The US has Saudi Arabia over a barrel

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remains at large, the unapologetic murderer (according to the CIA) of the respected dissident journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Although President Donald Trump came close to accusing him of the deed, he has pulled back, citing Saudi  Arabia’s importance as an oil producer and arms buyer. The Prime Minister of the UK, Theresa May, is too preoccupied with Brexit to want to give up an important market. Presiden

Kumar Ponnambalam: A vociferous voice of Tamils

“Kumar Ponnambalam’s gallant and heroic life in advancing the legitimate cause of the Tamils amidst all dangers, has earned him the respect and admiration of his people as a true Tamil patriot.

An open letter to Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Fernando OMI

This refers to an article that appeared in  on 31.12.2018 on the above title written by Rev. Father Emmanuel Fernando OMI. As a scientist deeply interested in the subject of  Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Aetiology (CKDu) that is plaguing the people of  Rajarata and some neighbouring areas,

“You have your religion and I have mine”

The year we just left behind saw two communal riots, specifically two anti-Muslim riots, one in February in Ampara town and the other in several townships in Kandy Districts in March.

What is NEW this New Year?

On Tuesday last, that’s January 01st, few asked me “what’s new this year?” My reply was in turn a short question; “New in what?” It’s a long list one began with; heavy road traffic, hospitals, schools, income and cost of living, solid waste disposal, rising apartments and more.

Why we must also promote education at a cost - EDITORIAL

The beginning of the new school term for 2019 is sure to make the second year Advanced Level (AL) students step up on their studies. This is the batch that did their Ordinary Level Examination (OL) in 2017, a batch which parents and tuition masters claim received unprecedented success. 

Trump’s aversion to multilateralism plunges world into multilateral crisis

Pax Americana 2.0 is the title of a political discussion on Russia Today television on New Year’s Eve.  The Crosstalk programme conducted by Peter Lavelle had as its theme a recent speech delivered by the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.  

New Year dawns with Political challenges for the country

The New Year dawned with people exchanging well wishes. However,    politically speaking, the country is poised to be riddled with more and more challenges in the months to come. 

2019: Let’s be the change, don’t wait for politicians

Whatever religion or race, we belong to, all people are confronted by two key issues -- poverty alleviation and the battle against the global warming or climate change. In 2019 our New Year resolutions also need to focus on these issues besides others and we need to reflect deeply on how we could make a positive contribution towards

Towards an economically prosperous Sri Lanka

The majority of Sri Lankans showed their eagerness to usher in 2019 which they did by the lighting of thousands of firecrackers and sky rockets on the stroke of 12 midnight on December 31. 

Justice delayed is justice affirmed?

Justice delayed is justice denied. We’ve heard that adage often enough. We also know that justice delayed makes for buck-making. Who makes the bucks? Well, the lawyers of course. And who or what are the accessories after the fact of buck-making courtesy delays? Why, the entire judicial system including laws, procedural 

Maithri, Mahinda, Ranil: Three Aces or Three Jokers?

Jawaharlal Nehru wrote thus: ‘Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will’. if one examines how each of these players, Maithripala Sirisena, the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, former President and 50-day Prime Minister (PM) and Ranil Wickremesinghe the current PM, at least 

Memes are great political punditry

There was a time when the New Year dawned the phone would ring and beep incessantly. It still does, but not at the same rate it did, say five years back, unless it’s loaded with social media apps.   

THE BATTLE NEVER ENDS!!!

Democracy is supposed to have been restored but the battles for positions of power are never ending!!! The Presidential tirade against Ranil at his swearing in was in keeping with the egocentric crony the President is; so, instead of listening to his autocratic idiocy Ranil should have got up and left with dignity showing everyone 

Motor-mouthed politicians and lack of real doers

Ask voters with common sense what he or she wants from the politicians here in Sri Lanka in 2019. The answer would be for them to keep quiet and do some solid work at least this year.  

The year 2019

The year 2019 is being ushered in at a time when the country is attempting to emerge from a vicious political as well as a Constitutional crisis. Yet, the developments during the New Year would obviously be based on the year we left behind, 2018, as the future inevitably is built on the past. And also we have to look back in order to learn lessons from the pas

Preferred future vs Possible futures How 2019 would shape Sri Lanka’s destiny

Any day is important, and some days are extra- special. However, the events that unfold on that special day would be fermented for over the years. Some years are extra-special too. The year 2019 is one such year. As the presidency enters into its fifth year, this would be the election year.   This is also a crucial year on its own, rising from the ruins of the crumbled political alliance of Yahapalanaya and four years of economic stagna

boat owners set to destroy country’s marine resources in the North ?

Sri Lankan fishermen’s leaders from across the north met with Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray in Jaffna last week to hand over a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena. In their letter the representatives from fishing communities in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mannar called upon the President to step up measures to stop destructive fishing practices b

Creation of environment for economic growth ensured Hasina’s victory

The Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League swept the 11th Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh held on Sunday, winning 267 out of the 299 seats up for grabs. The opposition Jatika Oikya Front (JOF), which included the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Begum Khaleda Zia, got only seven seats.   Sheikh Hasina herself too

World leader of the year 2018

World leaders -- whether they come from the US, North Korea or even from Sri Lanka -- are not like us, the ordinary people. They wine and dine on the best of fare, travel in luxury and to some degree are immune from prosecution for the actions they take...

The right to slaughter whales - EDITORIAL

Five days prior to Christmas, Japan announced it was considering to resume commercial whaling. According to reports, Japan is to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and resume commercial whaling next year.   

A RELIGIOUS RESPONSE TO CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN NCP

The pathetic situation of the people who are becoming victims of the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in the North Central Province has drawn the attention of the Consecrated persons – the Religious – ministering in the diocese of Anuradhapura.

CIMOGG COMMITS HARA-KIRI

The Citizens’ Movement for Good Governance (CIMOGG) decided recently to silence its own voice. What follows, for the purposes of record, is a brief summary of what CIMOGG endeavoured to do during the sixteen plus years of its existence.     

Finally,elections in the Congo?

The general election has been postponed yet again. Will this country, the largest and potentially the richest in Africa, ever escape from its continuous dictatorship, and its propensity to civil war? It’s not so long ago that Susan Rice, the then US Ambassador to the United Nations, was talking about the Congo as the site of “Africa’s First World War”. Has the UN at long last really pacified this country that has been cont

Do unto others what you wish them to do unto you

We live in a world where we often see a negative picture of how political and other leaders have worked with hidden agendas to create a monstrosity where 10% of the super billionaires own more wealth than 90% of the population. But it is inspiring to hear of individuals who work hard and without much publicity to bring about poverty alleviation, helping in the battle against global warming and provide well-paid jobs for  marginalized youth.&

WHAT THE “PROFESSIONALS” FORGET

Different people have different ideas regarding what’s ailing Sri Lanka. For some it is the education system. For others it is the cost of living. For still others it is the balance of payments deficit. Regardless of the problem, all of them are agreed on the reason behind it. The political system. That is why editors, commentators, and activists tend to single out politicians. They are, as they always were, responsible for this country&rsq

“Season’s Greeting” for another New Year in “Crisis”

Three more days and another new year; 2019 would dawn with sky rockets, firecrackers and “31st Night” bashes in Colombo. For the fun loving urban middle class, the Constitutional crisis, the threat on “democracy” there....

Opposition Leader post: it is for the UPFA, not for the TNA

The debate between the Maithri-Mahinda group and the United National Front over the Opposition Leader post is a best case in point with regard to the ridiculous level the Sri Lankan politics has stooped to. 

Lessons learned from a catastrophe - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka’s vulnerability to succumb to natural disasters was probably the pick among the topics spoken on Boxing Day (December 26) as the island commemorated the horrifying tsunami experience we had 14 years ago. 

2018 year of indifference to human suffering, but hope for 2019

With the controversial actions of the United States President Donald Trump giving rise to a tumultuous world order, the year that comes to an end in three more days can easily be labelled as a year of indifference to human suffering.