THE LESSONS OF HISTORY

2013 marks the 30th anniversary of one of the darkest periods in our history –the days when the state unleashed armed mobs against a section of its own citizenry in a bid to wipe out what it felt was the last source of opposition to its policies.

What difference will this make?

Women’s Rights Activist and Attorney-at-law Nimalka Fernando,who spoke about the case of Rizana, a few days prior to her execution stated that  Rizana’s life was in the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

An unanswered prayer

When I met Rizana Nafeek’s parents in June 2011, they had decided to leave the safe return of their daughter, in the hands of God. A few days later after my meeting with them, rumours of the possible execution of this..........

Shut up and put up!

The impeachment, which will see the replacement of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake by someone more amenable to the state’s interests, has been described as the final nail in the coffin of democracy.

Mervyn’s merry go round machinations

In recent years, Mervyn Silva has been synonymous with controversy. There has hardly been a time when he was not making news. This week, he was the focus of attention again following the killing of Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha member Hasitha Madawala who was assassinated by unknown gunmen.

Paid advertisements and public demonstrations - Editorial

The country’s sovereignty is not the personal property of anyone; nor does it solely belong to the government. The regime, though appointed by an overwhelming majority, is a mere guardian of the people’s power and certainly not the owner, the interpreter and the violator of it.

Quasi-international conspiracies

Even the stalwarts in government ranks predict that if contending parties in the present conflict do not take steps back, that a serious crisis is possible. Obviously they are concerned that a crisis in the state, could lead to a revolutionary situation.

Asia goes xenophobic

Since the end of the 20th century Northeast Asia has emerged as a central force in globalisation of the world.

Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam: A fighter in the forefront

Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam Memorial Lecture will be delivered today (9)  by Sena Wijewardene, former president of UN Appeals Tribunal, at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism, Galle Road, Colombo 3, at 6 pm.

Editorial -Sri Lanka faces its moment of truth

This week will probably be a week of destiny for Sri Lanka when we face the moment of truth and what our leaders and we do or do not do could reshape Sri Lanka’s history.

Banning landmine in Sri Lanka

Soon after three decades of protracted armed conflict between the government security forces of Sri Lanka and Liberation of Tamil Tiger of Elam (LTTE) ended in May 2009, the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) set up the Lesson Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) to look into the root causes of the conflict and its report came out in November 2011.

UN resolutions to counter terrorism

‘Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism: A Role for United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies’ authored by Salma Yusuf and published in the inaugural issue of the Kadirgamar Review launched on 2 January 2013 is a timely and welcome contribution to the on-going debate on Counter-Terrorism Measures and the Protection of Human Rights.

Let peace prevail

News of skirmishes between India and Pakistan near the ?Line of Control at a time when confidence-building measures are being put in place is disheartening for peoples of both the countries.

Religious and racial unity in diversity - Editorial

In this New Year the declared public holidays amount to 25, of which 21 are related to the religions practised in this country. Seven holidays fall either on a Saturday or a Sunday.

Friday Forum on the Divineguma Bill Calls upon Govt. to adhere to SC ruling

The Divineguma Bill now before Parliament provides for the setting up of a new department called the Divineguma Development Department, the main object of which is the administration of a poverty alleviation programme.

PSC and Judicial scrutiny

In 1997, a Committee for the Centre of the Independence of Judges and Lawyers chaired by Lord Goodhart of UK, Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India and Attorney Phineas Mojapelo of South Africa, observed with regard to Standing Order 78A

Fundamental rights and fundamental values

Those who were instrumental in drafting the Sri Lanka constitution currently in force were keen to limit parliament’s powers.  Mr. J R Jayewardene, who as Prime Minister chaired the Parliamentary Select Committee on the draft 1978 constitution, remarked at one of its hearings: 

Editorial - Finishing schools for politicians

When the line between the genuine leaders and imposters becomes blurred; the absence of the former urges the emergence of the latter. One look at the current system of governance one would realize the country’s predicament at the hands of the dearth of statesmen;

PSC did not find CJ guilty Deputy Speaker

Deputy speaker, Attorney- at- Law Chandima Weerakkody speaks to Daily Mirror after the determination of the Supreme Court to the effect that the PSC was unconstitutional.

“ EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER HAS FAILED IN ALL RESPONSIBILITIES UNDERTAKEN”-RAJIVA

Q: Some observers of the Sri Lankan situation opine that a creeping illiberalism is pervading society at large under the Rajapaksa regime. As a liberal and an advocate of liberal democracy, are you not perturbed by the erosion of those very values in Sri Lanka?

Rapping up the rape

It is difficult to express an opinion about what has become to know as the Delhi rape case without offending somebody. The girl, now known as Nirbhaya

Editorial - A state devoid of accountability

Every crime has a perpetrator. Likewise, every wrong doing has a culprit.  And then there are victims, who, in the current Sri Lankan context, are rendered absolutely helpless by the lack of transparency and accountability of the government high heads.

Stopping Iran building a nuclear bomb

There has never been a full-scale war between two nuclear-armed states. If Iran does cross the nuclear threshold the same...

This calamity can turn into a blessing

With crisis within crisis, conflicts within conflicts and contradictions within contradictions in the constitutional...

Daughters of India being raped: Whither Mother India?

The words of Mahatma Gandhi, India’s greatest son, ring true as India, the largest democracy on earth, reels from...

Demise of Greig and the descent of SL cricket

In a week that local cricket fans would rather forget, Australia bullied Sri Lanka into submission within two and a half days in Melbourne in what was a disgraceful performance by our cricketers. Then, renowned commentator and Sri Lankan supporter Tony Greig died.

From Reconciliation to Impeachment: From Citizen to Subject?

As we moved into 2012, the buzz- word was reconciliation and with it the acronym - understood by too few of our fellow citizens- was LLRC.  The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report had been presented to the President who in turn had sent it to Parliament.

A government on a hot tin roof

It is no secret that the whole of Sri Lanka and its people consisting of Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay and other communities are confronted with the worst consequences of a very serious social, economic and political crisis.

What doesn’t make us Indians - Editorial

The gang rape of the Indian medical student pulled hundreds and thousands of angry people to the capital, urging the government to introduce the death penalty for the rapists.

The Rape Capital and Rape Island

New Delhi has been dubbed ‘the rape capital’ of the world, and one would have thought that the latest case to be added to this appalling list would have been greeted with a resigned shrug.