Tamil Leader, Sritharan - the New Target of Racist and Majoritarian Communalists

Ever since Mr S. Sritharan was elected leader of the “Federal Party” or the “Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi” (ITAK), numerous articles with a racist bent have begun appearing in a number of ‘national news outlets’ in Colombo. The articles have a common thread running through them - Sritharan’s visit to the LTTE war heroes’ cemetery in Killinochchi - and their (nationalist writers) interpretation of the symbolism of that visit. One of these Prophet

Heatwaves and Dry Spell Warnings but no Remedial Alternatives - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka is presently caught up in the middle of a heatwave. The Department of Meteorology had forecast the present spell ....

Navalny Died Trying to Politicise the Russians

The sudden, mysterious death of Aleksei Navalny, the charismatic Russian Opposition Leader imprisoned on trumped up charges, came...

Tax is not a Monster, but…

These days, tax has become the talk of the town, the laughing-stock and the attractive subject matter for cartoonists. The general ....

Internally Divided ITAK is in the Eye of a Legal Storm

The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) known in English as the Federal Party (FP) is in the eye of a legal storm. The premier political party representing the Sri Lankan Tamils of the Northern and Eastern provinces is currently undergoing an internal crisis mainly due to recently held inner-party elections. Issues relating to the intra-party elections have brought about a clearly visible divide within the ITAK. This in turn has led to an unpre

When the School Life you Cherish is Threatened! - EDITORIAL

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) must consider the plight of mothers and fathers who are struggling to send their children to school and complete the basic education of their offspring. General Secretary....

Palestine question: US blamed for veto; Brazil, Guyana hailed, Lanka nowhere

Burying the values the United States presidents often speak highly of during their policy speeches, Washington once again inhumanely used its veto power at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday....

Restore the Senaka Bibile Policies

With Sri Lanka facing its most painful public health crisis since independence, a sub-committee to formulate a “Charter for Ensuring Patients’ Safety and Well-Being” was set up in Parliament on October 19 last year by Parliamentarian Mayantha Dissanayake, the Chairperson of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health established in terms of Standing Order 111 of Parliament. This sub-committee is chaired by Parliamentarian Upul Galappaththi and con

Comrade Dissanayake Must Visit Nuwara Eliya

At the time of writing this column, personal information of an individual such as where he was born and bred, his family name, political affiliation and if he can be known play a major role in Sri Lankan politics. The National People’s Power (NPP) has hinted that all would change if a government is formed under this newly formed alliance. NPP Leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated on numerous occasions that the alliance he leads will appoint

Election fever to grip country after March

The country is abuzz with election fever, despite the presidential election, constitutionally scheduled for this year, not yet being officially declared. The JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) is engaging grassroots level individuals and organizations in view of the elections. The early engagement is aimed at tailoring their electoral message effectively. The party is channeling its energy into capitalising on the widespread dissatisfaction

Saga of a prideful legacy and brotherhood in cricket

As we have started the move on this journey, we eagerly anticipate the successful execution of the 94th traditional cricket encounter between Ananda and Nalanda, titled the “Saga of a Prideful Legacy...

Feudalism’s Last Refuge: Medical Sector?

If you want to see the residual of feudalism alive and kicking in this country, look no further than the health sector. Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital, Rukshan Bellana became....

Lanka Needs to Change its Stance on Free Trade Agreements - EDITORIAL

For over five years, we the Lankans have been dabbling with the idea of entering into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with India and other countries in the Asia region. Today, once again, we are....

The Judicial Power of the People and a ‘Presidential Interpretation’ of our Constitution

“Since 1972 this country has known no Monarch, and the President has not inherited that mantle. All his powers are limited by the provisions of the Constitution.” - Dissolution of Parliament Case (2018)

Scrapping the Executive Presidency; Hypocrisy to the Core

Media reports state that the government is considering the abolition of the Executive Presidency instead of holding the next Presidential election which is constitutionally scheduled to be conducted later this year - between September 18 and October 18. One website quoted former President Maithripala Sirisena as stating that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has tasked a group of lawyers with looking into the abolition of the Executive Presidency.

Abu Dhabi heralds Era of Religious Accommodation in Islamic West Asia

Due to the demographic changes brought about by economic growth, the Islamic United Arab Emirates (UAE) is beginning to shed its traditional objection to the public practice of other religions, especially idol worship. On February 14, Abu Dhabi heralded a new era of religious accommodation by allowing Hindus, a very large community of expatriates from India, to build a grand temple. Significantly, the land for it was donated by the UAE governm

Abolishing the Executive Presidency; Prudent Proposal - But DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT FIRST

A prudent suggestion is to abolish the Executive Presidency through a referendum, ensuring that the process....

Language: A Catalyst to foster National Unity - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka is described as a multilingual country but this definition could perhaps be deceptive when reflecting on the past and....

Debt Restructuring and Hidden Agendas

Two years ago in February 2022, Sri Lanka rapidly descended into an economic crisis that had long been in the making. The war in Ukraine...

Nalanda Mourns the Loss of Hon. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera

Mallawa Arachchige Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, (29 January 1941–17 February 2024) was a politician and a member of the 15th Parliament....

Upali Wijewardene, Free Trade Zone and “The Island”

Today (Feb 17) is the birthday of Sri Lanka’s popular business magnate Philip Upali Wijewardene. If Upali Wijewardene were among the living now, he would have celebrated his 86th birthday this year. Alas, this was not to be as the Lear Jet he was travelling in disappeared on 13 February 1983, just 4 days before his 45th birthday. It was my privilege to be associated with Upali Wijewardene slightly and briefly during the years 1978 to 1983. As a

Rocking the Cradle while Pinching the Baby

One of the main points that were highlighted by the media from the policy statement presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on February 7 after opening of the new session of the Parliament was the need for unity among major political parties in Parliament. He questioned as to why the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) cannot join the government if the Sri Lanka Podujana Permuna (SLPP) can do so in the interest of the country. He also questioned as

The Health Sector and a Nation held to Ransom

The health sector is one of the most important departments in any country. Recently, we had a Health Minister who dumped drugs unfit for human consumption on an unsuspecting population. Trade unions demanded his prosecution, and they were right. Now these self-same unions are attempting to hold the nation to ransom via unreasonable demands for what amounts to a huge Rs. 35,000 travel allowance. Two days ago, striking health workers once again ca

Thinking Beyond a Profession and Entering the Market - EDITORIAL

There was a popular breakfast show on television a few days ago where singers Bathiya and Santhush shared their ideas about being successful in music; the business that’s close to their....

Israel’s genocide juggernaut to hit Rafah, despite global appeals

Never has an Israeli government been as cruel or malicious as Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government, which is planning to unleash what is feared as the worst phase of Israel’s genocidal....

Wildlife: 50,000 Species Meet the Needs of Billions Worldwide

Despite widespread criticism especially by some media groups which obviously have some vested interests, President Ranil Wickremesinghe – giving steady leadership to the heavily divided Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) government – is making steady progress in pulling Sri Lanka out of its worst ever economic and debt crisis. These moves come in an election year but some critics are alleging that the President might try to put off the elections

Can We Build a World-Class City with Third-World Public Transport?

Colombo is a city in a hurry. New hotels, shopping malls and highways are mushrooming everywhere, and the skyline keeps growing upwards, promising to take us to a world-class future. I went to Galle Face and Port City recently to soak in the Global City in progress. As I was admiring a brightly-lit skyscraper, I was jolted back to reality by a rickety old bus pulling up in front of it. Somehow, the blueprint to make Colombo world-class seems to h

Akin to Deck Chairs on the Titanic

There are worrying signs that policymakers and political parties simply have not grasped the magnitude of the problem....

NGO Activities Amid Closing Civic Spaces - EDITORIAL

On 10 February, this newspaper drew attention to a ‘not so new’ law – the ‘Non-Governmental Organisations (Registration and Supervision) Bill.....

Counterfactual History: ‘Rohana Wijeweera visiting New Delhi in 1987.’

On the eve of JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s much-talked-about visit to India, let’s take a journey into counterfactual....