Strawman Prime Minister Ranil’s appointment is a sell-out by default, but damage can still be undone

Last week, Sri Lanka’s struggle for an accountable government looked as if it had prevailed against all odds. Then someone else sold it out.

Are we doing our prime role in this crisis?

Sri Lanka is suffering from highly unstable socioeconomic, political, and cultural backwardness due to mismanagement of these sectors by the politicia

Constitutional Reform for ‘System Change’

A peaceful democratic ‘revolution’ is sweeping across Sri Lanka. It is a revolution from below, from the people. It has activated large segments of Sri Lankan people to shed the habits of passive.....

Ranil; Politics and Dhamma

On April 4, we published on these columns an article entitled: “…. entire Opposition — unite under RANIL!’ The concluding paragraph stated, “Shortages have triggered the largest demonstrations.....

It’s time to stop politiking and save country - EDITORIAL

Following a month of peaceful protests, on Monday (May 9), attacks by a group of pro-government supporters of premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, (egged on by a few lawless ministers.....

Linus Jayatilake (Sept. 1942 - May 2022): A Comrade of all Working PeopLe

I first met Linus Jayatilake about a decade ago as some of us began engaging trade unions. While I had heard about Linus from my father, meeting Linus at the Commercial and.....

Sri Lanka – In Lee Kuan Yew’s words

Lee Kuan Yew’s views about Sri Lanka have been published in three books, the first is ‘From Third World to First’, the second is ‘Lee Kuan Yew -The man and his ideas’ and the third is ‘Giants of Asia - Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew’.

Be a statesman Ranil, take one step at a time

United National Party leader(UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe—is the youngest member elected to Parliament in 1977 and has been a member of Parliament for 45 years—was on Thursday recalled to play a historic role at a time when Sri Lanka is facing its worst ever political and economic crisis since independence.

The Three Universal Truths in Buddhism

Buddhism is a moral and philosophical system, which expounds a unique path of enlightenment, and it is mainly aimed at liberating human beings from suffering.

Sixth Century BCE marked the Birth of Buddha and the earliest philosophers of the world

The sublime Teachings of Gautama Buddha which had stirred the interest of intellectuals and philosophers the world over, drove British author and historian H.G. Wells to delve deep into the life and times of the Buddha in his “A Short History of the World.” While exploring the era of spiritual awakening, he made parallels with intellectuals who made their presence felt at the time of the Buddha elsewhere on the globe.

Can the politicians save the country this time?

Prior to the attack on the protestors in Galle Face by the supporters of the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday, nobody was able to get an idea on the length and width of the countrywide....

The Hague Tribunal; Protests in Sri Lanka and Challenging impunity for crimes against journalists

Yesterday, 12th May, the Permanent People’s Tribunal in The Hague (Netherlands) commenced hearings into the murder of Sri Lankan journalist and editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, based on an indictment....

Talking about leadership when hope is fading - EDITORIAL

We have seen leaders come and go; like Mahinda Rajapaksa. In the political front leaders are made or put forward to suit the occasion. When the war was on Mahinda emerged as a hero....

Don’t mar peaceful nature of silent and people power revolution

Sri Lanka’s silent revolution was dazzling with hope, bringing in its wake the early blooms of a socio-political spring that the country has not seen before. The silent.....

RECOVERY OF STOLEN ASSETS – Part II

Another important legislation is the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Law, No. 1 of 1975, as amended. In terms of this law,

Artistes, lawyers and activists urge public to remain calm

Following Monday’s spate of violent uprisings in several parts of the country the government imposed a curfew amidst an already declared state of emergency.

Aragalists and the challenge of re-mapping Sri Lanka

It was expected and yet it shocked many people. Expected, because that’s what history has taught us.

Govt. Sows the Wind and Reaps the Whirlwind

Sri Lanka’s 76-year-old Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has after much dilly dallying, finally resigned on Monday in the wake of countrywide protests and a worsening political and economic crisis resulting from mismanagement and incompetence.

RECOVERY OF STOLEN ASSETS – Part I

The “#gotagohome” campaign that started a few weeks back demanding the President to step down from office, was escalated....

Attacks on unarmed protestors: preventing a descent into anarchy - EDITORIAL

On Wednesday following unprovoked attacks by hooligans supporting ex-premier Mahinda Rajapaksa on peaceful protesters opposite....

The Demon we invoked and need to exorcise

The Rajapaksas know just one way. Deception, intimidation, murder, violence, bribery, thuggery, racism etc. etc. are the cornerstones....

Tackle the root causes for the dissent

The government or the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) cannot absolve themselves from the responsibility for the riots that erupted in front of Temple Trees and the Gall Face Green yesterday, where peaceful anti-government pro

MR’s parting shot of violence at the Galle Face Prime Minister leaves office only after almost setting the country on fire

By the time of this writing, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly submitted his resignation. Assuming he does not recant his decision for yet another time, he might be leaving the office, but only after coming almost close t

ROTARY SOLIDARITY WALK: “We are standing up for the humanitarian aspect of the crisis”

Rotary District 3220 held a press conference on May 8, 2022 at Radisson Hotel. Rotarians at the press conference voiced out their demands for good governance. They also called upon the state, private and public sectors to be accountable

Lanka’s flawed Emergency law Safeguards could be provided as per the South African model

Sri Lanka’s Emergency law is flawed, being devoid of adequate protections against its misuse. It is easily invoked and lacking in adequate legislative and judicial oversight. The overwhelming power vested in the Executive has led to the law’s frequent u

Decoding political messages from the citizens

The political messages coming from the Gogotagama (‘Go Gota Village’) at Colombo’s seafront Galle Face grounds and other protest sites are simple, yet sharp. They are unorthodox and uncompromising too. The slogans....

HARTAL ’53 & Indefinite Hartal ’22?: EXPAND ‘GotagoGama’

The tremendous power of the masses in action was displayed for the first time in post-independent Sri Lanka on August 12, 1953 when the enraged people rose in active dissent. A new factor re-entered....

SL’s energy crisis from a global scale perspective

Sri Lanka’s current political and economic turmoil is the the culmination of many political and economic misadventures by its political elite backed by a bureaucratic elite which had no strategic vision....

Saner counsel prevails amid financial crises - EDITORIAL

Our country is wrestling with its worst economic crisis since Independence in 1948. Presently foreign currency reserves sit at their lowest level on record due to what many see as gross economic....

State Minister Geetha sparkled on screen as an actress

Actress turned politician Geetha Kumarasinghe grabbed media attention a few weeks ago when she spoke out strongly in support of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.