How should a multi-ethnic country respond to ethnic tensions?

It’s not a good thing to mess with a sore wound and likewise the recent uprisings have made things a lot ‘bitter’ than expected. 

Modern nation-state: A blow from Digana

Sri Lanka’s nation-building process, it appears, is a farce and the state-building process a failure. 

We belong to humanity

The Nobel Prize-winning American novelist Earnest Hemingway in his famous book, ‘For Whom the bell Tolls’ wrote an equally famous if not immortal truth that, “I belong to humanity and every person’s death diminishes me”. 

Grand statements vs reconciliation How the country became the massive messed-up political collage th

A week ago, after Sinhala Buddhist mobs rioted in Ampara, a dumb group of four Muslim youths played into the hands of Sinhala Buddhist mobs creating mayhem in Digana, Kandy. 

The fires are on douse them!

“Teldeniya Burning!” – that’s how one commentator puts it. Conclusions are being drawn, inferences are being made, and all the while the nation has been numbed.

Culprit: Sense of impunity A racial riot taken as a political football

When the Amnesty International (AI), the London-b ased Non-Governmental Organization working on human rights issues around the world listed Sri Lanka among countries unsafe for Muslims in its latest report titled ‘The State of the World’s Human Rights report for 2017 to 2018’ a fortnight ago, at least the Muslims in Sri Lanka did not believe it.

Women’s role in governance; the time is now

The world today marks International Women’s day amid an unprecedented international ‘me too’ movement to curb sexual harassment or assault of women in areas ranging from the highest places to public transport and also for gender justice in salaries paid to chief executive officers and other females.   

Surging ethnic tension eclipses political events

Communal violence, sparked by the death of a 41-year-old man, overshadowed the political developments that were to unfold this week. A motion for the vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, a political rally by the Joint Opposition and a decision on the 

Danger of a blank canvas in tense times

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in recent statements have alluded to people fishing in troubled waters for political gain. It’s an ‘it’s not us’ kind of position to take. Safe.   

Issues to be addressed by electoral policy makers, law makers in Reforming election laws in future

The weak institutional structure of the Local Authorities: Creation of a weak institutional structure due to the failure of one major political party to secure a clear majority in a large number of Local Authorities.  

The ceaseless chatter of demons mock people’s sovereignty

Since the day the Local Government election results were out, the entire political landscape has assumed the form of a circus or a roadshow, with politicians from the national level to the LG level itself, engaged in an exercise bent on either grabbing or securing power , based on which side of the divide they are in. If universal franchise was one of the main components of the sovereignty of the people as the Constitution envisages, by all mea

A divided Digana falls Isolated incident used to fuel tension

“They create a communal clash or put fuel to the fire to intensify the on-going clash. Every Government maintains its power with the full awareness of separating the society into race and class.” This particular dialogue from Sahodaraya (Brother) teledrama telecast on ITN every weekend indicates the bitter truth behind communal clashes and issues related to racism.   

Let sanity prevail

In the aftermath of violence in Ampara last week and in some areas of Kandy on Monday, the government yesterday declared a state of emergency for ten days. Reports yesterday afternoon said the situation in Digana, Teldeniya and some other areas was calm but certain groups could exploit the sensitive feelings and create more trouble. Thus we hope the police including the Special Task Force (STF) and the armed services will act fast and firmly to

China’s consistency vs. India’s empty rhetoric…

Sri Lanka is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. Yet, the physical presence of India up north has had an intimidating influence on most of Sri Lankans. While its admirers, especially those Indophiles, who have made it a point to be more conversed in India’s history, culture, cuisine and her people than their own history and people, have chosen to subordinate their love for the country to an intellectual odyssey.

The Country in Chaos

It is about time we had a Minister of Law and Order, who could uphold and administer Law and Order in the explicit. We need a man with a spine, a man with guts, one who is not afraid to call a spade a spade, to put his foot down with a firm hand.

Searching for justice from under a racial carnage

What had happened in Digana on March 4 (Sunday) was a crime committed on an Sinhalese lorry driver by three Muslims, alleged to have been under the influence of liquor, who were travelling in a three wheeler. It’s a matter for the law enforcement authorities to deal with culprits in keeping with the law of the land.   

The flawed law on women’s representation in LG bodies

Political parties have created a muddle in the local government bodies by adopting a flawed law providing for female representation in them. In spite of their intention being lofty, the provision in the recently adopted Local Authorities Election Amendment Act for the 25 percent of female representation have led to a messy situation in local government bodies after the February 10 election.   

Violence in Ampara: Who is giving a free rein to bigots ?

Last week, there was a fresh round of ethnically motivated violence in Ampara. Suspicion that led to unrest was as real as black magic is. A group of drunken youth had stormed a Muslim owned eatery in the town and forced the cashier to confess selling food laced with male sterilizing chemicals. (A video of a confused man mumbling something when the aggressors asked whether the shop was mixing ‘vandapethi’ with food was then posted on

Mix of anti-incumbency, chutzpah help BJP gatecrash into India’s North East

A mixture of anti-incumbent sentiment and sheer chutzpah has helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gatecrash into power in the North Eastern States of Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya in the recently held State Assembly elections.   

‘Money Laundering’ Label Disastrous for Country CBSL Wake UP !

I dare say Sri Lanka has earned the dubious distinction to be listed by the European Union as a ‘high risk country for money laundering’ subsequent to the ‘Financial Action Task Force’ (FATF) placing the country on its ‘grey list’ reportedly from November 2017. Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy who assumed office as CBSL Governor from July 3, 2016 must bear some responsibility. The chequered response of the CBSL partic

The Democrat – Republic battle in Sri Lanka - EDITORIAL

The best argument against democracy, is a five-minute conversation with the average voter – Winston Churchill Democracy is said to be a form of government where....

The mess that is LG election

The recent Act to provide 60% First-Past-Post and 40% Proportionate Representation at the Local Government Elections, was carelessly drafted and then....

The Rajapaksa Populism

The local government elections last month and their aftermath continue to have their reverberations. While some politicians and political analysts critical of the Rajapaksa...

Towards a Sri Lankan Cyber Strategy

Last week the Defence Secretary ceremoniously opened the cyber operations centre based at Sri Lanka Air Force Head  quarters, which was primarily established to....

Eco-System Conservation Management Project

To celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora, the United Nations General Assembly at its 68th session on December 20, 2013 declared March 3 as World Wildlife Day. Similarly the United Nations General Assembly resolution designated the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calen

“Big cats: predators under threat”

Today is an important day for Sri Lanka and the world – it is world Wildlife Day with the 2018 theme being “Big Cats: Predators under threat”. According to the United Nations, on December 20, 2013, at its 68th session, the UN General Assembly proclaimed March 03 - the day of signature of the 

Back to square one The long journey in search of a flawless electoral system

Three years after the last Presidential Election the political balance of power in the country has changed diametrically with the loyalists of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the anti-Rajapaksa camp swapping positions.

Syria: The stories the corporate media do not tell

It is good journalism when the media become the voice of the voiceless, the watchdog and the fifth estate.  Often shoddy journalism is referred to as bad journalism. 

Mega mess 19A

I wish to honestly thank the people of this country who elected me with a clear majority on the basis of our election manifesto and the principles laid before the people, 

OMP; A major step towards reconciliation

A crisis ridden Sri Lanka began March on a positive note with the high-powered Office of Missing Persons (OMP) starting work after President Maithripala Sirisena gave the letters of appointment on Wednesday to the chairman and seven OMP commissioners.