Conducting General Elections EC hamstrung!

COVID-19 has brought about shape shifting in many an aspect of public life in the world. So to speak, it is bound to make way for a new culture of political campaigning for elections on the cards in Sri Lanka. It is realistic because people, though unwillingly, are required to get accustomed to live with the coronavirus for at least a year or so till not only a new vaccine is developed, but also till it is commercially manufactured somewhere in t

No land in place called home

These are days when small batches of Sri Lankan emigrants are heading home due to the threat posed by COVID-19. The return of these batches is facilitated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In such an environment one wonders what the future would be for thousands of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in India and wishing to return to home. Most of them are in Tamil Nadu, one of the worst effected Indian states by COVID-19.

A Green deal for SAARC - EDITORIAL

Seventeen European nations have pledged to make climate change a part of their economic and social recovery agenda of the coronavirus pandemic.

Easing of the Lockdown: Dipping a toe in risky waters

The decision by the government to ease lockdown restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation was obviously motivated mainly....

Politics and the efficient handling of COVID-19

Now we, especially those living in Colombo and Gampaha Districts are enjoying a new kind of freedom which interestingly we ourselves ha

Post- lockdown Sri Lanka: Whither Economy?

Sri Lanka would be limping back to normalcy in the coming days as much of the restrictions were relaxed, and a curfew that lasted for seven weeks was finally removed in all but Colombo and Gampaha districts, effective from yesterday.

COVID-19 should be a wake up call to Maldives to treat its migrant workers better

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the tiny but prosperous Maldives hard. As per the latest figures given by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 835 persons have been affected by the coronavirus so far. This is huge when seen against the total population of the Indian Ocean Archipelago which is now 540,544, according to an estimate by the UN.

Galle Face’s ‘green green Grass’

Last Saturday’sDaily Mirror on-line picture spoke a lot; Galle Face devoid of visitors—how it has taken a lush green colour as it was before 1970s. Will it, as the paper speculates, ‘Once the people are allowed to resume work from Monday even amidst curfew in Colombo, it is likely that the Galle Face Green will change its colour back to brown as it would be filled with visitors’?

Those who stigmatize China on COVID-19 have failed their people - Chinese envoy

China has reacted strongly against some countries who have called for an international investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 and China’s early....

Country to relax lockdown rules today - EDITORIAL

Today, May 11, after almost a month of near total lockdown was imposed to stop the spread of the destructive coronavirus, Sri Lanka will be taking its first limping....

Sri Lanka’s New Normal: Demystifying promise and peril of an opaque era

Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak struck Sri Lanka about two months ago, a couple of narratives dominated our life.

Will President Gazette a Fresh Date For Convening a ‘New’ Parliament If Elections Are Postponed Again?

The Elections Commission has scheduled June 20 as the new date for the postponed election of April 25. Eight Fundamental Rights petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the holding of elections on June 20.

Just and fair order after this third world war

As the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic continues — with some medical and social analysts describing it as a third world war — the United Nations yesterday and today marks the time of remembrance and reconciliation for those who lost their lives during the second world war.

Notes on COVID-19: “Covidonomics” and all that

Less than two years ago, Dr. W.A. Wijewardena, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, made the case against budgets that excessively promoted spending: it would put money into the hands of consumers who would spend the bulk of it on imports.

Post COVID-19: Do we know where we are heading to ?

Can we get back to normal social and economic life that we had, before COVID-19 shattered it beyond shape? Or should we at all?

Govt. legitimises the call to convene the old Parliament

Politics seems to overshadow COVID-19 threat that had so far eclipsed everything in the country – political, social and economic issues as well as matters personal to individuals.

Returnees must show gratitude to Sri Lanka - EDITORIAL

The Sri Lankan health and government authorities have continued to give hope to the people during this pandemic. According to the authorities....

NAM takes initiative to bring order into post-Covid disorder

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has often been derided as a defunct grouping or highly redundant since the collapse of the loose bipolar international system in 1991.

Sovereignty cannot reside in a dead Parliament

Political Theorist John Dunn, drawing from John Lock’s Two Treatises of Government, points out that “It is impossible to foresee and so, by-laws provide for all accidents and necessities that may concern the public.”

Refrain from being the cause of another’s suffering

Sri Lanka is traditionally known to be a hospitable country with people, who are friendly, generous and ready to help each other. We are known to have imbibed these qualities from our parents and grandparents and influenced by the teachings of the four great world religions- Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.

Workers’ struggle through the eyes of China and Sri Lanka

The year 2020 marks the second year on the trot where the islanders aren’t celebrating May Day with rallies. And the result: it would effect political parties more than the labourers.

Much longer delay unlikely regarding conducting elections

Amidst arguments being hurled back and forth regarding the possibility of conducting the General Elections on June 20, the Election Commission and the health authorities have initiated steps to work out modalities to take polls in conformity with health precautions despite the COVID-19 crisis.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown

The cost of the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown of five weeks and counting is causing tremendous hardships for low-income citizens.

The Great Narrative Wrest

The last two months have been those of unmitigated global anxiety. The COVID-19 pandemic is the first global disaster of our generation.

Are we indulging in glorified advertising? - EDITORIAL

As the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic continues with the number of patients reaching a horrifying 3,660,000 while the death toll was more than 252,500....

It’s confusion from the word go!

Confusion reigns these days over many important matters ranging from using face masks to Constitutional provision. The very instruction to stay home owing to the COVID-19 threat goes against the instruction to wear face masks when one com

COVID-19: Long-term economic cost is worse than its fatalities

The COVID-19 pandemic is a double whammy. It has decimated communities, killed nearly a quarter of a million people and infected millions more while continuing to do so at an exponential rate. It has overloaded health facilities in the

COVID-19 pandemic and changing perceptions - EDITORIAL

The dreaded coronavirus or COVID-19, which made itself part of the international lexicon in December 2019, had by May 1, 2020, infected over 3,214,256 persons and taken the lives of 232,570 persons world wide.

COVID-19 Lessons: ‘Free and Fair’ Avurudu, May Day, Vesak and Elections

My neighbour and former Lawyer’s clerk was making a huge noise with his political bête noire, a retired municipal employee next door.

COVID-19: Fear, ignorance or who is fooling whom?

COVID-19 emanated from China and was made known to the World on December 31, 2019. In 120 days, it has ratcheted past three million case numbers and 210,000 reported deaths globally.