Transforming ourselves into a cohesive Sri Lanka

Under the leadership of His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, the foundation was laid for a strong public service to guarantee the rights of all Sri Lankans. 

Ensuring TNA Participation at the PSC

The political dialogue between the Sri Lankan Government  and the Tamil National Alliance(TNA)that progressed in fits and starts has  reached a state of  impasse for several months.

Long-term detainees in Sl

According to a news item appearing in a daily newspaper on May 08 European Parliament Delegation for Relations with countries in South Asia .....

The wise course after Victory Day

Victory Day will be celebrated in a big way again today with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces presiding at a spectacular military show to honour the war heroes who were killed or injured in the battle against terrorism.

The Greeks say no

Angry Greek voters punished both their main political parties in the general election on May 6, but all subsequent attempts to form a government have failed, and another election is to be held on June 17.

Syria: A bloody hell of a mess as uncertainty looms

Two car bombs in Damascus last week, a rebellion in some parts of the country, a UN ceasefire observer team coming under fire from unknown quarters and a victory for the ruling Baath party in elections combine to send confusing signals as to what is going on in Syria.

Taking women’s rights seriously

A shadow report submitted by CHA and IHR to Geneva for the UPR due in November has listed several areas of concern and interventions. Empowerment of women and women’s rights and gender equality at national level through the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Empowerment as well as other national mechanisms are its' concerns.

Editorial: Am I my brother’s keeper

The country celebrates tomorrow the third anniversary of the military defeat of the LTTE. Yet, what should touch the heart of our nation and probably of people elsewhere, is that the rehabilitation processes is taking place. More than 600 former LTTE cadres were brought to the city during the Vesak season, as part of a larger tour of the country.

The euro crash-line

How long will it take to write euro’s obituary? This is one of the prime concern doing rounds in Europe, as Greece falters on forming a new government and seems to be on a velvet divorce with euro.

Politicisation of everything

The Ministry of Education a sorry target of attacks is faced against never ending battalion of criticisms. This time it is about a circular preventing the students who pass the O’ Level Examination from changing to a National School for the Advanced Level  if they are already studying in a National School.

Editorial : Between fluttering flags and real peace

All wars that end in victory may provide a platform for peace. Yet the victory alone cannot replace the harmony expected by a war-torn citizenry, whose staple food was gnawing sense of uncertainty.

ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY, ANOTHER ARENA: GENEVA MAY 2009

In several senses, the battle at the Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on May 26-27th, 2009, was inextricably linked to our military victory on the ground on May 18-19th.

LLRC Report for Good Governance

Democracy is practically non-existent in a political autocracy in whatever democratic name it may choose to call itself and no autocracy has been benevolent to the people.

Imperative national need to implement the Supreme Court Order on ‘Accessibility’

On 27th April last year, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka paved the way, for a formidable and sustainable national economy and an enhanced human rights image – two imperative needs to take Sri Lanka to the next higher level.

“Silence Kills Democracy but a Free Press Talks”

The world today is experiencing some truly historic times. Not since the early 1990s where the fall of Communism ushered in democratic ideals around the world has there been so much profound change in the...

Abortion: A call for calm

This week tensions have once again stirred around the government’s proposed relaxation of abortion laws. Abortion is of course a controversial and emotive subject. In the west,

Controversy over Gota’s book

A controversy has arisen on the title of a new book to be launched on Monday, which attempts to credit Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, major credit for defeat of the Tamil Tigers in May 2009.

Editorial : Austerity package must begin at the top

With the European Union and the United States still crumbling in their worst-ever financial crisis which signals the collapse of crony capitalism and corporate greed, France’s newly-elected President Francois Hollande,

Parents at their worst

Somebody rather erudite once said that where children are concerned the difference between being careful and careless is about a split second.

For a people’s Parliament

As the Indian Parliament completes 60 years, it is time not for noisy celebration but for serious introspection. That India remained a parliamentary democracy while some of its South Asian neighbours went through military coups or violent upheavals can only be a small consolation to its people. Stability is of no great value in itself. After 60 years,

Fresh bid to secure pardon for Rizana

My attention has been drawn to a news report, in your esteemed paper of 10th May 2012.  I have analysed and explained the exact Shariah position on this case in my letter of 2nd July 2011.

(UN)FRIENDLY FIRE

An axiom of professional journalism is that comment is free but facts are sacred. Another is that a story must have balance, in that facts must be checked by getting in touch with all sides to the story, notably the main protagonists.

How honourable are the ’Honourable’ few

The recent episode of disgraceful behaviour by a few members of Parliament made me wonder why these villains of the peace are referred to as ‘Honourable’ members.

Fundamentals for our foreign policy

 Small countries have little power to alter the region, let alone the world and must seek a maximum number of friends, while maintaining the freedom to be itself as a sovereign and independent nation.

Another murder in Kabul

Another targeted killing in Kabul has exposed the obvious. There are elements at work that do not want to see political stability restored, and moreover, a just order come into being after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

Editorial - Malnutrition the child of poverty

The revered Professor Senaka Bibile was known worldwide as the inventor of the national medicinal drug policy based on the essential medicines concept. For almost seven years the government has been   promising to introduce legislation for the implementation of this policy through which quality drugs could be made available at affordable prices.

Demilitarisation and demobilisation

Two episodes in twice as many days, yet no one is talking much about it. Suicides by two soldiers in separate incidents...

The Politics of Motherhood

Yes, the original intention of this column was to be vaguely political, resist authority and create a safe space for expression...

Honouring our Mothers on Mother’s Day

My mother was a remarkable woman. A great entrepreneur, and an excellent wife to my father, who was a She understood that each one of us must live a productive life and contribute to society, and she insisted that we go to school, work hard and do our very best.

No fly, why?

Where does security end and absurdity begin? It is very difficult to quantify one from the other. The offloading of a...