Free-fall of the nation Where is the alternative to ruinous Gotabaya regime?

There is a great deal of ruin in a nation, Adam Smith once said - meaning that the modern states are innately strong enough to withstand a good deal of external and internal pressure. It takes serious and serial bungling by the policymakers to break a nation. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has shown how a country could be ruined on a fast track. Consider these n

Without a Plan will Sri Lanka Overcome?

Gotabaya, Ranil and the Frog and Scorpion Fable

Let me rewind back to my boyhood when I first read the fable about the scorpion and frog which I believe is of Russian origin.

Four-day work week: Can Govt. reap what it sows?

This week, Sri Lanka joined a growing list of countries experimenting with the four-day workweek, but for very different reasons.

Sri Lanka’s Al Capone Syndrome threatens human security

Be it Al Capone, Pablo Escobar, El Chapo or any other crime boss, violence in the form of shootings or any other crime that happens with the blessings of drug lords,

Mirihana land reclamation project leaves farmers fuming

At present reclamation activities are underway at an 80-acre paddy land close to Galwala Road in Mirihana and Pita Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya. As a result.....

Is there a solution? Sustainable Fuel Bill for road transport

There is a great mismatch in spending between Sri Lanka’s total imports and fuel imports. According to available data, we have spent 3,269 million.....

Aloka Pooja at Thanthirimale courtesy Wijeya Newspapers

The historical Thantirimale Raja Maha Viharaya, which associates itself with a civilization running back to the period before the

Lessons from the fiasco over the detention of ‘Aeroflot’

As if Sri Lanka did not have enough problems, the government last week let another one crop up and then when a full-blown foreign policy crisis was in the making, staggered to extricate itself. The detentio

A Failed Govt Destroying our Children

In May 2022, over half a million 16-year-old Sri Lankan children sat their Ordinary Level (OL) examination. Passing this exam.....

Common Minimum Programme for Economic Recovery

We are in the throes of an unprecedented crisis. No useful comparisons may be drawn from the 2001- 02 period of negative economic.....

Re-visiting the “Sniper” killing of Robert 19 years ago

The armed struggle launched by Tamil militant groups to achieve the objective of a separate Tamil state caused massive loss of life and bloodshed.

Food Security: 4.9 mn currently in need of food assistance - UN Official

UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the looming food crisis and the initiatives by her office to assist the country. She also shares....

Foreign policy-making: Lessons for Lanka from India’s diplomatic crisis with Islamic states

There are foreign policy lessons Sri Lanka could learn in the diplomatic crisis between India and Islamic nations, including the super-rich Gulf countries. At the core.....

Wounded protesters push for justice through blood, sweat and pain

Today (June 9) marks two months since the Galle Face protest began and a month since peaceful protesters in front of Temple Trees and at the Galle Face Green were attacked.

Shining example for the present generation

Iranganie Serasinghe (nee Meedeniya) who celebrates her 95th birthday on Thursday the ninth of June is, culturally speaking, a many faceted phenomenon representing the values of a culture and a country so far removed from what it is today, as to be almost unrecognisable.

“Foreign digital operators take millions of dollars out of the country every year”

The Digital Chapter of the Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) urged the government to treat local and foreign digital service providers equally, highlighting the need for fairplay for local companies.

Local textile trade chokes due to Chinese imports

The textile industry is among the oldest industries in Sri Lanka; hence its prominent place. The textile industry was given birth when.....

‘Don’t tax my period’

In a partial triumph for activists demanding menstrual equity -the easy availability and accessibility of menstrual hygiene products- last week......

Drug shortage: Whose fault is it?

National Medicines Regulatory Authority does not directly buy medicines, says Dr Ananda Wijewickrama

PROS AND CONS OF LIFTING BAN ON OIL PALM CULTIVATION Experts differ over environmental issues

On June 2, the Palm Oil Industry Association of Sri Lanka (POIASL) appealed to the government to allow the cultivation of oil palm to boost the economy, save forex and increase employment. But the Sri Lankan scientific community may oppose it as it did in a report in 2018. The POIASL told the gov

Govt. used Sinhala-Buddhist shield to its maximum benefit Ven. Galkande Dhammananda Thera

Ven. Galkande Dhammananda Thera who currently heads the Walpola Rahula Institute for Buddhist Studies has been addressing issues related to social justice and harmony while promoting an inclusive and plural society. Having gathered a wealth of experience during the height of war for instance and having encountered various incidents d

“Que Sera Sera”: Doris Day’s Song of Cheerful Fatalism

The first part of my article on Ranil’s return was published in the “Daily Mirror”of May 21st 2022. In that I made a brief reference to the song “Que Sera Sera” sung by the American singer com actress Doris Day. This was in the context of speculation about Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political future. This is what I wrote then – “However as Doris Day sang in ‘The man who knew too much’ movie- “Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be.”

Battled with life, double battle against desperate economic crisis

Desperate times require desperate measures... it is with heavy heart that I am making this request on behalf of Akshu as I know that all of you are struggling to obtain fuel staying in long....

We had no option but to choose Ranil - Dr. Wijeydasa Rajapakshe

The recent appointment of a new Prime Minister and a new Cabinet has drawn mixed reactions. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Cabinet have been accused of attempting.....

Tough lessons

On a rainy night on May 24, 18-year-old Rizam comes home from an exhausting day of work. He had been assigned for the day to help out in getting a stock count of the goods at the local supermarket he works at. After dinner, he retreats to his room to catch up on the online A/L revision class he had missed for the day. His friend had sent him the recording.

Is the 21st A another political farce?

On April 21 Sri Lanka’s Main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) presented the draft 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill.....

Cracking minds

As Sri Lanka is going through a growing economic crisis, losing jobs, changes in income, lack of essentials, and difficulties in affording.....

Unpopular opinion: Gota pushed the failing economy down the precipice Perhaps someone had to break it to fix it

Some Parliamentarians are calling for the appointment of a commission of inquiry to hold those responsible for the current economic crisis. The worst-ever economic crisis since independence has already created cascading effects of looming hunger, shortage

Adulteration of fuel Fuel stations rule the roost in the absence of quality checks

However instead of the Government being involved, crude oil was imported from Russia at a higher price with a private company being involved. According to Palitha the price of this fuel wa