by Ziya us Salam (Rajesh Khanna, actor, died in Mumbai on 18 July 2012, aged 69. He was born in Amritsar on 29 December 1942. He is survived by two daughters, Twinkle and Rinke) A rose, a candle, a couplet. Rajesh Khanna, Hindi cinema’s first real superstar who passed away in Mumbai following a prolonged [...]
Archive of entries posted on 18th July 2012
Story of Waning Western Influence in Sri Lanka Should Not Be Over Blown
by Alan Keenan We need to be careful here. While there is some truth to some of the arguments in this piece and in the Washington Post article that inspired it, it misses some crucial points. To wit: 1. The trope of “Sri Lanka doesn’t need the West anymore, its support from China, Russia, Iran, [...]
TNA to field Muslim Candidates also for Eastern Provincial Poll
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj The Tamil National Alliance(TNA) regarded as the chief political formation of Sri Lankan Tamils is gearing up to face the forthcoming elections to the Eastern Provincial council under the house symbol of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi(ITAK)without aligning with any other political party or group. Earlier the TNA was exploring the possibility [...]
United List to be Submitted for Sabaragamuwa Polls Under CWC Symbol on July 16th
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj In a significant political development, strong grassroots pressure exerted by the Tamils of Sabaragamuwa province has led to political parties representing the interests of Up Country Tamils sinking their differences and uniting to contest the forthcoming provincial council polls by submitting a combined list of candidates under the symbol of cockerel. Three [...]
Govt Must Re-negotiate with India and go for a Natural Gas plant at Sampur
by Dr.Janaka Ratnasiri The recent article by Dr Tilak Siyambalapitiya highlighting the delay in starting work on the Sampur coal power plant (CPP) prompted me to write this article. This project was conceived several years ago to be executed in collaboration with India’s National Thermal Power Corporation of India (NTPC), a government owned company. The [...]
Ward System could be re-introduced to arrest deteriorating trend in Local Govt Institutions
By Prof. Wiswa Warnapala The alarming increase in the rate of shameful incidents involving the political leadership of the local government institutions and the failure on the part of these institutions to execute their responsibilities in the urban and semi-urban areas prompt one to critique the nature of local administration in the country.
Disappearing Dogs of Colombo City
by Thulasi Muttulingam For the fourth time within the last month, animal rights activists staged a protest demanding to know where the dogs they are feeding are disappearing. Ever since 2010, canines have been disappearing off the roads of Colombo according to the activists. They have been campaigning since then to get the dogs back.
Walawwewatta Waturanae Owned By Wijesekara Family is Unique Swamp Forest with endangered and endemic Species
by Jagath Gunawardana It would surprise many to know that a short, narrow strip of privately owned swamp forest is the only known place in the world where two critically endangered and endemic plants, amongst another large number of endemic species, are found. The existence of this forest speaks volumes not only of the critical [...]
Muslim Congress To Contest Eastern Poll Separately With President Rajapaksa’s Consent
by Zacki Jabbar and Lal Gunasekera The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) decision to contest the forthcoming Eastern Provincial Council Election (EPCE) on its own has the blessings of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and was on the understanding that it will not oppose the government. Informed sources told The Island that when talks between SLMC leader [...]
Ghetto Mindset inevitably Encouraged By An Exclusive List of Muslim Candidates Will Not Benefit Muslims Or National Interest
By Javid Yusuf The run up to the Eastern Provincial Council Elections has once again exposed the lack of a clear political vision or strategy among Muslim political actors. In the weeks leading up to nominations there were a number of statements from Muslim politicos as well as news items which painted a conflicting picture [...]
‘I Represent The Third Generation of Politicians of The Rajapaksas’
by Namal Rajapaksa MP (Text of address made by Namal Rajapaksa M.P. at “India Today”conclave held on March 15th&16th at New Delhi) Namal Rajapaksa MP at an event in Kilinochchi-June 2012 Distinguished Invitees Friends 1. It’s a pleasure for me to participate in this prestigious India Today Conclave. Thank you for giving me the honour [...]
No Other Country In The World Gives Completely Free University Education To All Its Students
by R.M.B Senanayake The Government has been compelled to take notice of the agitation by the University staff. Their demands not only relate to their remuneration but include outlawing private universities. One demand is that the educational budget should be 6 percent of GDP.
