Presidential poll and TNA’s dilemma

As we said last week, the demands put forward by five Tamil parties to the three main contenders of the presidential election are not new. In fact, the most contentious demands in the memorandum of understanding....

I believe in National Harmony -Dr. Ajantha Perera-

Dr. Ajantha Perera, the only female candidate to contest in the upcoming Presidential Polls is determined to bring about a total transformation in the existing political culture. Contesting from the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka, Dr. Perera is a recognised environmental scientist in Sri Lanka and many other parts of the world.

Side effects of the drug menace - EDITORIAL

Despite the on-going war against narcotic drugs and the hangman’s noose hanging over the necks of repeat drug-offenders, there are also reports of drug trafficking making inroads into Sri Lanka with the proliferation of various kinds of drugs such as heroin, hashish, cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine and psychotropic substances.In the wake ofthe foregoing, there have also been several instances of large quantities of narcotics being detected, se

Sajith, TNA and the National Question

It is simple now. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is reported to have submitted a set of 13 conditions to be agreed upon as the price for supporting a presidential candidate. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has refused to bite. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is reported to be willing to agree to a couple. The United National Party (UNP) has maintained a solid silence. The UNP candidate has a steep hill to climb as it is and does

Batticaloa : Changed political dynamics likely to reflect on election results

Political dynamics keep changing at every election. Voting patterns are altered accordingly, and it determines who or which party will win at the end. As far as the 2015 presidential elections were concerned, the collective strength of the minority communities- Tamils and Muslims concentrated in the north and the east- turned out to be the crucial factor that impacted the final result. Aversion to the then Mahinda Rajapaksa government- triggered

Election Diary : When Tamils keep vigil and pray

The Tamil politicians are a difficult lot to please. They demand the best for themselves and do the least for their community. What’s strange is that the lawmakers representing this minority community can’t find containment despite having one of the most expensive things a citizen of a country can have; peace. If one browses through the demands they’ve put forward to potential presidential candidates and parties they suggest that these Tamil law

Dr. Sunil Fernando Sunil Mama: A silent warrior of God, forever in my heart

What needs to be done!

With all the religious, cultural and heritage values enshrined in this country, it is inconceivable that we, as a nation, could have allowed the heinous carnage of 21/4 to be perpetrated and it is precisely because these values are enshrined in us that, as a nation, we rose to help our brethren who were victims of this senseless carnage!!! It is human nature to be selfish and think only

HOW PRAGMATIC ARE NEC DIRECTIVES ?

According to media reports, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has sent out directives to all State employees that persons attempting to influence co-workers, friends and subordinates to vote for a particular candidate at the November 16 presidential election would be penalised.

#FakeNews during #PresPollSL: Is anyone taking notes?

Presidential poll will become the all-consuming topic soon, if not already. Last week, when I spent some time in Colombo speaking to a lot of journalists on fake news, I was told it was not a new phenomenon.

When the angry and the frustrated go to vote

The minds of the average voters in Sri Lanka are filled with frustration more than hope. They’d choose to vote for either Gotabaya Rajapaksa or Sajith Premadasa out of the frustration they have to find the country’s next leader.

Visakha and Ayodhya

The name Visakha evokes the best of womanhood in the Buddhist world. The chief patroness of Buddha, who gifted Eastern monastery (Purvaramaya) to Sasana, is revered as the epitome of wisdom, grace, beauty, courage and loyalty. Even here in Sri Lanka, it is Visakha who has the maximum number of allusions in Sinhala songs among all the women in Buddha’s time. Such is her influence even the country’s most premier girls’ school is named after her.

STATESMEN AND POLITICIANS

We have had our share of both, although the latter has always been the majority. While I reflect in retrospect, I think that our first Prime Minister the late D.S. Senanayake and his brother the late

Does Sri Lanka really need a dictator?

A few days ago, I was watching the replay of Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa’s maiden election rally address. There were seven youth with me and one of them pointed up his finger towar

Bangladesh’s Blue Revolution opens up new avenue for developing countries

It is well recognized that Bangladesh has been vigorously executing large scale development projects to maintain its phenomenal growth rate of 8.2%. What is less known is that its small scale sector has not been neglected and that this sector is also pulling itself by the bootstraps to be a major player in the country’s economic development. “Bangladesh’s fishery sector has proved that poverty reduction and rural development are possible witho

Trek to Presidency Hurdling via ‘Galle Face Pitiya’ and Elpitiya: Why Sajith did not heed to Ranil’s advice?

The unprecedented turnout for inaugural rally at the Galle Face Green— the record crowd that filled not only the Green but vast stretches of Galle Road and the surrounding areas on the previous day had a definite influence....

Election Fever, Puzzles, Expectations and Brass Tacks

The country is on the verge of a Presidential Election to be held in November 2019. This is the first Presidential Election to be held after the (last) constitutional amendment; on the 19th, to reduce the powers of the Executive.

What’s Your Verdict? - EDITORIAL

It’s election time and another presidential election is almost upon us. Almost three years and eleven months ago, to the date, President Sirisena sent shock waves through the nation when he announced...

Tamil Politics and Presidential Elections

Presidential elections have always posed a problem for Tamil nationalist politics. An exclusivist Tamil outlook undermines the articulation of politics and engagement with a leader representing the country.

‘Gotaphobia’ - Who’s afraid of Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa?

“Onna Babo Billo Enawaa” was a familiar threat often used by grown-ups to frighten children into obedience in those days. Fear would be instilled into children that the kidnapper with the sack (Goni Billa) would grab them if the kids did not do as they were told. Nowadays, a few people resort to such threats in dealing with children.

Worldwide corruption cost is US$2.6 trillion or Rs.473 trillion

As Sri Lanka prepares for the crucial presidential election on November 16, the major crisis is clearly political corruption with the abuse of power and the failure to take effective legal action. Since independence, few if any leading politicians have been jailed for corruption including bribery and fraud. Furthermore little or nothing has been recovered from the hundreds of millions of rupees if not billions they plundered from public funds whi

The Politics of Tragedy and the Tragedy of Politics

Since April 21, 2019 Sri Lanka has witnessed probably the most unusual behaviour of politicians of all shades of opinion and their slavishly loyal goons, in the wake of one of the bloodiest attacks in recent times on one of the most holy days for Christians worldwide. The public who voted for them have become helpless bystanders, watching this tragedy unfold before their eyes. The irony is that everyone wants to become the protagonist, but no on

Third force and AKD as presidential candidate

In conversation a few days ago while travelling in a ‘tuk tuk,’ an elderly driver asked me why there wasn’t any law to disqualify candidates who did not present their political reason(s) within at least two weeks, for contesting elections.

Will Tamils boycott the election?

One of the 35 presidential candidates – the highest ever number to contest so far – is former Eastern Province Governor M.L.A.M. Hizbullah who was branded by many politicians, especially those aligned to the Sri Lanka...

Following the trail funding terrorism - EDITORIAL

The Malaysian security authorities arresting as many as 12 persons for being involved in activities connected to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) makes Sri Lanka tighten its security belt.

Progress not possible till we crack down on corruption

Many of us have heard the story about a Sri Lankan minister meeting his counterpart from a developed nation. For the benefit of first time voters, the story is retold here. Once, a Sri Lankan minister visited a developed country.

Former rebels attempting unlikely union

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, the main constituent party of the National People’s Power (NPP), approaching the Tamil Ealam Liberation Organization (TELO) and the People Liberation Organization of Tamil Ealam (PLOTE) to garner support for the upcoming presidential elections makes us travel back in annals of time with interest to the late 1980s when the country was

TNA keeps presidential candidates in a spot

The two Tamil parties- Tamil Makkal Kooteny (TMK) led by former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) led by former MP Suresh Premachandran, teamed up with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in working out a common document to be handed out to the presidential candidates.

Which candidate can bell the Muslim Fundamentalist Cat?

Promises are cheap, plans expensive. Promises easy, plans take time to formulate and a certain basic level of intelligence to articulate. Promises don’t add up to vision, plans do. Some candidates promise, others plan. I need not elaborate.

‘Blessed are the Peacemakers….’

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Oliver Wendell Holmes