Piercing through the cultural garb

It’s not easy to come across a politician you have mixed feelings about, who says something you at least partly agree with.  

Wijeyadasa’s criticism on UN Rapporteur: Ministers harbour different views

The government, which received many a laurel in for the mode of its engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), got a brickbat for the first time after the fact- finding mission of Special UN Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism Ben Emmerson.  

Who represents the real SLFP… Maithri or Mahinda ?

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), although purported to be following the Bandaranaike policies and principles, basically consists of socialized economic principles and hard nationalism bordering on extremism. Its fundamental appeal has been to Sinhalese Buddhists who it rightly assumed as 

“Respect public opinion” -Ven. Galkande Dhammananda

Venerable Galkande Dammananda thera, the Priest-in-Charge of  Walpola  Rahula Institute and lecturer of the University of Kelaniya, in an interview with the Dailymirror ‘’ said that religious leaders must first respect public opinion.

Re-size cabinet to specified subjects in the national interest

Elections are fought over all kinds of issues. The winners typically secure the right to interpret their mandate. “This election was about A, B, C or D,” they would say and often give their own interpretation of A, B, C and D, amending the same as per prerogatives of the particular political moment.   

Empower the youth to go green

Last week, the National Unity Government took a bold and effective step to ban the use of plastic and polythene, including the popular silli silli bags which come easily but do not go away easily. However, there are interested parties with vested interests. They are demanding an alternative.  

Stand-off in the land of Ven. S. Mahinda - EDITORIAL

As Indo-China border stand-off in Sikkim sector is dragged on for another week it’s worth recalling perhaps the only.....

SCAMMING THE SINHALESE

If you say one thing and do quite another, that’s deceit. If you stick one label on something but sell quite another, then....

TNA leadership not as robust as it could be Wigneswaran

In the backdrop of a crisis at the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), its Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, during an interview with....

Tamil leadership should shun communal politics - Douglas Devananda

The Leader of Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) MP Douglas Devananda, in an interview with the Daily Mirror, speaks about the.....

People should change their ‘not in my backyard’ attitude: Patali

Swamped with the worst garbage crisis in Colombo, President Maithripala Sirisena ordered the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry...

Senior lecturer’s battle for justice wins record back wages

In a landmark decision for the first time in Sri Lanka’s university history, a senior lecturer who was victimized by university....

International convention for the protection of all person from enforced disappearances bill

Spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Mahishini Colonne has sent the following letter to the Editor:   

India China standoff to continue indefinitely

The India-China military and political staff at Doklam on the Bhutan-Tibet border appears to be in for the long haul because both sides seem to have painted themselves into a corner and can’t back out without loss of face.   

President Maithripala Sirisena should be the Next Presidential Candidate - Duminda Dissanayake

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary and Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake in an interview with the Daily Mirror spoke about the party’s future in the wake of attempts by a section of its members to leave the National Unity Government together with the United National Party (UNP). He shared the following:   

Why these UN reps are a bane to reconciliation

Ben Emmerson, the UN special rapporteur on counter terrorism and human rights, who visited Colombo last week criticized Sri Lanka for the slow pace of the transitional justice process and warned that the international community was running out of patience. He demanded that the government repealed the Prevention of Terrorism Act, but also insisted that the proposed counter terrorism

Secrets; when will we ever know?

Cricket lovers in Sri Lanka might not be happy with the clash between the two legends of the game, former captains Kumar Sangakkara and Arjuna Ranatunga the current Minister of Petroleum and Renewable Resources. They are indirectly levelling serious allegations against each other, which if proved, would definitely ruin their hard earned reputations.   

LESSONS FROM THE MONTH OF JULY - EDITORIAL

We Sri Lankans, like other inhabitants of this planet are first and foremost, citizens of this earth and in this context, creed, breed, high-born...

Cemeteries as Caste-Markers

In caste-ridden societies, dominant castes claim privilege through birth, but as evident from recent caste conflicts in Jaffna, death.....

The State is being re-oriented to serve foreign capital - Tamara Kunanayakam

Tamara Kunanayakam was the recipient of ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’Award in this year’s ‘Top 50 Professional and Career Women Awards’ organized...

Political Super Brands trumps political facts

The focus in this column is on a new level of advanced capitalism that is driving political processes globally. Thus a few lines from....

What’s Right? What’s Left?

It goes back to the French revolution of 1789. At the Revolutionary Convention the most radical of the insurgents decided to seat themselves on the left side. “Why not on the other side, the right side, the place of rectitude, where law and the higher rights resided, when man’s best hand could be raised in righteous honour?” wrote Melvin Lasky in what was then Britain’s most influential intellectual monthly, 

Youth skills for effective climate change solutions

With modern technology’s marvels giving the people, mainly the youth, the privilege of having a virtual university in their pockets or hand bags, the United Nations World Youth Skills Day today has vital significance for the youth and the world.

How political interference made SriLankan crashland!

The first Sri Lankan flag carrier Air Ceylon [1947-1979] terminated its operations to pave way for Air Lanka [1979-98]. Following its partial acquirement by Emirates in 1998, it was re-branded SriLankan Airlines. From 1998 it was dressed in the current livery. 

GROBR: Good riddance of bad rubbish

Though the United States, which is not only one of the most powerful countries but also one of the biggest environmental polluters, has decided to withdraw from the Paris climate change accord, Sri Lanka has thankfully joined the rest of the world in taking effective measures to win the battle against climate change or global warming. US President Donald Trump has come in for much criticism in his country and worldwide for what is seen as a selfi

If not peace, what’s next after ISIS defeat in Mosul?

Iraq’s victory over ISIS in Mosul is not the end of the road for the most ruthless terror group. Neither does it herald the beginning of a peaceful era in the land trod by prophets and peacemakers.  The troubles are far from over, with little or no effort being made to address their root causes. In all likelihood, the next powder keg is Kurdistan. 

An inverted promise

Going by the occasional statements made by President Maithripala Sirisena about the so-called anti-corruption drive of the Government one would definitely wonder as to what his real stand  was on the allegations of high profile corruption against the leaders of the previous government led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He might be seen as blowing hot and cold on the issue.

Enough with Tinsel Kings of medicine

The mafia type GMOA leadership declared a week ago they would go on an indefinite strike, if Prof. Carlo Fonseka was not re-appointed as Chairman of the SLMC. 

Mahanayake Thera’s statement ruling out a new Constitution timely and historic

Ven. Prof. Induragare Dhammarathana Thera, who is involved in the activities of the nationalist groups, supports the statement made by the Mahanayake Theras that the country did not require a new Constitution at this hour. Ven. Dhammarathana Thera, attached to the Department of Sanskrit at Kelaniya University, says the Mahanayake Theras fulfilled their historic duties. Following are the excerpts of the interview with him: 

‘Sri Lanka needs to have a sense of urgency’ -Won-sam Chang

Well, I am happy to say that since 1977, when our two countries established diplomatic ties, we have made steady progress in various areas of mutual interest, despite some ups and downs. Every year, we are witnessing active and growing exchanges of visits, not only at governmental level, but also at the grassroots level.