This was brute force; takE action against Police now - EDITORIAL

During the previous regime, the Police to a large extent lost their independence and many people saw Police Stations as branch offices of the ruling party if not torture houses.

‘Mother Courage and her children’

 While watching Ranjith Wijenayake’s production of Mother Courage and Her Children at the Punchi Theatre last Wednesday, you could easily visualise a cloud-based stage of epic proportions gliding down gently to cover a yawning abyss

We could have averted international meddling by Keeping our word

Many UNP leaders argue that it was former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who paved the way...

‘Envelope Money’ plays truant in Filipino journalism

In three weeks from now, November 23rd to be precise, the Philippines will commemorate...

Paradise Kashmir cries out for justice

Why is the crisis in Kashmir not on the BBC, CNN, al-Jazeera or other international...

EDITORIAL - Build our cities to live in harmony

With a make-or-break world climate change summit scheduled for December, the United Nations...

Kotakethana: A village of mysteries

Murders became an uncertain encounter in the lives of the women folk living in Kotakethana, a remote village in the Ratnapura district, ever since July 2008. The years that followed were quite dark and many women were victims of brutal murders.

LG polls: UNP distraught over ward demarcation, in predicament to foster party unity

The local authorities’ election, tipped to be conducted in March next year, would hold political relevance to the two main parties in repositioning themselves and charting their future political course. Currently, both the United National Party (UNP) 

Eight compelling reasons for resisting implementation of the Geneva resolution

Surveying the events of the last ten days, it seems to me that the need of the hour is to penetrate the fog of misinformation and fantasy with regard to the consequences of the Geneva Resolution and to make a realistic appraisal of the situation.

Reconciliation and Challenges of Resettlement

On October 30, 1990 the entire Muslim population of close to 75,000 people living in the North were evicted by the LTTE. It is now 25 years since the Muslim community fled the North fearing for their lives and leaving behind their homes, livelihoods and histories. 

The law is the same for all

In our editorial last Thursday, the  appealed to the government to take urgent and effective measures to restore public confidence in the Rule of Law using even novel, creative and imaginative ways available through the marvels of modern technology

We cannot just be bystanders

Change: A word that has reverberated around society since the beginning of this year. Not many were sure what exactly this “change” encompassed nor what exactly was supposed..

Is it That easy to forget?

It is strange for those of us who were appalled and helpless, at the total breakdown of law and order during the previous regime, to read the utter drivel issued in press statements by a son of a former VVIP. 

The Logic of Accountability

“Now, all the duties of rulers are contained in this one sentence, the safety of the people is the supreme law.”- Thomas Hobbes (‘Man and Citizen’) Who should be “accountable” and primarily to whom, ...

Should an honest police officer salute a corrupt PS member?

Of ‘policing’ since 1780 influenced by its development by the London Metropolitan Police—with only a year remaining for the 150th anniversary of the Force constituted in 1866:now complete with a Police Commission in 2015.

The heart-rending tale of an Unfortunate young Royalist

The ill-fated mishap which drove young Sasanka Jagath Alwis, a vibrant student of Royal College to a permanent vegetative state with lasting brain injuries is perhaps a mere memory dating back to two years in many a mind. 

Blair’s questionable apology - EDITORIAL

In an interesting interview to the US TV network CNN, Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister has apologized for his role in the Iraqi war and has admitted he could be partly to blame for the rise of the Islamic State terror group. 

Vap Poya Reflections: Can only males attain Buddhahood? -A Thai experience

Thai Theravada scholars Dr. Mettanando Bhikkhu and Ajahn  Sujato believe the “Garudhammas”,  the eight rules that restrict, rather constraint  Buddhist nuns [Bikkhunis], including the rule that is.....

Role of Postgraduate Research in an Efficiency-Driven Economy

The following are excerpts from the keynote address delivered by Minister of Justice and Minister of Buddha Sasana Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, President’s Counsel, at the Faculty.....

Facing the Development Challenge

There cannot be any doubt about the fact that the  development challenge facing Sri Lanka  today is enormous. Any serious economist knows that the macro-economic fundamentals of the.....

Police Force An obstacle to reform

In the past, respective governments appointed different commissions to look into -- a crisis in the policing system in 1945; even worse problems in 1970; graver problems owing to severe......

Allegations and probes - EDITORIAL

It is taken as a fact that Lakshman Kadirgamar -- Foreign Minister from 1994 to 2005 with a three-year break in-between -- was Sri Lanka’s best diplomat who played a major role in getting the LTTE.....

The big and the powerful get their way

The war against the LTTE ended several years ago when the armed forces of Sri Lanka crushed the Tigers that ran wild and free for almost thirty years. It was a great relief for all Sri Lankans.....

“The Country Has Become a Laboratory for Local Governments” - Karunarathna Paranawithana

The Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Karunarathna Paranawithana in an interview with the  said that the Ministry was keen on introducing a community governance......

If Britain can cozy up to China, why can’t Sri Lanka?

Last week saw a curious event of pomp and funfair-and political realism-that highlighted how far the States would go to maximize their benefits, even at the expense of their allies. Britain......

Platform to seek Int’l support to achieve National objectives

This Government has placed Economic Development as its main platform and we need to seek the support of the world to achieve this objective. The new Government, I presume.....

Police stations not torture houses - EDITORIAL

The National Government says it is giving top priority to human rights issues in the wake of the 2015  Geneva resolution and also on the basis of its conviction that all people—the rich and the.....

Gamini of Kotmale: A MAN IN A HURRY

In every generation, it is given to but a handful of politicians to become creatures of legend. When posterity judges, it judges harshly, sans any of the ‘accountability’ we so yearn to see in politicians themselves. 

UNITED WE STAND - EDITORIAL

In what was perhaps one of the greatest acts of unity since independence, the leaders of 21 political parties on Wednesday had a friendly two hour dialogue with President Maithripala Sirisena to work out a consensus on the Geneva resolution. 

Recalling ‘Black October’ LTTE expulsion of Muslims from the North was ethnic cleansing

A quarter of a century has elapsed since the atrocious eviction of Muslims from the Northern...