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

From 1951 to 1956: The birth of a party

Yesterday marked the 68th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). It was not the second or even third party to be established here: after the LSSP in 1934, the Communist Party in 1943, the UNP in 1946, and the Bolshevik Samasaja Party in 1948, it was the fifth. Yet within five years it had become more popular than any of these. 1956 marked quite probably the first time a dominant political party had been swept away by a grassroots led

? Enforced disappearances unlikely to end any time soon

Enforced disappearances are a recognizable problem in developing countries, including those in South Asia, even though many of these countries have modern democratic institutions. State-backed abductions are tacitly accepted as a necessity on grounds of national security and political stability. Indeed, enforced disappearances are now part and parcel of the degenerate political culture of the developing world, including South Asia. Countries i

Some insights of Archbishop Justin Welby’s visit to Sri Lanka

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby visited Sri Lanka last week of August. He is head of the Anglican Communion whose membership is over 50 million worldwide, He calls to offer strength and solidarity to Christians in Sri Lanka....

Sajith’s ‘Bugle Call’ signals a return to quarters

Respecting people’s sovereignty under a ‘five star’ democracy, SLFP and UNP appointed nine candidates rejected by the voter [who lost the trust of the people] as national list MPs to ‘represent the people’ [which people?]. JVP....

INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS - EDITORIAL

August 29, was the International Day Against Nuclear Weapons. In our country unfortunately, the date went largely unmarked. On December 2, 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the International Day...

Politics of Surrender

The SLPP presidential campaign of Gotabaya Rajapaksa is gaining steam and the JVP has announced Anura Kumara Dissanayake as its candidate, but the UNP is in crisis without a candidate.

Notes from an election A brief history of the JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) rally at Galle Face recently was large, and it reminded me of the Rajapaksa- Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) rallies in Nugegoda, Kurunegala, and yes, Galle Face.

Indian Ocean: Strategic, Trading and Environmental Aspects

I have a very difficult task to perform. That is to summarize three excellent speeches made by the esteemed and erudite panelists this evening. At the outset, let me summarize the current geopolitical and strategic situation in the Indian Ocean.

Enforced disappearances: Never again yesterday - EDITORIAL

With Sri Lanka still probing the hundreds of cases of enforced disappearances in the north, east and the south, yesterday’s United Nations international day of the victims of enforced disappearances, needs to draw....

Options For Constructive Solutions to Resolve Nation’s Legislative Crises

At a time when the timing is critical to conform to the requirements prescribed in the Constitution of the Republic of Sri Lanka as far as the holding of elections is concerned at different levels and.....

Is Galle Face endorsement enough for Anura Kumara?

When the JVP packed the 12-acre Galle Face green with People under the banner of their front organisation the National People’s Power (NPP), to announce Anura Kumara Dissanayake....

Predicament of minority parties

Only two political parties in the country seem to be certain as to what they are going to do in respect of the forthcoming Presidential Election and as to what the outcome of the election would be.

As Amazon burns, good governance can save Mother Earth

Carrying large wounds caused by unprecedented burn injuries, Mother Earth is crying in pain and we, her reckless and heartless children, are digging a grave to bury her, not realsing that when she dies, we all will die.

Let’s treat our teachers better - EDITORIAL

Teachers are assets to the country despite those rendering this service not being among those who are earning a decent salary in keeping with their qualifications. Recently the focus on teachers....

Youth in politics and their frustrations

Sri Lanka seems to be a nation which relates well to indiscipline. The country’s lawmakers promote indiscipline and its citizens haven’t been taught any other way of living by those who wield political power. We read in newspapers that the United National Party (UNP) is about to take disciplinary action against ministers Ajith P.Perera and Sujeewa Senasinghe for

SLPP-SLFP talks hit a snag SLFP demands a common symbol instead of lotus bud

As the representatives of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) came out after their latest round of bilateral discussions, they commented to the media only in broad and abstract terms. They dubbed talks as successful, and that was the crux of their overall comments. It is true that both sides still remain open for talks. Nevertheless, talks hit

Narendra Modi Imran Khan; and the search for new republics

‘Romesh Kaluwitharana ct Sachin Tendulkar, b Wasim Akram.’ Remember this? You probably would if you were an ardent cricket fan. You would, even if you were not, being an Indian and a Pakistani, old enough and interested enough (obviously) in shared subcontinental history.

The garbage crisis refuses to go away

In our editorial on August 1, we focused on the container-loads of garbage consisting of industrial and clinical waste belonging to other countries being surreptitiously dumped or downloaded on Sri Lanka and its people in the midst of the ever-increasing garbage crisis in Sri Lanka.

Bharatha Natyam recital by Anuka King

Looking at politics sans ‘sunglasses’

Sri Lankans are once again eagerly awaiting a presidential election hoping that a new regime would bring about a much needed change.

HARD QUESTIONS-WITHOUT ANSWERS

Our country is politically bankrupt; poised on the brink of presidential election, but who should the people vote for??? A million dollar question that has no answer!!! It is time now for the young ones to break away and form an alliance so they can appoint a worthy Presidential candidate!!! This horrendous business of family owned politics should be done away with; where kith and

It’s time for #PCPollSL, #PresPollSL

Elections are fast approaching, there is a buzz in the air and apprehension all around. The digital frontier is surely going to be one where Sri Lankan political parties will now renew efforts to gain the maximum PR traction.

Govt. should take tangible steps to stop food wastage

More than 550,000 metric tons of vegetables and fruits were being wasted a year due to the post-harvest damage and its loss to the nation amounted to over Rs.67 billion, the State Minister of Agriculture Wasantha Aluvihare had said last week. More than 30 per cent of crops were being wasted due to post-harvesting damage, he said during a ceremony in his hometown, Matale.

Modern day slavery still continuing - EDITORIAL

The night of August 22 to 23, 1791, in Santo Domingo--today Haiti and the Dominican Republic--saw the beginning of the uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. It is against this background that the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is marked on August 23 each year. According to the United Nations this International Day is intended to inscribe the tragedy o

Who is the best presidential candidate for the economy?

Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the clear front runner in the presidential race; even before the UNP names its candidate, the former strongman- Defence Secretary is cruising ahead with say, around a 10 per cent lead in the South.

We are unwise picking good political candidates ?

Presidential Election campaign has begun. Three contestants have already entered the battlefield and up to now, the campaign moves peacefully. Before long, however, the airwaves...

Need a JR? Poorest of UNP’s disciplinarians

A successful leader is one who can defend against the various temptations and baits of the political field; of strong character, with both charisma and conscience and willing to listen to the wishes of the common man and to represent....

terrorist investigations and Foreign interference

The Justice Vijith Malalgoda fact finding committee, appointed by the President following the 21/04 suicide bombings, had recommended that the country’s intelligence services be brought under a legal mandate that would empower....

Human Security or National Security? An election dilemma

National security has become a prominent theme in the election campaign. Easter Sunday attacks have forced the voters to rethink of candidates and to assess pros and cons of each, in terms of national security.