Sajith closes in, as Gota campaign goes on the defensive

It was quite obvious that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had a head lead running up for the 2020 Presidency. In a tussle which was not bipolar as in the 2015 or the 2010 elections, such a lead was perceived as decisive and almost irreversible. Gotabaya had laid the groundwork for his candidacy through projects such as Viyathmaga and Eliya which ensured that Mahinda Rajapaksa,

Air pollution: a silent killer

Last week, the authorities, especially those at the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) warned of health hazards due to the air pollution mainly in Colombo and suburbs. At the same time, the US Embassy’s Air Quality Monitor in Colombo indicated unhealthy values of air quality with 167 Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded by 10.00 pm last Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, the A

Newly-elected President Must Support Disarmament, Human Security and Climate Change

Sri Lanka became a UN member in 1955 and since then the country has been engaged in treaties, conventions and programmes of the UN on promoting and supporting disarmament, human security and climate change. The subjects of disarmament, human security and climate change are interconnected in today’s world and can be measured through several means and these include the Sustainable D

From MCC to Chinese Megaprojects in Sri Lanka Demystifying Aid Politics Debate

Less than a week coming up to the Presidential election in Sri Lanka, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Agreement to be signed between Sri Lanka and the United States of America....

CBK led Hansa Poottuwa to Challenge Pohottuwa: I WILL VOTE FOR..?

Hansa poottuwa is a Decorative image of twin swans: a traditional Lankan motif, it signifies harmony and prosperity. It illustrates the elegance and exquisiteness of a woman along with the masculinity of a man.

Muslim voters have decided to whom they should vote

One of the young Muslim leaders, former Local government and Provincial Councils Minister Faizer Musthapha spoke to Daily Mirror on the viewpoint of the Muslim community about next week’s Presidential poll and other issues relating to Muslims.

Elections, poverty and shortage of essentials - EDITORIAL

In Sri Lanka, the period just after election results are announced, is often chaotic, marked by trade union action, blockading of the roads by worker and student organisations, as well as a bending....

Be an informed voter; ensure your vote counts

Presidential Election Day is almost here! Many people will have their minds already made up when they walk into their local voting booths on Saturday, confident in their choice for President.

Entrepreneurship as a key solution for Unemployment

Entrepreneurs play a vital role in job creation and providing opportunities to young people. International annual Job Creation Survey consistently shows that entrepreneurs’ hiring plans outpace the rest. In 2015, it was found that 47% of entrepreneurs (and 77% of world-leading entrepreneurs) plan to increase the size of their workforce, compared to 29% of large corporations.

Open science in a corruption free society

Tomorrow the United Nations marks World Science Day for Peace and Development and in a statement the world body highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the people in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives.

Premier Stakes 2020 Putting the record straight!

Sri Lanka has held seven Presidential Elections since the introduction of the 1978 Constitution. Not in any one of these seven have so many questions arisen during the election campaign regarding the Prime Minister under a newly-elected President. On more than one previous occasion both Parliament and the people have had surprises imposed and one such surprise PM even ended up being the President! Why then has the question, who will be PM, hit th

Let’s nail those who abuse Facebook!

Last week we read the news about a party organised through Facebook where several guests were arrested for possessing narcotics. The guests arrested during a raid were in the age range of 18-48. Teenagers being at this party, where the use of Cannabis is alleged, is serious. It seems parents have to control the use of Facebook and of possible attempts to entice these youngsters to

If politicians are faithful to promises, Lanka can grow in stature

In the afterglow of the 1969 moon landing, a political analyst quipped that if politicians had been like Pinocchio, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin would have been disappointed to note that before they set foot on the moon, the noses of most of the earth’s politicians had already reached the surface of the moon.

TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT

The media, which was a major talking point after the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks due to the deplorable behaviour of a section of it that was bogged down in racism, has again been making headlines for other reasons. The issue was seriously discussed during a seminar organised by the Denmark based International Media Support (IMS) recently where Election Commission (EC) Chairman

Is the Election Commission a capable media monitor?

On Tuesday morning last, there was a surprising tweet that had copied a post from the FB account “Bring Back Gota” said to be managed by the SLPP social media group. The FB post very openly said, “Election Commission in Sri Lanka is no more an independent Commission. It is a biased Commission. Professor Hooley (misspelled purposely?) is not independent, he is an appointee that represent the Tamil Diaspora and Western interests. He will do his bes

Implied or actual threat Ali Sabry’s address to Muslim community

As canvassing heightens, party supporters are doing the rounds convincing possible target audiences to cast their votes in favour of their candidates and manifestos. Recently one such canvassing video went viral on social media sparking debate among viewers as to whether its contents were an implied or actual threat.

TNA face hurdles in delivering Tamil votes en bloc to any candidate

With the campaign trails of the presidential candidates entering in the final stage, the political formations of the main candidates seem to be exhausting all possible strategies at their disposal to swing votes in their favour. Ahead of the elections, two significant political events took place this week. One is that the Ilankai Tamil Arashu Katchchi (ITAK) which is the dominant force of

DANGER: The MCC Compact is down, but not out

There’s an agreement on the table which could thrust Sri Lanka into an inextricable bind where knot could be tightened at will by another country through multiple means. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.

Being a strong voice for the weak and oppressed - Editorial

It is at a time when impunity, human rights, freedom of expression, freedom to dissent, poverty alleviation and reconciliation are being repeatedly highlighted on the campaign trail that we turn the spotlight today on the life and legacy of El Salvador’s Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero and what led to his brutal murder on March 24, 1980 at the age of 62 by an ‘unknown assassin’ in

Election promises and options A development flavoured with good or bad Which would voters prefer?

There was a time in this country where its citizens entertained the thought that this island should be ruled by a dictator. Underscoring the thought that ‘one gets what one dreams of’ there came an opportunity to taste dictatorship under a Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. During the regime which lasted for two terms, or ten years, the islanders got a taste of being under the thumbs

#PresPollSL social media monitoring It’s a lot of talk, a lot of it, a little action here and there

The better part of last two months has been spent on looking at the Presidential Election in general and social media implications in particular. It is an intriguing study to look at how the traditional love Sri Lankans show for all things innuendo has transferred itself on to the digital sphere.

Tomorrow, perhaps, the future - EDITORIAL

Elections campaigns take two forms, broadly. In order to posit themselves as the best deal for the voter candidates get dragged into shouting matched where the focus is on relative demerits of opponents, their histories and political associations. Secondly, they talk of policies. However, these are typically kept snug in manifestos or, when they do get articulated

Wisdom, humility and compassion

Would like to give you a different article today – to leave you with Pearls of Wisdom gathered over the years, pics of really great people who demonstrate their greatness through their innate goodness and humility and one of the most important attributes, compassion!!!

Elections Commission and Maintaining a Media Balance - EDITORIAL

Chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC) Mahinda Deshapriya on Saturday had prohibited Independent Television Network (ITN) from broadcasting any politically-oriented programmes, interviews from November 4, till the results of the November 16 presidential election are declared. He had said if ITN wanted to broadcast any political content, it must be submitted to the Elections Commission for prior approval. However, he revoked hi

Welfarism is Good only within Our Means

When the UNP Presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa and his backers bulldozed the former’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate through the UNP executive committee -after a series of mass rallies and implicit threats of party division- their objective was just to have their man on the party ticket. It is unlikely that they thought beyond the nomination until that very moment.

Beyond campaigns: Choosing the best candidate

With the Presidential Election campaigns coming to an end in a few days, most Sri Lankans who are not yet decided on their voting preferences have become baffled. They are in a quandary trying....

Tabs, Pads and so on… Promises – if Kept, a Paradise!

New Zealand, the welfare state three or four decades ago, with all best intentions set out to create a more egalitarian society. Everyone, regardless of wealth began dipping into the government goodies. Healthcare was free.

Impeachment - Democracy through numbers game - EDITORIAL

Impeachment proceedings against US President Donald Trump have commenced in the US House of Representatives - the Lower House of the US Congress, with the Senate being the Upper House....

Northern Muslims: The Hope for a Plural Future

Over the last week, there were two events organised at Osmania College and St. John’s Church Parish Hall to remember the eviction of the Northern Muslims in October 1990.

Presidential race: Ordinary People Expect Better Economic Prospects and National Security

This writer devoted several hours in the past fortnight to communicate with a cross-section of Sinhala media personnel in the Southern, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and North Central Provinces of Sri Lanka. A few journalist colleagues in Colombohelped to put me in touch with them. Our discussions were focused on the upcoming presidential election and about how chief presidential candidates were likely to fare. I was very much interested i