Lanka’s catch-22 situation

In April 2022, our country defaulted repaying its foreign debt triggering a major crisis in the country. With no dollars available, all goods from fuel and oil, to basic foodstuffs ran out. Transport ground....

Politics without conscience - EDITORIAL

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has resigned as an MP on Friday over an allegation of misleading the Parliament with regard to the “Partygate,” a series of rule-breaking government parties during the COVID-19 pandemic he had attended.

Many reasons for and against privatization of SOEs

The Parliamentary Sectorial Oversight Committee on National Security last week recommended against the privatization of Sri Lanka Telecom, citing national security grounds. The government has claimed the report ‘lacks logical or scientific data.”

The practicality of promises made to the UNHRC

The UN Human Rights Council’s 53rd session will begin On June 19. An oral assessment of the rights situation in Sri Lanka will be made by the Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türkon June 21. As usual, the Sri Lankan government is going all out to present the case that it has been making sincere efforts to deliver on the promises it had made earlier.

BRC Proposals and Press Takeover Bill of ‘64

“The Sri Lanka press, one of the liveliest and bluntest in Asia, has been firmly subdued by the Government.”—The New York Times of May 8, 1974. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, with little experience....

Corruption and the aim to become a developed nation - EDITORIAL

President Ranil Wickremesinghe since assumed presidency, has over a period of time been promising us all, that by the year 2048, this country would have become a developed or first world country. Well....

The Tamil Leader who refused to Kowtow before the Tigers

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization ceased to be a functional entity in Sri Lanka after being militarily defeated by the armed forces in May 2009. The LTTE known widely as the Tigers was a powerful armed militant group which ruled over swathes of land in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of the Island for several years.

Who lost faith in elections?

President Ranil Wickremesinghe seems to be of the view that he and the people of this country are on the same wavelength about elections, given the speech he made at the ‘2023/2024 National Law Conference’ held at the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya on June 3. He said that the majority of the population, including the youth lacked trust in elections and politics.

We don’t need colonial powers meddling in Asia

In the aftermath of the breakup of the Soviet Union, the US assumed the role of the world’s sole super power. However the US efforts of world domination were challenged by a resurgent Russia and the rising economic cum military power of China in Asia.

A good president needs to be challenged by evil! - EDITORIAL

Despite the Aragalaya having failed people haven’t dismissed the idea of a system change. However according to ancient Hindu scripts the world exists because of a magical balance between good and....

Ukraine Dam disaster: Another opportunity for peace

As thousands of Ukrainians are being evacuated to safety after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam across the Dnipro River caused devastating floods, both Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other....

Humans share the earth; can protect it, not own it

When we cut trees or destroy forests, we cause physical or criminal harm to our mother. When we waste fresh water or other natural resources, we waste what has been given to us with love by our mother. When we pollute the environment by using excessive fuel, we are threatening our her with death. We may not be aware of it, but many of us are doin

Restructuring domestic debt Must be credible, fast, comprehensive

With the possibility of restructuring domestic debt increasing, there are concerns about the impact of such a restructuring on the financial markets. A limited restructuring, in which only government debt held by the Central Bank is restructured, is unlikely to resolve the fundamental issue of government solvency. Indications are that only treasury bills (T-Bills) held by the Central Bank will be restructured while restructuring of treasury bonds

Sex championships, martial law in Putin’s Russia, and fakes

Deep-fakes, fakes, Astroturfing, AI-generated…these are the buzz words of the tech savvy or those wanna-be tech-savvies. They...

President’s speech-road map and milestones to be achieved - EDITORIAL

In a televised address to the nation last Tuesday, President Wickremesinghe reiterated his oft-repeated commitment, not to....

Whims of politicians shouldn’t take over rule of law - EDITORIAL

Chairman of the Election Commission Nimal Punchihewa views the government’s latest decision to appoint special representatives of the Chairmen of Regional Coordinating Committees to oversee the affairs of the local government bodies as inappropriate and against the democratic norms.

Sri Lankan economy not out of the woods yet Five things that could make or break it

The Central Bank last week cut the interest rates by 250 basis points, announcing the first rate cut in three years, in what appears to be a shifting of gears from taming inflation to stimulating economic growth.

Enforcement of Saasana through legislations

Currently, it is apparent that the philosophy of Theravada Buddhism is being heavily distorted, misinterpreted, and misrepresented by various preachers....

Henry Kissinger; A pre-eminent diplomat or diplomatic flop? - EDITORIAL

On May 27 this year, Henry Kissinger - one of the most famous men of the 20th century - a former US Secretary of State, and the architect of rebuilding ties between US and China, celebrated his 100th birthday.

Crisis Dynamics and Attack on Labour

A crisis disrupts and creates disorder. The economic depression devastating Sri Lanka has gruelling consequences for workers and their families, including lack of food, malnutrition, and school drop outs. They are unable to afford basic needs such as transport, electricity and cooking gas. Furthermore, the crisis has also created longer term dangers for workers’ rights. The regime in power and the crony business lobby are now taking forward a con

Karunanidhi; From Film Script Writer to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

If cinema and politics are intertwined in Tamil Nadu, then Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s family continues to be immersed in both with great rewards. This is due to the patriarch’s path-breaking venture from films into politics in the past

Poson Poya: Celebrating the Advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

Poson Full Moon Day holds great significance for Sri Lankan Buddhists as it commemorates the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Arahat Maha Mahinda Thero. This cherished event, which took place more than two millennia ago signifies the transformative moment when Buddhism took root in the country, shaping its spiritual and cultural landscape. The story of Arahat Mahinda Thero’s encounter with King Devanampiyatissa and the subsequent spread o

Religion: Not for public debate

Unlike in the case of social media activist Sepal Amarasinghe, the issues with regard to Pastor Jerome Fernando and standup comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya seem to be quite tricky for the authorities to handle, despite all three have been accused of insulting the Buddha or Buddhism.

Govt.’s objective is to guarantee the complete development of Sri Lanka as a thriving nation by 2048 - President Ranil Wickremesinghe

President Ranil Wickremesinghe in a televised address to the nation last night reiterated his commitment to prevent any regression of the country to its previous state, emphasizing his determination to transform....

Free speech and the right to criticise religions

The possible arrest of a popular preacher, and the arrests of a stand-up comedian, a loquacious monk, and several others in recent days have triggered a debate on freedom of expression....

Let’s borrow something from these stand-up comedians! - EDITORIAL

Sri Lankans over the years have seen much religious tension and also loads of violence. Even if the majority of people from all religions have not attained the supreme bliss of enlightenment...

Listen to the Ocean

Sri Lanka is still suffering from the devastating consequences of the X-Press Pearl disaster. It started on May 20, 2021 after it caught fire off the coast of Colombo. The vessel was engulfed in flames by May 27 and declared a total loss. It was

Republicanism and its discontents

There are words that seem to be very popular among politicians and political groups when it comes to naming a new part or coalition. ‘Jathika’ or ‘National’ would top the list. We have the Eksath JATHIKA Pakshaya (United NATIONAL Party). Whenever this party led coalitions, ‘pakshaya’ was replaced with ‘peramuna’ or ‘front,’ but ‘jathika’ was left

Comedians, persons of the cloth and hate speech - EDITORIAL

In the run up to what is now referred to as ‘Black July’ the media was one of the culprits in propagating hate speech, often quoting person of the cloth who roused racism.

Lankan economists call for revival of road, rail bridge across Palk Strait

Two Sri Lankan economists, Gayasha Samarakoon and Muttukrishna Sarvananthan say that a road and rail bridge across the Palk Strait will bring down the transport cost in India-Sri Lanka trade by 50%.