Dear public sector workers, good manners please!

Of what use is infrastructural development when the social fabric has been virtually destroyed and human dignity has been thrown into the gutters? We are long past the era of values, manners, ethics and etiquette.  The most regretful is its absence in the state sector institutions.

Murali delivered it to ‘chuck’ Cameron’s cynicism away

Years after retiring as cricket’s most successful bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan captured headlines recently for different reasons, contradicting British Prime Minister David Cameron and the controversial Channel 4  television station and stirring a political storm in the process.

A gamble with casinos - Editorial

If wealth, property and possessions are giving us security, success, prestige and power in life, then it means we are worshipping money in the end. Indian writer and social activist Arundathi Roy has described this present trend as the fifth major religion in the world.

Post chogm Cloud that overshadows the chogm

Our ‘enemies’ the Diaspora  who, yearning to avenge 1956, 1972 and 1983  suffered a huge defeat when we wiped out the LTTE which they had supported with arms and money; after the.....

Sir John D’Oyly drafted the Kandyan Convention

A Prince of Wales set foot on Kandyan soil after one hundred-and-forty years, the last being in 1873. Prince Charles visited Kandy during his stay in the island for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Tribute to a Doyen of creativity: Dr. Tissa Abeysekara

Deshabandu Dr. Tissa Abeysekara, my school mate at Dharmapala Vidyalaya Pannipitiya in the early 1950’s, and since then my friend for nearly six decades has departed, leaving an indelible impression of awe and admiration in the minds of all Sri Lankans devoted to indigenous culture, literature and the arts.

The ‘huge dichotomy of disjuncture” In simple words, ‘seeing is believing’

Many people are impressed by how Chris Nonis, our high commissioner to the UK, handled the CNN live TV interview conducted by Fred Pleitgen. They are impressed by his superb knowledge of English, presumably not his first language.

Is Sri Lanka heading towards a class war?

The 2014 Budget of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is an opening for a class war. Though it addresses many subjects such as infrastructure, health, education, business, banking, agriculture, fisheries, housing, pensions and anything and everything, it cannot conceal the essential class nature.

Bulls' eye for Kiribanda - Editorial

In the aftermath of the recent controversy over the import of powdered milk to the value of a staggering Rs. 45,000 million, President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the 2014 Budget outlined proposals to revive the local dairy milk industry.

The British created SL ethnic strife - Champika Ranawaka

Minister of Technology and Research and the General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) spoke to the Daily Mirror on issues resulting from the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and other issues

Defence Counsel’s Obligation; A New Legal Paradigm

US judge’s order “Shocking Development in Law” and “Recourse to Judgment” if you are ill-represented. US Court of Appeal orders fresh trial, as the Judge felt the defence counsel did not represent his client adequately in this case.

Titbits of humour that emerged during CHOGM

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was successfully concluded recently.  Benefits of the summit meeting are now being discussed throughout the country.

Budget hype sounds shallow, sir!

The budget of his government was read by President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself for the ninth time. The day before the budget reading all media competing with one another asked the public what they expected from the budget.

A special sector of our society Enabling the Disabled through

It is not a shortcoming to be born as a person with restricted abilities. ‘The Enable the Disabled,’ organisation which recently performed the ‘Dirijaya Prathiba’ concert has organised a special interactive workshop titled ‘Dare to Dream- Make a difference for........

Mrs. Khairun-Nisa Riyal A teacher beyond compare who loved and cared for children

It was a gloomy Thursday morning when Rismi Riyal, a distinguished past student of Gampola Zahira College called me and conveyed the sad news of his mothers’s death early that morning.

Opening of 25th ‘Little Library’ project assisted by CUP

The children of Siddhartha Children’s Society, Thalwita, Seeradunna, Kurunegala were able to start a ‘Little Library’ on their own with the support of the Children’s Upliftment Programme (CUP) on November 9, 2013.

You are right, but be prepared! - Editorial

One of the upshots of the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was the renewed international concern over the human rights situation in Sri Lanka which had irritated the Sri Lankan leaders.

Universal Values, National Interest and Good Governance

Conflict is as much a part of human condition as cooperation. This is true at an interpersonal level as well as at a societal level. At times, conflicts come to the surface and are played out in the open, but most of the time, they remain underneath the surface.

Budget devalued, prices soar by the gazette - Editorial

The Daily Mirror in one of its Editorials last week said the Budget had lost a lot of its news value because in the past few years it has been largely a case of “Budget by gazette”.

Editorial - The truth and torture of commissions and omissions

This country has known commissions.  There have been commissions of inquiry and commissions of the taking kind, kick-backs in other words.  There have been omissions too of various kinds.

Geneva talks: Future of Middle East at stake

In realpolitik, there are no permanent enemies or friends but only permanent interests. The Middle East is witnessing a silent shuffle or a realignment of alliances.

Should the UN go into battle?

This year the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of troops to the eastern Congo, armed with tanks and helicopter gun ships to defeat the one remaining dissident militia in the Congo.

BUDGET PROPOSALS-2014 GROWTH TARGET 8%WITH DEFICIT DOWN TO 5.2% OF gdp

President Mahinda Rajapaksa delivered his 9th Budget Speech-for the Fiscal year 2014, in parliament yesterday afternoon.  Amidst the boycott of the session by the main opposition parties the

Identifying the real enemy beyond the Diaspora

 CHOGM 2013-a perfectly organised event, came to a successful conclusion albeit overshadowed by focus on alleged human rights violations by the host nation. Prince Charles- representing the Queen, the head of CHOGM- chose to be a friend who has visited this country more than once, like his royal mother and father.

Save the Children: Their name is Tomorrow

A day after the budget, with ruling politicians who appear to care little and do less for millions of people in the country, the people themselves need to reflect on the vital factors which have to be restored to bring about a just and fair society with sustainable development and lasting peace.

Kurshid’s valid concerns and Cameron’s bee in his bonnet

Political events over the last few days were dominant with the news that came from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Sri Lanka. Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Kurshid had been busy dealing with multiple concerns related to bilateral issues in a very diplomatic way.

Country's economy is beyond restitution- Ravi Karunanayake

The United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Ravi Karunananayake, speaks to Daily Mirror expressing his views on the upcoming budget discussions in the aftermath of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the current political and economical situation of the country.

SL will not change foreign policy due to threats: GL

Professor G.L Peiris the Minister of External Affairs, in a brief interview spoke to the Daily Mirror about the outcomes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).  Following are excerpts of the interview.

The controversial interview Murali bowls at Channel 4

Sri Lankan cricketing legend Muttiah Muralitharan said today that Channel 4 had lost its credibility in his eyes due to airing an edited clip of an interview which distorted the context he spoke in.

Are we doing enough for our children from the budget?

Children are our future. They are the budding young leaders of tomorrow. Therefore it is imperative to protect and ensure the wellbeing of children. One action that can clearly demonstrate the extent of a government’s commitment towards fulfilling the rights of children is its allocation of financial resources for the benefit of children.