Balance in motion?

With the historic election was of the world’s biggest democracy ushering in a new era of leadership and a break in the Nehru – Gandhi dynasty, India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Mahinda Rajapaksa to his swearing-in ceremony on May 26.

Keeping Africa going up

Black Africa long went deeply down. Now it is rushing headlong up. But “up” brings problems of its own. A country’s policy makers have to work as hard in successful, speedy, times as they did when they moved painfully from the first rung of the ladder to the second and third.

Raise your voice, not the sea level - EDITORIAL

Environmentalist Ravi Prasad Herat in a thought-provoking feature published in the Daily Mirror on Thursday to mark World Environment Day said of the 30 million species of flora and fauna that the scientists believe exists in the world, only 1.4 million have been positively identified by....

Syria: Seek a solution for suffering millions

The people of Syria have suffered enough in the past three years for no fault of theirs.  The civil war has killed more than 162,000 Syrians and left more than 9 million people displaced.

WE ARE CEYLONESE

N. M. was for us young Trotskyites of the time our only hero. Why? Many dedicated, colourful intellectuals led the then Left movement. Philip Gunawardena, Dr. S. A. Wickramasinghe, Colvin R. de Silva, Leslie Gunawardena, Bernard Soysa, Pieter Keuneman.....

Don’t cow down to milk mafia - EDITORIAL

For the past 35 years after Sri Lanka swallowed the globalised capitalist market economic system, one of the worst affected areas has been milk which is vital to provide adequate nutrition mainly for children and for others.

Change of government in India Blow to TNA’s aspirations

With Barathiya Janatha Party (BJP) returning to office in India, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) seems to be distraught somewhat. The TNA relies heavily on India to prevail upon the government of Sri Lanka to evolve a political solution acceptable to them.

Ruling party politicians are a law unto themselves

An ugly incident that shocked the country has put a little known deputy minister of the government firmly under the spotlight this week, once again raising questions about the state of law and order in Sri Lanka.

Principle of ‘minimum Govt. and maximum governance’

The recent political revolution, which occurred in what is considered to be the largest democracy in the world, continually educates us on the many spheres of political good-governance. The Indian government headed by the self-made politician Narendra Modi, has in.....

Vision of a pure tomorrow - EDITORIAL

movement committed to the re-creation of a ‘pure tomorrow’ outlined its vision and aims at a well-attended meeting held at the BMICH on Tuesday. Among those in the audience were at least two Cabinet Ministers, UNP Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and.....

We need a new political package - Champika Ranawaka

Minister of Technology and Research Patali Champika Ranawaka, the Secretary General of the Jathika Hela Urumaya, during a discussion with the Dailymirror provided reasoning behind the recent meeting with Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, who is widely considered to come forward as

Country or one Family?

Thirty seven years ago, in 1977, when the country was in the grip of a rule by one single Family, the Bandaranaikes, the country chose in an overwhelming manner to dispel that ‘Family’ from power. The scourge of the Family Tree was most starkly and succinctly illustrated in.....

EDITORIAL-Right to information

One would certainly be surprised to hear that the Chief Minister of Northern Province, C.V. Wigneswaran who is said to be fighting for the democratic rights of the Northern Tamil people has issued a circular depriving the same people of one of their key democratic rights - the right to information.

EDITORIAL - Deputy Minister’s thugs using ‘minimum force’

It appears that the thugs of a politician have used ‘minimum force’ on a police constable! The lead story of yesterday’s paper was about an assault on a police officer who gave a speeding ticket to a deputy minister who was little known before the incident.

Post-war realities in the Northern Province

Friday Forum, since its inception in 2009, has been profoundly disquieted about the post war scene in the Northern Province. A delegation of the Friday Forum visited Jaffna and Kilinochchi recently and met some member......

We don’t want this Govt. toppled-Wimal

National Freedom Front Leader and firebrand Minister Wimal Weerawansa during an interview.....

Economic Crises, Social Instability and Environmental Catastrophe

The title of this short essay is intended to capture the essence of the present human predicament in an increasingly integrated world.

EDITORIAL-Press release diplomacy puts Lanka in a mess

Since the end of the war against ruthless terrorism in May 2009...

Tobacco industry’s blood money used for litigation

In this process they have historically employed a multitude of tactics to shape and influence tobacco control policy. We should not forget the fact the tobacco industry produces and promotes a product that has.......

WHO recommends tobacco tax hike

This year, World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is celebrated under the theme “Raise Taxes of Tobacco. Lower Death and Disease”. WNTD is.......

EDITORIAL - The CEB’s attitude is shocking

Most families—except ministers and MPs whose big bills are paid from public funds—continue to get a shock every month and are inflamed when they see their electricity bills. Families.......

China shaken by Muslim revolt in Xinjiang

On Thursday, May 22, China was shaken by a twin suicide bombs. At least 31 people were killed and some 100 injured when Uighur separatists threw explosives and ploughed two off-road vehicles through a crowd in Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang region where its....

A word in the American President’s ear

Who makes foreign policy in the US government? Ultimately the President. That goes without saying. But who has his ear? Sometimes the éminence grise becomes well known - a star like Henry Kissinger who crafted policies that put the flesh-and-blood on Richard Nixon’s foreign policy.

From innocent freedom to a captive hell - EDITORIAL

For thousands of years, the elephant—widely regarded as the most majestic of all animals-- has been part of Sri Lanka’s culture and plays a prominent role in pereheras including Asia’s most spectacular pageant, the Esala Perehara of the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

Despite regime change - India’s policy on SL hasn’t changed

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, soon after being sworn in, had a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and spelt out his government’s policy on Sri Lanka.  The media quoted India’s Foreign Secretary Sujatha......

Sushma’s appointment a bonus for Sri Lanka

She may not have made headlines in Sri Lanka yet but Sushma Swaraj, the first woman to be appointed as India’s Minister of External Affairs will be a key player in forging that country’s foreign policy towards Sri Lanka over the next few years.

What is more important, country or one family?

It is patently clear that the Government coalition led by the United National Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is embroiled in a crisis. The crisis has reached such a zenith, one can hardly feel, sense......

EDITORIAL - The pills we take could kill us

While the proposed legislation for a National Medicinal Drugs Policy gets delayed, diluted and distorted by racketeer spin doctors, the yesterday revealed a shocking story about outdated drugs and fairness creams worth more than Rs. 500 million.

Secularist parties need to rethink strategy

The Indian National Elections that concluded on May 16, 2014 were, in more than one sense a landmark victory for democracy. The largest democracy in the world, both in terms of number of voters and complexity of the process...........

Pictorial warning; Parties insist on 80%

About 600 people die daily due to tobacco, smoking and alcohol, a report issued by the  Health Ministry said. That is about 60 per cent of 1,000 deaths occurring daily in the country.