The culture of impunity, politicians and presidential elections

The Presidential election is in full swing. Our country went bankrupt two years ago. Thanks to an Indian credit line, the World Bank, the IMF and heaping burdens on the poorest sections of our people, we are informed, that our country is on the road to recovery.

The swing voter dilemma: Lies, damn lies and elections

The postal voting began on Wednesday, signalling the rollout of the 2024 presidential election. Most people have already decided on whom to vote on September 21. But a substantial section of the voter population is still undecided. Without credible surveys, the percentage of undecided voters is only a guessing game.

Leaders are recognised, not discovered! - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka is a country that needs some fresh air in the field of politics. Many feel so when they see some very old faces running for presidency at the upcoming polls.

Misleading the Tamils on devolution

The minority Tamils of Sri Lanka have been promised devolution of power since the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord was signed in 1987. The J.R. Jayewardene government even got the 13th Amendment (13A) to the Constitution passed by an overwhelming majority in Parliament.

A Rational Structure of Government–Who Is Offering It?

Over the past 50 years or so, every Sri Lankan president has followed a non-rational approach to the formation of government. This prompted Verité Research to draft a “blueprint for rational government” and present it to the major candidates (or their parties) in the lead up to this Presidential Election.

Spreading the spirit of charity through works of Mother Teresa

While media coverage is largely on the Presidential Election which is to be held on September 21, today marks an important day on the calendar– that is the International Day of Charity.

Presidential poll amid false promises, growing despair

Campaigning at this year’s presidential elections is now in full swing. The candidates who matter have all produced their manifestos of things they will do in the event they do succeed at reaching that all- important 50%+1 votes at the poll. It is also highly unlikely any candidate will be able to reach this magical figure after the first count of ballots.

Supporting common candidate or main candidate: Tamil politics in a fix today

At Sri Lankan presidential elections, the Northern and Eastern provinces where Tamil and Muslim minorities are concentrated matter a lot. The vote base in all seven provinces outside the North and the East is dominated by the majority Sinhalese community. When it’s split, more or less, down the middle at a presidential election, minority constituents from the North and the East virtually determine the winner.

Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder: Is it just one pervert or a whole mafia?

India has a highly publicised, shocking rape case (or rape and murder) once every few years.

Why only Fowzie? - EDITORIAL

The Colombo High Court on August 27 sentenced former Minister A.H.M. Fowzie for two years of rigorous imprisonment and suspended it for 10 years after he pleaded guilty over the charge of misusing a vehicle belonging to the Disaster Management Ministry.

Mass Protests – Role of the Deep State and the Fifth Estate

First it was Sri Lanka, and then, after two years, the same sequence of events in Bangladesh. One can argue that, having learnt lessons from its neighbours, Indonesia avoided the calamity within days.

73 year-old SLFP swallowed by SJB, UNP

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was established on September 2, 1951. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike left the United National Party (UNP), following his resignation from both his Cabinet portfolio and the UNP’s unofficial deputy leadership in July 1951, to form the new party.

Complying with RTI Act on foreign financing is important

Large infrastructure projects of the government are often financed by foreign loans and grants. When the amount exceeds USD 100,000, the law requires information about the projects to be disclosed to the public online.

A country like no other in election mode - EDITORIAL

Ours is a special country. We have many firsts to our name. We gave the world its first woman Prime Minister -Ms. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

The Common Tamil Presidential Candidate Controversy

The eagerly anticipated 2024 presidential election is scheduled to be held on September 21, 2024. Initially, 39 candidates were in the fray.

How experienced leaders made a total hash of things

The September 21 Presidential elections different from the past eight such elections held since 1982, in some aspects.

Economic melt-down, HR violations, and elections - EDITORIAL

In early 2022, Sri Lankans started experiencing 12-hour rolling power cuts and shortages of basics such as food, fuel, cooking gas and medicines to name a few. Desperate fathers and mothers searched hither and thither for infant food. Even vegetables grown in our fields were scarce.

Capturing the making of a modern Sri Lanka

When the civil war concluded in 2009 there were makers of short films who captured footage of celebrations on the street.

Remember the threat of a doomsday

While political leaders are promising heaven on earth in their intensified campaign for the Presidential Election on September 21,

Every generation gets the superhero it deserves!

Sri Lanka is a country where we see the occasional individual rise from poverty and then lift the rest of the clan out of misery.

To re-democratize Sri Lanka, abolish Executive Presidency

As a voter and a stakeholder in the country’s governance and electoral system /process, the writer was enlivened by a clarion call in the press by a group of lawyers, academics and civil rights activists to abolish the Executive Presidency.

How Sajith Premadasa’s gamble plays out against him, his party and the country

A rhetorical question: What difference would it have made if Sajith Premadasa delivered the speech Thalatha Athukorala did last week?

Are we an independent nation or a banana republic?

Our country is heading to the polls. On 21 September all of us eligible voters will be making a choice for one of the thirty-eight candidates whose name and symbol adorn the ballot papers. Some of these candidates will canvass only in particular districts reducing the electoral process to a farce.

Religious, civil society and academic community want balanced devolution of power to regions

This document has been compiled by members of religious and civil society and the academic community from all parts of the country after extensive discussion and consultations conducted over a period of several months. It is to be presented to the presidential candidates to include in their manifestos along with the pledge that they will support its implementation regardless of the outcome of the election.

Buddhists, Hindus believe in the power of White Elephant to subdue enemies

Myanmar’s military junta, facing powerful armed insurgencies in the North Eastern part of the country, has decided to use Buddhist symbolism to defeat the enemy.

Candidates, declare your plans to repay foreign debts - EDITORIAL

The only lifeline for Sri Lanka for the recovery from the current economic crisis and achieving long-term economic development seems to be the programme sponsored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) initiated by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in March 2022.

Namal’s Challenge: Nationalism and Rajapaksa Legacy

‘I Am Ready for the Challenges; … We always believed in nationalism, and we need to protect that. We believed the policies that suit our country were not addressed by the government.’ – Namal

A note on Mangala Samaraweera

It has been three years since the unexpected passing of my friend Mangala.

SC’s rights ruling and President’s ‘Hobson’s choice’ - EDITORIAL

On 22 August this month, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled the President in his capacity as Finance Minister had infringed the rights of the people by postponing the 2023 Local Government (LG) elections.

Making a joke of presidential elections

The process leading up to the presidential election has commenced. With the death of one contestant on Thursday and the withdrawal of another thirty-eight out of forty candidates who placed their deposits will be contesting the elections.The ballot paper is expected to be 27 inches long if the paper is printed single column and between 11 - 12 inches if the paper is printed double column!