No constitutional provision whatsoever to re-summon old Parliament –GL

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna(SLPP) chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris, in an interview with Daily Mirror, responds to calls by the opposition to reconvene Parliament. He argues that there is no constitutional obligation for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to do so.

Coronavirus Test kits validated before use - Dr.Anil Jasinghe

The Health Ministry is at the helm of Sri Lanka’s fights against the coronavirus, a fight which the Government says is moving ahead effectively. Director General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe is playing a key role in the efforts to contain the s

South Asia needs a humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic : Ranil Wickremesinghe

The former Sri Lankan Prime Minister says India has to play a leading role in formulating a SAARC-led regional response to the crisis.

NEC Chairman continuing as one-man commission: Hoole

National Elections Commission (NEC) member Ratnajeevan H. Hoole has not been in good terms with NEC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya....

‘Legally the old parliament can now sit’ - Sumanthiran

The political landscape in Sri Lanka is on the brink of another crisis with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa insisting that he will not reconvene the old Parliament despite strong pressure from the opposition.

’’We must abandon the idea of elections anytime soon’’- Sumanthiran

Former Jaffna District Parliamentarian and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Spokesman M. A. Sumanthiran PC engaged in an informative conversation with the “Daily Mirror”...

Priority in Sri Lanka to contain further spread - UN

As Sri Lanka continues to battle coronavirus (COVID-19), the United Nations (UN) says emergency fiscal support will help the country cope with the added burden on the healthcare system due to extra patients and testing.

Sri Lanka must ensure China is held accountable:US Lawyer

The coronavirus has killed more than 20,000 people around the world and infected more than 350,000 others, including more than 100 people in Sri Lanka. The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China and began to spread rapidly around the world. As China celebrates the eradication of the virus from its soil, there are growing calls for China to be held accountable for the suffering undergone by so many countries as a result of the virus. A prominent

My father’s killers being protected - Ahimsa Wickrematunge -

Slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter Ahimsa Wickrematunge has been fighting a lone battle to seek justice over her father’s death, a battle which seems to be heading to a dead end. However Ahimsa Wickrematunge insists that she will continue her fight despite the many obstacles in her way.

Community participation is important in countering extremism - Prof. Shahab Enam Khan

Prof. Shahab Enam Khan, a renowned academic of Bangladesh on security and political institutions, shares his thoughts on countering violent extremism and his country’s experience. He teaches international relations at

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.