The Onmax DT scam and Sri Lanka’s struggle against pyramid schemes - EDITORIAL

In recent years, Sri Lanka has witnessed an alarming surge in the proliferation of pyramid schemes that prey on the innocent public’s desire for quick wealth. The Onmax DT scam, which came to light not....

India’s moon landing and Rajapaksas’ crash landing of Sri Lanka

Two weeks back, an Indian space mission, Chandrayaan 3, landed in the hitherto unexplored South Pole of the moon, making India the first country to achieve the feat. The mission cost US$ 75 million....

Social safety net for poor: reality of a farce?

It is a well-known fact now that the official figures of inflation and reality on the ground seem to be worlds apart, the former indicating a downward trend while the other does the other way around. In fact, the root cause of last year’s public unrest, except for the weeks-long and miles-long queues for fuel and cooking gas, is still in effect. One has to understand the huge scramble on the part of the members of the low-income stratum of soc

Now the small fry are shining once again

Conning people is an old art, and didn’t start with the pandemic, or Gota’s economic miracle which put most of us from the frying pan into the fire.Even in pre-2021 better times, all kinds of cons were practised on people. One smart young guy in a tie had appeared down our lane long ago when it wasn’t a highway but a simple gravel road. He had collected money from several households, claiming that he was from the Road Development Authority, whi

An open letter to Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles

As Sri Lanka Police celebrated its 157th anniversary on September 3, one of the most experienced and qualified retired senior police officers, Gemunu Hapuhinna, writes about important measures to control crimes (including drug related underworld activities) and the Police Reward Fund and Police Savings Association- which could be used for the much needed welfare of the police officers and those in the lower ranks effectively if the funds are used

Is MCC a Panacea or a Pandora’s Box for Countries in South Asia?

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an independent United States government agency that was established in 2004. Its primary goal is to reduce poverty through economic growth in developing countries. The MCC provides funding and technical assistance to eligible countries for projects that promote sustainable development and poverty reduction.

The Indians, the Chinese and diplomatic power games - EDITORIAL

In April 2022 our country declared itself bankrupt and informed its international creditors that we would not be able to repay loans as scheduled. In simple language, we were cash-strapped. Sad but true.....

A Grand Alliance? Ranil - Sajith - Opposition Groups

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has voiced his reluctance to form political agreements or alliances with President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the UNP. There were speculations....

China as Sri Lanka’s largest creditor should not try to use its leverage - U. S. Senator

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, at a media roundtable with a select group of journalists said Sri Lanka is emerging from the emergency, and his country is pleased to see the adoption.....

1953:The year that never ended

Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili or Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, the strongman of the USSR died. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was crowned queen of England. James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick announced the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA. Cambodia declares its independence from France. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay completed the first recorded ascent to the summit of Mount Everest. Jonas Salk gave himself and his family the pol

remembering the assassination of Bandaranaike - EDITORIAL

The month of September is of special significance to the people of our country. On the 26th of September 1959, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike -the fourth- and one of the more popular Prime Ministers of our country- was gunned down in cold blood by Somarama Thera.

Nagesh the King of Comedians in Tamil Cinema

The Tamil cinema firmament has produced a galaxy of stellar comedians over the years. Arguably the greatest comedian ever seen in Tamil cinema was Nagesh.

JVP on the track before race is announced

Despite the law not permitting the Election Commission to hold the next Presidential election before October next year, the National People’s Power (NPP), the political movement led by JanathaVimukthi Peramuna...

India working in collaboration with Sri Lanka: Will millets make a comeback to the island’s culinary tradition?

Millets had a prominent place in Sri Lankan culinary traditions; particularly in rural areas in the past. While wheat products once overshadowed the cultivation of millet grains like Kurakkan, these ancient grains....

SLFP marks 72nd Anniversary on September 02

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of not only Sri Lanka, but also the broader South Asian region. Founded in 1951 by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike....

Our lawmakers can take a cue from the Dutch - EDITORIAL

The Netherlands has promised to return some six pieces of artefacts stolen from Sri Lanka during the Dutch colonial period. An agreement was signed between officials of the two countries in Colombo....

India’s overhyped security concerns over Chinese vessels in Lankan waters

The Sri Lankan government’s tightrope walk is evident as it tries to navigate the latest diplomatic dilemma involving India and China over the proposed visit of the Chinese vessel Shi Yan 6. India’s....

Hole in the sky: why it happened and how we tackled it

Sri Lanka is still struggling with a confusing political and economic crisis. Which way and where we will go is given different interpretations by political leaders and economic experts in such a crisis within a crisis, we are giving little attention to the preservation of the ozone layer—a vital factor that could affect the whole world. On September 16, the United Nations marks the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. In

Large scale infrastructure, small scale disclosure: Fertile ground for corruption

Large sums of money borrowed for large infrastructure projects is a key contributor to Sri Lanka’s Mountain of foreign debt, which the country is struggling to pay back. Lack of transparency, coupled with poor governance frameworks within which decisions are made about such projects, makes them highly vulnerable to corruption. To reduce such vulnerabilities, it is vital to enhance transparency of the decision-making process. This is why section 9

The battle against violent crime - EDITORIAL

A total of 23 persons have been killed in shooting incidents reported in the country since the 30th of May this year. Media reports showed, that of the 34 shooting incidents in the first six months of the year....

The cynical logic of brain drain

‘Brain drain’ has now become a political football, though none of the players in the blame game seems to offer solutions. Instead, the whole discourse has become a freakshow where the top ten percentile....

The roots of Chandrayaan success

If the Indian moon probe Chandrayaan 3 was an unqualified success, it was due not only to the scientists who toiled on the project resolutely against odds but also due to Jawaharlal Nehru, the man who built, brick by brick as it were, India’s scientific and technical infrastructure from the day the country became independent. In his 17-year stint as Prime Minister from 1947 to 1964, Nehru gave India a national policy on science and built res

“Navigating Sri Lanka’s Foreign Relations in a Turbulent World”

‘How a stormy Sri Lanka can navigate a turbulent world’ was the focus of a speech by former Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara at the ‘Foreign Policy Forum’ held by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies recently. We publish excerpts of the speech for their current relevance. “If the world is deemed turbulent it is also very much a tempestuous Sri Lanka that has to negotiate and deal with this wor

Govt. promises to tackle underworld crimes

According to statistics that has been revealed to the media by the police, 40 people have been killed in shootings so far this year in the country while several more have been injured. Against this backdrop the Daily Mirror on August 25 reported quoting Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon that the police, in collaboration with the Special Task Force (STF), have launched special operations to crack down on organised criminals and indi

Is Sri Lanka on the mend?

Sri Lanka, known for its scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage, has long been grappling with economic challenges that have hindered its growth potential. With the effects of the global pandemic exacerbating its pre-existing issues, Sri Lanka faced mounting debt, declining foreign reserves, and a plummeting tourism industry.

A generation of hewers of wood and drawers of water - EDITORIAL

As August draws to a close, we are about to enter a somewhat tumultuous month ahead. The 1st week of September (1 to 7), is observed every year....

13A; Chronic ‘Beggar’s Wound’: ‘Dr’ Ranil, the Healing Touch!

The Sinhala adage ‘Hingannage thuwale’ or ‘a beggar’s wound’ that the beggar never wants to heal, carries a significant meaning in the context....

Operation Fonny: Shameful Arrest of Ex-Army Chief Fonseka by the Army

Sri Lanka’s one and only Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka is very much in the news lately. The Gampaha District MP and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Chairman launched a People’s Revolution protest campaign against waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagementon August 11, 2023.

Solving the problem of missing persons: A wishful thinking?

Media reported that the Office on the Missing Persons (OMP) is to resolve the issue of people who had disappeared during the war between the armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) within the next six months.

Anachronisms in dress and address in modern-day Lanka - EDITORIAL

Just last year we were in the midst of a financial crisis. Our government ran out of foreign currency and was unable to repay its international debts. The Government declared the country bankrupt and we as a nation had to put up with the indignity of seeing ourselves declared uncreditworthy.