Why only Fowzie? - EDITORIAL

The Colombo High Court on August 27 sentenced former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie for two years of rigorous imprisonment and suspended it for 10 years after he pleaded guilty over the charge of misusing a vehicle belonging to the Disaster Management Ministry.

Mass Protests – Role of the Deep State and the Fifth Estate

First it was Sri Lanka, and then, after two years, the same sequence of events in Bangladesh. One can argue that, having learnt lessons from its neighbours, Indonesia avoided the calamity within days.

73 year-old SLFP swallowed by SJB, UNP

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was established on September 2, 1951. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike left the United National Party (UNP), following his resignation from both his Cabinet portfolio and the UNP’s unofficial deputy leadership in July 1951, to form the new party.

Complying with RTI Act on foreign financing is important

Large infrastructure projects of the government are often financed by foreign loans and grants. When the amount exceeds USD 100,000, the law requires information about the projects to be disclosed to the public online.

A country like no other in election mode - EDITORIAL

Ours is a special country. We have many firsts to our name. We gave the world its first woman Prime Minister -Ms. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

The Common Tamil Presidential Candidate Controversy

The eagerly anticipated 2024 presidential election is scheduled to be held on September 21, 2024. Initially, 39 candidates were in the fray.

How experienced leaders made a total hash of things

The September 21 Presidential elections different from the past eight such elections held since 1982, in some aspects.

Economic melt-down, HR violations, and elections - EDITORIAL

In early 2022, Sri Lankans started experiencing 12-hour rolling power cuts and shortages of basics such as food, fuel, cooking gas and medicines to name a few. Desperate fathers and mothers searched hither and thither for infant food. Even vegetables grown in our fields were scarce.

Capturing the making of a modern Sri Lanka

When the civil war concluded in 2009 there were makers of short films who captured footage of celebrations on the street.

Remember the threat of a doomsday

While political leaders are promising heaven on earth in their intensified campaign for the Presidential Election on September 21,

Every generation gets the superhero it deserves!

Sri Lanka is a country where we see the occasional individual rise from poverty and then lift the rest of the clan out of misery.

To re-democratize Sri Lanka, abolish Executive Presidency

As a voter and a stakeholder in the country’s governance and electoral system /process, the writer was enlivened by a clarion call in the press by a group of lawyers, academics and civil rights activists to abolish the Executive Presidency.

How Sajith Premadasa’s gamble plays out against him, his party and the country

A rhetorical question: What difference would it have made if Sajith Premadasa delivered the speech Thalatha Athukorala did last week?

Are we an independent nation or a banana republic?

Our country is heading to the polls. On 21 September all of us eligible voters will be making a choice for one of the thirty-eight candidates whose name and symbol adorn the ballot papers. Some of these candidates will canvass only in particular districts reducing the electoral process to a farce.

Religious, civil society and academic community want balanced devolution of power to regions

This document has been compiled by members of religious and civil society and the academic community from all parts of the country after extensive discussion and consultations conducted over a period of several months. It is to be presented to the presidential candidates to include in their manifestos along with the pledge that they will support its implementation regardless of the outcome of the election.

Buddhists, Hindus believe in the power of White Elephant to subdue enemies

Myanmar’s military junta, facing powerful armed insurgencies in the North Eastern part of the country, has decided to use Buddhist symbolism to defeat the enemy.

Candidates, declare your plans to repay foreign debts - EDITORIAL

The only lifeline for Sri Lanka for the recovery from the current economic crisis and achieving long-term economic development seems to be the programme sponsored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) initiated by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in March 2022.

Namal’s Challenge: Nationalism and Rajapaksa Legacy

‘I Am Ready for the Challenges; … We always believed in nationalism, and we need to protect that. We believed the policies that suit our country were not addressed by the government.’ – Namal

A note on Mangala Samaraweera

It has been three years since the unexpected passing of my friend Mangala.

SC’s rights ruling and President’s ‘Hobson’s choice’ - EDITORIAL

On 22 August this month, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled the President in his capacity as Finance Minister had infringed the rights of the people by postponing the 2023 Local Government (LG) elections.

Making a joke of presidential elections

The process leading up to the presidential election has commenced. With the death of one contestant on Thursday and the withdrawal of another thirty-eight out of forty candidates who placed their deposits will be contesting the elections.The ballot paper is expected to be 27 inches long if the paper is printed single column and between 11 - 12 inches if the paper is printed double column!

Why are elections so costly?

The Election Commission on August 16 announced the maximum amount of money that could be spent by candidates who contest the September 21 Presidential election for their campaigns, by an extraordinary gazette.

Geopolitical intervention in Sri Lanka’s presidential election

Sri Lanka decides. Nor really. Geopolitics also decides for Sri Lanka. Elections are not entirely won and lost based on the people’s verdict. Yes, outsiders are interested in Sri Lanka’s election and work to ensure the party or candidate they favour wins.

Finding order in a nation in chaos - EDITORIAL

There is much uncertainty in the air as to who’ll be the winner as Sri Lanka gets ready for the 9th presidential elections.

Freeing the Balance Sheets of Banks: Sri Lanka needs an AMC

Sri Lanka needs rapid economic growth to overcome the current crisis. At the Public Finance Lounge hosted by Verité Research on July 5, 2024, I highlighted that such growth is difficult to envision given the limited balance sheet capacity in the banking system.

The power of maintaining the spirit of nonviolence

As we prepare for the Presidential Election on September 21, we also need to reflect on other key issues including the violence that people undergo based on religion or belief.

Lankan diplomat found guilty in Australia for ill-treating domestic aid No diplomatic immunity for not paying minimum wages

Which one of these is worse? First, a Sri Lankan diplomat was ordered to pay her former domestic aide over AUD half a million in unpaid wages and interest, pending further charges for violating Fair Wage laws in the Down Under.

Troubled times worldwide and our presidential election

In Europe Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February 24, 2022. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) verified a total of 35,160 civilian casualties as of 31 July 2024. Of them, 23,640 people were reported to have been injured. However, OHCHR specified that the real numbers could be higher.

Lessons from the fall of Bangladeshi icons Hasina and Mujib

Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s escape to India seeking sanctuary from angry Bangladeshis earlier this month, and the destruction of the relics of her father and founder of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, exemplify the fate of dictators across the world.

Bangladesh: Revolution or evolution, this is a new start

Revolutions are events which re-shape existing political orders. There are very few revolutions in human history – French, Russian – while coups and uprisings are countless.