Titbits of humour that emerged during CHOGM

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was successfully concluded recently.  Benefits of the summit meeting are now being discussed throughout the country.

Budget hype sounds shallow, sir!

The budget of his government was read by President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself for the ninth time. The day before the budget reading all media competing with one another asked the public what they expected from the budget.

A special sector of our society Enabling the Disabled through

It is not a shortcoming to be born as a person with restricted abilities. ‘The Enable the Disabled,’ organisation which recently performed the ‘Dirijaya Prathiba’ concert has organised a special interactive workshop titled ‘Dare to Dream- Make a difference for........

Mrs. Khairun-Nisa Riyal A teacher beyond compare who loved and cared for children

It was a gloomy Thursday morning when Rismi Riyal, a distinguished past student of Gampola Zahira College called me and conveyed the sad news of his mothers’s death early that morning.

Opening of 25th ‘Little Library’ project assisted by CUP

The children of Siddhartha Children’s Society, Thalwita, Seeradunna, Kurunegala were able to start a ‘Little Library’ on their own with the support of the Children’s Upliftment Programme (CUP) on November 9, 2013.

You are right, but be prepared! - Editorial

One of the upshots of the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was the renewed international concern over the human rights situation in Sri Lanka which had irritated the Sri Lankan leaders.

Universal Values, National Interest and Good Governance

Conflict is as much a part of human condition as cooperation. This is true at an interpersonal level as well as at a societal level. At times, conflicts come to the surface and are played out in the open, but most of the time, they remain underneath the surface.

Budget devalued, prices soar by the gazette - Editorial

The Daily Mirror in one of its Editorials last week said the Budget had lost a lot of its news value because in the past few years it has been largely a case of “Budget by gazette”.

Editorial - The truth and torture of commissions and omissions

This country has known commissions.  There have been commissions of inquiry and commissions of the taking kind, kick-backs in other words.  There have been omissions too of various kinds.

Geneva talks: Future of Middle East at stake

In realpolitik, there are no permanent enemies or friends but only permanent interests. The Middle East is witnessing a silent shuffle or a realignment of alliances.

Should the UN go into battle?

This year the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of troops to the eastern Congo, armed with tanks and helicopter gun ships to defeat the one remaining dissident militia in the Congo.

BUDGET PROPOSALS-2014 GROWTH TARGET 8%WITH DEFICIT DOWN TO 5.2% OF gdp

President Mahinda Rajapaksa delivered his 9th Budget Speech-for the Fiscal year 2014, in parliament yesterday afternoon.  Amidst the boycott of the session by the main opposition parties the

Identifying the real enemy beyond the Diaspora

 CHOGM 2013-a perfectly organised event, came to a successful conclusion albeit overshadowed by focus on alleged human rights violations by the host nation. Prince Charles- representing the Queen, the head of CHOGM- chose to be a friend who has visited this country more than once, like his royal mother and father.

Save the Children: Their name is Tomorrow

A day after the budget, with ruling politicians who appear to care little and do less for millions of people in the country, the people themselves need to reflect on the vital factors which have to be restored to bring about a just and fair society with sustainable development and lasting peace.

Kurshid’s valid concerns and Cameron’s bee in his bonnet

Political events over the last few days were dominant with the news that came from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Sri Lanka. Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Kurshid had been busy dealing with multiple concerns related to bilateral issues in a very diplomatic way.

Country's economy is beyond restitution- Ravi Karunanayake

The United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Ravi Karunananayake, speaks to Daily Mirror expressing his views on the upcoming budget discussions in the aftermath of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the current political and economical situation of the country.

SL will not change foreign policy due to threats: GL

Professor G.L Peiris the Minister of External Affairs, in a brief interview spoke to the Daily Mirror about the outcomes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).  Following are excerpts of the interview.

The controversial interview Murali bowls at Channel 4

Sri Lankan cricketing legend Muttiah Muralitharan said today that Channel 4 had lost its credibility in his eyes due to airing an edited clip of an interview which distorted the context he spoke in.

Are we doing enough for our children from the budget?

Children are our future. They are the budding young leaders of tomorrow. Therefore it is imperative to protect and ensure the wellbeing of children. One action that can clearly demonstrate the extent of a government’s commitment towards fulfilling the rights of children is its allocation of financial resources for the benefit of children.

‘Sri Lanka has found a new friend in Tony Abbott’

Amidst the strong international criticism that came Sri Lanka’s way during the recently concluded Commonwealth summit, there emerged one leader of a developed country that supported Sri Lanka to the hilt: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Waking to reality after CHOGM - Editorial

In the afterglow or aftermath of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)—whatever way in which different analysts may chose to look at it—the Rajapaksa regime’s eighth budget will be presented in Parliament today.

Cameron bungling his foreign policy

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting  (CHOGM) which ended on Sunday without a hitch was a remarkable feat for Sri Lanka considering the massive forces of the Tamil diaspora and International NGOs doing their damnedest to sabotage the event, nationally and internationally.

No business for countries to intervene in others’ affairs: PM Lee

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says countries cannot force reconciliation on Sri Lanka, nor is it their business to intervene in another country’s affairs. Mr Lee was speaking to Singapore media at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo.

Those who supported the war now demand war crimes inquiry

The British Prime Minister, speaking at the summit of Commonwealth nations over the weekend, repeated demands for an independent war crimes inquiry and set the deadline for March, before pressing for an international probe under UN auspices.

Taming Macrae - Editorial

Despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa being a PR maestro, a fact that was vividly displayed to the entire world when he invited a journalist of the Channel 4 of Britain for a cup of tea as the....

PC System the best political mechanism to solve national question Were the northern people's sentim

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda remains disillusioned about the electoral defeat at the Northern Provincial Council Poll on September 21.

Divide and Rule: Season Two - Editorial

There are a lot of things that David Cameron has not done.  He is dragging his feet on the Chilcot Report.  He has not thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for making it possible to visit Jaffna by ridding the peninsula and indeed the entire country of the terrorist threat.

India’s Intelligence ‘JAGALBATH’

In the previous article, reference was made to several instances in which the US directly intervened militarily in many third world countries after laying the ground-work for legitimising such interventions, often using false and fictitious intelligence reports and allegations.

Sri Lanka has moved on, so should India

There are some extraordinary implications of the two resolutions passed unanimously by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on India’s participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting being held in Colombo this week.

Winners and losers of the CHOGM fiesta

The CHOGM carnival is over. It commenced with a bang but ended in a murmur. What is left is to hold the postmortem. According to the series of events that occurred all we have to say is “It’s no use crying over spilt summits.”