by Amanda Hodge Like thousands of his Sri Lankans, Palitha plunged deep into debt for a gruelling passage to a first-world job and the chance to buy land and a home for his family. A decade ago, a relatively paltry US $2500 bought him a fake passport and a terrible 52-day boat journey from Sri [...]
Archive of entries posted on 22nd August 2012
No Country in the World Including Sri Lanka can Develop Without the Help of Intellectuals
By Nalin Abeysekera Sri Lanka is experiencing the dividends of peace at the moment. The economy has expanded at a healthy growth rate of 7.9% during the first quarter of this year, from the same period a year earlier. A Global Survey carried out by the ‘Equity and Bond Trading Institution’ chose Sri Lanka as [...]
Important Contribution of Human Rights to Sri Lanka is the Protection They Can Bring to Minorities
by Salma Yusuf I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion… I want the full menu of human rights” Desmond Tutu, Today, NBC, 9 January 1985 The disproportionate focus on human rights from a negative perspective has sadly resulted in detraction from understanding the role that human rights can in fact play in [...]
Non -Aligned Movement Summit In Teheran Shows Majority of the World Does Support Iran
By Ayesha Zuhair Amidst the Western world’s psychological warfare against Iran, 42 heads of state including Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa have confirmed plans to participate in the forthcoming summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Iran’s capital city, Tehran. News that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will attend the [...]
Rain, rain go away!
by Gemunu Weerasinghe Rain, Rain Go Away Go and rain in the catchment areas Where Champika is crying for rain Lest his fortunes may vary!
We must Remember Dr Ananda Coomaraswamy as a Great Sri Lankan who Attained International Eminence
By Andrew Scott Where ever there is knowledge, Where ever there is virtue, Where ever there is beauty, He will find a home. Dr Ananda Coomaraswamy was born exactly 135 years ago on August 22, 1877. His mother was English while his distinguished father, Sir Muttu Coomaraswamy, was a devoted Hindu who was also the [...]
Micro Finance Institutions Have Turned to the Poor and the Marginalised to Attract Deposits
By Charitha Ratwatte One reason for poor communities the world over responding to the service facility provided by Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) to take in the small amounts of savings the poor generate on a daily or weekly basis is the security offered by the cash being securely looked after at a remote location. Research [...]
Much More Must be Done by the Armed Forces in the North-East to Promote Reconciliation
By Prof.Rajiva Wijesinha M.P (Text of the presentation by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, MP at the Defence Seminar 2012 – ‘Towards Lasting Peace and Stability’ held on August 10, 2012) I will begin with what might seem a paradox in the current context. I believe that much more must be done by the Armed Forces to [...]
Maintenance of Military Camps in Strategic Locations Throughout the Country is Essential for Maintenance of National Security
by Gotabaya Rajapaksa (Full text of the speech delivered by Secretary Defence at Graduation Ceremony of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) on 21st August 2012 at BMICH, Colombo) I would like to thank the Board of Governors of the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies for having invited me to be the Chief Guest [...]
