Our independence and sovereignty

Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, in an interview with speaks about the foreign policy of the new government, and how it will balance out strategic aspirations of the world powers. Adm. Colombage served the Sri Lanka Navy for a period of 36 years and retired as the

HOW LONG CAN THE TRUTH BE HIDDEN

Last week, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer that those reported missing from the war are “actually dead” and that the government would soon issue death certificates. Although the President has since clarified that death certificates will follow proper investigations, his remarks are an affront to mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters of the disappeared who have for years been demanding answers in monthly

Ekneligoda Disappearance: Decade of struggle for truth and justice

January 24, 2020, was 10 years since the disappearance of journalist and cartoonist Prageeth Ekneligoda. It also marked 10 years of struggle for truth and justice by his wife, Sandhya Ekneligoda and two young sons.

The circumstances that led to the birth of UNP and its survival:

SWRD Bandaranaike, Leader of the House was closely followed by a Rajapaksa when the former crossed the floor of House in July 1951, leaving the five-year-old UNP in the able-hands of the Senanayakes, Kotalawalas and Jayewardenes.

Another election is upon us - EDITORIAL

It is expected that Parliament will be dissolved in March this year (2020). Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya at a press conference held on December 4, 2019 said that if Parliament were to be dissolved in March 2020, general elections could be held on either April 25, 27 or 28.

Reducing road traffic accidents: Are we really doing enough?

Last year, 2641 people have died due to road traffic accidents. 7693 had sustained serious injuries and 10691 minor injuries. Of course, it was a drop from the last year but we must not assume that it is the beginning of the downward trend. The reason for the reduction may be due to some other reasons.

Sri Lanka: Religion, politics and democracy

Religion, politics and democracy might appear as three distinct realities; in fact, in many ways, both of a religious and secular nature. But strange as it may seem, they emerge strikingly intertwined in an exceptional way ever since independence.

Sajith Premadasa’s conundrum

The opposition desperately needs a thoughtful head, and it’s not going to get a thoughtful head with the mess it’s in right now. This leadership tussle was and is probably the worst the UNP has faced. But the stakes are too high. The people want Sajith Premadasa – or at least the populists in the UNP want him – and to reject calls to appoint him as not only the leader of the oppositional alliance but also the leader of the party that heads that

There is fire in smoking

For most people, the most dreaded disease is cancer. Even family members and friends are affected by it because in most cases it leads to death. On February 4, the United Nations marks World Cancer Day and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a statement says Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body. One defining feature of cancer is the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their u

A step in the right direction. What next?

Last week, the Cabinet decided to draft a National Intelligence Act. The Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena who announced the decision said the objective was “to mitigate the damage caused to the state intelligence agencies under the Yahapalana government, prevent repetitions and strengthen the State intelligence services to face any threat to National Security.”

Two “Unconventional” politicians and “Crisis” exposed

Two political personalities; wholly different from each other and different to all others as well, are in the limelight now. One is former State Minister and now Opposition MP Ranjan Ramanayake whose membership was suspended by the UNP leadership....

UNP on the Brink of Suicide

Apart from the United National Party (UNP) currently facing a severe problem caused by the phone-tapping by its Parliament Member Ranjan Ramanayake, the party seems to fail to resolve its infighting over its leadership before the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.

CHEC violates permit conditions for vehicles

China Harbour Engineering Company Limited- the contractual company of the Hambantota Port Project (Phase 1 and 2) has come under fire for allegedly violating conditions stipulated in the duty deferment permits granted.....

Doomsday clock dangerously close to midnight

Hours after this column was written and sent to the Daily Mirror yesterday, peace scientists and world elders gathered in Washington DC to announce how perilously close we are to a global disaster.

Media Must Honour Privacy - EDITORIAL

Artiste turned lawmaker Ranjan Ramanayake’s revelations about alleged corrupt activities of politicians and businessmen through his voice recordings have raised questions about privacy of individuals.

Continuing saga of the audio clips

With his interdiction on January 7, on the orders of acting Police Chief C.D. Wickramaratne; former CID Director SSP Shani Abeysekera became the first casualty in the sordid audio-clip saga.

Ranjan Ramanayake campaigner or attention seeker?

Lawmaker Ranjan Ramanayake has a way of bouncing back from hopeless situations. He made his critics sit up and take note when he highlighted on (Tuesday), during a fiery speech delivered in Parliament, certain issues ranging from MPs holding bar permits, drug trafficking, horse racing, match-fixing and a key name in the alleged bond scam offering him a bribe. The parliamentarian said that he has voice recordings from telephone conversations to pr

Hard battle for Sajith faction to secure UNP leadership

In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, nor are there permanent political alliances. Only interests remain, and alliances are formed as the situation demands to realise aspirations. This is exactly what Sri Lankans have been experiencing for the past few years.

Political culture is made of credibility gaps and complicities

Is Ranjan Ramanayake a hero or a villain? Depends on who you ask and depends on what you are talking about. If anything he has done or said causes embarrassment to someone or some political group then that person, his/her supporters or the party (as the case may be) would not cheer him. The relevant opponents might. There’s a lot of subjectivity in these Q&A exercises. The chain of events has thrown up some names. It has revealed some glaring f

A tale of two leaders

The many battles in the Sri Lanka political field at present underscores one prominent fact; it’s time for two seasoned campaigners to say adieu to politics.

Solution to Pea-Fowl menace in Sri Lanka

An Indian professor of Agriculture in Kerala, Mani Chellappan, who is known for his experiments on scaring away crop damaging birds and other animals has successfully experimented methods of scaring away birds including pea-fowls. This Kerala based academic has improved on the tried and tested method that uses polypropylene coated ribbons in the fields to drive the

Ranjan Tapes: Who writes the Script and who is the ultimate target?

As to what the final outcome of the fallout emanating from the 127,000 audio clips of phone conversations recorded by MP Ranjan Ramanayke, is a matter too delicate to cast any prediction. If the top rung of the government thought of them as an invincible weapon cometh the General elections in a few months and the exposures will be detrimental only to the UNP

BUILDING SOLIDARITY

“This is no time to talk of hedges and fields, or the beauties of any country. Sadness and fear and hate, how they well up in the heart and mind!!!” Delving into Alan Paton’s ‘Cry the Beloved Country’ we certainly do have to cry for our beloved country, the ignominy, the blatant disregard for truth and justice, the dauntless power struggle, the huge sums of money donated for the

Lahore High Court’s ruling in Musharraf case stemmed army-judiciary clash in Pakistan

The meandering six-year trial of Gen. (Rtd) Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former military dictator-turned civilian President, for “high treason” has pitted the judiciary against the army in that country. However, the Lahore High Court’s order of January 13, setting aside Musharraf’s conviction by a Special Court has prevented an immediate head-on clash between the two pillars of the State, which will have destabilised Pakistan at a time when the c

Eventually, an outspoken President for Sri Lanka! - EDITORIAL

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa must be commended for his outspokenness in some cases compared to other leaders of the country including his brother and former President Mahinda Rajapaksas. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa d

Youth skills development way forward for a future-ready workforce

Sri Lanka has long been regarded as a model of a successful welfare state - yet it has for decades faced major challenges in providing employment and meeting the aspirations of youth.The World Bank, in one of its reports, quotes two reasons for youth unemployment in Sri Lanka. (1) Competing hypotheses of unemployment and (2) Inaccessibility of quality education and training. World Bank classifies the first reason

A place and a temple: Karangoda and Pothgul Viharaya

In 1156 AD, the third year of his reign, Parakramabahu I faced a revolt in Ruhunurata led by Sugala, whose son Manabharana had been defeated and vanquished by him. He directed two of his Generals, Damiladhikari Rakkha and Kacukinayaka, to take two routes to Ruhuna and subjugate the aspiring queen. Codrington speculates that the latter general, after suffering defeat

Ranja, Wad of Bubble Gum Spit Away by Leadership? Or a ‘Cow Boy’ who Herded Cattle?

Is Ranjan Ramanayake, a wad of bubble/chewing gum spit away by the leadership or an actor in a Hollywood‘Cow boy’ film of 1940s-50s, playing the role of a cattle herder on horseback on ranches in Texas and North America....

Political Triumph and Economic Morass

Within two months of winning the presidential election, the Rajapaksa Government is firmly on the path of entrenching its position in parliament with the upcoming polls. The UNP’s infighting....

Australia’s raging inferno; an ecological horror movie

While Sri Lankan media are feasting on the vicarious hobby of actor-turned politician Ranjan Ramanayake, a country that many Lankans dream of as a haven and their new home is burning.