UNP crisis : Why influence of Buddhism is vital in politics

The United National Party must learn to read the pulses of the masses. Its Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe learned the hard way that his way of leaving religion out of politics made him an unpopular politician. It’s time that the green party learns quickly that religion is marketable and can fetch votes for a politician. These are days when we get to read so much in newspapers that the saffron robed monks are demanding that the UNP leadership is

Three world powers engage Sri Lanka on same day

January 14 will go down in Sri Lanka’s history of foreign relations since the country witnessed top level diplomatic engagements with three world powers- the United States (U.S.), Russia and China- which have competing interests in the region.

Why protesting undergrads have clout

The Government’s call to protesting undergraduates to chose the peaceful path of negotiating might not go well with university students. Though the path to negotiating is the preferred way in a civilised society, university students have got used to making demands and doing so from a position of strength.

LET’S PRACTISE KINDNESS

Kindness is very important in life – no matter who or what you are, demonstrating kindness in all walks of life is important!!! In order to show kindness to others, we need to have a level of vulnerability ourselves!!! We need to be capable of opening up to the emotional, physical, psychological, sociological or religious needs of people whenever we are called upon to do so!!!

Ranja redux

The new year, for that matter, the new decade has started off with social media dominating every nook and corner of Sri Lanka political dialogue.

Vehicle horn etiquette

Sri Lanka is being touted as the best tourist destination by quite a few travel magazines. Certainly it is an achievement that makes any Sri Lankan proud. Unique locations, low cost, friendly and helpful locals, cleanliness, clean air and hassle free travelling have contributed to this feat.

Higher Education Crisis

Higher Education Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardane has said that the government would monitor and regularise the private institutions that send Sri Lankan students to foreign universities. He had said this on Sunday after visiting the home of one of the three female students who had died in Azerbaijan due to suffocation while pursuing higher studies at a university in that country.

Ranjan’s tapes and Looming Coup Against Independent Commissions

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who claims that he is waging a lone crusade against corruption and for social justice recorded incriminating phone calls he made to top cops, judges and the former director-general of the commission probing the allegations of corruption, without the knowledge of his callers. If that was not embarrassing enough, he had them copied to CD

Iran’s Islamic regime will be in deep trouble if it doesn’t reform

The United States’ 40-year sanctions-based economic war against the radical Islamic regime in Iran may end in the not too distant future, if the regime gives in to the growing domestic demand for an end to a dictatorship masquerading as a democracy. Events in the past two or three months appear to justify the US claim that US and international sanctions have crippled the Iranian economy, and that more of these will definitely bring the Islamic

A case against ragging

“I was overjoyed when I got selected to the university. It was a dream I had since my childhood. My parents were really happy and proud of me as well. The only problem I had about starting university was my fear of ragging. I had heard so many stories of university ragging and how brutal it could be.” This is an account shar

Making sense of the future: Developing a new model for public services

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his policy statement affirmed he would ensure that his government will remove all inefficiencies and make the public sector responsive to the people’s and country’s needs.

Watergate, WikiLeaks, Whistleblowers and Stooges in Tapes: Art of Apprehending ‘Dignified’ Parliamentarians

MPs of both sides have informed police and the Defence Ministry, Arresting an MP should be done in a manner which would not impair the honour and dignity of a ‘worthy-of-respect’ parliamentarian.

18A and proposed 21A and 22A: A road down memory lane

Just before the dawn of the New Year, two constitutional amendment Bills were presented as private member bills by parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapakshe. These Bills; if enacted, would impact some of the progressive and....

slaying of General Qassem Soleimani - EDITORIAL

In the early hours of Friday morning, the US, using drone-fired missiles killed Iranian General Soleimani just outside Baghdad’s international airport. Soleimani was the second most powerful man in Iran.

Tamils want to sing national anthem in their mother tongue

This is my third and final column in the trilogy of articles about the singing of Sri Lanka’s national anthem in Sinhala and Tamil languages. I would have very much liked to write about hot topics like Ranjan Ramanayake’s voice recordings or President Gotabaya’s policy speech or internal troubles of the UNP,

Never again another Holocaust

This year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the ending of the Second World War, and the ending of the Holocaust. The year also marks the setting up of the United Nations, formed in response to atrocity crimes of the Holocaust and the Second World War with the aim of building a world that is just and peaceful. The UN says that, acknowledging the milestone year, the UN Outreach Programme has chosen as the theme for Hol

Bête-noire of Sri Lanka’s economy

The crippling national debt problem which all recent governments of the post-independence era have been forced to face, has been a veritable eye-sore in the face of our dear motherland. Each successive government is guilty of having added to debt due to constant borrowing from funding agencies and entering into imprudent and hasty trade agreements based on borrowed capital. Sri Lanka is one of those unfortunate and karmic nations which has conti

Reining in ethnicity based politics

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s policy statement made in Parliament last Friday has been outshone by alleged telephone conversations -- between United National Party (UNP) MP Ranjan Ramanayake....

On arresting Ranjan Ramanayake…

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency has not seen the kind of comic interludes we saw building up in the first hundred days of the Sirisena presidency. At least, not yet. Sirisena bungled it up because he wasn’t satisfied with the reality....

Protect children from miscreants ! - EDITORIAL

The many rape and child abuse incidents reported in newspapers recently make us ponder whether our children are safe, sometimes even at home! What’s alarming is that there have been....

Iran conflict: Why Trump is a danger to the world

United States president Donald Trump is morally bankrupt and has no compunction in resorting to immoral and desperate acts to stay in power, no matter how disastrous the consequences....

Understanding an apolitical president

As most parts of Colombo are noticing subtle changes to the weather, which is turning from wet to hot, the country as a whole is also noticing bigger changes to the work culture in state institutes and plans made to celebrate political and cultural ceremonies.

Becoming Shareholders of a new Sri Lanka

Seven days ago Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the 7th executive President of the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka delivered his policy speech at the fourth session of the eighth Parliament.

A ‘working nation’ needs a judiciary that works

There are many ways to read the politics surrounding the raiding of Ranjan Ramanayake’s house, his subsequent arrest and the recorded phone conversations.

When segregation slips out from in between the lines Singing the national anthem only in Sinhala

If a group of Sri Lankans are asked why they sing the national anthem there could be several answers. Some might not be able to remember all the words in the anthem, but now there is a drive by the majority to initiate a debate to ensure that ‘Sri Lanka Matha’ is sung only in Sinhala at celebrated events like National Independence Day.

LOOKING BACK

Looking back, reviewing all that has gone before and all that is ahead, how prepared are we to face the stark realities that we have to??? We are facing economic issues of dynamic proportions, poverty is widespread; the country is unable to repay the loans that have been taken and as a result, the cost of living has sky rocketed!!! The most affected seem to be those

Reforming Public Sector - Editorial

History seems to be repeating itself. Fresh from a regime change consequent to the November 16 Presidential election, we are being reminded of the initial days following the last regime change which was deceptively called “yahapalanaya” or good governance. As was the case during the first few months subsequent to the 2015 Presidential election, we now hear about

Protecting 19A: Dire need of the Hour

All of a sudden, the 19th Amendment which was hailed as the main achievement of the yahapalana government sits like an unprotected and vulnerable virgin left by the way side by her parents. Those predators who have always eyed her with disdain and contempt are closing in to get rid of this ‘nuisance’ which according to them is an obstacle for unbridled and unchecked

No music is the best music for bus commuters

The Government’s January 15 deadline for bus operators to turn down the loud music in buses would be a welcoming move for many passengers who have been ‘suffering’ due to the taste of music enjoyed by most drivers and conductors. Transport Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has directed more than 20,000 private buses operating on Sri Lankan roads to voluntarily reduce the volume, and that if n

Coming Constitutional manipulation!

Sri Lanka is one of these countries, where the Constitution, the mother of all laws, has always been a bone of contention – from the very day of the independence up until now. From the very beginning, Jaffna Tamil elites who opposed it, demanded, at first, a 50-50 representation, an artificial majority to counter the demographic preponderance of the Sinhalese majority, and later, a varying degree of s