EDITORIAL - Political bribe to hang on to power

On the very day last week when we editorially questioned the rationale for having so many ministries for certain sectors in the country, two more deputy ministers were sworn in by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, bringing the number of deputy ministers to 40......

Pictorial warning: It should be 100%

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian and a Presidents Counsel lawyer, is a vociferous critic of smoking and has been campaigning for 100 percent pictorial warnings on cigarette packets.

Revamping the Education System for Younger Generations

It is true that a asignificant minority of youths in this country make use of the education system to attain their goals in life.

EDITORIAL - Vase does not an altar make

The grave extent of the breakdown in the Rule of Law, administrative and financial regulations and the checks and balances in the Constitution...

Global Challenges of Post-War Sri Lanka

As I chair this session devoted to the global challenges to Sri Lanka as a rising nation, the central thought that strikes me is that,...

Easing up on drugs; toughening up on alcohol

Not that long ago in Britain, the great detective Sherlock Holmes, could quite legally sit by the fire with his pipe and sniff cocaine.

EDITORIAL-Devastation by the dons and drugs

With the detection of many container-loads of heroin being highlighted in recent months,...

Ukraine puzzle Who’s fitting the pieces?

As Ukrainian troops rapidly advance towards the heartland of pro-Moscow rebels, it is becoming clear that Russia is making a rapid retreat from...

“AIM WAS TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN VICTIMISED FAMILIES OF NORTH AND SOUTH”

There are many versions of the events that took place at the meeting held for families...

Editorial : The colossal omissions of Commissions

In the spirit of the 1978 Constitution—which unfortunately today is more like a cheque book...

The Elections Chief grapples with legal lacunas

After the declaration of the Uva Provincial Council election, the legal lacunas, in the present law, have started confronting the Elections Department in...

Beauty therapy at the hands of the unqualified

Nimal Gamage, a previously little known doctor made headlines last week for all the wrong reasons when a botched cosmetic surgery procedure carried...

EDITORIAL - Two Transport Ministries only add to the mess in the sector

Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne was right when he said recently that there was no need for the country...

‘Executive supplants parliament’

The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) leader, Minister Dinesh Gunawardane, in an interview with the,...

Gaveshana Charika: Its pluses and minuses

“Gaveshana Charika” literally means ‘investigative tours’. Taken in the literal sense, these investigative tours undertaken by a group of United National Party (UNP) parliamentarians indeed sound very genuine though it is quite obvious to every man and woman on the street that the tagline is......

EDITORIAL - Bouquets for Mahela as he leaves centerstage

There will be many to praise cricketing legend Mahela Jayawardena’s silky cover drive or the crafty glance as he retired from the test cricket arena with...

‘‘Common Opposition First

The UNP’s National Youth Front Chairman and Leadership Council member Ruwan Wijewardene has said emphasis should be given towards forming a common opposition to topple the corrupt government........

Controversy over singing ‘Sweety Kella’ : Iraj says teachers and students requested to sing the s

It was reported that the Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and a popular singer had to face an embarrassing situation when they visited one of the leading schools with the objective of creating awareness among the students regarding the Carlton......

EDITORIAL - Mahela: Memories are made of these

He promised not to cry but millions of cricket fans including President Mahinda Rajapaksa and some 4,000 spectators were close to tears when one of the world’s greatest Test cricketers Mahela Jayawardena said farewell at his home-base SSC ground in Colombo yesterday.

Premakeerthi’s killers still Alive

July 31st   this year marked the 25th death Anniversary of Premakeerthi de Alwis, talented journalist, broadcaster and song writer.  Since that tragic day, it was widely believed that he was killed by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) during the reign of terror.

Eroding a Constitution

The circular clearly violates the rights of the people under our Constitution, as well as legally binding international treaties ratified by the Sri Lankan State before this government assumed office'

EDITORIAL - Public funds go down DPL drains

The time-tested principles of good governance and the foreign policy-making appear to be crumbling with the Monetary Board virtually playing that important role by signing a Rs. 99 million contract with an American Public Relations......

Is the beauty business skin deep?

While the beauty  industry and cosmetic products have become thriving businesses the world over, cosmetic surgery  has become a major business in Sri Lanka. Despite controversy over their quality and professional standards, resulting in so many  raids on dubious establishments described as........

A strategy for NGOs to work without foreign aid

It is not incorrect to work with foreign assistance if one is doing the right thing. So, we have to fight against any attempts to restrict such assistance. But there are advantages too in working with less or no foreign assistance. What are these? 

NGOs: The middle path solution - EDITORIAL

The Defence Ministry’s Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations last month issued a controversial and internationally criticized order banning NGOs and INGOs from conducting media conferences, workshops or training for journalists and issuing media statements.

In hijacking Islam, whose interest is IS serving?

Islamic State (IS), whose desert juggernaut is sweeping across Iraq and Syria, is neither Islamic nor a state. It is a terror group whose victims are not only the hapless minorities in Iraq but also Muslims and Islam itself.

Sword of justice has fallen in Cambodia

Finally, the over-long, seven year trial of the leaders of the murderous Khmer Rouge leadership of Cambodia, is over. The two defendants, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, were each given a life sentence.

Drought disaster; Thousands drowning in debts - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka is facing one of its worst-ever droughts and the Government, along with other charity groups, should give the highest priority for short-term and long-term measures to build bridges over these troubled waters.

UNP heads for mission ‘Niyam Charika’

As a group of United National Party (UNP) MPs undertook a fact finding mission this week, another set of MPs are now planning a similar mission to the drought hit areas. It is to be dubbed ‘Niyam Charika.

Mahela: Cricketing gentleman takes his bow

Mahela Jayawardena, arguably Sri Lanka’s most elegant batsman of his generation and second only to Arjuna Ranatunga as a captain, leaves the game’s biggest stage this week, playing his last Test Match against Pakistan..............