The double R Reconciliation and Rhetoric

“Today, words like ‘progress’ and ‘development’ have become interchangeable with economic ‘reforms’, ‘deregulation’ and ‘privatisation.........

Recommendations for disaster management

Sri Lanka has had several disasters in the past, but yet to see a proper contingency plan. As a result many human lives are lost and severe damages caused to private and government properties.  

Attitudes of the educated affect economy of country

Education was taken over by the State by privatization of schools in the name of free education, a political decision, considered a good move to make free education available to all citizens. 

Laws needed to regulate NGOs:

In the wake of controversy involving human rights lawyer Lakshan Dias and allegations of extremism, Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe spoke to Daily Mirror responding to  allegations against him. Excerpts of the interview :  

Legitimacy of the coercive power

Protests are part and parcel of a healthy democracy. Another crucial element of a functioning democracy is the Rule of Law which includes legal protections, enforcement where necessary and recourse to the courts in the event of perceived infringement of rights. So we have the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the state to attend to these things. Where there is failure, therefore, we must first and foremost look to the faults of the sy

SAITM controversy stuck in a quagmire

The South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) or the Malabe private medical college issue seems to have reached an impasse. The government and the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), the main contenders are intransigent and sticking to their respective stances on this matter. The GMOA is demanding the closure of the private medical college, while the government is rigidly opposed to such a demand. 

Land Mediation Boards For Reconciliation in N-E

“Two disputants agreed to visit the village sage seeking mediation on their bitter dispute. He listened patiently to both. At the end, addressing one, the mediator said the disputant was right. Turning to the other, the mediator said that he too was right. The watching wife asked how could both be right at the same time. The mediator replied, ‘you too are right’.”

The global inspiration

Roger Federer is once again the hot favourite to win next month’s Wimbledon. It has been five years since he won the title last. If he succeeds, the 35-year-old Swiss will be installed as Wimbledon’s greatest ever as he is now on a tie with Pete Sampras with seven titles each.   

A few drops of Beer and Wine into the ‘Yahapalanaya Cauldron’

The other day, the taxpayers or the general public who pay our legislators their salaries and sponsor other perks witnessed another very brilliant parliamentary session on which way the people who voted them to power should get intoxicated. In speaking for the well-being of the people, not a single honourable member of the parliament seemed to play second fiddle to any one of his colleagues and it is a singular honour to the people of this para

Why whitewash Gnanasara?

Human nature has not changed. It may have embraced new cultures. It may have rejected certain others. It may have progressed from check books to credit cards and e-banking but remains loyal to money and what it does to bring about outwardly pleasures and riches to a tiring businessman and an upstart youth heading for promotion after promotion for doubling and trebling sales in the company he works day in and day out. It continues to indulge in

I am on unequal ground : LAKSHAN DIAS

Following a statement made during a TV talk show highlighting attacks on a religious minority group, human rights lawyer Lakshan Dias faced allegations raised by the Justice Minister on the grounds of creating religious disharmony. Commenting on the situation Attorney-at-Law Dias said that his opinion was based on the facts of a recently published report as well as facts derived from similar court cases that he was appearing for. 

Are Ministers deities devoid of tax burden?

At a time when the country is facing a debt burden, Ministers should play a key role in securing the people’s money. But they seem to care less. While they get to enjoy most perks and benefits, many of them seem to be surviving the tax game as well.

Protests and strikes: What would MR have done if he was in power?

The yahapalana government won the elections on a promise of democracy and prosperity. Now it seems to assume that its....

Drug menace; parents, listen to your children - EDITORIAL

Yesterday was the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, with the United Nations in a statement saying.....

Public servants are not fully aligned with our efforts - Navin Dissanayake

Plantations Minister Navin Dissanayake, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the current political status of the.....

Govt divided virtually into three factions - Gamini Lokuge

Joint Opposition MP Gamini Lokuge, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the current political situation of the country....

Does signing an ACSA with USA pose danger to Sri Lanka?

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated in parliament that the government would renew the Acquisition and Cross Service Agreement....

Islamic State (IS) at the edge of tomorrow?

Global media started broadcasting footage of the destruction of  the Grand al-Nuri Mosque and its leaning al-Hadba minaret, a holy....

Limits of Exclusivism

The recent crisis in Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) has more to it than a fight against corruption.  The recent no-confidence....

Embroiled in investigations and court cases, events are by-passing the US - EDITORIAL

In a major electoral upset seven months ago, the Republican Party nominee Donald Trump - a billionaire businessman with no....

70th Anniversary remembering the first general strike

The study of the first general strike in Sri Lanka agitating for recognition of Trade Union rights seventy years ago is an opportunity for present governments, politicians, trade unionists and state officials to learn.

Prophecies of Bandaranaike

S.W.R.D Bandaranaike as Prime Minister enacted the Sinhala Only Policy and declared in Parliament “We will finally emerge stronger, more mindful and truly progressive people than we have been hitherto”.

Abolishing war

Frederick the Great of Prussia was a friend of Voltaire and enjoyed ribald evenings with the philosopher discussing....

Role of Widows; their mite is right

For thousands of years, widows have been among the most oppressed in society. But many religious leaders have made....

On political lone wolves

In politics there are degrees of expedience, of imperative, of loyalty, of friendships that sour and enmities that are.....

A brilliant future for China-Sri Lanka Cooperation under the “Belt and Road” Initiative

On May14 and 15, The Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation was successfully held in Beijing. This....

London attacks: O judgment! Art thou fled to brutish beasts?

The London Finsbury Park mosque attack was not unexpected. If it did not happen last Sunday, it was only an incident waiting to happen. That the attacker retaliated in kind is significant.

I could have survived unharmed if I toed the Govt. line: Poddala Jayantha

Former General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA) Poddala Jayantha recently lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), requesting an investigation into his abduction and torture in June, 2009.  Journalist Poddala Jayantha began his journalism career in 1989 as a freelance journalist at Ravaya. Later, he joined Lake House and was working as an investigative journalist at the tim

Precious lives should not end on roads

In Colombo and other cities, peak-time traffic snarls have led to the calamity of eight road deaths a day in addition to costing hundreds of millions of dollars on wasted fuel, more air pollution and a waste of precious time for hundreds of thousands of people including schoolchildren. Super highways and other road projects have to some extent eased the congestion. But in recent months especially peak time demonstrations by university students an

TO HOODWINK THE PUBLIC

National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection was established in 2007 with the purposes of making sure that the fundamental rights of all consumers are upheld and protected by the government and corporations and fighting against violations of consumer rights.