The sagging Indian interest in 13 A

Is the 13th Amendment to the Constitution - the most controversial and lengthy modification introduced to the country’s basic law - losing its significance? The answer seems to be in the affirmative with India, the real architect of that Amendment gradually lessening its weight in its own statements, the possibility of it dying a natural death or becoming a dead letter is apparently high. Also, with the provincial councils, the practical outcome

Recognising friend from foe and avoiding ‘Catch-22 situations’

Lanka finds itself once again in a Catch-22 situation. India and China have from our post-independence period proved to be our country’s most steadfast friends.

Going from Aid to Trade: a Story of Lanka and India

Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently concluded his state visit to India. He was given a high ceremonial welcome by his counterpart, President Droupadi Murmu, and received with warmth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtraprati Bhavan. In the joint statement, India has pledged to supply LNG gas to Sri Lanka, enhance trade settlements between the two countries, boost education and technology exchanges and encourage Indian

Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker Programme Helps 200 Youngsters Complete the Programme

The recent batch for the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) – Nursing Care training programme had completed the programme; it is conducted by the National Youth Services Council, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO). It empowers youth with critical skills for Japan’s growing nursing care sector. The ceremony to award certificates to the students was held in Kandy.

Request to Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Online Safety Act, and Other Repressive Laws

The Coalition against the Repressive Laws (CARL) which comprise of more than 60 Civil Society, Media, Trade Unions and Professional Associations, in a letter to the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has requested to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Online Safety Act, and other repressive laws that undermine fundamental rights and freedom.

Should Specialist Doctors Retire so ‘young’?

As Sri Lanka gets ready for Christmas in December, there will be some aged government workers who will be getting ready for retirement. That sounds painful, especially for specialist doctors who have to retire at age 60 by December 31 this year. However, there can be some good news for them given that the Ministry of Public Administration takes steps to gazette a ruling by the Court of Appeal to extend the retirement age of specialist doctors ser

Indo-Lanka ties intact, tightrope walk ahead for Sino-Lanka ties

In the overall context, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to India can be viewed as reaffirmation of the already existing blueprint for furtherance of bilateral relations.

System changes to rout out political corruption at grass root level

The Local Government (LG) election has come to the fore again.

A nation’s people see power in the word ‘sorry’

Politics in South Asia is largely interesting when circumstances break traditional politics and ushers in a new ‘caretaker’ regime.

Exposing corruption: Better late than never - EDITORIAL

Recently, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa posted a photo on his official Facebook page where he was posing alongside members of his security detail.

More Symbolism and Less Substance in President’s Visit to India

New Delhi laid out a red carpet welcome for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is on his first state visit outside the country.

Sri Lanka’s ‘Fourth Estate’ Rising from the Ashes

The media has often had great influence on public affairs and is referred to as the fourth estate. In the 19th century, the fourth estate came to refer exclusively to the press (print media). Today it’s applied to all branches of the news media and is accepted in general as being a legitimate political force performing a watchdog function.

Beyond Big Brother: Reframing India-Sri Lanka Relations Under Dissanayake

One side effect of the polarizing effect of nationalism and populism around the world in recent years has been a decrease in the political stability and mandate enjoyed by incumbent regimes.

Speaker’s Credentials: Academic or Leadership Qualities?

“May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose obedient servant I am here”-- William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons on January 4, 1642

Faking Degrees: A Thriving industry in South Asia

The Anura Kumara Dissanayake government in Sri Lanka, which was sailing smoothly despite unsolved economic issues, suffered the first jolt since coming to power, when parliament Speaker Ashoka Ranwala resigned on Friday amidst accusations that his PhD was fake.

AKD’s India Tour and Ethnic Probleme-EDITORIAL

It seems to be a ritual rather than a custom for the Sri Lankan Presidents in the recent past to undertake their first overseas tour to India, the geographically closest country.

Fall of the Assad Dynasty: What is Next for Syria?

The Assad family, father and son, ruled Syria with an iron fist for fifty four years.

Cricket’s Fall from Grace and AKD’s Loss of Face - EDITORIAL

Through the distant mists of history of cricket, we hear echoes of phrases such as cricket being the ‘gentleman’s game’.

Ranwala’s Title Outweighs Rice and Coconuts

The moral high ground occupied by National People’s Power (NPP) government has been threatened by the issues surrounding the title Dr. used by Speaker Asoka Sapumal Ranwala after many people started questioning and challenging the authenticity of it.

President Gets his Sums Wrong; MP’s Drop Bogus Doctorates

Less than four months ago,, the results of this country’s Presidential election brought a smile to Lankan faces. The relatively young leader of the National Peoples Power (NPP), popularly known as AKD, was elected President. Until this time AKD had commanded just three members in parliament. At the General elections which followed in November, the NPP won a two-thirds majority. It left the political opposition in disarray.

LTTE Political Strategist Anton Balasingham: A Personal Account.

The current controversy surrounding Speaker Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala’s higher educational qualifications evoke memories of an earlier controversy of a similar nature concerning a prominent person associated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE).

Syria: The grim reality behind the celebration

The crisis unfolding in Syria is indeed a major geopolitical quake, the likes of which the Middle East has not seen since the defeat of the Ottoman Empire and the balkanisation of the region into more than a dozen nation-states some 105 years ago in keeping with the Western imperialists’ sinister design to divide and rule the Arabs.

Thumbing Through Pages Made Heavy by VAT- EDITORIAL

Book publishers in Sri Lanka are up in arms against the existing Value Added Tax (VAT) that’s charged on books.

ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PLEDGES GIVEN AT THE ELECTIONS:IS IT FEASIBLE ?

Out of multiple strategies implemented by JVP/NPP leadership in order to secure victory at the last Presidential and General elections, hatred politics and gamut of crucial pledges given to the people have played a predominant role to change the mindset of the mass scale of people in favour of JVP/NPP.

1971 Indo-Pakistan War Legendary Pakistan Navy Submarine and Pakistan Navy War College in Lahore

The Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore celebrated its 50th anniversary three years ago. I was fortunate enough to be part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations being an alumnus of the College, on invitation by then Chief of Navy Staff (Navy Commander) of Pakistan.

A Silent Epidemic: Tackling Mental Health Challenges Among Sri Lanka’s Students

Among the many statistics, rankings, and lists, Sri Lanka appears on; one of the most alarming is its position in global suicide rates.

Perhaps the Eyes of Lady Justice May not be Blindfolded Anymore…

When Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake took oaths as the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka in May 2011, there were many who were unhappy about this appointment.

Can AKD bring big time rice millers to book

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his newly elected parliamentary team are being hit by a barrage of criticism more reminiscent of the firing of multi-barrel weapons which operated during the time of the LTTE-led war which lasted nearly 30 years. The political opposition has rounded on government for its inability to control major rice millers manipulating prices.

When guardians of justice are more corrupt than politics…

Those on all sides of the political divide, and even those who hold reservations, could expect certain good things to come from this government. One area of promise is more than an illusory commitment to fight corruption. Acknowledging that would not make you a sycophant but surely reduce the chances of you being a brazen hypocrite.

Why is crony capitalism so strong and widespread?

Crony capitalism is widely and publicly derided as the worst form capitalism. It is considered to be injurious to the long term prospects of an economy and also to the welfare of the masses.