Country cannot afford any more external borrowing - Bandula

Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane speaks about the current status of the economy, political situation and planned reforms in the higher education sector. Excerpts of the interview with him.

Military committing war crimes during final stages of civil conflict Allegations levelled are false and baseless: -Daya Ratnayake

​Former Army Commander Daya Ratnayake says allegations of the military committing war crimes during the final stages of the civil conflict against the LTTE are “baseless and false” and blames the previous government of failing

‘We suspect the bribes paid on airbus purchases were approximately USD 16.8 million’

UNP parliamentarian and former State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne, who has repeatedly voiced against the colossal losses the state-run SriLankan Airlines was made to suffer, specially after Mahinda Rajapaksa chased away Emirates Airlines in 2008 when he was president, says that the fraudulent airbus deal that came to light with the British Court judgement is one of the biggest scams in the history of Sri Lanka. The MP says that the nati

We’ve taken apt measures to contain coronavirus: Chinese Ambassador

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Cheng Xueyuan reiterated that the Chinese Government and its embassy in Sri Lanka had taken all possible measures to curtail the spread of coronavirus while accusing some of the western

Same culture that frowns upon sex-ed, also allows Children to get abused secretively -Dr. Ginige

Sex. As much as it is a taboo word in the conservative, conventional context, this very taboo has also made it a topic of discussion. Recently, society reacted diversely when ‘Hathe Ape Potha’ - an attempt to shed light on sex education - was planned to be distributed among grade 7 students. Issues that the youth have to face due to deficiencies of sex education include everything from being not harassed in public transport or roads, to teenage p

We in the COPE Got Misled as CB didn’t Provide Full Information

United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian and Economist Dr. Harsha de Silva in a candid interview analysed what unravelled in the recently released Forensic Audit Report relating to the Central Bank Bond scam. Being a teacher on the subject of bond trading, Dr. Silva, one of the most eligible lawmakers to analyse what transpired from the report, explained how the notorious alleged financial frauds took place’ especially playing with the Sri Lan

‘Politicians should Appoint Historians as Advisers - Dr. Rupesinghe

While the Department of National Archives is currently undergoing a much-deserved facelift, its doors are open to many researchers, academics and students who walk day in and day out, accessing and perusing important documents of yesteryear.

Art widens our understanding of society - Rajitha Dissanayake

Rajapaksas were elected by the people, not appointed Namal

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa said the new SLPP government would continue to call for the extradition of Arjuna Mahendran over the Bond Scam and would ensure that no one interfered with the judiciary or the law enforcement to conduct a thorough probe into the matter, as done by the previous UNF government. In an interview with , Namal further said the leaked telephone conversations of MP Ranjan Ramanayaka had rocked the nation and had disrupted

I am a political animal - Maithri

Former President Maithripala Sirisena, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about his future political plans, his performance as the former Head of State and controversy triggered by the leakage of telephone conversations MP Ranjan Ramanayake had with judges. Excerpts:

“I fought a good fight” -Rosy Senanayake

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mirror, Colombo Mayoress Rosy Senanayake who made headlines following the presidential poll spoke on various issues including allegations of bribery and corruption and of her being summoned by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

India doesn’t want to remain as a factor of SL’s internal political dynamics - Prof. Karori Singh-

Prof. Karori Singh, former director of South Asian Studies Centre, University of Rajastan, was in Sri Lanka. In an interview with , the renowned South Asian academic shared his thoughts on the evolution of relations between Sri Lanka and India, the future of South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The Excerpts:

In fighting extremism and de-radicalization Pakistan ready to support Sri Lanka-Qureshi

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi paid an official visit to Sri Lanka between December 1 and 2 with a felicitation message from his Government for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience. The invitation, delivered by hand, was extended to the President, who was still fresh after his bilateral engagements with Indian Prime

‘We’re like the emperor without clothes, blind to our nudity’ - Prof.Hoole

S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, one of the three members of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, which played a vital role in the recently concluded elections, agreed to discuss some of the questionable areas relating to the commission’s role . An engineer and academic by profession, Hoole serves as a professor of electrical engineering at Michigan State University. A brave

MCC and the transition to economic growth W. A. Wijewardena

The much-debated Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact for Sri Lanka promises funding for transport infrastructure development and land access rights. The USD 480 million Grant is viewed with skepticism by some and favourably by others. Speaking to Daily Mirror, former Central Bank Deputy Governor and senior economist W. A. Wijewardena shared his

‘Use brains not emotions when voting’ -Duminda Nagamuwa

While much of the election spotlight is focused on the presidential candidates of the major parties, those of smaller parties struggle to have their voices heard. One such person is Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) politburo member and propaganda secretary Duminda Nagamuwa, the youngest candidate in the fray. The 38-year-old former Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) convener, who mustered 9,941 in 2015, is running for a second time. The FS

Economics numbers in Gotabaya’s manifesto not credible -Eran Wickramaratne

State Minister of Finance, Eran Wickramaratne, one of the members of the team which penned the manifesto of New Democratic Alliance’s Presidential candidate Sajith Premsdasa, says that the UNF manifesto is not a set of promises, but a pledge for the people. Minister Wickramaratne complained that the financial figures presented in Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s manifesto are beyond reality.

Rajapaksas are playing the Racist card - TNA

All the political parties affiliated to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) representing the Tamil community especially in the North and East, have pledged their full support to New Democratic Front Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa.

Capitalism offers no solutions to the dangers facing workers: Pani Wijesiriwardena

Although one of the smaller parties contesting the presidential election, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) has a history of over half a century of active politics in Sri Lanka. In 1964 it broke away from the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) when the old left party joined the Sirimavo Bandaranaike coalition. In 1968 the breakaway group formed as the Revolutionary Communist League (RCL), and later in 1

Those who withdraw should be heavily fined Mahinda Deshapriya

Elections Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya speaks to Daily Mirror on preparations for Sri Lanka’s 8th presidential election, and how voters should cast their ballot this time around.

I’m a disciplined leader, not a dictator: -Gen. Senanayake-

As days are nearing the much looked forward to Presidential Election, candidates have started launching their manifestos and making pledges to the public. Apart from the two or three major parties, several other independent parties too have fielded candidates; one of them being the National People’s Party (NPP). During the recently concluded NPP election policy launch, its candidate General Mahesh Senanayake pledged that he would downsize the cab

I believe in National Harmony -Dr. Ajantha Perera-

Dr. Ajantha Perera, the only female candidate to contest in the upcoming Presidential Polls is determined to bring about a total transformation in the existing political culture. Contesting from the Socialist Party of Sri Lanka, Dr. Perera is a recognised environmental scientist in Sri Lanka and many other parts of the world.

Certain macro factors need to be managed carefully -Cabraal

Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal responded to a few questions posed to him by viewers during a live interview conducted on Facebook. Here, he spoke about the growth of the economy during his tenure, where it has gone wrong, allegations on bond issues and the future of certain political factions.

Elpitiya victory a trendsetter for us - Prasanna Ranatunga

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna(SLPP) MP for the Gampaha district Prasanna Ranatunga, in an interview with Daily Mirror, speaks about the presidential elections and the progress of campaigning so far.

We should have an out of the box approach to solve issues

Following are the questions asked from New Democratic Front’s (NDF) Presidential aspirant Sajith Premadasa and the answers given by him to the interviewer Lewie Diasz at a youth forum themed....

‘It’s better to donate a liver than a kidney’ -Prof. Rela

Liver diseases among people in Sri Lanka are prevalent due to many reasons including alcoholism. But the infrastructure needs to be improved to conduct liver transplants on these patients. During a recent visit to Sri Lanka, world renowned liver transplant specialist Prof. Mohamed Rela assured that he would support Sri Lanka to develop the necessary infrastructure if requested

Ranil’s presence is extremely vital for the way forward of UNP

Daily Mirror sat with former Minister and the General Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Attanayaka to discuss the current political situation and the New Democratic Front’s chance to win the Presidential poll.

‘There is universal clamouring for a strong leadership’ - G.L. Peiris

Chairman of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Prof. G.L. Peiris, in an interview with Daily Mirror, spells out his views on litigation against his party’s presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa....

Ranil made sacrifices throughout his political career We need new breed of decent politicians

Non-Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution, Dr. Harsha De Silva sat through a candid interview with the .... where he expressed his views on several matters at hand while responding to questions posed by the public.

Next President Should be the last : Karu Jayasuriya

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in a candid interview with the Daily Mirror said the country could have saved billions of rupees had the respective Presidents elected since 1994 to date got the presidential system abolished as promised on election platforms. He also criticizes the current presidential system, ‘designed to serve the interests of one man or woman’ as going against the fundamentals of democracy. The Speaker pledges to ensure that the presi