Reason and Unreason in Sri Lankan Politics

Addressing a major national public policy forum in Colombo prior to the parliamentary elections, President Maithripala Sirisena emphasized the need for formulating and implementing rational, evidence-based national policies in all sectors in order to address critical issues in the country.

Come September: It’s now or never - EDITORIAL

?As we usher in a new month tomorrow, it will be a special September with a fully-fledged National Government for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history -- hopefully laying the foundation for a new political culture and a homegrown democracy. 

Another promise-making season is over

At last, the racket–albeit a muted one in the run up to the general election was over with the winner taking a little less than half the spoils. 

A platform for young enthusiasts

The quest to recognise the Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Sri Lanka has commenced, providing a platform for the youth to showcase expertise in their respective fields.

From Jan 8 to Aug 17 and after

The Mahinda Movement hoped for, believed in and fought determinedly for a victory at the August 17th election, but beneath the rousing nationalist romanticism there was always a tougher-minded realization that what was...

Scholar pays dearly to protect treasures

The murder of renowned Syrian antiquities scholar and archaeologist Khaled al-Assad by ISIS  has shocked the international archaeological community, but there is little or nothing anyone can do right now to stop...

Praise from BritishMPs for New Sri Lanka Government

News of Ranil Wickremesinghe securing a 4th Term as Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister has been greeted with enthusiasm and expectation in Britain’s ruling Conservative Party which has historically enjoyed a close relationship with the UNP.

Crisis of turning human beings into unpeople - EDITORIAL

H?uman trafficking and human slavery compounded by long-drawn wars, violence and persecution mainly in Iraq and Syria have set off the biggest refugee crisis in world history. On Wednesday two more horrifying events were reported.

‘Poverty is not passivity’

The execution of Rizana Nafeek was an incident that shook the world with horror and grief. The unfortunate incident of an infant passing away while in her care was the cause of her death.

Can we ever rely on official data?

It was sometime in mid last year I was having dinner with a former World Bank senior official...

Controversy over national list nominations

Nomination of Members of Parliament from the National List after the August 17 Parliamentary...

Diplomatic victory: Lanka can now close Geneva file

A major correction in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy after January 8 has brought unexpected...

EDITORIAL : Virginia horror lessons for Sri Lanka

For the first time on Planet Earth, a real life double murder was seen live on television...

Accident or otherwise? It leaked diesel on election day

At around 6 a.m. on elections day the operations officer at the Ambatale water treatment...

MS works out a National Unity Government

President Maitripala Sirisena cited countering challenges in the international arena, the resolution of the political question and the introduction of a new constitution as the main reasons warranting a national unity government between the two main parties

Colombo’s water supply crisis overshadowed by elections

An important and highly sensitive matter that impacted on the lives of millions of people living in and visiting Colombo was ignored by the people and the media in their post-election euphoria last week. 

UNHRC process needs open minded approach

On February 16 this year, at the request of the top United Nations rights official, the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council agreed to temporarily hold off its consideration of a long-awaited report into alleged rights violations during the conflict in Sri Lanka for six months, until September 2015.

Dhyan Abeyagoonasekera’s ‘Enter the owl and the pussycat’

Dhyan Abeygoonasekara’s previous books have been about planting. To be fair, he has published a novel, too (The of Tom Toms). “Enter the Owl & the Pussycat” is proof that his heart lies with words, not trees

Battling mega corruption

One of the main slogans of the ‘Yahapalana’ Government that was established after Presidential Elections on January 8 under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe

Ray Award 2015

The Ray Wijewardene Charitable Trust (RWCT) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Inventor’s Commission (SLIC) presented the ‘The Ray’ Award for Innovation for the second time on August 24, 2015.

Reading between the results the Sri Lankan way

A vote for the blue betel leaf has since undergone a colour variation: blight seems to affect a part of the leaf, at least.After 20 years of rule and misrule of one alliance there is still no comfortable majority for another to form a government.

The iron fist inside a velvet glove

“1789 is an historic date but it is not an historic example”. The French Revolution, violent to its fingertips, began with the highest motives,

Statement issued by Lakshman Kiriella on Daily Mirror Editorial - Tuesday Aug 25

In a context where a newly-elected government is still in the stage of formation and our international friends are observing its daily developments,

Well played Sanga, but you still have miles to go - EDITORIAL

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.

“MR’s comeback affected us” - K.D. Lal Kantha

Former Janatha Vimukti Peramuna (JVP) Provincial Councillor K.D. Lal Kantha in an interview with the Daily Mirror said the party could not achieve the expected results at the General elections as it was......

Oh My Lord What a Morning!

This title of Marian Anderson’s autobiography seems appropriate to describe the feelings of elation and joy we had on the morning after the night before, which was election night. The.....

Connect to the world

Since President Maithripala Sirisena assumed office on January 9 Sri Lanka was able to renew new diplomatic relationships with such important nations as well as the UN and.....

Nisha Biswal can help or make things worse - EDITORIAL

The importance of Assistant Secretary of the USA for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal’s visit to Sri Lanka cannot be over-emphasised. Firstly, this is her second post-election visit.....

President should emulate the PM

They say if you don’t vote, you get the government you deserve, and if you do, you never get the results you expected. We spoke with , prelates, civil society members, political analysts and NGOs singing in chorus against;“Bring back, Oh bring”

The curious case of ‘Manapa’ votes

Our choices for elected representatives are always a matter of curiosity. What qualities and credentials are we looking in them? A safe guess would be that we didn’t want them.....