Free media, the lifeblood of democracy

With President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government reportedly planning to introduce bills to restrict media freedom and impose checks on social media networks, independent analysts are warning of the repercussions because a free media is one of the pillars of democracy as it involves the people’s sovereignty, the right to information and expression. In this context, our political leaders need to contemplate

Protecting the independence of the Judiciary

Public concerns about the independence of the Judiciary in Sri Lanka were the focus of a recent conference of the Lawyers Collective. Following certain statements made by the executive and in Parliament the Lawyers Collective asserted that the independence of the Judiciary is at stake and that unless action is taken the sovereignty of the people would be at stake The sovereignty of the people is explained in Article 4 of the Constitution as being

Unconscionable tariff hikes and restructuring the CEB - EDITORIAL

The Ceylon Electricity Board has done it again. Electricity tariffs have been raised by a whopping 18%. At this moment according....

Imposters of Aragalaya

If you keep yourself up to date with local news, you are also likely to be bombarded with an overdose of negativity, which might make....

Sri Lanka’s strategic embrace of Blue Economy in the Indo-Pacific

Let me gently remind all of you that this theme merely does not reflect the immediate considerations of the current situation of the maritime...

Take follow-up action on frauds revealed by the COPE - EDITORIAL

There are allegations that the Parliament’s committees on Public Accounts (COPA) and Public Enterprises (COPE) are toothless tigers at a time when corruption has engulfed the entire state machinery from top to bottom of almost all pubic institutions. We read about frauds involving millions if not billions of rupees in national newspapers everyday but rarely hear about follow-up actions taken by the authorities to penalize the culprits or to recov

The place of crossovers in democracies

Sri Lanka’s Environment Minister and MP of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Naseer Ahamed was recently ousted from his parliamentary membership by the Supreme Court for defying the party whip and joining the government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This brought back into public focus the controversial, if not unsavoury, phenomenon of inter-party crossovers in Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court unseated Naseer Ahamed on the grounds that he h

Parliament, Members of Parliament and lawlessness among law makers - EDITORIAL

Parliament is the highest legislative body in a country. In other words, it makes the laws of the land. It has three functions; representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the work....

‘…Yeah, We Wept, When We Remembered Zion’

472 people lost their lives in Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza; thousands suffered injuries in a highly contentious air raid on the hospital. Approximately one-third of Gaza’s population consists....

How I Went on a Hunger Strike in CID Custody on the 4th Floor

As stated last week, the CID director DIG Bennet Perera showed me the letter written by Defence Secretary Gen. Sepala Attygalle instructing the Police to question me for information regarding the murder of four Rupavahini employees in Jaffna.

Unending electoral reforms

President Ranil Wickremesinghe through a Gazette Notice on October 16 appointed a nine-member Commission headed by former Chief Justice Priyasath Dep to make recommendations on electoral reforms.

Do we have a plan to repay our foreign debt? - EDITORIAL

It never rains but pours, the age-old adage goes. On April 21, 2019, terrorists carried out a heinous attack on innocents at three churches and tourist hotels in Sri Lanka. The attack killed over 250 civilians and included a number of foreigners. The tourist industry which had just begun to raise its head in the aftermath of the ethnic conflict took a hard hit.

Crafty lawmakers and the ‘gap’ they maintain - EDITORIAL

Politics in this country is represented through the gap between those who have and the ones who don’t. This is the reality whether we like it or not. Occasionally we’ve heard stories about less affluent...

Israel, Western media normalise psychopathic behaviour

How many Palestinian children should die before the West and its mollycoddled ally, Israel, feel sated to call for a ceasefire? One-third of the more than 3,000 Palestinian casualties...

Using Media and Information is going forward, not backward

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) government are taking practical steps to reduce the debt burden and strengthen the country’s economy, but the cost of living is soaring sky-high and millions of poor or middle-class people finding it difficult to obtain proper meal and provide for their healthcare, education and travel needs. Till the economy is strengthened, the government is planning to introduce bills to

Non-alignment in today’s world order: Sri Lanka’s foreign policy

Sri Lankan should carry out the concept of which there is bipartisan agreement, where Sri Lanka stays out of and opposes any attempt to bifurcate Asia, and we go along to ensure peace and stability in our region.”

The BRI and overcoming the debt crisis

Following the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, our economy experienced a steady decline. The subsequent outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation. A number of silly mistakes made by past leaders -like the sudden ban on the import of fertilisers without a plan to meet the disruption- ended any hope of recovery. A while later the country declared itself bankrupt and chaos took over. In turn, it resulted in Premier Mahinda resigning an

Better prospects of human rights under a parliamentary system

According to media reports, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe are discussing the prospect of replacing the Executive Presidential system with a Westminster-style parliamentary system before the next Presidential election in 2024. They are also contemplating a parliament with 160 of the 225 members directly elected under the First Past the Post (FPP) system and 65 elected under the Proportional Representatio

WILL SRI LANKA HONOUR UNCRC RECOMMENDATIONS ON RIGHTS OF CHILDREN?

Three decades after ratifying the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the treaty signed by the largest number...

Can committees eradicate ragging? - EDITORIAL

State Minister for Higher Education Dr. Suren Ragavan had said on last Wednesday that his ministry has decided to monitor university...

Proposed changes to electoral system – sincere effort or ploy - EDITORIAL

In the Middle East earth-shaking events are unfolding. Israel seems bent on getting rid of the Palestinians. In the early 20th century.....

Analyzing the LACK of modesty, humour and diplomacy in politics

Comedy serves various functions in politics. In addition to offering relief during tough times, it can emphasize a politician’s authenticity....

How I was Arrested by the CID and Detained on the 4th Floor

Thirty-six years ago in October 1987, I was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Office on the fourth floor of the Police Secretariat in Fort, Colombo.

Is crossover always bad?

The notion that the recent ruling by the Supreme Court that upheld the expulsion of former Environment Minister Nazeer Ahmad Zainulabdeen from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has set a new precedent is a misconception.

The Galle Dialogue and a defining moment in world order

Speaking at the Galle Dialogue on 12 October 2023, President Wickremesinghe spoke on the new emerging order. What he questioned, is the new emerging order, after the Hamas attack on Israel.

WARS, targeting civilians and the killing fields in Palestine

Targeting civilians in war is an international crime. The reality however is that war is all about killing. While we all pay lip service to the sacredness of civilian life, civilians become the first victims of war. During the dying days of World War II the US nuclear-bombed two civilian targets in Japan - Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS BY THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHOIR 2023

The Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped is excited to announce their choir (comprising of talented visually impaired singers) is now available for bookings in the 2023 Christmas season. The choir members are eagerly looking forward to bringing their special brand of festive cheer to corporates, hotels and homes.

Remembering a Buddhist scholar, author, and teacher with gratitude

The third death anniversary of veteran author and Buddhist scholar Wijesiri Wettimuny fell on September 16,2023. Even though I got to know him towards the latter part of his life, the little time I spent with him was spent quite meaningfully and I gained a lot of knowledge from associating with him.

Edith Cowan University honours Dr. Rosh Jalagge with Prestigious Honorary Doctorate

Edith Cowan University conferred an Honorary Doctorate upon Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in Western Australia Dr. Rosh Jalagge in recognition of his outstanding service-based entrepreneurial achievements and remarkable philanthropic contributions as the CEO/Founder of the Roshana Care Group.

Jackson; a dictionary too heavy to carry! - EDITORIAL

The passing away of artiste Jackson Anthony (65) not only leaves a void for such a character in the film industry, it also makes us delve into his life and times to study areas about this giant of a man....