In the Odyssey that is history, Ithaca is only a way-station

So much is being written about President Maithripala Sirisena’s political U-turn and the resulting chaos, both pro and against. Of all the regular political columnists, Tisaranee Gunasekara has written....

Tolerance: Powerful force for unity in diversity - EDITORIAL

With intolerance and a lack of respect for the principle of unity in diversity causing an unprecedented political and Constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka, the United Nations yesterday marked the International Day for Tolerance.     

Nuclear arms control is going down a Trumpian hole

Reacting to the radio interview by French President Emmanuel Macron to mark Armistice Day, in which he was reported as saying, “We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America… We need a true European army,” President Donald Trump blew a fuse. He tweeted: “President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US

The hotchpotch is not workable Dr. N.M. Perera in 1978

“The Anglo-Saxon Parliamentary system and the American Presidential system are two alternative forms of government. The two cannot be mixed and the hotchpotch that he has presented is not workable” – NM 

THE PARLIAMENT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE PRESIDENT

As a student of politics, I have read a number of times Dr.N.M. Perera’s thesis, ‘A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE 1978 CONSTITUTION,’ as I love it and its revolutionary author, unreservedly. However, to refresh my memory once again, I went through it a few hours ago as my MOTHERLAND is undergoing a deep Constitutional crisis,

Geopolitics of resolving conflict with a redundant Constitution

The SC decision has pushed Rajapaksa into back foot defence on a daily basis, reacting to the Wickremesinghe strategy of taking decisions in a Parliament that remains prorogued but accepted by Western interests as Constitutional.

A New Parliament the only way out

This is a golden opportunity for the ordinary people of Sri Lanka to learn about the Constitution of the country. However, they have to learn the law with the highly prejudiced arguments of extremely opportunistic politicians and...

Why the young cannot be absolved ?

For obvious reasons, the world doesn’t revolve the way most of us would want it. The rise of fringe movements that have taken on the Establishment, the apathy of Third Way centrism that was a cover for neo-conservatism....

Thank god for our now Independent Judiciary And patriotic civil society

Those of us who were on our knees praying fervently ever since the 26th of October for justice, democracy and the constitution to be adhered to, the events of the last two days have been a welcome relief.

The tussle continues… - EDITORIAL

The tense situation within Parliament continued for a second day yesterday (November 15) due to disagreements between members of parliament loyal to ousted premier Ranil Wickremesinghe....

JVP stands for non-discrimination of LGBTIQ persons

Myself and few representatives of the community of diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identities and Sex Characteristics (SOGISEC) (or else LGBTIQ+ Community) of Sri Lanka were invited by JVP....

Diabetes: A concern for every family

While the nation focuses on the ongoing political crisis and the Supreme Court’s historic verdict on Tuesday, we also need to concentrate on vital issues such as healthcare and education especially for the younger generation. Yesterday was World Diabetes Day and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in a statement says

See SL’s National crisis for what it is MS-MR alliance has to be challenged on principles of democra

Over the past fortnight, Sri Lanka has witnessed an escalating political crisis, with a standoff between President Maithripala Sirisena and the Parliament. After the shocking and undemocratic appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister, the suspension of Parliament, and then its dissolution on November 9, President Sirisena announced snap elections  

Sri Lanka’s Democracy Deficit

A cartoon that did the rounds during and after the heady days of the Arab Spring, so-called, had Uncle Sam declaring, ‘Beware! We will give you democracy!’ It’s a bit like someone grabbing a fish out of water and saying ‘I want to save it from drowning!’ Much of the democracy angst we’ve seen over the past few days is like that. 

Constitutional Crisis set to deepen

Some people assume the constitutional impasse, triggered by the sacking of United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from premiership, would end after Parliament was reconvened yesterday (November 14) after prorogation.

Judiciary and Legislature, the supreme pillars of Sri Lanka

At the time this column is being penned, the Supreme Court of the land has already issued a stay order on the now infamous decree to dissolve Parliament. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to revert the President’s, the Chief Executive’s, order calls for enormous amount of inner strength on the part of all Justices of

When ‘Spring time’ comes a tad too early

The victory that the grieved petitioners were handed by the Supreme Court ruling regarding the dissolution of Parliament was akin to the end in most movie scripts; the good triumphing over the bad.   

Amicable solution to present crisis paramount

Last week, when horse-trading was at its peak, we, the Daily Mirror, editorially told that it was advisable now for both the groups in the power struggle to amicably agree upon a process to bring in a new composition of Parliament forthwith, through a fresh election. We had come to that conclusion as the cause of the confused political

As sun sets on the Constitution and Democratic Governance …

As this article is being inked, the Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the dissolution of Parliament by the President are being considered by the Supreme Court. If the apex court was to hold the said dissolution to be unconstitutional, it would yet again be back to the Parliament as to who commands the majority, i.e.the ousted 

Limitation of Governance Mechanism

Over the last few years, a high internal profile has been given to the development and implementation of an internally coordinated anti-corruption strategy in Sri Lanka.

CHAOS AND CONFUSION!!!

We are living in a democratic country, assuming that all is well with our world; sitting in front of the TV and suddenly late in the evening we are confronted with a new Prime Minister being sworn in!!! No notice, not even a hint that democracy had been shattered, torn to shreds and we were expected to acquiesce to the norms of 

Regaining Ayodhya: For Hindus or Buddhists ?

On November 6, the BJP-run Uttar Pradesh State Government renamed the district of Faizabad as Ayodhya. With 85% of the district population being Hindusthe populist move by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was seen as a strategy to retain the Hindu vote against four-time Chief Minister Mayawati and a rejuvenated Congress at next year’s Lok Sabha polls.   

All eyes on SC

President Maithripala Sirisena has dug himself into a hole. Each desperate move he made to pull himself up, has further entrapped him, and dragged the country into the worst- ever political crisis in recent times. His last exploit was the capricious dissolution of Parliament, of which constitutionality was challenged in the Court by 12 Fundamental Rights petitions yesterday.The Supreme Court began hearing yesterday afternoon, despite objections b

Voiceless minority at Court of last resort

Fervent Accessibility Rights Activist Dr Ajith C. S. Perera, Hony Chief Executive of IDIRIYA, has moved the Court to re-activate invocation of a Fundamental Rights Public Intere

Achilles Heel of Pakistan

If there is a threat to Pakistan’s stability and progress or even to its very existence, it is not from India, its archrival since 1947. New Delhi is yet to find a deterrent to the devastating terror strikes by Pakistan-based outfits.

‘International Community’ should let us be

  The news of the dissolution of Parliament is bound to bring a tremendous outpouring of views from the ‘International Community’ to say nothing of what the local population has to say.  

When undemocratic forces pinch you hard!

Sri Lanka is a country where its people have a huge capacity to tolerate the misdeeds of politicians. Right now we are witnessing another attempt at forming a new government through a snap election, scheduled for January 5. The majority of Sri Lankans who voted for the Yahapalana Government to be formed in 2015, are infuriated as much as the UNP due to the present developments in the political scene.    A peaceful call for democracy was

Stop Tinkering with the Constitution - EDITORIAL

The Constitution of a country is supposed to be the bedrock of the rule of law in a given country. Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, the constitution had been tinkered with on many an occasion.

Social topics as tools to achieve political agendas

If my memory serves me right Sri Lankan politics and politicians have always used sensitive social topics and issues as tools to achieve their political agendas in order to outrun their political opponents.

Reigning in the Executive President

For the most part of the last few weeks we have been in a suspended state of disbelief. Yes, the 2015 government had not lived up to its expectations, some people were plotting for the next election to teach them a lesson...