The battle for Sovereignty

Not too long ago when economic, social, political circumstances were not too different to what we have now in Sri Lanka there were some individuals who shouted themselves hoarse insisting that Sri Lanka was a failed state. Maybe they’ve quite lost their throats now. 

Inter-racial and inter-religious solidarity alliance

Yesterday the United Nations marked the International Human Solidarity Day, with the main objective being unity in diversity—a vital factor for all countries to make progress and specially significant for Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the 26-year ethnic war and the intensified effort being made now for 

Realistically futuristic in 2020

Elections can’t be held for another 24 months-till 2020- due to the stupidity evolved by the‘pundits’ on the 19th amendment. Manipulations have placed the UNP in serious trouble. If local Government elections aren’t held in early 2018 – the UNP will lose more votes- for not keeping to the scheduled 

Pakistan and friends advised SL against co-sponsoring UNHRC resolution on it

Renowned Pakistani diplomat Zamir Akram, in an email interview with the Daily Mirror spoke about Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations, the UNHRC process and the selective application of the international humanitarian law. Akram was the one time Pakistan Permanent Representative to the United Nations 

How Rajapaksaism destroyed the SLFP

There was no Machiavellian nuanced statecraft. There was no Dudley Senanayakian transparency and honesty. There was no Jayewardenesque stoicism. There was not even lofty but empty rhetoric of the likes of SWRD Bandaranaike. There was no veiled brilliance of a shrewd leader; only undisguised 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 1956 AND THE LAST JEDI

It is all very simple really. This election is about you. If you vote for the UNP, you think that the country is better off under Ranil, is doing better and will do better under him as PM than it did when Mahinda 

TEA IS OUR PRIDE

Tea is our pride, of which we can be proud of for the reason that it is the best tea on the Globe. It is the duty of every Sri Lankan -- especially our Diplomatic Missions worldwide to defend and promote 

Voter apathy at elections

The Tamil media has recently quoted Deputy Elections Commissioner M.M. Mohamed as saying that the voters who do not use their franchise should be fined as in some other countries. Justifying his 

Authorities to ‘COLLAR’ Tuskers under threat

News of five tuskers being shot dead inside two weeks made headlines in newspapers, thus raising doubts among authorities and....

Bond Commission Report: Moment of Truth for Country

The country is awaiting with a mix of excitement and trepidation the Report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into the....

Anti-incumbency underlies Indian election results

Headlines in the media the world over will trumpet the victory of the Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP)-led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi...

Corruption and bribery still rampant, 20 cases to be heard daily - EDITORIAL

Despite pledges being implemented, some dimensions of maintaining law and order and the rule of law, corruption and bribery are still...

Sri Lanka’s dubious honour at Washington corrupt quartet

Early this month, Sri Lanka along with three other nations, had the dubious honour of dominating the agenda of the first...

Duties of Elections Commission: A proactive or bureaucratic stand?

We have a new Elections Commission appointed in November 2015. It will go on until November 2020. It is the commission’s immense...

Accountability of implementing restrictions on use of polythene

The baseless, opposing attitude to any decision taken in favour of national interests has become a common feature among the....

Pocket dynamo in the field of rugby – Japana

On October 15, 2017 Brig. Japana (Jaupana) Jayawardena was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Sri Lanka Rugby.....

SLFP doesn’t have a strategy to meet new developments

The Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) held its 21st National Congress recently. The Daily Mirror discussed the political, economic and...

Can we invite London Mayor to Sri Lanka? - EDITORIAL

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during a recent visit to India called on the British Government to apologize for the massacre in Amritsar by the....

HOW ‘CRISIS TOURISM’ AFFECTS SRI LANKA

It has been reported in the print media, that tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka would face a downward trend in the near future. The findings have been...

Iran 2018: Coming infinity war

Last month Prime Ministers of Iran and Iraq announced with great pride the defeat of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. In a span of three years....

Labour Unrest

How do we respond to the recent railway union strike? Was it about higher salaries and administrative grades of railway workers? Or, was it a disruption....

Safe Migration in a World on the Move - EDITORIAL

Next Monday December 18 is international Migrants Day with the theme this year being Safe Migration in a World on the Move and....

Beloved Jerusalem Hijacked

Poets as diverse as William Blake and Yehuda Amichai have sung the praises of the heavenly Jerusalem, a land without strife or....

Jerusalem: Let’s rebuild it on the principles of justice

Warning: This article may contain ideas that religiously sensitive readers may find disturbing, despite efforts to keep the article balanced.

Whoever wins, let the polls be free and fair

Nominations were closed at noon yesterday for the long delayed elections to 92 local councils. For the 248 other councils, nominations will be received from December 18 to 21.

‘JVP agreeable to Provincial Councils system with modifications’

JVP MP Vijitha Herath in an interview with Daily Mirror spoke about the current political situation in the country and his party’s novel way of approaching issues at hand. Following are excerpts of the interview done with Herath. 

LG Elections For better local planning NOT for power play

Nominations for Local Government (LG) elections have been set for Monday, December 18 to Thursday, December 21. Before delimitations and carving out of new Wards and LG bodies, 335 LG bodies had 4,116 Councillors elected.

Will Wimal survive this time?

Even being a strong loyalist of the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa has unusually taken a backseat at a time when his boss and mentor is going to face an election, the results of which might turn out to be a trendsetter.

60th Anniversary of Sri Bodhiraja Dhamma School

During colonial rule in Ceylon, Buddhists and the Sasana suffered due to heightened activity by Missionaries. It’s in this backdrop that an attempt was made by foreign and local Buddhist intellectuals to embark on a campaign to establish Dhamma Schools for 

Sole eyewitness recounts 1974 aircraft crash

R. M. Ranaweera who saw with his naked eyes the crash of the Indonesian owned Maritinnair aircraft on 4th December 1974 over the Seven Virgins Mountain range