“Nominations must not be about bringing in a bagful of votes”

The recent news reports about children as young as six years being raped sent shock waves around the country. However what was more disturbing was that politicians who have given promise after promise to...

Editorial - Urgent need to abolish executive presidency

With Sri Lanka facing a multitude of crises including the effects of the prolonged drought, fraud and corruption are also increasing with one shocking report disclosing that last year alone,

Role of the media is not to protect govt: German Ambassador Ploetner

The German Ambassador to Sri Lanka Jens Ploetner spoke to the Daily Mirror on the LLRC, the reconciliation process and winning peace.

A to Z of tragedy

The Supreme Court ruling on the Z-score and its repercussions created a number of controversies in the country for the past two weeks. Concerns were raised about the Z-scores issued for students who sat for the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination...

Editorial - Overnight Buddhas and instant Bodhi Satvas

Attaining Buddhahood or Arahathood is not a work of a day.  Unfortunately, here in Sri Lanka, the mushrooming of Bodhi Satvas has gone out of control. There is no village in the map that has not bred at least one such extra-ordinary creature.

If Implementation is the answer, What is the question?

In Sri Lanka’s post-war context, two national mechanisms have been put in place. First, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report released at the end of 2011 calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka , among others, to work towards a political solution that is favourable and acceptable to all sides and communities concerned. The home grown mechanism,

Multi ethnic based healing for Sri Lanka

The country has experience of three uprisings led by Youth since 1971.It led to loss of human lives irrespective of race. Healing from its impact is necessary to prevent future relapses. Any inability to respect the dead and grieve can remain a potent rallying cause for dissent. Families must deal with their losses privately.

Youth responsible for future political landscape

The Chairman of the United National Party’s Young Professionals’ Organisation Harshana Rajakaruna speaks to the Daily Mirror on the objectives of the Organisation and the duty of professional young men and women to contribute to the political future of the country

Reading the rains

This year, not only did the monsoon reach India a few days late but its progress thereafter has been alarmingly lackadaisical. While Assam has been deluged and is reeling from the resulting floods, over 85 per cent of the country is suffering from far too little rain.

Editorial: Neck deep in debt, Lanka faces worst drought

Despite all the boasting and high growth rates projected by the government’s economic pundits, Sri Lanka’s foreign debt in 2011 had soared to 24.8 billion dollars compared to 9 billion dollars in 2000 while debt servicing last year amounted to as much as 12.1 per cent.

Provincial Elections: A Perspective

The provincial elections--the ones scheduled to be held as well as the one that isn’t—are the subject of political comment. Three are to be held ahead of schedule, resulting in a dual criticism.

READING RESULTS AT STAGGERED ELECTIONS

The staggered premature provincial council elections are to test the pulse of the people with a purpose not  necessarily to present the people with another democratic opportunity to exercise their franchise.

A dud deal in Geneva

THE tentative agreement hammered out in Geneva on Saturday by the action group for Syria might appear to have satisfied Russia, but in the absence of any commitment on its part to exclude President Bashar Al Assad...

Editorial - No blind backing

India’s National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon during his visit to Colombo has made it crystal clear that there wouldn’t be blind backing by India at Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka’s human rights record

THE GRIM REAPER LOOMS OVER TEA ESTATES

The plantation industry still exerts a great influence on the country’s economy. It has for a long time. And, being a food, drink and ‘natural products’ industry, it can, and should have a long and steady run. Today, after the many see-sawing changes that took place in the past, estates managed by companies on lease agreements are state owned.

Reviving pre-Geneva spirit in India ties

“Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) once again underlined the great importance we attach in India to the ability of the Tamil people to lead a life of dignity and as equal citizens of that country,”

One-way-ticket to Doom

Man has for far too long remained extremely complacent. He has been recklessly foolhardy and foolishly arrogant little realizing what is in store for him. He has unleashed all the rage in the frenzied greed and avarice to hoard power,

‘Obamacare’ wins

The endorsement by the United States Supreme Court of a key provision in President Barack Obama’s health reform law requiring most individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty, is a progressive decision.

A parched earth

The Summer of 2012 is turning out to be one of the worst in living memory for millions of people in the northern hemisphere, as a devastating drought ravages across thousands of hectares of farmland from the Korean peninsula in the east...

Editorial - Mr. Greig’s call for action

Addressing the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture last week, former England cricket captain Tony Greig urged Indian cricket officials to act in the best interests of the game and give responsible leadership,

From Welikada to Vavuniya: Tale of Thamilini’s transfer

Subramaniam Sivakamy  alias Thamilini was transferred from the Colombo Remand Prison(CRP) in Welikada to the  Protective Accommodation and Rehabilitation Centre(PARC)at Poonthottam in Vavuniya on June 26th.

Two Dimensions of the National Question

There have been two clearly discernible dimensions to the ‘national question’ in Sri Lanka in modern times. The first dimension of the national question signified or still signifies the independence from colonialism and after independence (1948)..........

Spending time creatively with the family - Editorial

Most parents struggle and do what it takes to have children become achievers in the world. From excelling in the academic field to sports and other extracurricular activities, our attention focuses on these areas. If these are not monitored, controlled and limited, the result could be a burnout.

What’s in a name? A life

No excuses, no nitpicking. The entire media got the ‘Sarabjit to be released’ story wrong — including The Hindu, in its early editions before we stopped press at midnight to make the correction.

Syrian conflict sliding towards global catastrophe

Syria is not a friend of Israel. Officially, the two countries are at war with a 1973 ceasefire contributing to the absence of conflict. While the ceasefire was on, Israel in 1981, in a blatant violation...

Doing justice by our progeny, a crying need

The dismal depths the educational establishment has fallen in to in present day context leave a great deal to be desired. This is the harsh reality. The cases of disgraced heads of leading...

Immigration blues

IMMIGRATION IS one of the most sensitive subjects in America, but in an election year it can prove to be the most divisive as well. Monday’s split ruling by the Supreme Court in the contentious...

Editorial - Religious unity vital for lasting peace

Racial discrimination and regular attacks on the Tamil-speaking minorities led to the formation of one of the most ruthless terrorist movements in the world and a bloody thirty-year war in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed,

The movers and shakers of policy and protocol

Foreign policy and international relations is as much about actors, personalities and relationships as it is about substantive policy and protocol.

Foster care for a child

In every province in Sri Lanka, children, abandoned, handed over by parent (s) or sent by Courts are found in State sponsored or registered but privately  run homes for children. They range from the age of 3-18.