Budget: Basil reins in

The government took a battering from the general public after the 2022 Budget was presented. The economy is in dire straits, probably the worst in the post –Independence era. People have felt the pinch in terms of lack of income sources, dwindling incomes, scarcity of some food stuffs and galloping living costs. It is natural for people to expect relief to cushion their burdens when the annual budget is presented.

Ship carrying Chinese fertilizer refusing to leave

The 2022 Budget, which most Sri Lankans looked forward to with the hope of receiving some form of relief or cushioning to counter the skyrocketing cost of living and the shortage of essential commodities would have been a disappointed lot. It contained little or nothing for the middle income groups and the poor to be happy about in any of the budget proposals read out by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa last Thursday in Parliament.

Physicians heal (and how!)

Years ago I wrote an article titled ‘I will die in the General Hospital.’ I was convinced that the best treatment possible in the country is obtainable from the public hospitals and not from private ones. Overworked, understaffed and overcrowded simply on account of free healthcare, these institutions are a testimony to the dedication of the public service.

Gas queues and fuel shortages - EDITORIAL

Energy Minister Gammanpila informs us Sri Lankans, that the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery would be closed for the first time since....

Signposting the digital frontline

Earlier this month, I was part of a panel at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference on burnout and stress. We spoke in detail....

NEVER BLAME THE ORDINARY PUBLIC

Despite the current economic situation in the country demanding a drastic revolutionary change, the budget proposals presented for the year 2022 by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on Friday are not going to change anything in a manner that would

Helpless “Environmental Refugees” with DMC, NBRO

There is some sunshine falling through now, despite a grey sky. Whole of last week was about flash floods and landslides in most par

Lankan economy will gain substantially by reducing road accidents

Sri Lanka has the “worst road fatality rate” among its immediate neighbours in the South Asian region. The reported fatality rate (17.4) is “the worst in South Asia”

Exam-oriented education and traditional attitudes hinder scientific innovation

World Science Day falls on 10 November, and many countries including Sri Lanka celebrate the week that follows as ‘Science Week’ to mark the introduction of science to society. As a country, this offers us an opportunity to examine scientific issu

Drunk MP ’wheeled from airport’ --The Telegraph - UK

The Telegraph on November 11, 2021 reported on its front page, about a disgraceful behavior of three British members of Parliament. British....

Monsoon rains, Covid-19 and dengue - EDITORIAL

The monsoon, which commenced in early October, has already resulted in over 20 deaths. Over 62,247 persons -17,481 families- have been dehoused and been forced to seek shelter in temples....

Gemini Ganesan: On- screen Romancer and Off-screen Casanova

Popular Tamil cinema actor Gemini Ganesan whose 101st birth anniversary falls on November 17th is regarded widely as the greatest romantic lover in Tamil cinema .

Constitution-making should be Open, Public and Transparent: A response

The recent public statement by an erudite group of learned persons appearing in the press was so topical and forthright that it nudged the writer as a sovereign voter and a senior citizen to pen the following procedure to ensure transparency in ‘Electoral Reforms’ under the new Constitution with a short preamble.

Earth Day: Act to prevent climate catastrophe

In Glasgow, the widely-publicized climate summit ended yesterday with most experts saying some clean-air results are likely since the United States and China signed an agreement this week to prevent the temperature from rising beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius and take other measures to limit carbon emissions including the wider use of clean energy such as solar and wind power with most vehicles also being made to run on electricity.

The National Question Fighting the minority’s battle from overseas

The Tamil community celebrated Deepavali starting November 4 with the festivities lasting for five days. The Tamils in Sri Lanka might have forgotten to fight for their cause,

Inclusivity: An acid test for SLPP

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on November 6 has changed the composition of membership and the Terms of Reference of the Presidential Task Force he had appointed to implement the highly controversial “One Country, One Law” concept.

Political climate change: Realities behind Xi’s peace initiative

Cooperation, not Cold War, is what the world urgently needs to overcome multiple crises of gargantuan proportions, with the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the global economic downturn being the most pressing issues.

Remembering those ‘flowers’ that faded prematurely

November 11 (Thursday) marked ‘Remembrance Day’. For some time we’ve not seen the poppy flower being sold at street corners and at junctions where there are traffic lights. The reason for this is the Covid pandemic.

Rewriting the Climate Change Story from Tragedy into Triumph? - EDITORIAL

The Climate Change Conference being held in Glasgow in Scotland will end tomorrow with world leaders committing themselves....

Of blinders and elephants…

In the last match that Sri Lanka played in the ongoing T-20 World cup, against the West Indies, Roston Chase was caught....

“Attacks on Muslims were part of a conspiracy” - Dilantha Withanage (Former BBS CEO) -

The appointment of the Task Force on ‘One Country, One Law’ has thrown the spotlight on the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) once again. There has been....

ABUSE OF POLICE AUTHORITY

Numerous videos uploaded on social media have documented police officers, not excepting senior officers using excessive force....

Rising prices, threats of strikes and an anarchic situation - EDITORIAL

Whatever else might be said against the government, a positive aspect amidst gathering storm clouds is that COVID-19 numbers....

Seek experts’ views to solve the burning issues

It is no secret that the government is desperate in facing the economic issues the country is faced with. Also it is no secret that government has no solutions to any of the current economic woes the people are faced with, as the steps taken by it are failing one by one. Meanwhile some ministers and officials are aggravating the situation by infuriating the fru

Sri Lanka: Land of shortage and million tragedies

Sri Lanka today is a land of acute shortages. Hundreds, if not thousands throng at the sales agents at the rumours of the impending, and often elusive, arrival of supplies of cooking gas. Long queues of people wait in desperation only to find, supplies, if ev

AS REPORTED IN PENTAGON 2021 REPORT… WILL SRI LANKA ALLOW CHINA AN OVERSEAS MILITARY BASE?

The Department of Defence (DoD) annual report to Congress on military and security developments involving the People’s....

Obeying an Illegal Order, Police Sacrificed 626 Cops

“Half a league, half a league, All in the valley of Death; Rode the six hundred. ‘Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge....

Climate change, code red warning and the follow-through of COP26 - EDITORIAL

During the past few months we have been constantly reminded that the COP26 summit presently being held in Glasgow....

Breaking the Silence: Hill Country Tamils in the North

When the histories of certain communities are silenced and their identities suppressed that is often a sign of devastating...

The struggle for survival of small parties

Is the row between the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the small parties in the ruling coalition real, or is it a drama? Many social media posts have posed this question. Some are of the opinion that this is a drama stage-managed by the ruling party leaders to divert the attention of the masses from many issues the country is currently faced with.