Madush a product of the system

Deputy Minister Vijayakala Maheswaran, who was in hot water in July last year for praising the one-time administration by the LTTE before it was militarily decimated, told a few days ago that it was the southern politicians....

Can Dubai teach Sri Lanka lessons on drugs? - EDITORIAL

The drug issue in Sri Lanka made everybody look beyond drug lord Makandure Madush because a leading musician and his son were also among those arrested in Dubai. 

Nuclear holocaust: Clock ticks closer to midnight

Hibakusha in Japanese means bomb-affected persons and the word is exclusively used to refer to the survivors of atomic explosions at Hiroshima or Nagasaki in August 1945.

On the trail of the Ava Group

Nine years after the defeat of the tiger rebels we still hear stories about disgruntled Tamil citizens demanding justice and also of attempts by certain parties to give hero status to rebel cadres who perished during the conflict. 

Election-fearing democrats and the PC conundrum

The call for several decades has been the abolition of the executive presidency. It’s as if the one and only problem this country has had is this office, its powers, functions and those who hold it. An all-powerful presidency that makes a mockery of the division of power among the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the state is certainly a problem. 

Let’s return to our traditional ways of farming

Exactly ten days ago Sri Lanka celebrated its 71st Anniversary of Independence. But in the hustle and bustle and the pomp and pageantry of the Independence Day celebrations it appears that the life and times of our nation’s founding father, Don Stephen Senanayake, the most outstanding political leader ever produced by the 

A charade: National Government

The latest shenanigan of this kind is the government’s on-going ploy to form a ‘National Government’, farcically enough, by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the only Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) member in Parliament (Ali Zahir Mowlana, the Digamadulla District Parliamentarian is the only SLMC MP who 

Male children exposed to higher risk of abuse

Child abuse in Sri Lanka is increasing at an alarming rate despite efforts by Government and non-government bodies to safeguard children. Experts say that many cases of abuse have gone unreported and available statistics do not represent all incidents.

India shows neutrality in dealing with SL politics

The February 9 thought conclave conducted by The Hindu newspaper of India in Bangalore included a blend of speakers representing different shades of opinion. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa had been invited to deliver the inaugural address between 10.00 am and 11.00 am on February 9, and the topic was ‘the future of India- Sri Lanka ties’.

From worms in food to jilted lovers, the first recourse is social media

Last week one of the Sri Lankan journalists, Rahul Samantha Hettiarchchi from Hambantota, whom I have worked with for a long time, had the worst type of experience in byline theft.   

Next Presidential Election: Who will win in a three-cornered fight?

The social media is quite busy. One of its main political thrusts has been towards promoting one single individual of the United National Party (UNP). And that is Sajith Premadasa, the incumbent Housing and Cultural Affairs Minister, the son of the late Ranasinghe Premadasa. Ranasinghe Premadasa was a totally different kettle of fish. 

A NATION’S PRIDE?

The pride of the nation was historically displayed on February 4 with the tri-forces and police taking pride of place. Seventy-one years of Independence is indeed a cause for celebration, but the question is with the country in such economic and political chaos, did it warrant a celebration of the calibre put on display? After all, the people of 

Man hours lost due to traffic congestion

Let us admit it, even grudgingly, that the Rajagiriya flyover helped ease traffic in and around the area. However, it also created a minus. The ease of traffic due to the flyover and its panoramic view tempted thousands of those who had been avoiding Rajagiriya, due to traffic snarls earlier, to venture into the route again. 

Dubai arrests give glimmer of hope in fight against drugs

Many people seem to think that the arrest of notorious drug kingpin Samarasinghe Arachchige Madush Lakshitha alias Makandure Madush and some of his accomplices in Dubai is the end of drug peddling, trafficking and use in Sri Lanka. However, in light of the fate of high profile cases of drug peddling and terrorism in the past, we can’t help but have to be pessimistic about the success of the fight against drugs.    Any right thinki

ASSAULT ON SPEAKER’S CHAIR

It is reported that members of Parliament who have been identified for unruly behaviour, ignoring parliamentary ethics in the house, during two days of sittings last year, as the 52-day long political unrest surfaced may face judicial actions for violating parliamentary privileges and also obstructing the Speaker continually from performing his official duties

Breast milk for ‘suckling’ MPs ?

Readers will remember how the ‘Pohottuwa demonstrators’ tried to promote the crown prince; a move  that ended in a flop on September 12 last year. What happened endorsed the old Sri Lanka proverb ‘gahen wetuna minihata gona enna waagei’ (The man who fell from the tree was gored by a bull). 

Why JVP’s protest in support of Venezuela is vital

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramina’s (JVP) protest on Friday (February 8) in Colombo demanding the ceasing of imperialist oppression of Venezuela by the USA is of much importance to Sri Lanka. 

Our cultural landscape: From Victoria Park to Tower Hall

The period from 1837 to 1901 has been described as the Victorian era. Generally disparaged, often caricatured, Victorianism today invites censure of what is felt to be its puritan value system. At the same time, there is no doubt that Britain underwent a radical transformation. Some of the most discernible achievements in English history transpired in the era: 

Nudging India to shed reservations about engaging Taliban

Colombo, February 11: Of late, there is some realisation in India that it is time New Delhi dropped its reservations about engaging the radical Islamist Taliban in Afghanistan and participated in the ongoing peace process in that devastated country.  Involved in the peace process are the Taliban, US, Russia, Iran and Pakistan. The process has the support of Beijing.  Each participating country has its own re

Ordinary people: the Point that Bandula Gunawardene missed

I mentioned in the first part of this series of articles that I agreed with Bandula Gunawardene. But then, there’s no real reason to doubt that the other side, i.e. those who root for international schools, have their stories to tell as well.

EC’s Advocacy for Non-violence: Fine-tuning the UN Programme

Article 3 of our Constitution declares our sovereignty: “In the Republic of Sri Lanka sovereignty is in the People and is inalienable. Sovereignty includes the powers of government, fundamental rights and the franchise.

Venezuela crisis and US interference in Latin America - EDITORIAL

Venezuela today is in the grip of a political, economic and humanitarian crisis. The ‘Guardian’ reports that as many as three million of its people, a 10th of the population have fled the country.

A New Course for Post-War North

After nearly 30 years of conflict, the post-war socio-economic challenges in the North were tremendous. Destroyed and underdeveloped infrastructure, deteriorated social fabric, and human resources that lagged behind the rest of the country.....

Changes at SLC must be more than eyewash

On February 4, our cricket team playing the second test, in a match series were drubbed by the Australians, by a massive 366 runs with a day to spare. Only three of our batsmen were able to get into double figures.   Our team lost the first match within three days, in what should have been a five-day match. Sadly for the team, there were no positives to take away from the series. The only positive the team captai

Who is getting poorer? Who is getting richer?

Every so often reports emerge that attempt to measure the best countries to live in. The Nordic countries plus New Zealand, Holland and Switzerland, usually come out top. Sweden is number one just for the sheer stability of life and security. Denmark is seen as the most agreeable place to live. The highest rate of longevity is found in Japan. The best schools are in Finl

Ridiculous National Government

Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella was frank when he said on Wednesday that they were going to form a National Government under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in order to increase the number of Ministers of the Cabinet from 30 to 48.

Democratic Fraud Rob, Ruin and Rule

President Sirisena has openly rejected the UNP Government’s proposal to form a National Government with a single member of the Sri Lanka Muslim Council (SLMC) in Parliament.

Let’s nip racial tension in the bud! - EDITORIAL

The eight Muslim students released on February 5 after being found guilty of violating laws that help protect archaeological sites makes Sri Lanka seriously consider the efforts they take to instill discipline in society. 

We need to restructure SAARC

At a time when South Asian regional cooperation is all but forgotten, a symposium was held Tuesday at the BMICH in Colombo, highlighting the importance of South Asian cooperation for peace, progress and prosperity. 

Act quickly to deactivate the drug barons

Sri Lanka is a country that’s blessed four times over with the hallowed teachings and tenets of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. But sadly though, these four major world religions have not had that much of an impact when it came to liberating this country from the clutches of narcotics.