1962 Coup: Disgruntlement Within Army and Police Top Brass

In order to understand the 1962 Coup d’état conspiracy phenomenon, it is essential to delve deep into some events that happened between Independence in February 1948 and the envisaged D-day for executing the coup on January 27-28th 1962.

Society’s heart is judged by the way it treats children

Sri Lanka is caught up in crisis after crisis, controversy after controversy and chaotic confusion as to who is doing what and who is not doing what. Unfortunately,

The urgency of a regime change

Many definitely have a serious interest in handing over the government to the JVP/NPP as it seems only, they can deliver the people from the hell that the Rajapakses, with the help of the UNP and the SLFP, have dumped them in. It is true that the people have run out of choices. So, they have concluded that perhaps the JVP/NPP must be given the chance to walk the talk.

Year Five Scholarship and big dreams! - EDITORIAL

The much awaited scholarship exam for grade 5 students will be held on Saturday (January 22). It’s still considered a dream come true for schoolboys and schoolgirls from lesser-known schools to do well....

Sri Lanka’s fresh equidistant policy vis-à-vis India and China

The dollar-starved Sri Lankan government is buoyed that it has been receiving financial assistance from India and China, which are vying for the dominance of the South Asian part of the Indo-Pacific...

Sri Lanka has to act more than India

The joint development of the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm entails more strategic interests than commercial interests for India. Trincomalee is strategically positioned, and it is an indispensable location as far as security interests of the major countries such as India and the United States in the Bay of Bengal are concerned.

The SLFP and SLFPers

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) seems ready to quit the Government if we are to go by the noises made by senior members of that party.

Difficult times ahead for Sri Lanka

It is no secret that the country is facing a plethora of problems; the main among them being the economic meltdown worsened by rapidly dwindling foreign currency reserves with the resultant dollar crunch making it impossible to import essential commodities including milk powder,

Explosive devices and growing mistrust of the state - EDITORIAL

A few days ago, Christians were shocked to hear an arm of the security forces claim, they had discovered a bomb/grenade....

How many sticks are there in your matchbox?

The Politicians of Sri Lanka have uttered some historically memorable words in their tenure. For example, it was Minister Bandula.....

“We’re facing a challenging situation regarding fuel supply” - Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila takes questions from DailyMiror regarding Sri Lanka’s agreement with India to develop....

Objective media helps healthy democracy

Despite the relationship between politicians and the media being something interdependent, it is always not friendly. With media always going after politicians in search of stories while politicians too always seeking media publicity even for their ab

Wheeler-dealing with the economy

The Central Bank is expected to pay an international sovereign bond of USD 500 million at its maturity today, and would probably flaunt it with a celebratory tweet as if it were an epic feat. Celebrate! Indeed yes, if the primary function of th

There is no national security without child protection - Dr. Wickramanayaka

Child Protection is a National Crisis in Sri Lanka. 30 years after signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1991, a child is sexually abused every 2 hours and Sri Lanka....

Mahawamsa and Buddha’s visits to Lanka - EDITORIAL

The Mahawamsa or the Great chronicle of Lanka does not start with the account of Vijaya, the first recorded king of the country. The Vijaya story only begins in the sixth chapter of the book under....

“Election Phobia” and Easter Sunday Massacre: Two Threaten to Disclose Facts

We wrote on these columns, under the heading “Election Phobia? Only one Cure; Face It… ”, on February 7, 2019, when the Yahapalana government kept postponing Provincial Council (PC) elections. Dictionary....

Background to the Coup d’état conspiracy of 1962

This January is the 60th anniversary of what has come to be known as the 1962 Coup or Coup d’état of Sri Lanka known formerly as Ceylon.

Non-violence is mightier than the mightiest weapon

During the nearly 30-year civil war and the two armed insurrections led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankan people were killed or injured while an equal number were left in deprivation and destitution, desolation and social degradation.

Britain says Sri Lanka needs good governance and equal rights for all

Kumar Sangakkara, a sportsperson both our countries greatly admire, spoke passionately about ‘different ethnicities and religions who celebrate their diversity by uniting for a common cause’. Naturally, he was talking about cricket,

IMF may be a Shylock, but Lanka should do what is right

As the global recession resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the International Monetary Fund is once again in a commanding position to reshape the world economy – also politics – and revisit those growing economies which had not so long ago snubbed it.

recent Child disappearances and naive parents

In the recent past there were reports of several children going missing and being found later. Children going missing is a sensitive topic. It’s heartbreaking when that happens. The most recent one was a 15-year-old girl who went missing in Maharagama. She later surfaced when the police released her photo to the media seeking help to trace her.

Did fear of defeat prompt government to postpone LG polls?

Public Services, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Thennakoon has not given, as he is not legally required to, any reason for the term extension of local government bodies, till March 19, next year.

Remembering Lasantha Wickramatunga - EDITORIAL

On January 8, 2022 was marked the 13th anniversary of Lasantha Wickramatunga’s assassination in broad daylight at Ratmalana....

Who’s benefiting from govt’s economic policy at whose expense?

If the government policy or something that remotely smacks as such is an overwhelming incorrigibility, its economic policy wins.....

Shaky deals and misdeeds in the fuel industry

The price of fuel was increased to reduce usage, but a new problem has emerged. Drivers claim that fuel available these days burns faster and the maximum speeds of vehicles have decreased and vehicles are subject to defects. Several drivers said they suspect several vehicles went up in flames in different areas due to poor quality fuel. “We are not sure whether the Governm

Tourism vs Omicronism - EDITORIAL

Sixteen thousand tourists visited Sri Lanka in the first week of January, according to Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. It appears....

How do you report your own editor’s murder?

The visual details of this moment are really fuzzy. The only recollection I have is that of a pixelated room. In contrast, I remember....

Mega SWAP facilities could push Sri Lanka to a more severe debt trap: Dr. W. A Wijewardena

Sri Lanka’s current economic meltdown-aggravated by the existing dollar crisis, soaring cost of living and a possible shortage of food....

Prepare the masses for the looming dangers

The COVID-19 situation in the country is such that the media has stopped releasing daily tally of new infections. The number of new infections has been almost static between 500 and 700 for several weeks instilling confidence in the general public while withering away the media enthusiasm on the pandemic. But, are we out of the woods? Going by the latest reports in the Western developed countries where the leaders hoarded several folds vaccine

“Tourism” needs sustainable and eco-friendly development plan

What has tourism to do with “national development?” How valid and accurate are claims about tourism contributing to development? “A major breakthrough” is how Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had proudly announced Sri Lanka recording nearly 200,000 tourist arrivals in 2021 amidst the pandemic, reported Daily FT on January 3, 2022. The news re