Coastal security cries for attention in South Asian countries 15 years after the devastating sea-borne terror attack on Mumbai, coastal security in South Asia is still sub-optimal

In a paper on the devastating sea-borne terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008, in which 179 people, including 29 foreigners, were killed, the RAND Corporation observed that India and other littoral States of the Indian Ocean have failed to fully grasp the importance and intricacies of coastal security. Abhijit Singh of the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation (ORF) who had written in 2017 and 2023 about the state of coastal s

Public sector wage increases, where’s the cash coming from - EDITORIAL

President Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Minister of Finance announced during his presentation of the budget, that government was planning to increase salaries of public sector....

Dissolve Parliament and Appoint an Interim Committee

Our legislature’s functioning is worse than that of the SLC. Dissolve Parliament and appoint an Interim Committee comprising non politicians. The disrespectful exchange and unseemly....

No punishment, but accept the responsibility

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had first said that he respects the Supreme Court ruling against him and his brothers, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, along with several others over the current economic crisis. Then he told Parliament on Tuesday that he did not accept the verdict that he and others had been instrumental to the crisis.

Lanka a geopolitical battleground between India and China - EDITORIAL

In mid-2022 when our country was facing an economic meltdown and bankruptcy, India it was, who came to our rescue by extending us a credit line of over $2 billion. At that time we faced fuel and gas shortages, 12-hour rolling power cuts, food, and medical shortages and many associated problems.

China’s Belt and Road: 10 years passed, centuries ahead

Despite anti-China sentiments the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by China in 2013, has emerged as a transformative force, connecting the world through a network of infrastructure projects and fostering economic cooperation across continents.

Studying under crumbling buildings

The collapse of walls when students are present and the education authorities maintaining that as many as 74 academic institutes run the risk of crumbling down have made parents rethink sending their offspring to certain schools on the island. The islanders were in a state of shock several days ago when they read about the death of a schoolgirl from Wellampitiya. The wall in her school collapsed on her and some of her friends; injuring a total

Truce or no truce in Gaza: Show mercy to children

When you are reading this column today, in the Gaza Strip, the people will be experiencing the bliss of a respite from bombs and missiles that have been raining on them since October 7. It will be so, but only if Israel decides to say, ‘Enough killing children, enough killing civilians for the time being’. If the hardline Benjamin Netanyahu government decides today to implement the limited truce to facilitate a hostage-prisoner swap and the flow

Gaza war: The first Arab-Israel conflict to split Western democracies

The war in Gaza, which entered the 44th day on Monday, stands out from earlier conflicts in the Middle East due to its unique characteristics and consequences. For the first time in history, an Arab-Israeli conflict has split Western democracies into two warring factions – one pro-Palestinian and the other pro-Israel. Monolithic support for Israel is now a thing of the past. The war has awakened an ingrained democratic spirit in the West. This wh

Will more Dharshinis be tortured in the Middle East ?

Migrant worker remittances constitute a major component of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product. Central Bank statistics indicate that Sri Lankan migrant workers remitted close to USD 3.8 billion in 2022. But despite pre-departure trainings and skill improvement programmes for migrant workers, some of them continue to be brutally harassed by their landlords while working overseas. Two months after Ramachandran Dharshini (32), from Neboda, Mathugama

Sri Lanka’s 2024 Budget amidst economic challenges and elections

Sri Lanka’s 2024 budget, presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in November 2023, comes at a crucial juncture in the country’s history. The island nation grapples with the aftermath of the 2022 economic crisis, a result of a decade of unsustainable fiscal policies, balance of payments challenges, and external shocks.

BRI: CPC deepens political alliances with Sri Lanka and region

Political parties, be it in international or local contexts, matter more than any other organisation in the implementation of policies. The Communist Party of China (CPC), in the wake of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has initiated fresh action to reach out to the political parties in all countries, particularly in the region to ensure greater success in the coming decade. Conceptua

Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All

Budget 2024 first reading was passed amidst uproar in Parliament on Tuesday. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) government have promised that by April next year the much-needed, though limited, reliefs will be given. But most of the people appear to have lost confidence in the government with SLPP also split into many sections while the United National Party (UNP) of President Wickremesinghe is split in the

Backwards in blacklisting: Enabling corruption in procurement

Failure to tackle corruption is a key factor that contributed to the economic crisis the country is faced with today. Taking concrete steps to reduce corruption, therefore, is critical to recover from the current crisis and to put the country on a sustainable growth path. Public procurement is an important area the country has to focus on in its fight against corruption. Public procurement refers to the purchasing of goods and services by the gov

The ODI World Cup 2023 and rules of cricket - EDITORIAL

The ODI World Cup tournament has finally come to an end. Australia proved for the sixth time they are worthy winners of the 50-over championship. After losing two initial matches...

The Court held Rajapaksas guilty of economic ruin: Would the govt, full of MR acolytes, deliver justice?

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that the three Rajapaksa brothers and a cabal of officials were responsible for the economic crisis, delivering an unprecedented judgement that could be the precursor...

Efforts of Saudi Arabia in support of Palestine

Anyone who follows history is fully aware that the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Palestinian issue has been constant and has not changed since the time of the founder, King ...

Wither revenue targets! - EDITORIAL

Against the backdrop of the government’s plans to increase the VAT (value-added tax) from 15 percent to 18 percent from January....

World Fisheries Day: FAO’s vision for a sustainable future in SL’s fisheries and aquaculture sector

On this World Fisheries Day, we reflect on the intricate web that connects the oceans to our lives and livelihoods. Sri Lanka’s fishing...

Positive action needed to prevent a new ‘aragalaya’ - EDITORIAL

In July 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country after thousands of protesters stormed his presidential residence and other government ....

POKE during COPE: Professor’s finger stirs Parliament - poisoned milk and hunt for the ‘Fifteen’

As you read this, the Cup’s fate has been decided, leading to a collective sigh of relief from cricket enthusiasts worldwide. The uproar ...

Gamini ‘Gamma’ Weerakoon: From Reporter to Editor

Veteran scribes who have been enriching journalism for decades are like great oaks that leave lasting voids when they fall. Gamma was unarguably one of them.”

Can China win over Northern Tamils?

The priority given to events by the Sri Lankan Tamil media in most cases is different from what is given by the Sinhala and English media.

World Cup defeat, corruption and ICC Cricket Hall of Fame - EDITORIAL

The 2023 World Cup tournament, better known as the One Day International (ODI) Championship continues. But for the Sri Lankan team this year, it is done. We are out of it. The team is back in the country -completely disgraced and apologising to all and sundry over weak-kneed performances.

Why Sri Lanka holds hands with Pakistan - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka and Pakistan have enjoyed close ties as two nations despite the duo being geographically positioned in a hotbed of activities centring around a vital sea route in the Indian Ocean. When....

Migrants, communal tensions leave Batti’s original cattle farmers ruffled

In Sittandy, a small township in the Batticaloa district, cattle farmers of Mylathamadu and Mathavanai have been protesting for over 55 days to save grazing lands on which their cattle have been....

Don’t demonise Palestinians’ right to resist

Truth is the first casualty of war. Although a cliché, the statement remains an all-time, all-war maxim. It is evident in Israel’s genocidal Gaza war, which has taken a nasty turn, with hospitals....

AIR TRANSPORT A TOOL CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE AND VISIBILITY

Air transport is a strategic instrument symbolizing State Sovereignty, conspicuously via the airspace that lies above the territory. Airspace....

Corruption attacks the foundation of democracy - EDITORIAL

In a historic judgement, the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday held that several political and other leaders including former President Gotabaya....

Why lawmakers panic when cricket is ailing

People of this country ask for two things when the chips are down. One is elections and the other is cricket matches, but the latter....