Elections and playing the card of sentiment - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka’s politicians surprisingly aren’t desperate as yet. The educated and those wearing their thinking caps all the time are still a minority so they cannot be ready yet to offer an alternative to the people....

Hold local council elections as part of the solution to the economic crisis

As the government and the ruling parties appear to be resorting to every trick in the book to postpone the long-overdue local council elections, the crucial question is whether elections are the most important....

Using public holidays for people’s welfare

With Sri Lanka still struggling to come out of its worst ever socio-economic crisis since independence, some non-party political experts have suggested some practical solutions which the government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramua (SLPP) need to consider and implement.

Towards the fortification of nutritional sovereignty

When the then US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Teresita Currie Schaffer, insisted in the early 1990s that Sri Lanka’s food security lies in the wheat fields of North America,

Spotlight on SL’s South Eastern University: South eastern varsity VC under scrutiny following plagiarism claims

When re-examining the research papers of Rameez Aboobacker, a sociology professor and the current Vice Chancellor of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, serious breaches of academic integrity.....

China learns a virus lesson the hard way

China prides itself in being an example to the less developed nations by its spectacular economic growth since the 1980s, thanks to innovation, hard work and leaders who put country first without enriching....

So along, farewell, auf wiedersehen good night... - EDITORIAL

Two weeks ago, the world bid adieu to the year 2022. For us 2022 was particularly catastrophic. For the first time in our history, we defaulted on debt payment. So, we will definitely....

Religious freedom and respect to religions

The recent controversial YouTube video released by social media activist Sepal Amarasinghe and his arrest has again brought the question of containment of social media to the fore. Those who always champion bridling of media c

Kanjipani Imran’s bail jump: Is ‘flight risk’ only for ‘Aragalaya’?

On December 20, when he was produced before the court under STF protection, the attorney general informed the court that the charges levelled against the suspect did not fall under the PTA, which allowed his lawyers to request bail. He was released on bail on two sureties totalling Rs.10 million - which is peanuts given the extent of Imran’s underworld operation

President and Tamil National Alliance to discuss full implementation of 13A

Positive moves are being made by both President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to resolve the seven decades-long ethnic issue. Following Wickremesinghe’s declared resolve to secure an agree

Spotlight on Berangamuwa: Tree felling exposes Bagavanthalawa-Balangoda main road to landslides

The Bagavanthalawa-Balangoda main road connecting the two districts Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura is at risk of landslides due to the felling of Eucalyptus trees by the Department of Forest Conservation....

Humanitarian Relief and War, what’s our choice? - EDITORIAL

As this year (2023) dawns, the number of people who will be in need of humanitarian relief has increased by almost a quarter. According to the United Nations (UN), the worst global food crisis....

LG: Veto Elections; Persuade System Change

The Chairman of the National Elections Commission has stated that arrangements are already in place to conduct the LG Election by end of March 2023— that’s his job. He has also mentioned that Election....

Lasantha was a Fearless Editor who Spoke Truth to Power

Friends,Family members, colleagues, schoolmates and admirers of Lasantha Wickrematunge are scheduled to meet on Sunday January 8th at the Kanatte cemetery in Borella.

The war in Ukraine: Who wins who loses

Phase II of the Russo-Ukraine war has now entered is 12th month, (the first stage beginning with the annexation of Kiev in February of 2014), when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.

Deadlines for headlines

Barely a month is remaining for President Ranil Wickremesinghe to solve the decades-long ethnic problem,

Are we losing by promoting paddy cultivation? - EDITORIAL

Sri Lankans are mulling over two things right now; one is when the LG polls would be held and the other is how to purchase paddy for the next season. The latter....

Taxing the working class and saving the corrupt

Have the cake and eat it, too: This may be a hackneyed phrase. But it is an apt idiom to describe a desperate Sri Lankan government’s haphazard fiscal measures to shore up falling state revenues and maintain....

Unauthorized constructions, floods, landslides and LG polls

Local government elections are expected to be held in March this year. The governing central government parties have shown little enthusiasm toward the holding of local hustings. Those in opposition political parties meanwhile speak on the vital importance of holding the election on schedule.

Maldivian ruling party heading for split ahead of Presidential poll?

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which rules the Indian Ocean archipelago, is torn between President Ibrahim Solih and former President and present-day parliament Speaker, Mohamed Nasheed, putting in question its prospects in the September 2023 Presidential election. Nasheed has publicly stated that Solih will not get more than 20% of the votes in the first round if he is the MDP’s candidate.

One day, the storyteller’s tale will be told

The voice would boom through the corridors, “Hey bugger, what have you got for me?” Early morning hours during a mid-weekday in a Sunday newspaper and few staffers were just ambling in. I would be among them; most often returning to the office after several days spent on reporting.

Dire need for One Professional Tourism Authority

To truly position and brand Sri Lanka and to ensure the country meets the global traveler’s expectations, it is essential that the Government merge Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, The Sri Lanka...

Economic meltdown, healthcare crisis and corruption - EDITORIAL

The worst days of the economic meltdown are now behind us. The miles-long fuel queues at petrol sheds are, but a distant memory. The petrol, diesel and kerosene shortage however.....

New burdens of the New Year

Despite President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe having attempted to paint a rosy picture of the current economic situation of the country, the situation does not seem to be so rosy, going b

Sri Lanka ready for another covid wave?

It took a few days of unprecedented mass protests, the largest since the Tiananmen demonstrations in 1989, for the Chinese authorities to ditch the rigid zero covid policies that were, needlessly, in force for nearly three years. However, the

Hunger, power-cuts, elections and New Year - EDITORIAL

Despite wishing our readers a very happy 2023, our people are left carrying forward crises created in the past year. We need to confront.....

Political and Economic Prospects of the Youth

The dawn of the New Year is a time of hope. And hope comes with the energies of the younger generations. I often wonder what the political....

Back to Galle Face!

Our voters have constantly exhibited their ability to change Governments. Unfortunately, in the selection of individual candidates....

Spotlight on Seruwila gold deposit GSMB officials alleged of Malpractices

Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) receives 7% as royalty in mineral exploration. This royalty should be paid to the Department....

What is in store for the people in the New Year?

Sri Lankans are leaving one of the most tumultuous years in the history behind today –December 31, 2022.