By Meera Srinivasan As Sri Lanka works hard to obtain financing assurances from its diverse creditors — a pre-requisite for the provisional $2.9 billion-IMF package — the loans obtained from China, the island nation’s largest bilateral lender, have come under sharp focus. Earlier this week, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Nandalal Weerasinghe …

Continue reading ‘Batticaloa MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam accuses China of stalling Sri Lanka’s IMF deal and “forcing down” unnecessary projects by “paying bribes” to Sri Lankans. “If China is truly Sri Lanka’s friend, ask the Chinese to help with the [debt] restructuring and the IMF programme,” TNA legislator says in Parliament’ »

By Rajasinghe In his Budget speech, the President stated that bilateral discussions with China regarding debt relief would start soon since the five-yearly Chinese National People’s Congress was over. Our attention has to be focused on a priority basis since debt relief from China is a precondition for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka is a vital link in the Chinese security scenario. This will be an important consideration in the debt relief discussions with Colombo. But the Chinese are loath to write off debts or take ‘haircuts’ in repayments.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sathish Sumithra’s son, barely two years old, is too young to make sense of Sri Lanka’s unrelenting economic crisis, but not to escape it. He must cope with the drastic dietary and lifestyle changes it has brought about. His formula milk intake has halved, he is fed an occasional egg — his …

Continue reading ‘Uphill Struggle for Survival by Hill Country Tamils as Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis Worsens Plight of Long Suffering “Malaiahath Thamizhar”’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj President Ranil Wickremesinghe while addressing Parliament on 10 November 2022 invited all Tamil MPs for a discussion on issues facing the Tamil people and about development plans for the North and East. Jaffna district MP and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson , M. A.Sumanthiran responded positively by telling a morning newspaper that the …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Tamil Nationalist Parties and a Power Sharing Arrangement Based on he Federal Idea.’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene What is this uncanny fascination that Sri Lankan politicians (and monks) have with the late most profoundly unlamented Adolf Hitler? Military suppression of protests It is almost like the vulgarly cheap reprints of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa that one finds hanging in the drawing rooms of Colombo’s nouveau riche, as …

Continue reading ‘Resorting to violence with the aim of coercively overthrowing the State cannot be justified under the cover of ‘fighting for the people.The State too cannot suppress lawful protests under the cover of ‘maintaining law and order’ and uphold the police as paragons of virtue. Both are sides of the same coin.’ »

By Marianne David The Budget does not present any way out of this economic crisis and moreover still allocates heavily towards the defence sector, due to which the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is opposed to the Budget, said TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran. However, the party refrained from voting against the Budget because President Ranil Wickremesinghe …

Continue reading ‘“Immediate attention is needed for the land grab issue.It is actively happening in various places. We have highlighted it and brought it to the attention of this President and the former President, but all that still goes on unabated.it must be halted and then reversed. That is crucial” – TNA Spokesman MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By Gamini Akmeemana President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the most literate, widely read and informed president we have ever had, after Chandrika Kumaratunga (CBK), or alongside her. Ranasinghe Premadasa tried hard, and his love of the arts was genuine. But he didn’t have Ranil’s wide reading and erudition. JR Jayewardene had a massive library (now used …

Continue reading ‘My hopes for Sri Lanka are based on a slim hope that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is too erudite a man to entirely lose his powers of reasoning and his capacity to be compassionate towards a traumatized people.’ »

By Marianne David ‘Dress code’ for teachers or any public servant should be a personal choice of the wearer and as long as it is respectable and appropriate for the profession, teachers and public servants should be allowed to make their own choice, asserted Education Forum Sri Lanka Co-coordinator (EFSL) Dr. Tara de Mel, in …

Continue reading ‘“Males must be Invited to wear Saris five days a week,Travel to School and Teach for Several Hours and Return Home” says EFSL Co-ordinator Dr.Tara de Mel’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Claiming that Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya Leader Sajith Premadasa has mixed the “Buddha dharma” (Buddhist doctrine) and the “sangha” (Buddhist clergy/monks), President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the Buddha doctrine and the Buddhist clergy should be separated, and that certain acts of monks should subjected to some control. Speaking in Parliament yesterday …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Enlightens Sajith Premadasa on the Basics of Buddhism; President says Opposition Leader has Mixed up the “Buddha dharma” (Buddhist doctrine) with the “sangha” (Buddhist clergy/monks),’ »

Following a recommendation by Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chairman, independent Opposition MP, and former President Maithripala Sirisena concerning the possibility of devolving governmental power below the Provincial Council (PC) level through District Development Councils using the existing District Co-ordinating Committees, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that he was prepared to introduce the same. Speaking in …

Continue reading ‘Ex-President Sirisena Proposes Setting up District Development Councils to Devolve Power Below Provincial Council Level by utilising the District Coordinating Committees; “I am ready to introduce the District Development Councils. We will discuss this.” Says President Wickremesinghe’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Something extraordinary happened in Malaysia this week. After a bitterly fought general election with no clear winner, the King had the wisdom and the courage to appoint Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Malaysia’s 10thPrime Minister. To those observing from the outside, it was a remarkable sight. So, one can only imagine …

Continue reading ‘Whatever policy compromises the new Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may have to make to assemble a stable coalition government, he ,like Abraham Lincoln, will be defined by his ability to remain true to his core principles while governing effectively.’ »

BY MARIEKE WALSH, MARSHA MCLEOD AND BILL CURRY Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the threats to Canada’s national security from last winter’s convoy protests were both economic and violent and before he invoked the Emergencies Act the premiers were unable to suggest any alternative to using the sweeping powers to end the protracted demonstrations. On …

Continue reading ‘Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Justifies his Invoking Emergency to Control the Protracted Protests and Demonstrations that Gridlocked the Capital and Entry-Exit Points Along Borders;“I am absolutely, absolutely serene and confident that I made the right choice,” says the PM’ »

SJB MP Mr Eran Wickramaratne speaking in Parliament on the vote of Ministries of Defence and Technology said that the government needs an institution to facilitate the e- government program to run one government to the whole country. He further said that the present ICT agency – ICTA was created when the President Ranil Wickremesinghe …

Continue reading ‘When Ranil was Prime Minister a Meeting was scheduled with Bill Gates in the US. But it did not happen because the then President Chandrika Dissolved the Wickremesinghe Govt. Had that meeting taken place Microsoft May have started an Enterprise here and Sri Lanka’s destiny could have been different -Eran Wickramaratne MP’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said any unlawful protest movements will not be allowed, warning to deploy military and use emergency powers if necessary. “If there are plans to initiate another Aragalaya to change the Government, I won’t give space for that. I will get the military and the forces and I will impose the State …

Continue reading ‘“If there are plans to initiate another Aragalaya to change the Government, I won’t give space for that. I will get the military and the forces and I will impose the State of Emergency,” states President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday affirmed that he will not dissolve the Parliament amidst an economic crisis, whilst extending an open invitation to all political parties to support the efforts to resolve the ethnic crisis. “I will not dissolve the Parliament. There is a huge economic crisis. Do it (dissolve the Parliament) after resolving the economic …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Proposes All Party Meeting in December 2nd week to Discuss Ethnic Issues and Arrive at a Consensus; Lakshman Kiriella(SJB), Mano Ganesan(TPA) and MA Sumanthiran(TNA) Express Consent to the Proposal’ »

(Text of Speech made in Parliament by Jaffna District TNA parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran PC on 22nd November 2022) Thank you Honourable member in the chair today. The Budget presented by the Minister of Finance who also happens to be the President, is ending today – the 2nd reading debate. I have consistently recorded my opposition …

Continue reading ‘Now who has the brass to go and ask an Ambassador for a bribe? So you pick the most corrupt minister , to appoint to the Constitutional Council. You have a convicted extortionist as a Chief Government Whip, So so how do we then tell either the IMF or anyone else that we are dealing with corruption? – MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

(Excerpt of Speech made in Parliament by Jaffna District MP and TNA Spokesman M.A.Sumanthiran M.P on 23rd November 2022) Thank you Hon. Speaker for the time given to say a few words on the allocation to the Presidential secretariat, Supreme Court, Independent commissions and a long list of 25 institutions. Before I get to the …

Continue reading ‘“Though critical of the Budget,the TNA did not Vote against it because President Wickremesinghe has stated he wants to Resolve the Tamil National Question and has invited Tamil Parties to have Discussions with him”- TNA Spokesperson MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah A heated argument occurred in the Parliament yesterday (23) between Samagi Jana Balawegaya Opposition MP Mano Ganesan and Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles over the collecting of personal details of Colombo residents, with Ganesan levelling allegations that the Police is collecting the personal details of Colombo South residents, targeting Tamils in …

Continue reading ‘Heated argument in Parliament between TPA leader and Colombo District MP Opposition MP Mano Ganesan and Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles over the collecting of personal details of Colombo residents” Mano says Tamils are being targeted while Tiran says not only Tamils but Sinhalese and Muslims also’ »

BY Kiara Warnasuriya A proposal to replace the existing Police Ordinance, No. 16 of 1865, which has been amended 37 times in the past, especially paying attention to areas such as illicit drugs, social media, human rights, and child abuse, was presented by Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles at the Cabinet meeting held on …

Continue reading ‘Cabinet Approves proposal by Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles to replace the existing Police Ordinance, No. 16 of 1865, and Include Provisions Covering illicit drugs, social media, human rights, and child abuse.’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera President Ranil Wickremesinghe charged that Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Leader Kumar Gunaratnam was behind the “aragalaya” – noting that the latter holds Australian citizenship and should thus be rejected by the public in a manner similar to the public backlash against Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and former Minister Basil …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe Equates Frontline Socialist Party Leader and Australia-Sri Lanka Dual Citizen Kumar Gunaratnam With Sri Lanka Podujana Party National Organizer and USA-Sri Lanka Dual Citizen Basil Rajapaksa in Parliament’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah President Ranil Wickremesinghe, during his two-day observation tour to the Northern Province, visited the Mannar District yesterday (20) and discussed with State officials to establish a mega hydrogen project, improved water management system, and reforestation projects to mitigate the effects of global warming; inspected the renovation work carried out to revive the …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Completes Two day Observation Tour of the Vavuniya and Mannar districts on a Positive Note; “President is looking forward to setting up a very modern outlook of the Northern region,” ,says Northern Governor Jeevan Thiagarajah’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Founder and National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa yesterday (20) returned to the island to a warm welcome by several SLPP MPs and members at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake. SLPP MPs, including Johnston Fernando, Gamini Lokuge, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Sanath Nishantha Perera, Piyal Nishantha de …

Continue reading ‘Ex-finance minister Basil Rajapaksa Arrives in Colombo from USA to a Warm welcome; party members and MPs line up to greet SLPP National organizer with some bowing down before him;leaves Katunayake Airport in Convoy with Police Jeep and Motor Cycle Escort’ »

BY Kiara Warnasuriya State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage claimed in Parliament last Saturday (19) that she has proven her value to the country through her actions, warning Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa that she will continue to do so despite the Opposition’s efforts to remove her from Parliament. “I know that the Opposition undertook a …

Continue reading ‘“I’d like to tell our Leader of Opposition to not do things as if he has no shame. I let you contest through my party when you had nothing and no one; you would not have even had a nomination without me. I know that Sajith is someone with no courtesy or respect, or else he would not behave like this.” Says Tourism State Minister Diana Gamage’ »

BY Buwanajee Coralage Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) activist Duminda Nagamuwa, addressing the media yesterday (20), said that, as the workers’ struggle centre, the FSP “guarantees” to “invade the streets before the Budget is finalised” to express its “disappointment in the newly implemented economic principles”. “Before the Budget is approved on 8 December, we guarantee to …

Continue reading ‘Frontline Socialist Party to stage Protest Demonstrations Against Budget; FSP “guarantees” to “invade the streets before the Budget is finalised” to express its “disappointment in the newly implemented economic principles” says Duminda Nagamuwa’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Mano Ganesan told the visiting United Nations (UN) Department of Political and Peacebuilding Director Peter Due last Friday (18) to take up the political issues of the hill-country Tamils, particularly the inhumane conditions prevalent in the plantations, with the highest …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganesan urges visiting UN Political and Peacebuilding Director Peter Due’s intervention in hill country Tamils’ issues’ »

(Text of News Release from the Office of Mano GANESAN Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka for Colombo District and Leader of Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) on November 20, 2022 ) President Ranil Wickremesinghe has travelled to the north, opened up presidential secretariat sub office with expressions of positive notions and has assured to appoint …

Continue reading ‘“We welcome President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to the North and its Positice Outcome. He should show the same gesture to the Indian origin HillCountry Tamil community” says Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganesan’ »

By Kishali Pinto- Jayawardene Sri Lanka’s Department of the Police should stop piously quoting provisions of the Constitution and the law and instead, declare the truth without fear or shame, “we do not respect the law; we will break the law at every chance we get; who is there to stop us?” Systemic State repression …

Continue reading ‘The President cannot escape violations of the law under the direct command of certain senior police officers and responsible ministers, on the basis that they are ‘acting independently.’ On the contrary, he has the responsibility to ensure that these abuses do not happen on his watch.’ »

By Marianne David The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will not support Budget 2023 as things stand and will vote in favour only if its proposed changes are accommodated, said SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne, in an interview with The Sunday Morning. The banker-turned-politician acknowledged that the Government’s goals in terms of revenue and economic …

Continue reading ‘“We are overspending on the armed forces.The defence budget is 10% of our total budget. Except India,every other country in Asia has 3-5% for defence. Some people say Sri Lanka’s situation is special. What’s special? All these countries have the same issues and problems that we have. We respect our armed forces. This is not to be confused with that.” -Eran Wickramaratne MP’ »

By the “Sunday Morning” Political Editor The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed concerns over the Government’s possible deviation from the ongoing debt restructuring programme, following its move to explore a debt-for-nature swap earmarked at around $ 1 billion, The Sunday Morning learns. However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed his officials to commence the process …

Continue reading ‘China willing to consider a delay in repayment of the loans, but not a haircut, which is a key requirement of the Sri Lankan Govt.With China holding back on agreeing to a haircut both India and Japan adopt a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude.’ »

By Rajasinghe After the presentation of a budget by the finance minister, the attention of the House, and indeed the country, turns to the first speech made on behalf of the Opposition. In the good old United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) days, this task fell on Dr. N.M. Perera (NM), …

Continue reading ‘Will Harsha de Silva sacrifice his integrity and block the good and practical aspects of RW’s budgetary proposals Or will he with a group of his party colleagues, support the Budget proposals , taking the country, , on a new path to rapid economic growth?’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana Over the years, Sri Lankans have got used to expecting price reductions, salary increases, and more state-sector jobs in government budgets. This, however, was before the country was plunged into a crippling economic crisis. As such, Budget 2023 presented in Parliament on Monday, had to jettison proposals that went down “the popular …

Continue reading ‘President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Amidst an Economic Crisis,Presents a Budget that Lays the Foundation of a bright Future instead of the traditional measures like Price Reductions,Salary Increases and more State sector Jobs’ »

By Chris Kamalendran A Presidential Secretariat Sub office of the Northern Province Development Special Unit was declared open yesterday by President Ranil Wickremesinghe with an assurance to resolve the outstanding land and other issues. The sub-office will coordinate with the Presidential Secretariat on development activities and reconciliation matters, Vavuniya District Secretary P.A. Sarathchandra told the …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Declares open a Presidential Secretariat Sub office of the Northern Province Development Special Unit in Vavuniya ; assures immediate solutions to land, housing, health, irrigation, and agriculture-related issues in the Northern province’ »

By Charumini de Silva Despite many having pessimistic views about economic revival, President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday sounded confident the country would overcome the crisis aided by strong policy reforms and implementation underscored in 2023 Budget. Speaking in first in-person public forum on Budget since presenting the reforms and relief oriented 2023 Budget as Finance Minister …

Continue reading ‘“Recovery from the crisis we face is not easy, as the situation is not normal. Through the 2023 Budget, we have some fundamental restructuring of the economy and a recovery plan from the second half of next year. Hopefully, we will reach the GDP level of 2019 within four years, by 2026,” States Sri Lankan President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By JAMILA HUSAIN Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa who resigned from his parliamentary seat during the recent political crisis will return to Sri Lanka on Saturday after leaving for the United States in September and will now initiate discussions to gain a 2/3rd majority for the budget, the Daily Mirror learns. Political sources said that …

Continue reading ‘Former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa Determined to Ensure the Passage of President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s 2023 Budget with Two-thirds Majority; SLPP National Organizer and Dual Citizen Returns to Sri Lanka from the USA on 19th November to Engage ib Politics and Prepare for Local Authority Elections’ »

By Narmada Thiranagama (The writer lives in London and does policy work on labour market justice and workers’ rights for a trade union.) “All the most powerful forces are invisible” observes Maali, the narrator of Shehan Karunatilaka’s Booker Prize-winning The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. “Love, electricity, wind. And the waves following a bomb blast.” …

Continue reading ‘Slain Feminist Academic and Human Rights Activist Dr.Rajani Thiranagama’s Appears as a Character in Shehan Karunatilaka’s Booker Prize Winning Novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Reaching out to Sri Lanka’s Tamil parties in Parliament on November 10, President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited them for a discussion this week, and pledged to resolve their pending issues before the island nation’s 75 th Independence Day falling on February 4, 2023. However Tamil politicians, who are yet to receive a date …

Continue reading ‘There is no point in engaging with President Ranil Wickremesinghe unless he openly commits to basing the discussion on a federal constitution says TNPF Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam MP’ »

BY KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL The Centre on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of its order prematurely releasing six convicts serving life imprisonment for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. The Union government contended that the court did not afford it adequate opportunity of hearing before ordering the immediate release …

Continue reading ‘BJP led Indian Central Govt Moves Supreme Court seeking a review of its order prematurely releasing six convicts serving life imprisonment for the Rajiv Gandhi assassination in 1991: “Granting remission to Duly Convicted terrorists of a foreign nation was a matter which had international ramifications” Says Union Govt’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray There is something about Malaysia, something special that you cannot describe unless you have lived there. The people in Malaysia are kind, friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. There is more natural beauty in every nook and cranny of Malaysia than anyone will ever get to see in …

Continue reading ‘Malaysian youth, who are about to vote for the first time in a General Election will want to see politicians push to make Malaysia closer resemble Singapore than Sri Lanka. They will not be swayed by nationalist promises of preferential treatment’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka (Excerpted from the “Lanka Guardian Colu,m” appearing in the “Daily FT” of 17 November 2022 under the heading “Ranil’s ‘Big Bang’ Budget bomb and the tempting of Tamil politicians) President Ranil Wickremesinghe has invited all Tamil MPs for discussions on resolving the problems of the Tamil people before the 75th Independence Day …

Continue reading ‘Tamil politics has been governed by a” priori” principles rather than a shrewd sense of time and place.No agreement between President Wickremesinghe and the Tamil politicians can stick in a context of economic contraction, austerity and polarising economic policies.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Siblings have common traits and but each is nevertheless unique. All my uncles were greatly loved, but loved differently for different reasons. It is the same with Egerton Cooray, my father’s younger brother. Unlike most of his siblings, Egerton Bappa never held powerful positions, was never ambitious and yet in my …

Continue reading ‘“My “Bappa” Egerton Cooray never held powerful positions, was never ambitious and yet in my opinion he was the finest human being in the Cooray family”’ »

They were to be a “civic fiesta”, said Brenda Rocha, the boss of Nicaragua’s electoral council. Instead, Nicaragua’s municipal elections on November 6th were a farce. The ruling party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front, took control of all 153 municipalities, after capturing the remaining 12 that were run by other parties. Nicaragua is now, in …

Continue reading ‘“Nicaragua Turning into a “One party One Family” State Under President Daniel Ortega and wife Rosario Murillo as Vice President; Of the ruling couple’s nine children, eight have posts in government or help run public companies – The state now looks like a family business!’ »

(Towards a New Beginning:TFull Text of 2023 Budget Speech – 2023 made by Sri Lankan President and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on 14 November 2022) Honorable Speaker, A glimmer of hope on emerging from the economic abyss is currently visible, as a result of the strenuous and difficult policies we have been compelled …

Continue reading ‘“Seventy-five years after independence, can we be satisfied with the status quo? Where did we go wrong? How did we go wrong? Queries President Ranil Wickremesinghe while presenting the 2023 Budget Themed “Towards a New Beginning”’ »

BY Isuru Panditha Two independent Opposition MPs who were among the five such MPs who are reported to have joined with the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya led by the main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), namely John Seneviratne and Piyankara Jayaratne, yesterday (15) denied claims of joining any such coalition. In a media …

Continue reading ‘Dr.Sudharshini Fernandopulle, John Seneviratne and Piyankara Jayaratne Refute Claims that they have joined the SJB Coalition led by Sajith Premadasa: “President Ranil Wickremesinghe is doing something to alleviate the crisis, this is not the right time to upset the apple cart”Says Seneviratne’ »

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham After the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed by Parliament last month and the Speaker signed and put into force, no one with dual citizenship can enter into the Parliament. It has also become impossible for them to contest any election and come to positions elected by the people. It is …

Continue reading ‘Political Party Leaders have a Moral Responsibility to find out if any of their party’s MPs have dual citizenship and if so ask them to resign their posts. Will they do so?’ »

Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday (15) that Sri Lanka was able to avoid the crash-landing of its economy, and turn it into a soft landing, but at a lower point. “If we had not taken those macroeconomic measures, the situation would have been much worse,” he stated. Commenting …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka has Avoided a ‘crash-landing’ of economy and Instead Turned it into a Soft Landing at a Lower Point says Central Bank Governor Dr.Nandalal weerasinghe’ »

BY Dr. Jehan Perera (The writer is the Executive Director of the National Peace Council) The primacy being given to the defence budget at a time of cost-slashing in virtually every other area is a pointer to the Government’s reliance on the security forces to maintain and exhibit political stability, and tighten its grip on …

Continue reading ‘It appears that the President and his team do not wish the people to express their opposition to the economic reforms, either through elections or public protests.’ »

BY SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO,R. RAVIKANTH REDDY Krishna Ghattamaneni, fondly referred to as Superstar Krishna by legions of Telugu cinema viewers and hailed for his iconic portrayal of Alluri Seetharama Raju, breathed his last at 4:10 a.m. on Tuesday (Nov 15). He was being treated at Continental Hospitals in Hyderabad, reportedly following a cardiac arrest. He …

Continue reading ‘Veteran Actor Krishna Renowned as the ‘Daring and Dashing Hero’ of Telugu Cinema passes away at 79; father of Actor Mahesh Babu was at one time Described as the James Bond of Telugu films’ »

By N.Ram (N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu and Frontline , is currently a Director in The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited. He is the recipient of several journalism awards and of the Padma Bhushan (for journalism), 1990, and Sri Lanka Ratna, 2005). The military-style “search and seize” raid conducted on October 31, 2022 …

Continue reading ‘Freedom of the press has come under increasing pressure, risk, threat, and targeted assault in India over the past eight years, after a BJP-majority gov came to power at the Centre, setting the stage for a communal-authoritarian offensive that has been termed “the second coming of Hindutva.”’ »

(TEXT OF EDITORIAL APPEARING IN “THE HINDU” OF 14 NOVEMBER 2022 UNDER THE HEADING “A SENSE OF AN ENDING”) The release of the six remaining convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case marks the end of a tragic episode that began with India’s disastrous involvement in Sri Lanka’s internal strife in the 1980s. The assassination …

Continue reading ‘While their release is no occasion to celebrate, contrary to what sections of the media and the political class seem to believe, it is not one for lamentation either. A sense that 31 years of imprisonment is punishment enough does indeed prevail.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka will adopt policies geared towards a “social market economy”, to achieve high growth, increased export revenue and Foreign Direct Investment, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday, presenting his first annual Budget since assuming charge in July. The Sri Lankan economy plunged into its worst ever crisis this year. As the …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe presents crucial Budget aimed at ‘recovery and reform’ of Sri Lankan economy;govt plans to achieve economic growth of upto 8%, annual growth of $3 billion from new exports, and over $3 billion in FDIs in the next decade’ »

By Amanda Taub A decade ago, Kate Cronin-Furman, then a Ph.D. student in political science at Columbia University, noticed something odd. The government of Sri Lanka, which the United Nations and international observers had accused of killing tens of thousands of civilians during the final phases of that country’s devastating civil war, had started creating …

Continue reading ‘While Evading Accountability Issues, Sri Lanka Created “Strange Institutions”like the LLRC in a Strategic Move to Provide “Fig Leaf “Excuses for Countries not wanting to Take a Strong Position on Accountability for Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene When there is muttering in some quarters as to, ‘what has the Aragalaya achieved?’, an easy answer comes to mind. The gains of the “Aragalaya’ Notwithstanding the predictable corruption of that struggle by the political establishment which is a point that I will return to later, this spontaneous eruption of …

Continue reading ‘For the first time since Sri Lanka’s independence from British colonial rule, the “Aragalaya” made the country’s politicians cower in fear. That fact, must be distinguished from the political factions which captured the struggle, polluted the core and led to the near extinction of the ‘Aragalaya.’’ »

By Victor Ivan What is the root cause of the great collapse, failure and bankruptcy of Sri Lanka? The most popular belief has been that it was due to corruption of politicians and the bureaucracy. Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda, one of Sri Lanka’sm foremost biodiversity experts in his recent speech at the convocation of the Sri …

Continue reading ‘The Sinhalese are generally inclined to think that their ethnic group is the highest or the best of all ethnic groups in the world. At the same time, they tend to look down upon the people who are not from the Govigama caste It is also a feature found in Tamil society as well.’ »

By Rajasinghe It all started when Basil Rajapaksa (BR) decided to leave Sri Lanka in a hurry when the Aragalaya had toppled brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) and driven brother Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) to Trincomalee under the care of the Navy to hide in a secure camp to escape a lynching. BR’s attempt to leave Katunayake …

Continue reading ‘There are enough Basil Rajapaksa loyalists managed by “His Masters Voice” Sagara Kariyawasam in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna to create problems if President Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to be his own man.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island” of 12th November 2022 under the Heading “Govt. can choose between trouble and double trouble”) Government politicians may pretend that they are not scared of anyone or anything, but all it takes to make them head for the hills is to say, “Election”. Such is these worthies’ fear …

Continue reading ‘The Govt had better realise that if it tries to postpone the LG polls again, it will face an even bigger political risk, for the people will pour into the streets demanding a general election. It has a choice between trouble and double trouble!’ »

by Ananthakrishnan G THE SUPREME COURT Friday set free all the six convicts serving life terms for the assassination in 1991 of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, extending to them the benefit of its order releasing co-convict A G Perarivalan nearly six months ago. Hearing pleas by the six convicts, …

Continue reading ‘Indian Supreme Court Orders Release of the remaining six convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case- Nalini Sriharan, Santhan alias Raviraj, Murugan, Robert Payas, Jayakumar and Ravichandran alias Ravi. Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna ordered that “the appellants are directed to be set at liberty if not required in any other matter”.’ »

(Text of Speech made by TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran in Parliament on 10th November 2022) Thank you Hon. Deputy Speaker for the time given to speak on this very important amendments that have been presented today, I wish to flag just two issues, one is with regard to the amendment to Poisons, Opium …

Continue reading ‘“We Cant help wondering whether some in the Govt ranks Know that they are going to stay for a long time in Prison and so are creating luxurious apartments in prisons beforehand so that when they go there they can live in comfort.”- MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Masons, when they start upon a building,Are careful to test out the scaffolding…” – Seamus Heaney (Scaffolding) During the Trump presidency, asked whether his extremely popular wife will be the next Democratic nominee, Barack Obama would say that there were only three certitudes in life, death, taxes, and Michelle not contesting the …

Continue reading ‘Opposition parties and trade unions intent on killing Tax reforms ,instead of negotiating to better them, are no different from the Rajapaksas who bay for positions, perks, and privileges in a dying country.’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Addressing Parliament yesterday (10), President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited all Tamil MPs for a discussion scheduled next week in regard to issues faced by the Tamil people and to resolve them amicably without any outside interference prior to the 75th Independence celebrations. President Wickremesinghe said: “We are discussing issues of the Tamil people …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe Invites all Tamil MPs for Talks Next week to Discuss issues faced by the Tamil people and how to resolve them amicably without any outside interference before the 75th Independence celebrations next year’ »

BY Kiara Warnasuriya President Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing Parliament yesterday (10), assured that Sri Lanka would receive assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), claiming that he was promised the same by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Tells Parliament that Sri Lanka will Receive Assistance from IMF; “I met Georgieva(IMF Managing Director) and discussed this with her, and she promised to assist us, so do not worry about it.” Says Ranil’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Relatives of missing persons noted on Monday (7) that they themselves are “joint witnesses” of their loved ones surrendering to security forces at the end of the war, and queried how the Army, therefore, could deny the evidence of those who surrendered. Speaking to The Morning, Association for the Relatives of Enforced …

Continue reading ‘Army Says no LTTE Members Surrendered to them but Family Members of Missing Persons say they personally Handed Over their Loved Ones to the Security Forces and are therefore Joint Witnesses to the Surrender’ »

BY Safrah Fazal Peacocks, monkeys, toque macaques (“rilava”), grizzled giant squirrels (“dadu lena”), porcupines, and wild boars have been removed from the list of protected animals, and measures to control the population of these wild animals are being examined, considering the massive crop damage they are causing. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (10), an official …

Continue reading ‘Peacocks, monkeys, toque macaques (“rilava”), grizzled giant squirrels (“dadu lena”), porcupines, and wild boars removed from the list of protected animals because they Consume Crops and Coconuts;Elephants remain Protected because they are a Tourist Attraction’ »

BY Buwanajee Coralage Amidst speculation that the MPs of several political parties are in discussions to join the United National Party (UNP) and support the new Government in the upcoming Budget, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa claimed that none of the SJB MPs will succumb to the privileges offered to them …

Continue reading ‘Speculation Rife that 13 MPs From the Samagi Jana Balavegaya and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna will Join the United National Party on November 14;Sajith Premadasa says no SJB MP will Join this Rotten Govt’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera While acknowledging that there is an issue with regard to the representation of certain groups such as the indigenous community (Veddas), women, youth, and the differently-abled in Parliament, the Election Commission (EC) stated that it is Parliament that should study the matter further and take steps to resolve the issue. Speaking to …

Continue reading ‘Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa Acknowledges That the Veddah Community,Women,Youth and Differently Abled persons are Inadequately Represented in Parliament’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The construction of the Adani Group-led terminal project at the strategically located Colombo Port officially commenced on Wednesday, a year after the Indian company sealed the deal with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and conglomerate John Keells Holdings. Said to be the largest foreign investment — nearly $700 million — in the …

Continue reading ‘Construction of the Adani Group-led Terminal Project at the sSrategically Located Colombo Port Officially Commences a year after the Indian company sealed the deal with Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and conglomerate John Keells Holdings.’ »

BY Meera Srinivasan On September 30, 2021, the Gujarat-headquartered Adani Group signed a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) agreement with Sri Lanka’s largest listed company John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to jointly develop the Colombo West International Container Terminal (CWICT) at the strategically advantaged Colombo Port, located amidst one of the …

Continue reading ‘The Adani Group’s port deal in Sri Lanka;As per the 35 year-long BOT agreement, the Adani Group will have majority, 51%, stakes, while John Keells would hold 34%, and the SLPA, 15%.’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Mano Ganesan yesterday (8) said in Parliament that Office on Missing Persons (OMP) Chairman Attorney Mahesh Katulanda should be replaced, and queried as to the reason for the existence of the OMP if its chairman claims that there are no missing …

Continue reading ‘Office of Missing Persons Chair Mahesh Katulanda says there are no persons went missing in Sri Lanka; TPA Leader Mano Ganesan MP asks Justice Minister to Remove OMP chair and queries “ why should he be in the OMP if no one went missing?’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Ganier Banister Francis, an employee of the Swiss Embassy in Sri Lanka submitted written objections before the Colombo High Court yesterday (8) claiming that the case against her with regard to the alleged provision of false information to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), thereby embarrassing the Government, cannot be maintained. When the …

Continue reading ‘Swiss Embassy Employee Ms.Francis Submits Writttten Objections to Colombo High Court Stating the Case Against her cannot be Maintained; HC Judge Directs Attorney-General to Respond Within 3 Weeks in Writing’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday (8) refused to grant leave to proceed for two separate Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed by a number of Muslim women challenging the Gazette dated 7 October 2022, which called for applications only from Muslim males to be considered for appointment as Quazis and as Members of …

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Refuses to Grant Leave to Proceed for Two FR Petitions Filed by Muslim Women Challenging challenging Gazette Calling For Aplications only from Muslim males to be considered for appointment as Quazis and as Members of the Board of Quazis’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Pointing to the “lack of” capacity as the “biggest obstacle” to the implementation of climate action plans, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday proposed setting up an International Climate Change University in Sri Lanka, with an ancillary institution in the Maldives. As island nations, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are particularly …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe proposes setting up International Climate Change University: Sri Lankan President criticises developed nations for reneging on their climate financing contributions’ »

BY Kiara Warnasuriya Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and National People’s Power (NPP) Leader and Opposition MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the reason why the JVP did not join the protest-march-cum-rally led by the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), and the Frontline Socialist Party on 2 November was because it lacked discipline, …

Continue reading ‘Anura Kumara Dissanayake says JVP Shunned the 2 November Protest held by the SJB and FSP “ because it lacked discipline, co-ordination, and a clear objective”’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray The world is currently experiencing a moment of transition. This comes after the certainties and stability of the ‘end of history’ — the period spanning the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Global Financial Crisis. We are witnessing many changes. We have seen the rise of China and to a …

Continue reading ‘Crucial Election Lies Ahead for Malaysia ; another opportunity to complete its transformation from a Third World nation to first.’ »

By Safnee Ahamed The Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) and Vanni District Parliamentarian, Rishad Bathiudeen, is no stranger to controversy in Sri Lankan politics. However, lately it has appeared that much of the controversies involving him are fabricated tales to destroy his repute and standing among the public. Weeks after he was acquitted …

Continue reading ‘The Unjust Arrest , Detention and Acquittal of Rishad Bathiudeen and the Political Witch-Hunt Launched Against the SLMC Leader by the Rajapaksa Regime.’ »

By Gamini Weerakoon (The writer is a former editor of The Sunday Island, The Island and consultant editor of the Sunday Leader.) The focus of the nation in recent times has been shifting from the ‘Glorious Uncertainties of cricket’ to inglorious uncertainties of politics and for the search of a square meal a day by …

Continue reading ‘Mahinda, declares ‘Ranil Dhang apith ekka’ (Ranil is with us now). But Ranil may be saying: ‘They are with me now ‘. The indication he gives is that he will be president till the term of the ‘R-Paksas’ party ends.’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene The Sri Lanka Government may be preening itself on taking the sting away from a combined political protest against state repression this Wednesday in Colombo. But let it be warned that its rejoicing comes too soon. ‘Stability’ vis a vis protests Bristling lines of heavily helmeted and gas-mask wearing police …

Continue reading ‘Does the Govt think that mere denials and gagging public servants who speak openly about a matter of deep concern affecting this country’s future generations will make the ‘problem go away’?’ »

By Marianne David The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has to rethink its strategies if it is to launch struggles against the Government, says SJB MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, who however warns against playing politics at a time when the country has hit rock bottom. “First you have to feed the people,” he asserted, in an …

Continue reading ‘“The UNP is a sister party, not our foe. We were a breakaway and we broke away not on party policies, not because we are different in policy programmes. On the economy and the national question, we are the same. There were problems with Ranil about the handling of the party; that was not a main cause for the people.”- SJB MP Dr.Rajitha Senaratne’ »

HE HAD JUST waved to the crowd from atop his caravan when gunshots broke through the strains of “Allah Hoo”, a famous devotional song, that had been blaring on the speakers alongside. Imran Khan and his associates ducked, but not before he took a bullet in the leg. Others near him were hit, too. A …

Continue reading ‘Imran Khan, Pakistan’s ex-prime minister, survives an attempt on his life. Shooting lends credence to the former cricketer’s claims of a conspiracy’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The elder statesman, the Nelson Mandela of the global South’s Left, Lula returns to the world scene – also through BRICS – when humanity is in crisis and the world order in tumultuous transition. He will infuse a measure of hope and reason. A positive planetary impact is his strongly environmentalist stance …

Continue reading ‘“we have a consensus as far as Russian foreign policy is concerned” States Vladimir Putin in response to a Question Posed by Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka to the Russian President in Moscow’ »

By Col R Hariharan During the month of October , the Sri Lankan government’s preliminary talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on structuring its economic recovery continued. However, debt restructuring continues to be delayed with China due to its preoccupation with the 20th NPC meetings of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Even negotiations with …

Continue reading ‘As a seasoned politician, President Wickremesinghe is using his Machiavellian skills to use factionalism existing within almost all the parties, to push through legislation to restore the economy.’ »

By Razeen Sally I have not written in these pages for a few years, not since I was an adviser to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s spectacularly misnamed Yahapalanaya Government until 2018. I was absent from Sri Lanka for over two years due to the pandemic, and watched the beginnings of the present catastrophe from Singapore, where I …

Continue reading ‘In the absence of institutional change and a new political class, Sri Lanka will alternate between “drift” and “relapse”, but never “take off”. Political incumbents, from the Rajapaksas, Ranil and Sajith down, will defend fortress walls to prevent such change, which would of course threaten their power and privileges.’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera The much-hyped protest organised by several political parties, including the main Parliamentary Opposition – the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) – alongside civil organisations and trade unions, fizzled out to an anti-climax amidst protestors arguing with each other about the level of aggression and perseverance that should be employed, as well as the …

Continue reading ‘Police Bloch Anti-Govt Protesr near Fort Railway Station; Sajith Premadasa and SJB MP’s retreat from Front to back Instead of Marching Forward and Leave Abandoning the People they led;Hirunika Premachandra Circumvents Police and Reaches Forts Station Via Another Route’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera and Buwanajee Coralage Former Minister, incumbent Samagi Jana Balawegaya Opposition MP and All-Ceylon Makkal Congress Leader Rishad Bathiudeen, who was accused of supporting those who carried out the Easter Sunday terror attacks on 21 April 2019, claimed that he was wrongly accused for political reasons, following his aquittal of all charges by …

Continue reading ‘Wanni District MP and Former Cabinet Minister Rishad Bathiudeen MP Acquitted by Courts of all Charges Pertaining to the Easter Sunday Bombings;SLMC leader says he was Wrongfully Accused Due to Politucal Reasons’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera On the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation is currently focused on setting up a 1,000-acre safari sanctuary in the Northern Province. Speaking to The Morning, an official of the ministry said that the President has instructed Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife, and Forest Resources Conservation …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe Instructs Wild;ife and Forest Conversation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to explore possibilities of setting up a 1,000-acre safari sanctuary in the Northern Province’ »

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several members from the SJB were today seen leaving the anti government protest site after they failed to move past the human barricade set up by the police. Much to the displeasure of the protestors who were seen urging Premadasa and the SJB members to move past the human barricade, …

Continue reading ‘Protesters Urge Sajith Premadasa and SJB Members to Move Past the Human Barricade Set up by Police to Block Protest March but Sajith and SJB Abandon Protest and Climb into their vehicles to leave amidst Jeers’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Sri Lanka Police on Wednesday blocked an anti-government protest march organised by Opposition parties, civic activists and trade unions who demanded that the Ranil Wickremesinghe government “stop repression” and address the persisting economic crisis. Members of Sri Lanka’s main Opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB or United People’s Force), along with …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Police block an anti-government protest march in Colombo from Maradana to Fort , organised by Opposition parties, civic activists and trade unions’ »

(Text of Editorial appearing in “The Island” of 2nd November 2022 under the heading Reds on high horse) Cantankerous, holier-than-thou politicians are a dime a dozen in this country, which is badly in need of some honest, capable leaders. So, there is no dearth of braggadocio, and streams of invective on the political front. Many …

Continue reading ‘“The JVP’s core ideology is the political version of katta sambol, which is so hot that it should not be overconsume. So, it is as unwise as making katta sambol a main dish to hand over the reins of government to the JVP.” – The Island’ »

By Himal Kotelawala With the likelihood of an electoral collapse of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) still reasonably high, the country’s main opposition the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the leftist National People’s Power (NPP) appear to be engaged in a low-intensity turf war over the coveted “system change” mandate. Though an election …

Continue reading ‘The JVP and SJB are battling for dominance in the opposition space which has expanded since the uprising.; each trying to outdo the other by resorting to populist slogans that are not only lacking in nuance but also contradicting their own ideology.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s painful economic crisis may have let up a little, mainly for those who can afford higher living costs, but shortages continue to affect its noted health care system, according to officials and medical practitioners. Despite international lending agencies and bilateral partners, especially India, pumping in emergency credit, the health sector …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Health Care System, Much Praised in the Past, Affected Badly due to Prevailing Economic Crisis; health sector is still short of over 150 essential drugs’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda yesterday (1) met parties connected to the Kurunthoor Malai temple in Mullaitivu and the Vedukkunari Malai temple in Vavuniya, both in the Northern Province, and assured that a positive and amicable settlement will be reached regarding longstanding temple-related issues. Speaking to The Morning, Devananda yesterday said that …

Continue reading ‘Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda Visits Kurunthoor Malai in Mullaitivu, Vedukkunari Malai in Vavuniya and Gives Assurance that Temple Related Issues in North will be Resolved Positively and Amicably’ »

BY Kiara Warnasuriya Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya (Our Power of People Party) MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera stated yesterday (1) that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not the answer to Sri Lanka’s present crisis, claiming that it has not succeeded in saving a single country over the past few years, and that it will …

Continue reading ‘Our Power of People Party MP Athuraliye Rathana Thera Wants Sri Lanka to Follow Independent Strategy of Printing Money like Myanmar,Korea and Cuba Instead of Adhering to International Monetary Fund(IMF) Imposed Conditions’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday described his accession to power in crisis-hit Sri Lanka as “taking over the titanic after it hit the iceberg”. His witty remark was made at the 32nd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Tea Factory Owners Association at the Water’s Edge Hotel as a response to what Wickremesinghe described …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe Says his Taking Over a Country that had Declared Bankruptcy was like taking over the Titanic after the ship hit the iceberg.’ »

By The Outsider The trend these days has been to bash Ranil left, right and centre. In fact it has now become fashionable to do so; so much so that those with a different point of view have almost become afraid to voice their opinions publicly. It is in this context that I thought of …

Continue reading ‘All should forget their differences and rally around the government of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to turn the economy around or in the alternative, perish.’ »

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he is hopeful of resolving the problems faced by ethnic Tamils in the country, as he announced the appointment of a committee to find ways to integrate the Indian-origin workers in the plantation sector into the society. Mr. Wickremesinghe’s remarks came on Sunday during an event in Colombo …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe states that the government will appoint a committee to Facilitate integration of the Hill Country Tamils of Indian Origin further into Sri Lankan society’ »

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana yesterday (31 October) endorsed the certificate on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which was passed by a special majority in Parliament recently. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill was presented to Parliament on 10 August 2022 by Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs, and Constitutional Refor ms and President’s …

Continue reading ‘The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill that was Passed by Parliament with 174 Votes for and one against comes into force as the 21st Amendment to the Constitution Following the Endorsement of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene’ »

By Dr. Harini Amarasuriya (Academic, rights activist, and Member of Parliament Dr. Harini Amarasuriya delivered the keynote address at the Regional Conference on Equality and Equity in Recognising Unpaid Care Work and Women’s Labour in South Asia on 20-21 October, organised by the Women and Media Collective and Social Scientists’ Association.) Following is the address: …

Continue reading ‘We need to strengthen feminist critiques of the structures of exploitation, oppression, and domination and examine how predatory, especially financialised neoliberal capitalism, has weakened democratic spaces, social protection capacities, and living conditions.’ »

By Mark Salter (The writer is the author of ‘To End A Civil War: Norway’s Peace Engagement in Sri Lanka’ [Hurst, London, 2015]) Erik Solheim’s recent visit to Sri Lanka – his first in 16 years – elicited its fair share of media attention, with ‘what’s he doing back here again?’ the obvious starting point …

Continue reading ‘The Norwegians in general and Solheim in particular invested time in talking to Prabhakaran for the simple reason that that was what their assignment required them to do’ »

By Rajasinghe Like Mary and her little lamb, Norwegians tend to follow Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) wherever he goes. This was true during the north-east war, when, at Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s (CBK’s) request, the Norwegian Government began to intervene as a supposedly ‘honest broker’ in attempting to solve our ethnic conflict. What CBK did not know …

Continue reading ‘Erik Solheim with his global connections can help in raising bilateral assistance and multilateral trust funds to revive Sri Lanka’s economy.’ »

By Siddarth Muralidharan At the very outset, it was a typical, conservative Tamil movie plot: three brothers coming home to attend their dear sister’s wedding. But, as it turned out, Parasakthi (The Supreme Power), a 1952 Tamil film directed by Krishnan-Panju and written by the then 28-year-old Muthuvel Karunanidhi, triggered a wave of radicalism in …

Continue reading ‘“Parasakthi”: The Groundbreaking Film that Catapulted Sivaji Ganesan and “Kalaignar” Karunanidhi to Fame 70 Years ago’ »

By Dr.Indrajit Coomaraswamy (Former Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy, during a recent session with The Indian Express, analysed Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and the debt restructuring needed for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release the $2.9 billion package that the nation is seeking. The session was moderated by the …

Continue reading ‘“You Ceylonese have eaten the fruit before you planted the tree.” Stated Cambridge economist Prof. Joan Robinson, during her visit to Sri Lanka in 1969,- Dr.Indrajit Coomaraswamy’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene “We put our untouchables into jail’, a senior Malaysian advocate told me proudly in Kuala Lumpur last week. Our crime of ‘accidental citizenship’ His reference was to jail sentences of respectively twelve and ten years, handed down by Malaysian courts on former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife. Long considered …

Continue reading ‘Conviction of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife on multiple counts of graft and corruption;In contrast, can Sri Lanka speak to a single conviction of a political ‘shark’ under its anti-corruption laws? No!’ »

By Marianne David The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is not split despite members taking different decisions, especially when faced with the 22nd Amendment Bill vote, asserted General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam. “Constitutional change is a critical thing which has serious impacts, so we decided that the party would not tell anyone how to vote and …

Continue reading ‘“Basil Rajapaksa will have a maximum of another 10 years in his political career. Apart from that, if he wants, he can always give up his US citizenship and come and contest here; that is up to him. He left the Parliament when there was no such clause.” – Sagara Kariyawasam’ »

. By Marianne David The 22nd Amendment Bill is former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s amendment and not that of Ranil Wickremesinghe and having formed a government after Gotabaya Rajapaksa left, the Government had to support the Government, asserted Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage, explaining his reasons for supporting the 22nd Amendment Bill. “If …

Continue reading ‘“This 22nd Amendment was first taken up by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.This is not Ranil Wickremesinghe’s amendment, this is Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s amendment, which Wickremesinghe continued with” – Mahindananda Aluthgamage’ »