Executive presidency root cause of crises - Editorial

 From 1994 Sri Lanka’s political leaders have been promising to abolish the executive presidential system which after the 18th Amendment has dragged Sri Lanka into a dictatorial mud hole with a multitude of national and international crises in the political and socio-economic spheres.

Gaza conflict : Arab Spring shows new realities in Middle East

When it comes to the violation of international law, one is no better than the other. The reference is to the United States and Israel. They apparently...

Obama’s new policies in his second term

Judging by the timing of his Asian trip President Barack Obama seemed confident he can get what he wants with US economic policy...

Turnaround to a simple and humble lifestyle - Editorial

With many people preparing for the festive season despite political, economic and social crises in the country, it may be prudent to reflect on the...

TRCSL brings in self-discipline to radio- Palpita

For the last 25 years the Media Ministry and the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) have given licences for a number of channels, numbering about 45.

Sri Lanka’s Potentials for a Dynamic Economy

Excerpts of a presentation delivered at the Workshop “Post-War Reconciliation Dialogue for a Sustainable Peace”, which took place in Paris. In January 2010, Sri Lanka was upgraded, from the IMF’s list of Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, to that of Middle Income Emerging Markets.

Manacling the blood-stained hands - Editorial

Despite the overwhelming general dislike, the emerald isle is marching back to its bloody days.Even after the end of the war, the land has not been devoid of showering live bullets, dead bodies found in secluded houses and blood-stained hands that have not yet been chained.

The Tale of Impeachment of Two Chief Justices

The 1978 Constitution is an embodiment of concrete and effective provisions to promote fair trial and to protect the independence of judiciary. However, the executive Presidential System clothed with legal immunity with suits as envisaged under Article 35 had adversely affected and seriously undermined the independence of judiciary and the judicial dignity and decorum of the judges.

Way forward with economic prosperity

All our ancient rulers knew that without ensuring the people’s food security, it was impossible to protect the nation’s dignity, independence and sovereignty. This very reason made our people to make sure our country was self sufficient in food.  We have drawn special attention to food security in view of the current global situation.

Editorial - Petrie report: Lanka faces diplomatic crisis

The wide ranging report on Sri Lanka by the UN internal review panel headed by Charles Petrie could cause a major international crisis for the Rajapaksa regime largely because of failure to wisely respond to the issues raised.

Effective Teaching empowering the professional teacher

As teachers and as parents, we have felt a growing lack of empowerment as we wish to prepare our children for the future.

It is imperative to get rid of 13th Amendment

The recent political developments in the country have triggered a debate among the people on the potential adverse consequences of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka.

The onslaught goes on

Israel, it seems, has a vested agenda. The killing of Hamas military chief, the attack on its headquarters in Gaza and more than 800 sorties inside the besieged enclave is testament to the fact that big trouble is in the offing.

Killer dengue rides again: Try alternative cure - Editorial

Our editorial last Saturday made a plea to the Ministry of Health to promote the use of alternate medicine such as the manioc cure for cancer. We hope this plea such as those we made in the past will not be put under some sick bed.

I will continue to Fight on

I expected this as the first question to be asked by you. The split in the camp occurred in the sense that two MPs decided that they can’t work with me and with the rest of the people who work with me. They have their own agendas and their own way of doing politics.

re-interpreting the Executive President’s impunity

The constitutional wisdom of a people is the last resort that the people have when they are faced with constitutional peril. It is an almost unanimous opinion in Sri Lanka that the country is faced with constitutional peril due to the 1978 Constitution.

Lamborghini and ‘badagini’ - Editorial

The popular belief that the name of the town Baddaginnie in West Australia has its origin to Sri Lanka may hold some element of truth; for ‘badagini’ has been the common cry of the island’s citizenry given the economic constraints they are compelled to endure.

The demand for a new political order in China

The rubber stamp congress of China’s communist party is over. There have not been any surprises. Now for the results of the leadership battle. The script has been written, the actors are in place and the show goes on.

Editorial - Alternative medicine: Manioc cure for cancer

If the private health sector in Sri Lanka has decayed to a large extent  from a centre of healing to big business, one of the root causes of this cancer is the absence of a clear-cut national health policy where the rightful place is given to all forms of medicine – allopathy, ayurveda, homoeopathy, acupuncture and others.

Gaza crisis: US must choose between justice and hawkish Jews

Just a week after his reelection, President Barack Obama is facing a big foreign policy crisis – the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip following the...

Match-fixing fixation

Thick maybe the mud slung at the Sri Lankan cricketers from time to time, yet no matter what hits the headlines of the national dailies, for the twenty...

India is not a friend of Sri Lanka - Somawansa Amerasinghe

Somawansa Amerasinghe spoke to the Daily Mirror on the resurgent debate on the 13th Amendment, the prison riot, and the impeachment motion...

Aborting the right to life

Neither this fabulous universe nor all existing life-forms were created by us human beings. There is a mysterious process going on and going on in the universe about whose origin we hardly know anything.

Consumption and Urban Bias in the Budget

The National Budget is the financial strategy (expenditure and income) of a government towards achieving specific economic and social development goals during the forthcoming financial year and beyond.

A special guest from Yangon

AUNG SAN Suu Kyi is on another high-profile foreign trip. And this time Myanmar’s celebrated opposition leader is visiting India. Suu Kyi has returned to India, a place where she received her college education, after 40 years.

Editorial - UN’s so-called chosen silence

Who would have dreamt of seeing the mother of the world bodies, the United Nations, shedding tears of regret over something the institution could not perform?  A leaked draft of a highly-critical internal UN report says the world body has conceded its failure to protect the Sri Lankan civilians

Kebithigollewa The forgotten disaster Their tears roll on as the authorities move on heedless

The picture of a lamenting father holding the bloodied, lifeless body of his young son was circulated worldwide by the Sri Lankan government during the conflict period, to depict the atrocities of the LTTE against the masses of Sri Lanka. The image was one among many, following the Kebithigollewa explosion in 2006.

world competitive innovation

Daily Mirror spoke to Professor Gehan Amaratunga about the environment necessary for innovation, research and development in science and technology in Sri Lanka. He notes the weakness in the university system and the renewed interest from the coporate sector to invest in innovation.

Government’s objective and political rag sheets

Clause 107 (2) of the Constitution indicates that “The Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal and every other Judge of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal” could be removed “by an order of the President made after an address of Parliament supported by a majority of the total number of Members of Parliament (including those not present) has been presented to the President..

Editorial - "I was in prison, you set me free"

The virtual war at the Welikada jail on Friday and the unanswered questions as to who did what and why need to focus attention on related issues that led to such mayhem.