Tamil Question: No heroes, no traitors…

In pursuit of a solution to Sri Lanka’s nagging problem, the Tamil Question, most of our leaders chose to ignore the obvious and dug deep into the respective distorted histories of the two ethnic 

The best & worst of a Government

‘Siri-o-Cracy’ is a genial term for a laundered version of Yahapalanaya, more off than on. Reached the outer border of popularity with the naming of three Special Presidential Commissioners to hear the inquiry into the Bond issue of the Central Bank [Customized as the ‘Central-gate’] where the media [Especially the ‘deep –throats’ from FT/ Sirisa) can take a deep bow with their courageous proprietors to t

“We will be the decisive force at the next Presidential Election” – Champika

Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka who completes his 10th year today as a Cabinet minister under two different governments says he has achieved a lot for the country. He says he is committed to protect the current government. Excerpts of the interview:    

NUGEGODA 2015 TO NUGEGODA 2017

Watching the live telecast of the parliamentary debate on the bond scam, the predominant impression I was left with was that the PM has a crisis of legitimacy; the bond scam has blown a hole below the watermark of his incumbency. The SLFP and JVP speakers went for the jugular during the debate and there was blood in the water.   

Statue of Liberty collapsing into a Trump hole

Whatever may be the agendas, excesses or domineering power of the United States, its democracy with checks and balances works powerfully as we see in the aftermath of newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump’s apparently cruel and merciless order banning entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries. 

Ranjan’s rumblings and alleged illegal excavation in Divulapitiya: Stop the rhetoric

Our politicians take to politics to become rich overnight. Having joined politics, they disregard their primary responsibilities towards the....

Towards a just, harmonious and sustainable social order

It is common knowledge that today we are not living in a contented, just and conflict-free world. Globalisation and related processes....

MR’s opportune return

Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa will no longer be hiding behind his couriers of the joint opposition (JO). Last week, he emerged...

Twists and turns of the elusive delimitation report - EDITORIAL

The process of demarcating the boundaries of wards of Local Government bodies has turned out to be a ridiculous exercise with the....

National Question and grievances faced by a minority

In a recent article in the Daily mirror of January 5, 2017, titled “Let’s make Sampanthan’s New Year wish come true, the...

SEXUAL HARASSMENT; NO EXCUSE IS GOOD EXCUSE -

A research conducted by Britain’s Trade Union Congress (TUC) reveals that more than half the women say they have....

Overseas LTTE-backed plot to assassinate TNA MP Sumanthiran in Jaffna revealed

“Nallavan” (not his real name) is a Tamil youth living in a Northern village. He was a former member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization who had surrendered to the armed forces in May 2009. He was incarcerated for a period of time and released after undergoing a process of rehabilitation.

Putin meets Trump

The great flaw in ex-president Barack Obama’s record was his policy towards Russia. Going against everything he had said and written about before he became president, one action after another antagonised the Russians

Let peace begin in our schools

With a major education reforms policy, described by some as an education revolution, being presented to President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday, we could also reflect on the principles of the January 30 International School Day of Non-Violence and Peace (DENIP in Catalan).

Ragging continues to torment undergraduates

Ragging is officially prohibited in universities and is a punishable offence under the Ragging Act (Prohibition of Ragging and other forms of violence in educational institutions Act,

Trump-Netanyahu: A political nuclear explosion

The much feared Middle Eastern Armageddon appears closer than ever, with a maverick property tycoon as President of the United States and a rightwing hardliner as prime minister of Israel coming together.  The combination could be like a nuclear explosion.

Bring all responsible to book

With the National government moving into its third and vital year, President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday announced that appointment of a wide powered Special Presidential Commission (SPC) to probe the Central Bank’s alleged bond scams during the past two years and also the bigger CB bond scams that are alleged to have taken place since 2007.

Hanging in balance

Differences between the two main partners of the so-called yahapalanaya national government seem to have come to the surface to such an extent that leaders of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party 

Yahapalana democracy: not for workers

‘Global Park workers on strike over haphazard termination’  read the headline to a news report that appeared on DM Online edition of 16 January, 2017. It said that 66 workers had been “suddenly removed” from employment. 

The war within

The way for a new Constitution has literally become rutted, rugged and rickety because the two main parties harbour stark differences even on some salient points such as executive presidency, the unitary character and power devolution.   The United National Party (UNP), as the main party in the government, seeks the abolition of executive presidency whereas the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) led by President Maithripala Sirisena is to retain

NGO touch- me- nots

Peruse the websites, vision-mission statements and objectives in project proposals of NGOs and the majority will read like a Sunday School Sermon. It’s all good stuff. Lovely words. Beautiful intentions. You would be forgiven for thinking that the people who run these outfits are saints.   

Let us build a human economy

As political and business leaders met at Davos in Switzerland last week for the annual world economic forum, the international social justice movement Oxfam shook the world with a report showing how the gap between the rich and the poor has widened to obscene proportions.   

Govt. will go on till 2020

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, in an interview with Dailymirror , says that the unity government was productive for the country. He said it would serve its full term despite any odds. The excerpts of the interview: 

“Resignation is not the need of the hour”

Jathika Hela Urumaya Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera,recently announced that he would function as an independent MP

The depth of human greed

Three weeks ago the world rang out the year 2016 and amid New Year’s eve dances, parties, and an explosion of fireworks and crackers heralded in 2017. Even in Sri Lanka the large numbers of people young, old and middle aged partied as the New Year dawned. It was, as the song goes, a time to dance and a time to sing.  

GSP Plus and Gay Rights When the homophobes have a field day

Last week, State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene bragged at a media conference that the Cabinet had rejected a proposal to decriminalize homosexuality. Then, two youthful Parliamentarians from the ruling UNP rushed in to reassure that “Sri Lanka’s 2500-year-old Buddhist culture was non-negotiable for whatever, even to regain GSP Plus.”

President assures help to needy villages - EDITORIAL

President Maithripala Sirisena told a public meeting in Nuwara Eliya about an incident he encountered on his way to the event, that....

Recommendations in sub-committee reports pose threats to Buddhism

Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thera, the Lekhakadhikari (Chief Secretary) of the Asgiriya Chapter, speaks about the....

Towards a Just, Harmonious and Sustainable Social Order

It is common knowledge that today we are not living in a contented, just and conflict free world. Globalization and related processes....

A classic case of ‘Muttiya Demeema’ – Precedence by Ex Presidents on Presidency

A wide spectrum representing civil and political society – politicians, religious dignitaries, academics, artists, professionals, media persons, trade....