Like a beauty Queen dying of cancer - Editorial

Like a Miss World dying of cancer or the proverbial emperor without clothes, Sri Lanka is projecting a beautiful image mainly to promote its pet project of tourism.

Ven. Madihe Pannaseeha TherA An ambassador of unity

Valiant soldiers united the territory of Sri Lanka in May 2009. Now Sri Lanka is at a crossroads, trying to...

Editorial : Making sure Pandora’s Box is tightly shut

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has come up with an invaluable database...

Rouhani faces politics of nuclear economics

Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president-elect is neither a reformist nor a moderate. He is a pragmatist. He has two...

executive presidency is the bane of our country

Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, President’s Counsel, spoke to Daily Mirror on the executive presidency, earlier attempts to abolish it, proposals made by the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) led by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha...

a ‘litmus test’ of rulers’ governing principles

The arrest and interdiction of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Western Province (North), Vaas Gunewardena came as a surprise to many. The offences he has been charged with are even more shocking and lead to an erosion in the confidence and integrity of the police force.

Recovering the ‘unitary’ character of the state - Editorial

The 13th Amendment has its champions. It also has detractors who point out its illegality, Indian hegemonic moves on Sri Lanka, irrelevance to the matters it sought to address, for pandering to expansionist communal myth-making and for ‘not being enough’.  

Tariff hike that dupes the masses CEB

On May 21 the opposition political parties and trade unions organised a joint protest against the electricity tariff hike claiming that it was unfair and a major blow on the majority poor. The government tried its best to control trade union action. However, according to media reports the first electricity bill received

Balance of forces lie against - anti-devolution elements

Mahinda is conducting a difficult battle for anti-devolution because he has already made a commitment both locally and internationally to implement the 13th Amendment and to go even beyond it while also giving an assurance to implement the LLRC recommendations.

Editorial - At last a political goon is brought to his knees

The shocking news of the ruling UPFA’s North-Western Provincial Council member forcing a female teacher to kneel before him and her students has set off crisis in the education sector, and is being seen as another sign that the rule of law is breaking down totally.

Amending the 13th Amendment Yet another broken promise

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has repeatedly pointed out the consistent and continuing failure of the Sri Lankan government to fulfill its promises to the people of Sri Lanka. The proposed amendment to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution – currently the only concession to any form of devolution in Sri Lanka

LAW MUST BE EQUAL FOR ONE AND ALL

The following is an excerpt from the speech delivered by Upul Jayasuriya, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka at the ceremonial sitting to welcome the newly appointed Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Malini Gunaratne

'Viroda Vipakshaya', General Fonseka and Early Presidential Stakes

The political opposition in Sri Lanka seems freshly energised if recent events are anything to go by. The UNP has formed some form of a broader opposition coalition through the “Viroda Vipakshaya” and released a draft constitution as a discussion document for public and civil society debate

Editorial - Independent Judiciary is the people’s last resort

Speaking at the ceremonial sitting held to welcome the newly-appointed Court of Appeal Judge, Malini Gunaratna last Friday, the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Upul Jayasuirya urged an end to the practice of offering privileged positions to judges after retirement.

FROM POST-WAR TO POST-CONFLICT Reconciliation is pivotal

At the outset, I want to make what I consider is an important distinction in terms of the situation we are in.  The distinction is between a post–war situation and a post-conflict one.  Whilst we are in a post-war situation- the guns having fallen silent following the military defeat of the LTTE

Edward Snowden, the newest whistle blower

Edward Snowden, a young, well-paid part-timer working for the American NSA (National Surveillance Agency), could have led a comfortable life doing what he was doing – but he chose to become a whistle blower. After telling Britain’s The Guardian newspaper that the Obama administration was engaged.....

Social and economic cost of brain drain

Labour markets have become increasingly global in recent decades, largely due to the influence of economic globalisation. This has happened in spite of the fact that the national governments have not been too liberal in dealing with cross border migration of people.

Editorial - The glitter is not in the gold

With moral values in Sri Lanka degenerating - and the divorce rate reported to be soaring at more than 60% despite the pontification and puritanical platitudes of politicians – we need to deeply reflect on turning around to a simple and humble lifestyle or Alpechchathavaya as we know it in Sanskrit.

ANANDASANGAREE DEMOCRATIC TAMIL LEADER WHO DEFIED THE TIGERS

Veteran Tamil Politician Veerasingham Anandasangaree reaches the age of eighty today (June 15th). Sangaree as he is generally known was born on June 15th. 1933 in Point Pedro.

Blue print to usher in a new establishment on the table Taking back sovereignty lost

Sri Lanka´s first constitution, introduced in 1947 when the country was called Ceylon, came in two parts; the Ceylon Independence Act of 1947 and the Orders in Council of 1946 and 1947 - known collectively as the...

The Forthcoming Anarchy Diluting the 13th Amendment

In 1987 India and Sri Lanka signed a treaty titled ‘Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement to Establish Peace and Normalcy in Sri Lanka.’ Popularly known as the Indo-Lanka Agreement or Peace....

Vital pillars of democracy crumbling - Editorial

In one of the most shocking disclosures of the conduct and character of a senior police officer, the CID told courts on Thursday that DIG Vaas Gunawardena who has been remanded on charges of abducting and killing a businessman, had....

UP AND UP IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

Never in the history of mankind have the living conditions and prospects of so many...

No bridge but political goons over troubled waters

With a presidential committee probing the worst ever tragedy in Sri Lanka’s fishing industry, and ministries...

SNOWDEN EXPOSES ORWELL’S BIG BROTHER

“When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to...

After the storm that shook Balapitiya

Fishing families of Balapitiya – the most affected area by the gale that resulted in 30 fishermens deaths hold the Fisheries authorities and the ruthless boat-owners responsible for the tragedy, which they feel...

WHOSE BLUNDER KILLED THEM ALL

Who is responsible for the 53 fishermen who died and the 16 who went missing as a result of the recent thunder showers? The Meteorological Department...

SL needs a constitution of modern democratic principles

United National Party (UNP) MP for the Kandy district Lakshman Kiriella in an interview with Daily Mirror’s Kelum Bandara pointed out that a Constitution which upholds the sovereignty of the

Ekneligoda mystery pops up ‘third disappearance’

The Prageeth Ekneligoda saga was given a new lease of life last week when ruling United People's Freedom Alliance parliamentarian Arundika Fernando told Parliament that the missing journalist was living in France.

Colombo Uni VC appointment politicised or ethical?

Controversy has surrounded the university system once again following the appointment of the new Colombo University Vice Chancellor Dr. Lakshman Hirimburegama last month.