What is conscience in politics?

The way the 20th Amendment to the Constitution was passed on October 22 has again opened the debate over the party politics a

Is China a predator?

America’s Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, who was in Colombo, making the second stop in his four-nation Asian tour slighted China as a predator, last week. “We see from bad dea

Human Rights and accountability “We do share concerns raised regarding commitments” Norwegian envoy Trine Joranli Eskedal

Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trine Joranli Eskedal speaks to the Daily Mirror about the direction of bilateral relations under current circumstances. Norway played the role of peace facilitator between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL

Support for 20 A: What would the Muslim MPs get in return?

Will the Government bring in a new Constitution replacing the 2nd Republican Constitution with its 20 amendments during its tenure? This question has to be raised as the Government has passed a separate Constitutional amendment, the 20th Amendment on October 22, which has awarded almost dictatorial powers to the President. Minister Keheliya

Between bread and liberties; hunger wins

The human mind survives, even thrives, on an age-old but simple mechanism called complacency. Even when things look pretty bad, it keeps saying, no, it can’t happen to you.

Murder in the Cathedral - EDITORIAL

A man armed with a knife killed three persons in a terrorist attack on a church in Nice - France. The killings occurred at around 9.00 am inside.....

Going Guaidó’s way: Lessons for the Opposition

At the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, Donald Trump chose not to meet Juan Guaidó. Exactly a year earlier, in January 2019, Guaidó had declared himself interim president of Venezuela after securing the support of some 50 countries; US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Trump administration’s top officials, had quickly made known their recognition of his self-appointment.

The grave headlines and dead-lines for journalists - EDITORIAL

With the 20th Amendment being pushed through after using various means to get the support of eight Opposition MPs,

Killing of Premachandra and conviction of Duminda Silva

The Government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa achieved a significant victory last week when the 20th Constitutional Amendment was passed in Parliament with 156 MP’s voting in support and 65 Voting against.

Stop moving and COVID-19 will also stop! - EDITORIAL

South Asian Great Game a challenge to Lanka’s neutrality

These are times when Lanka’s moment of glory in the international scene has much to do with her geostrategic beauty than her achievements.....

Dimensions of a ‘Sri Lanka First’ policy regime

Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Admiral (Rtd.) Jayanath Colombage, said quite a mouthful when he said Sri Lanka has an ‘India First’ foreign policy. He didn’t say, for example, ‘first India, others later.’ He later said ‘Sri Lanka first.’ Maybe he could have explained it all this way: ‘Of course Sri Lanka comes first, it goes without saying.’ On the other hand, abject servility to other countries by governments and political leaders over

Clusters or community and power play

Despite Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi continuing to maintain that the virus has not reached community spread, the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) says several infected patients are emerging from within the community and that they fear the community is unsafe. “Therefore, we should take measures to control the current situation to prevent a further spread of the virus in the community,” GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge sa

There’s something fishy when voting for free

Sri Lanka’s voters do have short memories. Just turn the pages of time in the history of local politics and we will see how former heads of state Sirimavo Bandaranaike and JR Jayewardene abused power with the intention of becoming ever so powerful.

U.S Elections: Native communities fight to be heard

Amid the pandemic raging across the globe, the world is focused on the November 3 election which will determine who will rule the United States, the world’s largest economic power, for the next four years.

Centuries-old trees gutted

Hundreds of centuries-old trees, including giant Kumbuk trees, have been felled and burned in Wanathawilluwa in the Puttalam district, environmentalists have charged.

The environment, climate change and Coronavirus - EDITORIAL

In 2019 we Sri Lankans and the people of this world were all concerned with the growing problem of air pollution and its effect on global warming.

THE BACKLASH OF COVID!

Never have I seen such a mess in life. The air is pure but wearing a mask is mandatory.

Community spread or not, act swiftly

We have been justifiably bragging until October 4 about our success in containing the deadly COVID-19 pandemic which has become a disaster in many countries such as the United States and India. With the first COVID-19 patient being r

Tragedy and farce of 20A

It was a patriotic show of civic duty by seven Muslim parliamentarians and the main opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s national

“Taliban-produced drugs entering Sri Lanka through Pakistan” -Ashraf Haidari

Afghanistan has been a victim of years of terrorism which continues to destabilize an otherwise peaceful country with a yout

Respect!

Let us start respecting the virus at least now. Boastful statements and media circuses will not get rid of it. No country has been spared.

Whither Sri Lanka’s Trade Union movement? - EDITORIAL

In October this year, the country’s total workforce, stood at approximately 8,971,000 persons. The minimum wage rate.....

Ignoring non-COVID diseases - A fatal mistake?

Recently the Daily Mirror reported a death of a male patient at his residence while undergoing self-quarantine. The immediate cause of death....

From JR’s 2nd Amendment to Gota’s 20th Amendment

UN 75 today: Reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism - EDITORIAL

Today is United Nations Day and Sri Lanka has much to be grateful to this world body, especially some of its affiliated groups like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),

Circular migration of Lankan Female Domestic Migrant Workers

Madhuka Sanjaya Wickramarachchi of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a very interesting paper on “circular migration” of Sri Lankan female domestic workers to the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) in the International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications (Volume 10, Issue 10, October 2020).

Murali: Owned by two nations - EDITORIAL

When India wanted to make a movie about Sri Lanka’s cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan the islanders were upbeat for many reasons.

Free speech and hate speech: The French disconnection

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” This was how British writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall captured great French....

Moral questions involving 20 A