No Election Promises On Ethnic Reconciliation

Jehan Perera who writes copiously on various subjects, especially on matters of national interest, has made a very poignant statement in his above-captioned lengthy article, making mention of the present presidential election promises by candidates, where he says, “But there is one area in which promises are hardly to be seen. This is the area of proposals to end inter-ethnic and inter-religious strife,

When journalists are targeted, society pays a price

Today the United Nations marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists and Secretary-General António Guterres in a message says, when journalists are targeted, societies as a whole pay a price. Without the ability to protect journalists, our ability to remain informed and contribute to decision-making is severely hampered. Without journalists able to do their jobs in safety, we face the prospect of a world of confusio

Election promises: An insult to people’s intellect

An utterly-frustrating situation has arisen with the two main contenders of the November 16 presidential election vying on each others platforms, freely throwing promises at the people which are very clear to be unrealistic.

Dirty tricks and cheap gimmicks on campaign trail

“There is a large number of war heroes in prison on utterly false charges. I like to tell at this moment, on 17th morning, I will acquit and release them all from prison. Will acquit and release them,” SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa...

Integrating smart tech to education - EDITORIAL

Presidential candidates are harping much about how they’ll raise the standard of education in the country. There are proposals in manifestos to raise the education through projects which would introduce a student-centred education system....

Baghdadi: It’s not over yet

A terrorist’s death won’t end terrorism. Killing a terrorist is no major military feat, but to kill his terror ideology requires much more effort and concerted global action aimed at addressing the socio-economic and political factors that make one a terrorist.

Case of Sri Lankan civil war: Wars not won by individuals Claim by one person that he single-handedly won the war is unrealistic

Another critical factor in this regard was formalising the Civil Defence Force. This was initially a loose organisation of civilians who had been given only shotguns....

Candidates seem to have common policies So, what matters most is ability to deliver

Campaigning for the presidential elections has entered full swing with the main candidates travelling across the length and breadth of the country to address election rallies.

Election Diary: The slow journey towards reconciliation

Sunday (October 27) marked ‘Deepavali’ and Hindus showed huge interest to celebrate the event, also named as ‘Festival of Lights’.

Learn History’s Lessons Lest history Repeats Itself - EDITORIAL

Saturday, the 26th of October 2019 marked the 1st anniversary of last year’s infamous conspiracy, which shook and shocked the entire country and the international community.

The MCC: Did the ‘going devil’ break the crock (koraha)?

Elections come and go. People and parties come to power. They come and go. Agreements sometimes have longer shelf lives.

Case of Sri Lankan civil war WAR IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE LEFT TO THE GENERALS

The Sri Lankan civil war which began on July 23, 1983 between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the LTTE also known as Tamil Tigers) – who fought to create an independent State called ‘Tamil Eelam’ in the North and East – ended in May 2009 with the defeat of Tamil Tigers after a 26-year campaign by the Sri Lankan military.

LESSONS NOT LEARNT

Moving from global warming and energy crisis to school crisis, rising prices, mega sales, train crisis, medical, environmental, salaries, the country is riddled in CRISES!!! The world over it is worse, natural and unnatural disasters by the score!!! Have we ever stopped to ask ourselves what is happening; is the end of the world drawing nigh??? If so, are we prepare d to face the

Can Sajith go against the tide?

These are hilarious pre-election days where citizens of this nation are getting to hear about fancy plans presidential candidates have for them. Presidential hopeful Sajith Premadasa has challenged his main counterpart Gotabaya Rajapaksa for a debate, but the debate seems to be a non-starter. The Rajapaksa camp questions Sajith’s credentials before the debate and the

‘Electoral Democracy: a pick between kettle and pot

When the Donoughmore Reforms which included proposals for granting universal franchise to all citizens, were being discussed, the legislators who belonged to the nobility (to whom the voting rights were confined up to then) raised objection to it. As Sir James Pieris argued, giving such right to all and sundry, with barely any experience in governance, would allow shrewd

Killing Baghdadi; Iran says “US killed its own creature”

Unlike the earlier occasions when it was reported that the leaders of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed, this time the story seems to be confirmed. Only Russia had told initially that it had no reliable information, when US President Donald Trump announced that in an operation by the US Special Forces in North Western Syria, al-

A real ‘Parippu’

There is no love sincerer than the love of food ― George Bernard Shaw in ‘Man and Superman’ A senior sub editor at the editorial had grown chillies in his home garden. One fine day he found that the leaves of the plants had caught a worm disease. This gentleman who is from Band

Royal Park murder A delicate issue called ‘Presidential Pardon’

With less than a month left to remain in office, President Maithripala Sirisena is reportedly pondering a presidential pardon for Royal Park murder convict Shramantha Jude Anthony Jayamaha. If he actually signs an order to that effect, it could well be the last act of folly from a President who, from day one in office, has worked hard to demonstrate that he has neither the potential, the wits, the wisdom, the compassion or the intelligence it tak

Report on peace building, a source of both hope and despair

The 36-year long Sri Lankan civil war over the ethnic issue ended more than ten years ago, guns have been silent and people are going about their businesses without any fear of being killed or maimed. And yet, the roots of the conflict among the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims are still intact. A conflict could sprout again if peace-building was stopped and the underlying issues are not attended to speedily and with the seriousness they deserve,

Enter CBK; Offer “11%” to UNP and Protect SLFP!

Daily Mirror front page news on October 16 stated that former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunga would return soon from London. The news item further says, ‘She issued a statement two days ago criticizing the SLFP’s....

No one talks about ‘voter ignorance’ in election season

Many years ago, I had the opportunity of spending a few days in a German village sheep farm. In the evening of the first day, for the first time in my life, I witnessed how the farmer rounded up his sheep.

Death and destruction, the price of intervention - EDITORIAL

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump triggered a wild guessing game after announcing on Twitter that “something very big” has happened, amid rumours that the US military had killed the Islamic State leader.

DO YOU RECALL THAT BLACKEST FRIDAY OF ALL?

Just one year ago, the nation faced a shock above all shocks when the Prime Minister was removed, another appointed in his place and an illegal government in office by a constitutional coup done without any thought of how it would affect the nation.

Spin-doctors distorting heritage of journalism

Tomorrow is the United Nations World Day for Audiovisual heritage and the world body in a statement says audio visual documents -- such as films, radio and television programmes, are our common heritage and contain the primary records of the history of the 20th and 21st centuries. Unfortunately, that heritage is now endangered, because sound recordings and moving images can be deliberately destroyed or irretrievably lost as a result of neglect, d

No Protection of the Constitution: No Law, no Elections

My greetings to Sivarajah, or Chivan as we called him, the brain behind this Simon Ranaweera Sivarajah Institute of Tamil teaching Tamil to Sinhalese. Let me start my story with Nallammah. According to an uncle of mine, well before I was born, she was a beautiful widow with a year-old infant. Of the Vellala caste and a strict Hindu, it was the end of the road for her, as by Hindu law few would willingly marry her. Then along came Simon Ranaweera

Sirisena’s presidential scorecard

Pallewatte Gamaralalage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena, the seventh and incumbent executive President, will retire in less than a month. With the presidential poll on November 16, the winner of this congested race will assume office the following day. President Sirisena himself was sworn in a day after the presidential election on January 8, 2015.

Bombshell on Easter bombings PSC final report reveals high-level failures

Six months ago the country was shaken by the dastardly Easter Sunday bombings carried out by Zahran Hashim’s terror outfit National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ). The April 21 blasts killed hundreds of innocent civilians and injured scores more, leaving people shocked and searching for answers. While the government and law enforcement agencies failed to explain why the attacks were not prevented, the people were demanding the truth. They wanted to know wh

Hakeem haunted by Zaharan’s past - EDITORIAL

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report which gives its final findings of the Easter Sunday Bombings is viewed with raised eyebrows. This is because the PSC consists of a member in Rauff Hakeem....

Participatory democracy: People’s power vital for Sri Lanka

In recent days and months, Hong Kong, Iraq, Chile, Ecuador, Haiti, Lebanon and several other countries have seen mass-scale public protests. Though the reasons that drew the people to the streets....

Presidential election and Media Monitoring by NEC

The National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairman has been pressing for fair and independent reporting of election-related issues at different fora and at meetings with political party representatives.