Ukraine: Stop double dealings, work out diplomatic solution

Let the Ukrainian crisis oscillate between war and peace; just rewind time or take a journey backward in the time machine. One may lose count of how many times powerful nations have violated the sovereignty of other nations. In this journey, one will see big-time rogue nations plundering the resources of the third.....

Iran nuclear negotiations almost in the bag

It was the Americans, back in the time of the deposed Shah, who encouraged Iran to develop a nuclear bomb-making capacity. Now it is the Americans, along with the Europeans, who are desperately trying to undo their folly.

Cock and bull talk about meat - Editorial

While the Government is to import 20,000 milch cows from Australia at a staggering cost of about Rs. 9.6 billion in foreign exchange to revive the dairy milk industry, a leading Deputy Minister shocked the country this week when he made a strong speech defending the slaughter of cattle and other animals.

I will never back down in challenging this regime

In a recent interview, Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka who heads the Democratic Party spoke to Daily Mirror about the present political situation in the country, his party’s plan to win the upcoming Provincial Council elections and expressed his views about the UNHRC session taking place in Geneva.

Politics is making Sri Lanka go round and round Campaign woes Geneva butterflies chugging to Pall

As the day of polling nears, contestants from several parties in the fray are in a race against time in campaigning to bag as many preferential votes as possible. Preferential votes, as observed at many other elections under the Proportional Representation (PR) system, have been the central cause for violations of ....

‘Astute Hakeem will survive to tell the tale’

Most politicians revel in making news and being a hot topic of discussion, but Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem would not have relished the publicity he earned a few days ago when it was revealed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa berated him at last week’s Cabinet meeting.

Health Minister vows war against drug mafia - Editorial

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena charged on Tuesday that a drug mafia including some trans-national pharmaceutical corporations, pharmacy owners, even some medical specialists and officials of the Health Ministry were thwarting the efforts by the Health Ministry to make it mandatory to prescribe and sell.....

The long wait for a tobacco-free Lanka

Based on the above  famous inspirational quote by the Most Ven. Madihe Pannasiha Thera, civil society activist Olcott Gunasekara is currently rendering a yeoman service to the country, to wipe out the tobacco and alcohol menace from society.

Teenagers are vulnerable

Following the suicide of a teen from Kurunegala few weeks ago, several other suicides and suicide attempts of teens were reported from various parts of the country.

IT’S TIME TO STOP DELUDING OURSELVES

It really is time the leadership of this country stopped deluding itself as well as the people as to what awaits us in March this year when we will once again face the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

‘Implement all LLRC recommendations before it’s too late’

The general opinion in the Western world today is that the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime has failed to comply with two successive United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) resolutions. The failure to address accountability issues on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the....

Why do couples have children?

Every little thing in nature has a reason. There is a reason behind the rain, reason behind the sunshine and a reason behind every amazing thing around us. You could therefore see the prudence of creation and understand how in nature itself, we could find marvellous patterns of interdependence.

Editorial-Elections: An informed choice or political circus?

After the abrogation of the 17th Amendment with its provisions for the setting up of an Independent Elections Commission and the enactment of the 18th Amendment, there has been much criticism regarding the manner in which elections are conducted.

‘JVP is the only alternate political force the people have’ - Nalin Hewage...

As the rage of the battle for the upcoming Provincial elections is increasing, the burden is particularly heavy on team leaders of the political parties. Dailymirror interviewed Galle District JVP Team Leader Nalin Hewage to find out his winning strategy for the party.

I will respond to Muzammil after PC polls: Ravi Karunanayake

UNP Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake told Daily Mirror that he would respond to all the allegations levelled  at him recently by Colombo Mayor A.J.M Muzammil, when the provincial council elections are over.

Is 13th Amendment INDIGENOUS?

The political analysts in Sri Lanka advance a theory that our 1978 Constitution has homegrown roots from our own soil and not imported from any other country. Some of them are so proud to claim that the entire fabric of the Constitution is adumbrated with the principle of constitutional autochthony.

Paying lip service against narcotics - Editorial

The main Opposition United National Party (UNP) seems to have chosen the narcotics issue as its campaign theme for the western and southern provincial council elections. One of the popular statements of the UNP leaders on the election platform has been that it is hard for one to find a packet of milk powder in the market...

UNHrc Report and GoSL Response

Date of appointment of the Military Court of Inquiry is changed in the Edited Version in para 23 taking into consideration the observation of the GoSL response in para 47 Unedited Version- Para 23 In the Unedited Version para 23 refers to the date of appointment of CoI as 2nd September 2013:

I am a strong UNPer, will fight to see UNP back in power - -Muzammil

The Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), A.J.M. Muzammil made politically controversial statements soon after the refusal of his wife Feroza Muzammil’s nomination as a candidate for the Western Provincial Council elections.

UNHrc Report and GoSL Response

The words “demobilization and disarmament” contained in the Unedited Version are not found in the Edited Version, apparently due to the objection raised in the GoSL response.

CHARLES HENRY DE SOYSA - PHILANTHROPHIST AND VISIONARY

The legend of the late Charles Henry de Soysa, will never die or fade away; as is apparent as we approach the 3rd of March each year, which is his birth anniversary. There are millions, who have benefitted from his largesse, in the fields he chose so well with a vision which was far ahead of his time.

Increasing Imports of Motor Vehicles and the Callous Disregard for Public Welfare

Colombo metropolitan region and the larger towns countrywide are flooded with all sorts of motor vehicles today. On the one hand, the SUVs and other luxury vehicles are taking the rich and the powerful around. On the other, thousands of motor bikes try to sneak through heavy traffic, often whole families riding on them.

Cricketing nightmares through the crystal ball - Editorial

A few interesting developments in world cricket during the past week could send a chill down the spines of many in a cricket-mad country. Cricket is the only sport in which Sri Lanka can be termed world class and it is no mystery why it has become an essential part in the lives of the islanders.

Proposals to enhance the benefits of road sector development in Sri Lanka

As all are aware, huge investments have been made and further investments have already been planned to improve the highways of Sri Lanka. In the past, travelling from my home in Kandy to.......

Dilemma in disciplining students in sri Lankan schools

Anyone involved in the education of children or teenagers understands that sound disciplinary measures and consistent application is instrumental in the development of young minds.....

Relationship between Development and Religion

For many decades now, the concept of development has been a goal sought after by countries around the globe. Though this concept strives to improve human welfare, quality of life......

Editorial - Now, poisonous food, tomorrow poisonous water

On Thursday President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared opened a huge overhead water tank at Kolonnawa to distribute water to the people in surrounding areas including Kolonnawa, Rajagiriya and Angoda.

Ukraine: Who holds the reins?

Democracy is politically victimised, especially when it poses a danger to the interests of big powers. In recent years many a government that has come to power through democratic elections has been overthrown by people’s power -- a process that appears to be legitimate, but....

Making History Colombo Art Biennale 2014 a review

To Colombo Art Biennale 2014 (CAB 2014) was controversial, with a cultural ‘cold war’ brewing from the start. The main exhibition was housed at a university which produces artists (in painting, sculpture, pottery) but attendance by students was abysmally low.

The Mascots tour their former ‘homeland’ Ex-planters of the Maskeliya/Upcot District revive fading

The Mascots visit to their former “home” – the plantation district of Maskeliya/Upcot – on the 22nd and 23rd February 2014 was a resounding success. After “morning muster” at Lanka Commodity Brokers in Rajagiriya, a group of 42 members and their wives departed on this historic journey.