Immigration, parallel societies and ‘Great Replacement’: Any lessons for Sri Lanka?

Twenty years ago, as a budding journalist, fresh out of university and covering the then peace process, I had the fortune to be exposed to, and to some extent ‘indoctrinated’ by the grand promise of multiculturalism, often through seminars and study tours organised by the Scandinavian good Samaritans who had been facilitating the peace process.

Will India’s support of Mauritius on Chagos affect ties with the West?

Diego Garcia, which houses a major American air and naval base, is one of the islands in the Chagos archipelago which Mauritius claims.

Trade union rights aren’t above common man’s rights - EDITORIAL

Hot on the heels of a string of work stoppages by employees of several departments of the public sector which earned the wrath of the public, the unions of government teachers and principals announced a work-to-rule campaign for two weeks from yesterday.

“Licence to Kill”: Tanzanian Tuskers Targeted by Trophy Hunters?

In a move reminiscent of the 1989 James Bond action-thriller “Licence to Kill,” the Tanzanian government is considering issuing new licenses that would allow wealthy trophy hunters to target Africa’s most magnificent male elephants, known as “super tuskers,” prized for their exceptionally large tusks, for sport or trophy hunting.--New York based Avaaz communiqué

Denmark’s jewellery law and Europe’s anti-immigrant backlash

As we discussed earlier, Britain and Italy seem to be the most hostile European countries towards immigration....

Who’s leading in the run-up to Presidential polls - EDITORIAL

The exact date for the much-anticipated presidential election, has not yet been released. A report in our sister...

Presidential polls, understanding voter needs and political parties

The Commissioner of Elections has announced presidential elections between 17 September and 16 October this year. However, many a citizen and political parties of the opposition have hinted at a possible delay or indefinite postponement of the expected election. Many of us also remember that while the Office of the Commissioner announced local government and provincial council elections would be held some years ago,those elections were never hel

End justifies the means in politics

Why is the government in such a haste to amend an Article in the Constitution which has somewhat a relevance only when the term of the President or the Parliament is to be extended? Does the government want to extend the term of the President or the Parliament? Yet, the relevant Article is not a hurdle. It says if you want to extend the term of the President or the Parliament to over six years, get the relevant Bill passed in Parliament with the

My family’s “Black July” experience: A personal memoir

The anti-Tamil pogrom ofJuly 1983 is an unforgettable chapter in the post-independence history of Sri Lanka. The catastrophic events of that dark month drastically affected the lives of several Tamils in Sri Lanka. As a Sri Lankan Tamil journalist, ‘Black July’ did have an effect on me in both personal and professional capacities. Furthermore, my family – like thousands of other Tamil families – was also affected and displaced during those turbu

Gaza War under Trump: It’s More MIGA than MAGA

The global media’s spotlight is on the Republican Party Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the aftermath of last Saturday’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presidential candidate.

Laying to rest gossip about scrapping aesthetics -EDITORIAL

During the past two weeks there was much concern and debates about a move by the government’s education ‘arm’ to remove aesthetic subjects from the school curriculum. There is enough literature published regarding this move which explains some of the Education Department’s planned reforms for the subjects taken up for the GCE O’ Level and A’ Level Examinations. The Education Department has now hurriedly used its media contacts to notify people th

Human trafficking Govt. is doing enough but not enough

Sri Lanka awaits an announcement from the Election Commission on the date of the Presidential Election. Right now, however, there are humanitarian issues that every citizen needs to be concerned about and address. One of these key issues is human trafficking to which Sri Lanka gives little attention. We need a ministry or a state ministry to look into issues connected with the crime of human trafficking. Later this month, the United Nations (UN)

When freedom granted puts you in a dangerous zone!

The youth of today want freedom and that too in loads. The generations before them were happy with freedom in small doses, but they wanted government welfare more than anything else. Present day youth would feel insulted if someone has to take care of their welfare. This is, of course, a thought they’ll be forced to revalue if their earnings, after completing their higher education, wouldn’t suffice to pay bills. Generally, youth on this island

A Republican wants to kill Trump? This is a bizarre case

“The central premise of the Biden campaign is that Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. This campaign is the principle reason behind this assassination attempt.” So said J. D. Vance, Republican senator of Ohio and a strong candidate for the position of Vice President if Donald Trump is re-elected as President of the United States. Republicans are making capital out of the botched assassination attempt on Trump. Thei

Voting with heart, not with the brain might disappoint Ranil this time

When the country ran out of foreign reserves and fuel queues sprang up, Sri Lankans stormed the President’s House and ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa. That may be an extreme case, but that was not the first time the street protestors toppled governments when the going got tough. Dudley Senanayake, the second prime minister, was the first victim of the populist outrage after he increased the price of a measure of rice’ from subsidised 25 cents to 70 cen

Shortsighted electoral politics driving country toward instability

Around election time, our country unfailingly witnesses the shortsighted characteristics of our party political leaders. At then Ceylon’s first general election in 1948, the Tamil tea and rubber plantation workers of Indian origin, elected representatives of the ‘Marxist’ parties defeating candidates of the premier’s party.

France’s electoral roller coaster ride

What a roller coaster ride it was. During recent European Union elections, France’s Rassemblement National....

Speed isn’t the only killer on roads - EDITORIAL

In its first six months the year 2024 had seen 1,103 road accidents in Sri Lanka in which....

UN stands with China on integrity of AI for humans

In July 1921 the Communist Party of China (CPC) took the 1st centenary goal to eradicate....

IMF and the Great Bond Restructuring Sell Out

The Finance Ministry is covering up a sweet deal for the international bondholders to the detriment....

Wildcat strikes and hidden agendas - EDITORIAL

Over the past week, people watched in amazement as persons whom we looked on as being our intellectual...

Rajavarothayam Sampanthan: The Political Journey of a ‘Great Leader’ part II

The funeral of veteran Tamil political leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan took place in Trincomalee....

Black July, facing the moment of truth

July is here again. It is one of the 12 months, Sri Lanka is notoriously famous for the wrong reasons. Reminiscence of the 1983 Black July or the anti-Tamil pogrom is one of the darkest black marks in the history of the entire country and for all Sri Lankans, especially the majority Sinhalese. The short-sighted, irresponsible, petty political decision-making especially by the head of the State, the Executive President J. R. Jayewardene and his g

Another pitfall on the road to Presidential election

The Supreme Court on July 8 dismissed a petition filed by a resident of Moratuwa, C.D.Lenawa on July 3 seeking a declaration that the president’s term of office is six years and an order to suspend the presidential election until the ruling on his petition is given. During the hearing of the petition which was very brief before it was dismissed Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya pointed out to the petitioner that the Article on the President’s t

An open letter to Presidential Election candidates;Legalise ‘System Change’

Weaknesses and shortcomings in our Political and Electoral Systems have over the last several decades allowed power hungry, mediocre and nepotic politicians to rule the roost in our Parliament.

Trade union terrorism: Is there a way out?

Are terrorists and trade unions equal? The more we endure the cruelty of some state-sector trade unions whose objectives, it appears, have little to do with worker rights and more to do with political goals, the more we are convinced that it is a form of terrorism. The tactic they both use is the same: victimising civilians. The difference is that trade unions do not use guns, bombs, RDX, TNT, or other explosives.

Focusing on social values and Oruwala shooting

Monday’s shooting of a nightclub owner at Oruwala, Athurugiriya one begs the question whether Sri Lankans are safe on this island? The prominent nightclub owner and another person received fatal injuries when two gunmen stormed in, opened fire and disrupted the opening ceremony of a tattoo shop.

Mandela Day: Give us leaders, a time like this demands

With the Sri Lankan political parties and the citizens focusing mainly on the Presidential Elections to be held later this year, the country has an urgent need not just for smart political leaders but a statesman who will work for the next generation and not for the next election. Sri Lanka has produced few if any such statesmen who are in the calibre of Nelson Mandela. If we could mention a few who come near that status it could include our firs

Misusing the power of the Fourth Estate

Unethical social media usage has become an unhealthy trend in light of recent events that took place in Sri Lanka. Experts have scrutinised social media page admins for revealing sensitive information.

What UNP-SJB can learn from France to save the country and themselves at next election?

Early this week, with the far-right knocking at the gates of government power, France pulled off a miraculous comeback to defend the Fifth Republic.