A Case for Best Legal Brains - Editorial

A picture on Yesterday’s Daily Mirror front page where a police officer was saluting the controversial UPFA parliamentarian Duminda Silva at his residence and the picture’s table head ‘Can you Believe it’ raised grave questions with regard to public confidence in the independence of the police force and the  judiciary.

Eliminating the scourge of Thuggery

Vasudeva Nannayakkara was, for many years, known and looked upon as a ‘paper revolutionary’  who was ever willing to join in any ‘verbal’ attack on a Government in power.

Ranil the unlucky Opposition Leader

T. S. Eliot wrote his celebrated poem ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’ in 1917, thirty two years before Ranil Wickremesinghe was born. Therefore, it’s hardly correct to assume that Eliot based his Prufrock poem on Ranil.

BASL Probe: Judges reluctant to comment - Editorial

Comprising about 11,000 lawyers, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) recently held a special meeting of its Executive Committee, the Bar Council to decide what action to take regarding the mass transfer of District Judges and Magistrates. 

Boston marathon bombing evokes memories of Jeyaraj Fernandopulle 

Explosions at the iconic Boston Marathon Event in the US have sent shock waves causing the Western media to focus intensively on the global phenomenon described as terrorism.

Nationalism is a dangerous thing

Former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, would never have agreed with her French counterpart, the late President Francois Mitterand, who said “Nationalism is war.”

Powerful uproar over the shocking Power Crisis - Editorial

Amid cross-currents and disconnections, deception and damn lies, controversies contradictions and allegations of wide-spread corruption, the Rajapaksa regime appears to be determined to go ahead with its shocking increase in electricity rates.

Robert P. Senanayake - The Rock Behind His Brother

There has been little written about Robert, the late D.S. Senanayake’s younger son, who stood firmly like a rock behind...

Editorial : The tariff foundling and its energy policy parents

Tariffs are parentless babies and the fact is emphasised when they grow up.  The Minister of Power and Energy, Pavitra...

From Russia without love: Putin wins the bloody Boston Marathon

From Boston to Beslan, the search for motive for the marathon blasts widens. Yet, there is no clear-cut answer as to why two...

A POLITICIAN OF GREAT SKILL

It is not often that a person not amongst us hits the headlines but that is what happened last week when the twentieth death anniversary of assassinated former Trade and National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali was commemorated on Tuesday.

Road accidents, deaths and regulations

The recent shocking revelation that 627 persons were killed due to fatal accidents in the first three months of this year has opened up the debate on whether Sri Lankan roads are able to sustain rapid development and a heavy load of vehicular traffic.

Social contours of the COST OF LIVING CRISIS

The cost of living crisis in Sri Lanka is a real one. It is also serious. Otherwise a majority of the people would not be complaining about it on a daily basis.

Priority mix up or deliberate mess-up? - Editorial

Did we Sri Lankans ask for an airport in Mattala and a port in Hambantota? Wonder whether even the people in Hambantota did. Did we ask for a budget airline which is not more than a vanity project? Do we need Deyata Kirula every year? Definitely not! Do we need 1000 CC Ducatis?

Beyond aid strings

The US secretary of state has taken some names and quoted figures as he spoke his heart on Syria.

Indian Foreign Policy: Geneva Vote And Beyond

The debate about the ‘emergence’ or ‘re-emergence’ of India as an important player at the world stage goes on the one hand. On the other, the Indian state is confronted with a major challenge, as regions (provinces) are asserting their rights and able to influence the foreign policy discourse.

electricity rate GOVT. bowing to IMF DEMAND

Nobody expected this unbelievable increase in electricity charges. Hence there were protests everywhere including in clubs and associations limited to the industrialists and traders. However the tariff increases are friendly to the class separation indicating the departure from the social welfare ideology.

Bibile Policy at last: Thank you Mr. President - Editorial

Millions of people are suffering from the unbearably high cost of healthcare— including highly expensive drugs under  a variety of brand names and often non-essential tests and unregulated charges at private hospitals.

A Vision valid for all Seasons

I recall as a Member of Parliament, visiting India on their 50th Anniversary of Independence. On our request, the Indian government gave us an opportunity to meet with the Head of the National Planning Commission.

Increase in electricity rates and plight of senior citizens

The increase in electricity costs is the latest to hit the public, especially the lower and middle class who are desperately attempting to live in an economically sustainable environment.

5 - STARS? NOT QUITE…!

Phillip, my friend from England visits Sri Lanka very regularly whilst also travelling to various other worldwide holiday destinations. Phillip’s link to our island stretches back to the time when he was born in Ceylon (as it was then known),

Mattala Airport: some plain facts - Editorial

An airport has been built right in the heart of a bird and wildlife sanctuary. One fails to understand how permission was given to facilitate such a project. To build an international airport, approval has to be obtained from the International Civil Aviation Organisation based in Geneva.

At very decisive moments, India has turned their back on us: ANURA DISSANAYAKE

JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka spoke to the Daily Mirror on a range of topics including the reports of a leadership change in the JVP, the Northern Provincial Council Elections and means of managing ties with India.

Mass graves: The pattern must stop if we are to call ourselves civilised

As we know, there are two established methods of reading – on the lines and between the lines. The latter method is often useful when it comes to reading official reports and statements, as well as the bulk of contemporary Sri Lankan journalism.

THE FORGOTTEN LESSON IN GOOD GOVERNANCE: EMBRACING A CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER

In post-war Sri Lanka, a reprioritising of the national agenda, a change in attitude to state structures and innovating new approaches to embrace forgotten stakeholders remain critical for social change

Editorial - Time to book Facebook hate-mongers

Following a groundbreaking decision by an outbound tourist service provider to call for explanation from an employee, who is alleged to have used a Facebook account to post material of a nature that can generate religious hatred......

Editorial - Electricity hikes

In the afterglow of the National New Year or the festival of the sun the country was plunged into darkness with a shocking blackout blow to millions of people who were officially informed that their electricity bills would soar by about 60 per cent.

Development as Freedom: need for a ‘People-Centered’ approach

Internationally, much debate and discussion has taken place on the concept of ‘development as freedom’, as espoused by noble laureate Amartya Sen. But seldom has the Sri Lankan academia applied or adopted it to the local context. Has post-war Sri Lanka got anything to learn from it

Public services demanding more and better for less

For decades, the woeful performance of Sri Lankan public service was subject to fiery debate. Even Senior Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama commented a few months back that the quality of the public service has not increased in line with the increase in the number of public servants.

Game over for Musharraf?

Pakistan has oscillated between military rule and democracy throughout its sixty-six year history. Military strongmen have come amidst public apathy and gone unceremoniously after capitulating to public pressure, or abruptly, if you consider General Zia ul-Haq’s mysterious death. In every case.....