WHAT PRICE?

William Hazlitt says “The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy,” if that is the truth and I agree with him, then the people who govern this country can never be forgiven, for the simple reason that the majority are a bunch of hypocrites!!! The people are taking examples from the putrid glaring human examples governing them – what price politics??? More importantly, what

A tale of two leaders going their separate ways Will Sajith fall prey to Ranil’s predatory ways?

The much talked about presidential polls and the need for a change in regime were felt profoundly when the government made another election blunder; not checking on the price increase of Prima wheat flour which has been raised by rupees 5.50 a kilo.

Facebook increases engagement with Lankan journalists

So, we are looking at elections towards end November. The next two and-a-half months are going to be nothing short of full throttle.

Where are the green candidates and green manifestos?

Elections call for manifestos. Manifestos are typically documents into wish the which lists of all conceivable political communities are inserted. It makes sense politically to promise every religious community, every ethnic group and even every caste, class, age, region, sexual-preference and professional community a piece of the future’s pie. Lip service is too often the order of the day.

Lack of Quorum: Dark days of Parliament

The accountability of Government Ministers in particular and Parliamentarians in general towards the voters, who elected them was once again well manifested last week. On September 5, there was not a single Minister to answer the 15 oral questions that had been raised by the MPs and documented in the Parliament’s Order Paper of the day well in advance.

UNP cannot win becoming a mirror image of Pohottuwa

The United National Party is suffering from an existential identity crisis. While symptoms had been there during much of the past two decades, the current bout is a manifestation of acute conditions.

Significance of US$ 1 bn Indian credit to develop Russia’s Far East

When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi grandly announced at the Eastern Economic Summit in Vladivostok in Far East Russia (RFE) last week that India will extend a US$ 1 billion Line of Credit for the development of the RFE, it came as a surprise. It was the first case of a developing country lending money to an advanced country in the post-colonial world. But Modi had reasons

The Nayakkars make their way...

Vira Parakrama Narendrasinghe ascended the throne in Kandy in 1707. His father, Vimala Dharma Suriya II, had been quite unlike his namesake under whom much of Kandy had been built in the 17th century. In the 17th and 18th century, the role of the king underwent a subtle if not altogether significant transformation, in the form of a transition of power to ministers, and with Vimala Dharma Suriya II that

At the Presidential Poll Can EPDP chief Douglas get Tamil votes for Gota ?

Ever since the name of Gotabaya Rajapaksa began to be bandied about as a potential candidate at the Sri Lankan presidential elections, doubts have been raised as to whether the former defence ministry secretary could win at the hustings.

US flip-flops and Iran’s rejection of talks - EDITORIAL

At the Group of Seven summit in the French resort town of Biarritz (from August 24 to August 26) US President Trump raised the prospect of meeting Iran’s President Rouhani, whom he called a “great negotiator.”

President’s Bond Drama

Addressing the 68th party Convention /Anniversary on his 68th Birthday at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, President Maithripala Sirisena stated that “a person larger than Arjuna Mahendran, the former Central Bank Governor....

Can the fringe decisively influence presidential poll? Is JVP a trustworthy ‘democratic’ party?

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has a storied past. Its romanticist appeal enthralled the masses; in 1971, the now-infamous insurrection, though based fundamentally on violent overthrow of a democratically....

Notes from an election: Carts and horses, carrots and sticks

It has been said of women, largely by misogynists, that men can’t do with or without them. The same can be said of the Sajith factor: the United National Party can’t do with or without it.

More blessed to give than to receive - EDITORIAL

September 5 was an important day for the world – the International day of Charity or in practical terms poverty alleviation through a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources. In modern terminology....

Sri Lankan SOEs the good, bad and the ugly

“There is no business for the government to be in business,” is a formula advocated by most western economic experts. They believe Government bureaucracy is not equipped to run State-owned enterprises.....

Abolition of presidency to eschew poll: Praying for rain to avoid match defeat

Media reported last week that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had met President Maithripala Sirisena and come to an agreement with him to abolish the executive presidency forthwith.

19A irrelevant for next President

In urban elite circles, there is much debate on 19A and the powers the next elected President would have. 19A goes down in parliamentary history as a set of amendments that had clauses read only in English and a Tamil MP...

Bond indictment under spotlight

Attorney-General Dappula de Livera has come under scrutiny for several decisions and arrests in a number of high-profile cases. One case where it was widely believed that the Attorney General (AG) had upheld the public trust and....

Sri Lankans seeking refuge Down Under - EDITORIAL

The Australian Government’s attempts to deport a Sri Lankan family being blocked by a court order has generated calls from sympathizers abroad to make the islanders a part of the Aussie community.

US being forced to surrender in Afghanistan

The United States and the Taliban are on the verge of signing a historic deal to facilitate a partial US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Whatever the deal is and how complicated it is, it cannot be called a peace deal....

UNP lawmaker turns 50 on Monday Can Navin relate a success story?

Greatly inspired by the work of his late father, Gamini, lawmaker Navin has much to look forward to in the field of politics as he gets set to celebrate his 50th birthday on September 9 (Monday).

Is president harbouring prime ministerial ambitions now?

President Maithripala Sirisena, in his speech delivered at the 68th convention of his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on Tuesday, laid emphasis on the post of prime minister. He said it is all powerful under the 19th Amendment which was incorporated into the Constitution in 2015. The presidential powers have been pruned to a great extent under it, for sure. The future

‘Elpitiya’ as beginning and end

Elections to every single local government authority in the Galle District were held on February 10, 2018. Except Elpitiya. That was due to a petition pleading relief over a perceived error in a nomination list being rejected. Time passed. We had the parliamentary crisis at the end of that year. We had the Easter Sunday attacks a few months ago. Even people who were aware of

‘Accountability, a step towards the healing process’

While the World marked the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30, the kith and kin of those who had disappeared, during the near 30-year armed conflict in Sri Lanka between the security forces and the LTTE, took to the streets at Omantai in the North and Kalmunai in the East to draw the attention of the government to the fate of their missing

Award-winning lawmakers must walk the talk

A good many of the clergy in Sri Lanka are now directly involved in politics. We read so much in newspapers these days about the clergy wanting to confer politicians with honours . The latest recipient was Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe who was honoured with the ‘Nelson Mandela Peace Prize’. He was honoured by the National Church council.

Change !

Change is necessary, it is vital, but are our politicians geared to effect the necessary changes, are they capable or more correctly, do they recognise that CHANGE IS VITAL??? Change is important from the country’s point of view, for its very survival!!! In the throes of pre-election fever, it is natural for us citizens to ask who will bring the CHANGE our country desperately

Is this the ideal opportunity to get rid of Executive Presidency?

President Maithripala Sirisena was reported in the media as saying that millions of rupees spent on constitutional reforms were a waste as nothing fruitful had come out of the spending. Obviously given the extent of his constitutional literacy as was exhibited during the notorious Constitutional Coup last October, he seems more bothered about the millions that were spent

Carlo’s deathbed plea: Physicians, heal thyselves - EDITORIAL

With party politics having degenerated from what was expected to be a Public Service to a big business, most people are looking for a statesman to vote for at the upcoming Presidential Election. On Monday Sri Lanka lost the legendary Professor Carlo Fonseka who had the vision, virtues and values of a statesman.

Quarter Life Crisis; Life at 25

We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future - Franklin D Roosevelt Move on mid-life crisis. The quarter life crisis is gaining ground. Addicted to phone and social media, often distracted, endowed with plethora of choices yet sunk in apathy towards most of them - be they higher st

Findings in Palai and revival of terrorism?

Two weeks ago, the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) arrested the Judicial Medical Officer of Palai Hospital, Sinniah Sivaruban for allegedly trying to revive the LTTE. Later, allegedly based on information provided by the suspect, TID discovered a cache of firearms, and explosives concealed in a palmyrah grove in Karandiya in Palai. Subsequent police investigations led to the arrest of six former