Coal Tenders: Blackening everything it touches

“One million tonnes into 10 USD into 150 rupees, is the loss we, as taxpayers have to bear” said Maithri Gunaratne, the Past Chairman of...

Good bye International Community; Welcome President Trump - EDITORIAL

The speech by the new US President Donald Trump after his inauguration on Friday has been met with mixed reactions – those for him.....

Magical Charisma of Kandy-Born Actor-Politico M.G. Ramachandran (MGR)

January 17, 2017 was declared a holiday in the Southern Tamil Nadu State of India. This was to acknowledge and celebrate the....

Evaluating Obama’s foreign policy

With President Barack Obama leaving office, will the world be better or worse than eight years ago? Taking the big...

Conserving water, one drop at a time - EDITORIAL

With Sri Lanka facing one of its worst ever droughts, largely due to climate change consequences, the national government...

Executive Presidency: Forty years of deception ET TU?

The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) headed by President Maithripala Sirisena had last week decided to continue with the Executive Presidential system of governance in future and nominate President Sirisena, the very person who promised to abolish that very system during the last Presidential Election as its candidate at the next Presidential Election.

A nationally accepted fraud and middle class ‘poverty’

Grade 1 schools admissions and Royal College were featured on 12 January in a DM Online news report based on what Education Minister Kariyawasam briefed the media on Thursday of the previous week. 

GSP Plus: Don’t add to the minus points

While the top level Sri Lankan delegation is working out economic and foreign investment agreements with business tycoons at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, critics are pointing out various discrepancies in the processes.   

Enter Trump: Hope it’s not darkness at noon

In a few hours, the United States will have a new president and it is becoming more than clear that the world order will be chaotic from today, though, driven by the spring of optimism in human breasts, we may inclined to say “give him a chance.”

Trump and Global Politics

Donald Trump who challenged the US establishment and the existing global trends recorded a surprise win at the Presidential election over incumbent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seen as the favourite of the establishment and the international media. Trump campaigned on a populist, 

So you want to take out ‘Buddhism’?

The ‘enlightened’ people entrusted with the grave task of recommending changes to the constitution have sought to turn Sri Lanka into an official secular state. Although the Final Report of the 

Some are more equal than others

Former Minister and National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa was remanded on charges of misusing State vehicles causing a Rs.90-million loss to the State. Reports said he had been allowed to get his food and a mattress from home. These facilities for the former revolutionary JVP front-liner are an extension of similar facilities recently awarded to almost all VIPs in remand custody and those convicted and jailed.  

The US and AID: Sri Lanka’s dangerous liaison

Responding to my column of January 7,  2017 titled ‘US role in Sri Lanka’s institutional reform process – Assistance or Espionage?’ the Secretary General of Parliament wrote a Letter to the Editor regarding the agreement signed by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in Washington  DC in September. It said: “The said agreement does not relate to the SDGAP launched by USAID with DAI as its implementing partner.”&nb

“they are the political traitors, not we” -Malik

Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrema in a recent interview with the Sunday Lankadeepa disclosed his views about the Ruhunu Development Zone, the Development Special Provision Bill and other matters:

WHO HOLDS POWER ON ELECTION DAY IS THE LOSER ?

Caption is a query raised without consulting an astrologer or a suggestion from a wild buffalo. Voters expect too much in return from a country that is near broke. Politicians make offers beyond their means to gain power.

A dividing society; a divided self

Not only is the government increasingly divided, I am too. It was almost the end of 2016 and at the society wedding of the year attended by the incumbent President, the Prime Minister and two former Presidents

Four brothers to Maithri-Ranil Combo: The jury is still out

The defection of Maithripala Sirisena from the ranks of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has only one parallel in history.

Religions meant to build bridges, not walls

Worldwide, people this week are celebrating World Religions Day. It is the 67th annual event dedicated to spiritual unity and interfaith dialogue which are vital to find a lasting solution to major crises we are faced with including world poverty alleviation, the battle against climate change and a commitment to non-violence or a peaceful resolution of conflicts without resorting to war.   

Major steps towards a just society - EDITORIAL

The World Economic Forum starting today at Davos in Switzerland will be an important event where Sri Lanka could work out...

That perennial debate on the executive presidency!

Few institutions in this country are as vilified as the executive presidency. The SLFP has been campaigning to abolish it since....

THE SYSTEM STRIKES BACK - EDITORIAL

On November 8, 2016, Donald Trump won the US presidential elections. The unthinkable had happened and the....

Climate change: Prof. Senevi Epitawatte points out preparedness of Sri Lanka is Absolute Zero

Leading academic on climatology Prof. Senevi Epitawatte, in an interview with the Daily Mirror, speaks about the....

Evaluating Barack Hussein Obama

President Barack Obama steps down at the age of 55. He will probably live, given his healthy lifestyle, until he’s more than 90. So what on earth is he going to do for the next 40 years? Run for King of England? He would probably win, 

Is there a tie, or a snake?

President Maithripala Sirisena has a penchant for getting worked up over things most of us take for granted. This time, it was a tie. Having spotted a Divisional Secretary wearing a tie at a Pirith ceremony in Polonnaruwa, he was moved to ask if a tie was necessary for the occasion (‘mama ehuwa Pirith nisa tie eka oneda kiyala’).   

Let’s all celebrate this festival of Mother Nature

The first ever national reconciliation and integration week comes to a significant climax today with the celebration of Thaipongal, the most important festival for the Hindu community.   

Where is democracy in Sri Lanka heading to?

It is now time that we discuss some key factors relating to democracy, given that the name of our country is the ‘Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.’ But, unfortunately, ours is still far from being a true democratic state. 

All the problems with this government

What had happened to the 2016 development activities with all the funds allocated? Why does this government repeat same for 2017 as well? 

Foreign judges: Sri Lanka’s dilemma

The question remains as to how Sri Lanka is going to justify its rejection of foreign participation in the accountability process after co-sponsoring the UNHRC resolution   

Sri Lanka welcomes investment

At the outset, I would like to thank the China Daily for the opportunity given to me to provide our views with regard to the Hambantota Port and the proposed Industrial Zone in the same district in Sri lanka. My responses to your questions are as follows:   

Party supporters wanted me to quit the government

Amidst a volatile political atmosphere, United Peoples Freedom Alliance Parliamentarian, former State Minister of Provincial Council and Local Government Priyankara Jayarathna ....