to foreign judges

Ahead of the vote on yet another resolution on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) tomorrow, an intense debate has taken place on the move for the inclusion of foreign judges in a judicial mechanism to hear accountability and human rights issues during the war time. The new resolution, to be put to vote tomorrow , is just a rollover seeking to extend the timeline given for the government of Sri Lanka to deliver on its c

I am a Minister by name only - Harin

There are so many claimants for the Yahapalanaya government now, but one should not forget that the first Salvo was fired by one, who left Parliament membership and took his fight to the Provincial Councils. He now laments that he is unable to serve the people who elected him and feels disgruntled and driven towards frustration. Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Minister Harin Fernando in an interview reveals what he aimed for and wh

Yahapalana machinations subvert ‘transitional justice’

These are UNHRC days. These are Yahapalana-UNHRC days which are therefore very different from the Rajapaksa-UNHRC days. Both regimes use the same lexicon when it comes to ‘reconciliation’. Back then too we heard talk of truth, reconciliation and what not. There are of course differences.    The previous regime created conditions to enable such talk simply by defeating the LTTE. 

Portfolios: Privilege subject over number

There’s talk in political circles that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent. This can mean many things. If it means that those proven to be incompetent are replaced by those likely to do a better job, it would be a good move. If it means that people with competence in particular fields will get subjects relevant to expertise, it’s good. If it’s about shifting the incompetent and corrupt to different spheres of authority it is not g

Woodman, Spare That Tree - EDITORIAL

Yesterday, March 21 was the International Forest Day with the theme being ‘Forests and Energy’. At a time of potentially catastrophic....

FORGETTING THE PAST: A WARNING

On March 24th, human rights activists and victims’ groups worldwide will commemorate International Day for the Dignity of Victims, in honour...

Father of the Nation who did not bow down to external and internal pressures

As we commemorate the 65th death anniversary of Don Stephen Senanayake, the nation is facing a Constitutional crisis. The 1948 Constitution....