Ranil has a better shot at presidency without Rajapaksa’s endorsement

Monday night, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) finally parted ways with Ranil Wickremesinghe, announcing plans to field its own candidate at the presidential election. The move effectively split the Pohottuwa and saw President Wickremesinghe affiliated SLPP MPs, 11 of them, leaving the party’s central committee meeting and assembling at the UNP headquarters to endorse the candidacy of Wickremesinghe.

Presidential election, candidates and issues of electors

Finally the date of our widely expected presidential election has been announced. Lankans will cast their vote to elect a new president on September 21 this year.

IGP appointments: Historical analysis of 20th century’s first-half

The Supreme Court has issued an interim order preventing IGP Tennakoon from functioning in the role of IGP. This move comes amid various parties questioning the legality and appropriateness of his appointment.

Reject leaders rejecting system change - EDITORIAL

Two years ago, the last ten days of July saw a brutal crackdown of a public uprising that craved a system change following an unprecedented economic meltdown that irreparably ruined the life of over half of the populace while turning that of another huge segment of the society upside down.

The cost of living -Who’s fooling whom? - EDITORIAL

In Parliament a few days ago the Minister of Agriculture made a startling revelation.

Presidential Elections: ‘RW with whom?

There’s a political poster that’s been splashed on the walls of Colombo. Black letters on a yellow background mean that the author or the party cannot be identified

What is in store now for 22 A?

Despite Opposition political parties accusing the President and his party, the United National Party (UNP) was attempting to postpone the Presidential election for the past few months, it seems that the road is clear for that election.

Politicians plunging country from one crisis to another - EDITORIAL

Just two years after the ‘Aragalaya’ and the country is beginning to emerge from its state of bankruptcy, a new crisis seems to be in the making.

When Sarath challenged Mahinda for presidency in 2010

Gardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka known generally as Sarath Fonseka has thrown his hat into the presidential poll ring again.

Sajith gains people’s loyalty

The following is a reply to an article published in the Daily Mirror on 22.07.24 under the heading ‘BOASTERS in politics and American Trump’ by Desmond Mallikarachchi.

Bahu saw enough wins in his losses

In Sri Lanka or anywhere in the world, history has been mostly penned about winners and not losers. The same can be said in the field of politics. Yesterday (July 25) the death of leftist politician Vickramabahu Karunaratne was announced.

The SOERU and the insulation it provides against bad privatisations

For decades, Sri Lanka’s State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have been plagued by inefficiency, corruption, and a lack of transparency. Apart from the burden on the public purse, the consequences for citizens have included substandard medicines to exploding gas cylinders. Over the past twenty years vested interests have mushroomed around SOEs.

Lessons in creativity for Sri Lanka from Finland’s education system

There are two complaints that are frequently heard in Sri Lanka about its education system.

Elections: Focus on Sri Lanka and the US

With the Election Commission scheduled to announce any time now the date for the Presidential Election, political parties are expressing various views on forming different alliances, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe being at the centre of attention and being attacked by rival parties.

Culture of impunity -Politicians and clergy stand shamed

In our country, politicians their hangers-on and even members of the clergy seemingly enjoy impunity for the commission of crime and/or instigation of the same. Their actions committed in broad daylight and under the full glare of media coverage, paint our country in a bleak light.

Immigration, parallel societies and ‘Great Replacement’: Any lessons for Sri Lanka?

Twenty years ago, as a budding journalist, fresh out of university and covering the then peace process, I had the fortune to be exposed to, and to some extent ‘indoctrinated’ by the grand promise of multiculturalism, often through seminars and study tours organised by the Scandinavian good Samaritans who had been facilitating the peace process.

Will India’s support of Mauritius on Chagos affect ties with the West?

Diego Garcia, which houses a major American air and naval base, is one of the islands in the Chagos archipelago which Mauritius claims.

Trade union rights aren’t above common man’s rights - EDITORIAL

Hot on the heels of a string of work stoppages by employees of several departments of the public sector which earned the wrath of the public, the unions of government teachers and principals announced a work-to-rule campaign for two weeks from yesterday.

“Licence to Kill”: Tanzanian Tuskers Targeted by Trophy Hunters?

In a move reminiscent of the 1989 James Bond action-thriller “Licence to Kill,” the Tanzanian government is considering issuing new licenses that would allow wealthy trophy hunters to target Africa’s most magnificent male elephants, known as “super tuskers,” prized for their exceptionally large tusks, for sport or trophy hunting.--New York based Avaaz communiqué

Denmark’s jewellery law and Europe’s anti-immigrant backlash

As we discussed earlier, Britain and Italy seem to be the most hostile European countries towards immigration....

Who’s leading in the run-up to Presidential polls - EDITORIAL

The exact date for the much-anticipated presidential election, has not yet been released. A report in our sister...

Presidential polls, understanding voter needs and political parties

The Commissioner of Elections has announced presidential elections between 17 September and 16 October this year. However, many a citizen and political parties of the opposition have hinted at a possible delay or indefinite postponement of the expected election. Many of us also remember that while the Office of the Commissioner announced local government and provincial council elections would be held some years ago,those elections were never hel

End justifies the means in politics

Why is the government in such a haste to amend an Article in the Constitution which has somewhat a relevance only when the term of the President or the Parliament is to be extended? Does the government want to extend the term of the President or the Parliament? Yet, the relevant Article is not a hurdle. It says if you want to extend the term of the President or the Parliament to over six years, get the relevant Bill passed in Parliament with the

My family’s “Black July” experience: A personal memoir

The anti-Tamil pogrom ofJuly 1983 is an unforgettable chapter in the post-independence history of Sri Lanka. The catastrophic events of that dark month drastically affected the lives of several Tamils in Sri Lanka. As a Sri Lankan Tamil journalist, ‘Black July’ did have an effect on me in both personal and professional capacities. Furthermore, my family – like thousands of other Tamil families – was also affected and displaced during those turbu

Gaza War under Trump: It’s More MIGA than MAGA

The global media’s spotlight is on the Republican Party Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the aftermath of last Saturday’s assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presidential candidate.

Laying to rest gossip about scrapping aesthetics -EDITORIAL

During the past two weeks there was much concern and debates about a move by the government’s education ‘arm’ to remove aesthetic subjects from the school curriculum. There is enough literature published regarding this move which explains some of the Education Department’s planned reforms for the subjects taken up for the GCE O’ Level and A’ Level Examinations. The Education Department has now hurriedly used its media contacts to notify people th

Human trafficking Govt. is doing enough but not enough

Sri Lanka awaits an announcement from the Election Commission on the date of the Presidential Election. Right now, however, there are humanitarian issues that every citizen needs to be concerned about and address. One of these key issues is human trafficking to which Sri Lanka gives little attention. We need a ministry or a state ministry to look into issues connected with the crime of human trafficking. Later this month, the United Nations (UN)

When freedom granted puts you in a dangerous zone!

The youth of today want freedom and that too in loads. The generations before them were happy with freedom in small doses, but they wanted government welfare more than anything else. Present day youth would feel insulted if someone has to take care of their welfare. This is, of course, a thought they’ll be forced to revalue if their earnings, after completing their higher education, wouldn’t suffice to pay bills. Generally, youth on this island

A Republican wants to kill Trump? This is a bizarre case

“The central premise of the Biden campaign is that Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. This campaign is the principle reason behind this assassination attempt.” So said J. D. Vance, Republican senator of Ohio and a strong candidate for the position of Vice President if Donald Trump is re-elected as President of the United States. Republicans are making capital out of the botched assassination attempt on Trump. Thei

Voting with heart, not with the brain might disappoint Ranil this time

When the country ran out of foreign reserves and fuel queues sprang up, Sri Lankans stormed the President’s House and ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa. That may be an extreme case, but that was not the first time the street protestors toppled governments when the going got tough. Dudley Senanayake, the second prime minister, was the first victim of the populist outrage after he increased the price of a measure of rice’ from subsidised 25 cents to 70 cen