Clown in the govt. circus

If ever there was a contest to determine the best comedian amongst the members of the Cabinet, the accolade would undoubtedly be conferred on Wimal Weerawansa.

EDITORIAL-Govt. must Modi-fy policy on news websites

While media freedom—historically seen as one of the pillars of democracy—is crumbling in Sri Lanka, the Rajapaksa government is also muscling the social media, including news websites.

‘The govt. misled academics’ Dr. Chandraguptha Thenuwara

When FUTA called off the three-month strike in 2012, it was accused of exploiting the 6% figure to merely attract public support for the academics’ struggle to increase wages. With such a past, do you feel the public will rally around FUTA this time?

‘We deal with life and death situations’-GA

The Government Analyst Department is one of the most important departments with regard to dispensing justice in the country. In its 110 year history, the second female head of this vital state.....

EDITORIAL - For full justice, implement the Witness Protection Bill

While we need to be concerned about the human rights of convicted prisoners and of those in remand custody we need to give as much if not more concern to the victims of crime and the witnesses......

Undying passion gives birth to the wave-less boat

A young schoolboy is seen meddling with a jumble of wires, batteries and switches. His brows are knitted in concentration and he is completely focused on the task at hand. His goal is to build a mechanical doorbell......

Increasing Public and Household Debts

Public debts, that are debts incurred by governments to meet public expenditure, have been increasing over the years. Some countries like Greece, Italy and Japan have very high levels of public debts as a proportion of their GDP.

EDITORIAL - Our ties with Modi’s India: Act fast and wisely

As the —the largest selling independent English language daily newspaper in Sri Lanka—spreads its wings today with a high-tech modern design, we hope the Sri Lankan Government also would be able to......

When people talk, great things happen

It has been famously said that youth is wasted on the young. George Bernard Shaw was quite clear in expanding on this, his quote. He defined the statement as derogatory when he said that “young people are brainless, and don’t know what they have.....

How Large Are Our Social Safety Nets?

The World Bank released its first report of the series on ‘State of Social Safety Nets’ on May 13, 2014. Safety nets are non-contributory government transfers aimed at providing assistance to the socially and economically marginalised sections of the society.

A win for Modi was never in doubt

Narendra Modi, who will soon be sworn in as India’s fourteenth Prime Minister, has swept to power in the world’s largest democracy with his Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP), romping home with 282 seats in the Lok Sabha, ten seats more than what was required for an absolute majority.

Modi's oath-taking plans send strong signals - Editorial

India’s Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi, who won a landslide victory in the recently concluded election appears to be setting  a nice example. He has invited all the leaders of South Asian countries, including the Prime Minister of Pakistan, to attend his swearing-in ceremony.

Which way Modified India?

India’s prime minister-elect Narendra Modi is a conundrum.  So it seems for the time being. From his alleged role in the massacre of Muslims in the 2001 Gujarat communal riots to his invitation to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff to attend his inauguration on....

Vietnam and US versus China over oil in the sea

Who makes the law of the sea as China and Vietnam clash over China moving an oil rig close to an island only 25 miles from the mainland of Vietnam?

A friend's silence more hurtful than an enemy's sword

For centuries Sri Lanka has bloomed with the hallowed culture of Buddhism, but in recent years we have been seeing a dangerous trend towards a culture of impunity. Ruling alliance politicians, especially their stooges and supporters including killers in underground crime syndicates seem to....

BJP victory Govt elated, UNP draws inspiration

The United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe received a call on his mobile when he was addressing his party’s parliamentary group on Tuesday morning. He walked out of the meeting room in the parliamentary complex   to answer the call.

New era dawns in Indian politics

With BJP Leader Narendra Modi being elevated to the position of Prime Minister in India, a new era has dawned in Indian politics. Narendra Modi, a leader who comes from the grassroots level, does not belong to the elitist circle of Indian politicians.

New Bill will kill free health service - Editorial

About 40 years after the then Sirimavo Bandaranaike Government was virtually forced by the United States to scrap the Essential Medicines Concept of the revered Professor Senaka Bibile and nine years after the Cabinet approved a National Medicinal Drugs Policy (NMDP) based on this concept

STATE OF THE NATION

Look back in satisfaction; look forward in dismay. Lost the way in failing to take the right turn in not keeping to an intelligible road map.

Probe recent arrests of Sri Lankan abroad on terror charges

The government of Sri Lanka must join hands with the Indian authorities in the investigations into the case of Sri Lankan national Zakir Hussain...

How the UNP ‘brand’ suffered over the years

What is the ‘brand’ of the United National Party (UNP)? How does the average villager identify the Party?

Editorial-If the legal system is not to remain a mere spectator

Attorney General Palitha Fernando speaking at the ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court

We prefer to die in a democratic country not under a dictatorship

United National Party (UNP) Leadership Council Chairman and parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya agreeing that the parties slogans used in the past had not struck a chord with the masses appeared confident in the revival of the UNP under the new structure that is being implemented.

Political Culture, Ethno-religious Tension and Way Forward

The ethno-religious tension prevailing in the country casts a dark cloud over the country’s future and is the last thing that the hapless masses want. Moreover, the country can ill-afford another period of socio-political instability, given the backdrop of violent conflicts in the recent past.

The might of the franchise triumphed over the might of politicians

The United National Party congratulates the newly elected government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We wish the new Government all success in its endeavours to chart India’s future and assure our fullest support.

Editorial-The Modi factor impact on Sri Lanka

Analyzing the election results in countries like Sri Lanka and India is a complicated task, since one factor attributed to a particular situation in one place cannot necessarily be applied to a similar situation in another place.

We can defeat this regime with a common opposition

One of United National Party (UNP)’s ‘rebel’ or ‘reformist’ MPs Ashoka Abeysinghe who has constantly criticised the incumbent leadership of the UNP...

Coleman’s Tattoo ordeal: Cutting a sorry figure

The fiasco regarding British tourist Naomi Coleman and her Buddha tattoo ended by deeply embarrassing moderate Sri Lankans.

Paradigm or limbic shift

When people realised that the earth was not flat but round, they shifted a paradigm.

Editorial-Banking sector: Where it is heading?

The performance of Sri Lanka’s banking sector during the past two quarters has given us things to ponder about.