Unpopular opinion: Gota pushed the failing economy down the precipice Perhaps someone had to break it to fix it

Some Parliamentarians are calling for the appointment of a commission of inquiry to hold those responsible for the current economic crisis. The worst-ever economic crisis since independence has already created cascading effects of looming hunger, shortage

Our home grown democracy begins now

May 9, year 2022, when mobs loyal to outgoing Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa made the biggest political blunder of recent times by attacking the peaceful protest site of GotaGoGama, Galle Face....

Statement marking 5o days of Gotagogama struggle: Establishing democracy;the need of the hour

A Statement drafted by the Artists of the People’s Movement or Jana Aragalaye Kalakaruwo reiterating their demands on the occasion of the 50th consecutive day of protests....

Racism has to be proscribed - Kumar Gunaratnam

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) is a party that, along with others, spearheads the public struggle against the Government. Its General Secretary Kumar Gunaratnam takes questions from Daily Mirror regarding.....

No Intl. Economic Fix for Democracy in SL

Just a few weeks ago, it looked like the regime of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was on the ropes. On May 9, the supporters of his brother and the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa....

Rising costs in Lanka and friends in need - EDITORIAL

Foreign loans built highways, airports, cricket stadiums and convention halls. Unfortunately these investments have not brought in expected returns in foreign currency. So the country is straddled....

How Ranil Wickremesinghe became Prime Minister again

The first part of the article titled “Ranil Returns: Remarkable Resilience of Premier Wickremesinghe”

2022: Year of Hunger and Conflict?

As Sri Lanka is reeling from the shock and awe of a three-pronged crisis compromising the very core of its Political, Energy and Food security.

There are billions of galaxies and planets but only one world

With Sri Lanka’s worst ever ‘Aragalaya’ or public revolt continuing for its 50th day with large crowds gathering at the GotaGoGama or Galle Face Green to demand the resignation of the Rajapaksa Government and the abolition of the executive presidential system,

Good and bad violence

When pro-government violence begot anti-government violence on May 9, Mahinda Rajapaksa before stepping down as the Prime Minister in a tweet said that violence begets violence.....

Celebrating the life and service of Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera: Adored for his relentless service to Buddhism and Nation

It is indeed a great privilege and honour to pen this article celebrating the life and service of Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera on this landmark occasion of his 72nd birthday, which also happens....

When a youth MP doesn’t bat for the youth - EDITORIAL

The youth in this country in the past were rather selfish with a good number of them migrating just after completing their higher education. Their education....

Peace is the solution as the world faces its worst-ever famine

The way the global powers behave indicates that they care less for the well-being of humanity. Instead of moving towards world peace, which is certainly the way to go in view of a global food crisis....

Constitutional Reform Wages of haste, sloth and expediency

There are certain rules of thumb with regard to constitutional reform. First, such exercises should never be predicated on political expediency. In other words, one’s allegiance or otherwise to the immediate beneficiary, beneficiaries or political party/coalition should not be a factor in offering support or objecting, respectively.

These ministers were there before

When tens of thousands of people in utter desperation are out on the streets languishing in queues for hours pleading for domestic gas and kerosene and motorists for fuel, came the news of 21 new ministers being sworn in – four on May 13, nine on May 20 and eight on May 23 taking the total number of Cabinet ministers to 23 counting the President and the Prime Minister as well.

Sajith will lead SL soon but this time he failed in his decision making - Harin

Tourism Minister and SJB MP Harin Fernando has come out strong on his decision to go against the SJB policies by accepting a portfolio....

Lanka’s economic chaos and western propaganda - EDITORIAL

The Sri Lankan economy is in free-fall. Food prices are out of reach of a majority of the population. Medicines, cooking gas, fuel....

Ways to meet the impending food crisis in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has sounded an extremely grim warning of a food crisis in the island beginning....

Shocking inside stories of the sugar scam

In the backdrop of former Finance Minister Ali Sabry’s proposed plan to increase fiscal revenue to bring the country’s economy....

Make hay while the sun shines

The proposed 21st Amendment to the Constitution which is the new avatar of the 19th Amendment was to be presented in the Cabinet on Monday (yesterday), the new Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had told media on Saturday. That means the main provisions of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution is going to be scrapped for the second time. The 21st Amend

The danger of Basil Rajapaksa’s rule by proxy

Last week, I wrote that the fate of the Ranil Wickremesinghe government would be placed at the mercy of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a Rajapaksa fiefdom and a grotesque caricature of the old Sri Lankan politics before the ‘Aragalaya’.

Sri Lanka’s Crisis of Representative Democracy

One key issue highlighted by Sri Lanka’s citizen protest movement is the crisis of the country’s representative democracy. It is

DIRECTION SRI LANKA’s suggestion for 21st AMENDMENT

‘DIRECTION SRI LANKA’, an independent group of professionals who are well-respected and reputed in their respective areas met the newly appointed Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe P. C. who was to submit the proposed 21st amendment to the Constitution to the Cabinet and made proposals vital to certain areas. Following the meet

Galle Face protest: How the Rajapaksas attempted to diminish the power of the Aragalaya

The Galle Face protest site has already become a place well-known to the entire world. This protest, often referred to as aragalaya has also already dealt a mortal blow to the political standing....

Quo Vadis or whither goest thou Sri Lanka - EDITORIAL

On Thursday (May 19) the Governor of the Central Bank stated, our country was in “pre-emptive default” which in ordinary language means our government is unable to repay debts to....

Remarkable co-incidence: 1956-2022: ‘Gal Bokka’-‘Gal Gate’-Galle Face GotaGoGama

The Galle Face was initially laid out by the Dutch who used the place as a strategic line of fire against the Portuguese when they installed their cannons along it. The marshy land in the heart of capital....

“Democratic system for gender equality was trampled and dishonoured” - Rohini Kavirathna

Ajith Rajapaksa, a member of Sri Lanka’s ruling party, was elected Deputy Speaker of the country’s Parliament on Tuesday, which gathered for the first time since former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa....

Ranil Returns: Remarkable resilience of Premier Wickremesinghe

Ranil Sriyan Wickremesinghe known as Ranil is in the seat of power again as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the sixth time.

People’s concerns vs. politicians’ concerns

There seems to be a far cry between the aspirations of politicians and the people of this country. This has been very much evidenced during the proceedings of the Parliament where the politicians are always playing their power game, despite them arguing that this is not a time for politicking.

Act fast to abolish the executive presidency

The spontaneous public revolt against the Rajapaksa regime began on April 9 at the Galle Face Green opposite the Presidential Secretariat and opposite Temple Trees which the protestors named as MynaGoGama.