Rs. 2 million jacket and USD 5000 housing allowance; Is this Yahapalanaya? - EDITORIAl

Over the past 40 years, the gap between the poor and the rich has grown to monstrous or mountainous levels with the social.....

The abortive Banda-Chelva pact of 1957

The  “Good Governance” Government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe  has embarked upon a historic exercise to enact a new Constitution for Sri Lanka. 

Concocting lies before the Iraq war

President Barack Obama has observed, “ISIL [Islamic State] is a direct outgrowth of Al Qaeda in Iraq that grew

Let’s start celebrating books again today - EDITORIAL

In this era when we are tempted to go overboard, misuse or abuse television and digital technology’s marvels 

Lack of inclusiveness: Dinesh, Sampanthan in the same boat

One would agree with Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader Dinesh Gunawardane, who criticised R. Sampanthan for taking up only Tamil issues during his engagements with other politicians and the public instead of discussing national issues as the Opposition Leader of the country. 

Global challenges and local realities

We are faced with three unprecedented challenges in the contemporary world. While the first is the seemingly intractable, violent conflict between two almost irreconcilable world views, the second is human induced climate change.

There is no poem as lovely as a tree

Stressed and straining in what may be the hottest weeks in recorded history, Sri Lanka joins the international community today in marking World Earth Day with some countries having special events during the whole week.

Gallop, Boom Nuwara Eliya Races opens gate for a host of economic benefits to country

It seems almost poetically fitting that horse racing-which plays such an integral role in England, from being the second largest spectator sport there with Royal Ascot and Cheltenham Festival-has a rich history with our own ‘Little England’ with John Baker’s introduction of the sport.

European Union kneels before Turkey’s Sultan

What has happened to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan? It appears he has lost his balance and is epitomizing the time-tested political maxim that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  

The Government’s coherence deficit

The defeat of the United National Front at the April 2004 Parliamentary Election can be attributed to the

Party fissures and May Day woes

The government earlier decided to allocate one million rupees for each Grama Seva Division to carry out minor 

Buddha on excessive taxes, and good governance

Today is Bak full moon; It marks Buddha’s second visit to the island for settling a dispute between two Naga kings 

Buddha’s second visit to Lanka

Gautama Buddha visited Lanka for the second occasion five years after the Enlightenment and four years

Give us channels of peace, unity and justice

History has shown that time-tested checks and balances are essential for the evolution of democracy. At

VAT: Now what after the President’s vow

It is ironical if not cynical that immediately after May Day; it may be like the may day may day distress signal for millions of workers and the common people. According to a finance ministry announcement, the cost of living is likely to soar with the value added tax on goods and services including utilities being raised to 15%. In addition to various items, essential or non-essential, the 15% VAT will also be imposed on some utility bills. 

The energy landscape is changing with new technology

As witnessed during the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, Sri Lanka has pledged to move towards a fossil free path in development. Contrarily, Sri Lanka is currently focusing on establishing the second coal power plant in Sampur, Trincomalee; a natural harbour and a strategic location rich in marine bio diversity. In an era when many developed countries are resorting to be investing in renewable energy, Energy and Environment Specialist Vidhura Rala

A Matter of Trust and Confidence

In the transition from the populist authoritarian recent past to government conducted with governance, public trust and confidence in institutions and processes of government is pivotal.  That trust and confidence is what provides the oxygen for the transition and the reform it entails  - a diminution of it constituting a warning sign of displeasure and disquiet and therefore one to be taken seriously. At the same time, an increase unde

Realizing a people centred relocation policy

In the wake of development and natural disasters, the country has witnessed many relocation projects which are most often involuntary. Speaking to.....

The two main classes of Lanka: politicians and people

In our society, a large majority of citizens have suffered endless hardships, discrimination, injustice, neglect and even ill-treatment. If perverseness....

Dealing with instigators of racial discord

I appreciate and endorse Dr Ranga Kalanasooriya’s views in his March 1, 2016 column in the Daily Mirror reiterating the need to seek....

GMOA’s anti-India ‘Malaria’ xenophobia: Disgusting

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) spokesperson wound up the year on the Sinhala calendar in an ugly....

Daunting tasks for new Police Chief - EDITORIAL

The 34th Inspector General of Police (IGP) is to be sworn in before President Maithripala Sirisena soon. The people in Sri Lanka were...

Was she named, Sirima or Sirimavo?

This remarkable yearning or passion for things close to her sentiments, she abundantly demonstrated later in her political life as.....

Possessive Individualism: All about ‘me, me and me’

A visiting preacher in church the other day in his sermon, mentioned the above as a sign of our times. In the Oxford dictionary,  ‘Possessive’ means....

Rice fortification: Do not sow the wind - EDITORIAL

In the afterglow of the National New Year celebrations where Kiribath and   rice-based sweet meats were delicious short-eats, we need to....

Realigning State Sector

The State sector is undergoing several changes, as the Government attempts to streamline processes in State services and provide better benefits for its employees.....

Stop the Bridge over Palk Strait before it’s too late

Tamil Nadu appears determined to annex Sri Lanka. This news is certainly not the most auspicious note on which to commence our New Year. The Indian.....

SDIG Pujith Jayasundara If I were...

The 33rd Inspector General of Police retired on Monday, leaving space for the appointment of the next most suitable officer as his successor....

Dudley Senanayake: the gentleman Politician

Bradman Weerakoon who served as official Secretary when Dudley was Prime Minister, says this of him in the Preface to the book “Dudley Senanayake....

The story of a weeping island…Sri Lanka’s lamentable limp towards progress

The roads look narrower than they really are. It’s the optics. Not that they have shrunk in their measure; the traffic has....