The fine art of economic diplomacy - EDITORIAL

President Maithripala Sirisena apparently having learnt  the fine art of economic diplomacy or diplomatic economics, returned to Sri Lanka yesterday with a planeload of economic and trade agreements with....

DB Wijetunga: From“Deaf and Blind” Premier to “Dearly Beloved” President

The Birth Centenary of Sri Lanka’s third executive President Dingiri Banda (DB) Wijetunga was celebrated  last week. DB  Wijetunga was born  during British rule on February 15, 1916. He passed away on September 21, 2008 at the age of 92. DBW as he was popularly known served as President from May 1, 1993 to November 12, 1994. Earlier he held the post of Prime Minister from March 6, 1989 to May 1, 1993. DB Wijetunga was also le

UN Rights Chief’s visit and limits of the US-led resolution’s diktat

While the Human Rights Council’s official position on Sri Lanka may not have changed, UN Rights Chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein’s interactions during his four-day visit to Sri Lanka reflected a certain change in tone and approach. This must mean something, seeing that he is the UN’s key Human Rights official. There seems to have been a shift in attitude which hitherto had been judgemental, making Sri Lanka feel imposed upon.

Wikileaks show how Big-pharma sabotaged Bibile policies - EDITORIAL

In the health sector, corruption could kill people. The Daily Mirror in its editorial on Wednesday highlighted a report by transparency International’s British branch. The report on corruption in the global healthcare and pharmaceutical sector showed the deadly extent to which corruption has spread like a cancer and was posing a danger to millions of people.

Kanhaiya Kumar and Kashmir :Is democracy dying in Modi’s India?

It is becoming increasingly evident that India is not keeping to its credentials as the world’s largest democracy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi turning a blind eye to the bigotry with which his ardent supporters deal with dissent. 

The defeated are not disqualified or unqualified

The validity of the appointment of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to Parliament through the United...

An open letter to my dear Muslim brothers and sisters Buddhist-Muslim relationship could be warmer

Let me begin this letter with a short comparison of two stories that recently happened in two different...

NZ ready to help Sri Lanka Achieve its goals

It takes an incredible amount of grace, ambition and willingness to ask tough questions for a country...

The eviction of reason

They talked of high-handedness.  They spoke of illegality, the violation of human rights and decried ...

Eye-opener on eyesight - EDITORIAL

In the Daily Mirror editorial last Wednesday we highlighted a shocking report by Transparency...

Opposition hell-bent to gEt Government through native deities

The presidential entourage consisted of Strategic Development and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama,

Time for an original US foreign policy

There are three schools of thought in American foreign policy -- two you have heard about and a third that is relegated to the background.

Mission for unpolluted food from next month - EDITORIAL

The government announced yesterday it would launch an accelerated national, natural food production mission from March 6 to give the Sri Lankan people, specially our children, food that is not polluted or poisoned by the use of imported agrochemicals

Leaving Rajapaksas uncurbed will be a colossal blunder

Those who lose at elections don’t seem to realise that they, elections, have consequences. Dulles Alahapperuma, Dinesh Gunawardene, Rohitha Abeygunawardene, Kumara Welgama.

Insulting a Lady who dared to differ

An internationally renowned soprano from Sri Lanka sings the popular devotional song Danno Budunge at Galle Face as part of the independence day celebrations. She gets hooted by the crowd and pilloried by television and electronic websites. A week after this shameful event, none of the better-informed media, or people who should know better, have come to her defence. What exactly is the problem?

Geneva jazz, SLFP blues and Sinhala rage

I had a great time at the Colombo Jazz and Blues Festival and a bad one reading about the Consultational Task Force of NGO types to “enforce” the intrusive, US-driven Geneva resolution under the monitoring of a UN expert.

Corruption in Health Sector puts life at risk - EDITORIAL

With the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) getting back to work after its chairman Prof. Laal Jayakody and Chief Executive Officer Prof. Krishantha Weerasuriya agreed to come back to their posts, it is pertinent to look at some of the details about how  international pharmaceutical networks function, what it does in Sri Lanka and what we as a country need to do to prevent undue influence on our health sector.

‘Flickering Fortunes’

I consider it a great privilege and an honour to make this brief presentation on the occasion of the release of Volume 1 of his reflections by Lakshman Ratnapala, a distinguished alumnus of St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia. I am particularly glad to be able to do so because I had to decline his invitation to write a pre publication review due to time constraints.

What is the current process of the good governance?

A year has passed by since the present government came to power, and so many changes have taken place within then.  The budget was passed,   independent commissions have been formed, and a new financial crimes investigation division (FCID ) has been established    and  new measures have been  taken to take the country towards prosperity and  recognition. 

Mawathagama youth turning out Rockets

When most of the developed countries are making a frantic effort to conquer the space with the use of Rockets, unmanned and with spacecraft carrying Astronauts, a youth from Sri Lanka living in...

A great name in Buddhist history - Col. Henry Steel Olcott

World history finds its greatness and attraction through the services rendered by philanthropists. A person whoever he is, achieves greatness through ideologies borne in his.....

Dark clouds that overshadow two myopathic sisters

Stella Young, the Australian comedian, journalist and disability advocate once said, “The thing about disability is that you adapt, you do what works for you.” Yet at times there are so many difficulties in....

The majority say; ‘Thank you, Yahapalanaya’

The Yahapalanaya government came to power with a promise to apprehend those involved in corruption, thuggery and murder. But later a public outcry developed when no.....

Politicians – Jacks of all Trades?

A few smaller parties in the UPFA,   namely MEP,   NFF,   DLF,   and PHU supported by some other SLFP members who have extended their support to the former President have collectively formed the Common Opposition in....

US way to stop political interference in the Supreme Court - EDITORIAL

A three-day workshop began in Parliament yesterday to educate MPs on the full restoration of parliamentary democracy by making Parliament to be like a virtual government with

Who am I?

Transgender is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity, expression or behaviour is different from those of typically associated with their assigned sex at birth. In many countries....

It’s the national anthem of Sri Lanka for all Lankans - ‘Namo Namo Matha’ is unique

‘Namo Namo Matha’ sung by the people of this country from the time of independence translated into Tamil or any other language deprives it of its status and identity with Sri Lanka....

First Birth Centenary of President D. B. Wijetunge - The Peasant and pleasant President

Sri Lanka’s third Executive President Dingiri Banda Wijetunge, was born in a village near by our last kingdom, on February 15, 1916. As a fitting tribute to this grand politician and.....

Rajapaksa’s HR dirty bomb, ticking, ticking…

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein concluded his four day visit with what was widely seen as a conciliatory note: He conceded that the....

Eco-education and eco-spirituality - EDITORIAL

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, essentially an imported Western concept dedicated to romantic or personal love. This year and in the years to come, we are called upon to.....