By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Tackling a social calamity is not like fighting a war… Rather than muzzling the media and threatening dissenters with punitive measures (and remaining politically unchallenged), governance can be greatly helped by informed public discussion” – Amartya Sen (Listening as Governance) A year has gone by since the Easter Sunday massacre in Sri …

Continue reading ‘Conscious effort by the ruling party to use the pandemic to advance its authoritarian political agenda via a parliamentary election that is fatally infected with the anti-democratic virus.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The SAARC Secretariat should play an active role in the region’s response to COVID-19, along with “someone in-charge”, according to Sri Lanka’s former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. “I don’t know if it can be handled from Kathmandu alone. If you can, well and good. But you may need another city. It can …

Continue reading ‘“If life comes back to normal you can hold elections. Firstly, the economy must start.And with that people will then come for elections. People are not going to come running out and vote when they can’t eat. The economy must start.” -Ex-PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in Interview with “The Hindu”’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The 20 June election may be the last chance to keep President Gotabaya Rajapaksa safely anchored to the Parliament and the SLPP; lodged within the electoral democratic mainstream, its institutional milieu, mechanisms, processes and political culture—and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa seems to know it. Block that opening, kick the electoral can much …

Continue reading ‘It is a pity that the Gotabaya Government is on the verge of jeopardising at least some of its own positive achievement in retarding the rate of spread of the coronavirus.’ »

By Gehan Gunatilleka Once in a lifetime, a country faces a crisis so unique that the ordinary rules of politics should not apply. We expect politicians – political animals by nature – to act in ways that are antithetical to their interests. The COVID-19 pandemic is such a crisis, and Sri Lanka’s politicians have a …

Continue reading ‘Multi-party Memorandum of Understanding:Sri Lanka Facing a Unique Constitutional Dilemma Caused by a Unique Pandemic Emergency Requires A Unique Solution Outside the Path of Conventional Politics.’ »

By Theodore Warnakulasuriya (This article is summarized by Theodore Warnakulasuriya from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks who served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. His latest book is Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times; Hodder & Stoughton. The main article was found in Tablet magazine …

Continue reading ‘Morality Matters………..Let’s Get Ethical At This Time Of Coronavirus.’ »

BY S.S. Selvanayagam A former Member of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC) as a public interest litigation filed a Fundamental Right violation petition contesting the Presidential clemency granted to the army officer who has been convicted for the massacre at Mirusuvil in the Jaffna Peninsula. Relatives of the deceased also filed a Petition …

Continue reading ‘Presidential Clemency Granted by President Rajapaksa to Army Officer Convicted Over Mirusuvil Murders Challenged Through Three Fundamental Rights Petition Filed on Behalf of Relatives of Victims, Ex-Human Rights Commissioner and CPA Executive Director’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s Election Commission has set the country’s parliamentary election for June 20, after it postponed the April 25 polls in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka has reported 309 coronavirus cases and seven deaths so far. A total of 33 infections were detected on Monday, the highest number to …

Continue reading ‘Opposition Parties Protest Against Election Commission Fixing June 20 for Elections Without Consulting them but EC Chairman Deshapriya says new Election Date is “Subject to Revision”’ »

By S. Venkat Narayan Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been named the greatest bowler in Indian Premier League (IPL) history by Star Sports experts Dean Jones, Mathew Hayden, Aakash Chopra, Graeme Smith, Simon Doull, Ian Bishop and Tom Moody. They were part of a 50-member list including former cricketers, statisticians, analysts, senior sports …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga Named the greatest bowler in Indian Premier League (IPL) history by Star Sports experts’ »

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) yesterday called upon the Sri Lankan authorities to respect human rights in the conduct of their investigation of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, including ensuring that investigations into the alleged involvement of Sri Lankan lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah are conducted in accordance with due process and fair trial guarantees under …

Continue reading ‘International Commission of Jurists Express Concern Over Arbitrary Arrest and Detention of Lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah and Urges Govt to Ensure that Investigations are Conducted According to Due Process and Fair Trial Guarantees Provided by International Law’ »

By Saman Indrajith and Ranil Dharmasena The Election Commission (EC) had decided to hold the next general election, on June 20, Chairman of commission Mahinda Deshapriya said, yesterday. The three-member EC met, last evening, to decide a date for the general election, which has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. A proposal for holding …

Continue reading ‘Elections Commission Announces Parliamentary Polls on June 20 After Consultations with district secretaries and top officials of the health sector, police, army, postal services& government printer; EC Decision to be Challenged in Courts by Political Parties and Civil Organizations’ »

The Sri Lankan Election Commission on Monday fixed June 20 as the date for the parliamentary elections. The new date was announced because the commission could not hold the polls as scheduled earlier on April 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Wanting a parliament in which his party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Election Commission Comprising Mahinda Deshapriya, Nalin Abeyesekera and Ratnajeevan Hoole Fix June 20 as the new Date for Conducting the Postponed Parliamentary Elections’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has called on all citizens to remember the victims of the Easter terror blasts that shook Sri Lanka on April 21 last year, claiming over 270 lives and injuring more than 500 persons. The serial blasts, which was carried out by an apparently IS-inspired squad of …

Continue reading ‘First Anniversary of Easter Sunday Terror in Sri Lanka; Though a Year has Passed Since Bombings, Batticaloa’s Affected Zion Church and Pastors Residence Yet to be Re-built.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray As it swept the globe starting in 1918 through the end of 1919, the deadly virus afflicted 500 million people, and left 50 million dead. Among the dead were royalty and world leaders, like Louis Botha, the first Prime Minister of South Africa, Saudi Prince Tuki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, …

Continue reading ‘The H1N1 Avian virus that caused the Pandemic of 1918 commonly known as the ‘Spanish Flu’ Infected One-third of the World then and Killed 1to 3 % of Humanity’ »

By Dr.S.Ratnajeevan H. Hoole (Text of a letter sent on April 16th 2020 by Elections Commission Member Prof. S. Ratnajeeva H.Hoole to fellow members of the Election Commission on the subject of gazetting a date for polls) Two days ago, the Chairman telephoned me to confirm my attendance at the Commission meeting on 20.04.2020, and …

Continue reading ‘EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya Proposes Gazetting of Elections for May 28 and Postponing Again if Necessary but Election Commission Member Ratnajeevan Hoole Disagrees and Writes Letter to EC Outlining Seven Reasons in Support of his Opinion’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Former National List MP and ‘constitutional expert’ Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne, PC, said yesterday that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had no option but to withdraw proclamation, dissolving parliament, to prevent an unprecedented constitutional crisis. Wickremaratne said that as President Rajapaksa, had, in terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, called an early general …

Continue reading ‘Ex- MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne, PC Says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has no option but to withdraw proclamation dissolving parliament to prevent an unprecedented constitutional crisis.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Even as Sri Lanka’s health authorities continue fighting COVID-19, which has so far affected 269 persons, the government and Opposition parties have expressed conflicting views on holding poll during the raging global pandemic. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has urged the Election Commission to fix the date for the general election, …

Continue reading ‘Almost all Opposition parties have sought the reconvening of Parliament using President Gotabaya’s executive powers, while urging the Election Commission to refrain from holding poll until the health risk is eliminated.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Twitter is rarely short of drama. Except that last week, Sri Lanka’s Twitter bubble saw some of it originate from an unlikely source — the official handle of the Chinese Embassy here. It all began with a letter dated April 8, from the Embassy, addressed to the chairman of the privately-run Wijeya …

Continue reading ‘Twitter Suspends and Restores Colombo Chinese Embassy’s Handle During the Undiplomatic Social Media War Between the Mission and Sri Lankan Tweeters’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene The anti-democracy virus infecting law enforcement officials in Sri Lanka today appears to have proceeded belligerently to the point that an attorney-at-law was arrested this week in circumstances so outrageous that it has drawn the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) out of hibernation to express its ‘concern.’ A manifestly curious …

Continue reading ‘Will all the good done by the nation’s health sector specialists in containing the spread of the covid virus be undone by politicians and their racist acolytes in law enforcement and media?’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Some 10,000 frontline health workers in Sri Lanka are working tirelessly to arrest the spread of COVID-19 that has affected 235 people and claimed seven lives until Wednesday. Partnering them in their response to the public health crisis is the Sri Lankan military, playing many roles from contact-tracing to running quarantine centres …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Army plays many roles from contact-tracing to running quarantine centres to distributing relief in the fight Against the Spread of Covid -19’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the Tamil National Alliance Media Office) 18th April 2020 The Chairman and Members of The Election Commission of Sri Lanka, Elections Secretariat, Rajagiriya, 10107. Dear Sirs, Holding of General Election 2020 We write to express certain serious concerns regarding the above election, considering the prevailing situation in the country. …

Continue reading ‘Tamil National Alliance Urges Election Commission to Refrain From Announcing a Date for Parliamentary Elections Until Local and Global Health Experts Provide Assurances of Safety to Conduct Polls’ »

The nation-wide curfew will be eased from Monday as the month-long lock down measures reduced the spread of the Coronavirus which claimed at least seven lives, the government said yesterday. The curfew will be lifted on Monday (20) at 5.00 am and re-imposed at 8.00 pm in all the districts, except Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, …

Continue reading ‘Curfew will be lifted on Monday (20) at 5.00 am and re-imposed at 8.00 pm in all districts except Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Puttalam, Kandy, Kegalle and Amparai.’ »

By S.S. Selvanayagam A Habeas Corpus application was filed yesterday before the Court of Appeal on behalf of senior lawyer Hejaz Hisbullah, who has been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over his alleged links to the Easter Sunday bombers. The petition was filed by his father, Naina Hizbullah, through Attorney-at-Law Gowry Shangary Thavarasha, …

Continue reading ‘Writ of Habeas corpus application filed before Appeal Court on behalf of prominent lawyer Hejaz Hisbullah arrested by CID for Suspected Links to Persons Allegedly Involved in Easter Sunday Attacks Last Year’ »

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said yesterday that if the Parliamentary Election could not be held on time, steps must be taken to avoid a constitutional crisis at all costs, warning such a crisis entails the risk of delegitimising and destabilising our country and could gravely impact Sri Lanka’s prospects of obtaining economic relief. “Sri Lanka …

Continue reading ‘Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Urges Govt. and Opposition to engage with Election Commission and each other urgently in good faith to Avoid Constitutional Crisis’ »

By Theodore Warnakulasuriya (Most of this article Summarized by Theodore Warnakulasuriya is adopted from the Daniel P. Sulmasy who is the André Hellegers Professor of Biomedical Ethics in the Departments of Medicine and Philosophy and Acting Director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, Washington) As we know different countries have shown different responses …

Continue reading ‘Corona virus Pandemic and the Four Different Ways of Thinking About the Common Good.’ »

By Arjuna Ranawana Sri Lanka’s leading Roman Catholic Prelate says pogroms against Muslims three weeks after the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks on Churches by Islamic extremists were carried out “by political elements who had nothing to do with the Christian community.” Addressing a press conference today, Thursday, April 16, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said the …

Continue reading ‘Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith Wants Govt to Investigate the Attacks on Muslims Three Weeks After the Easter Bombings “by organized groups inspired by political elements wanting to create a rift between the Muslim and Christian minorities in Sri Lanka.”’ »

The Election Commission would consult political parties, doctors, epidemiologists, the armed forces and the Police and all others fighting the war against COVID-19, after April 20 in order to take a decision on conducting Parliamentary elections, member of the Elections Commission (EC) N. J. Abeysekara PC said yesterday. However, Mr. Abeysekara reiterated that the conduct …

Continue reading ‘Election Commission Will Consult Political Parties, Doctors, Epideniologists, Armed Forces and Police Before Taking Decision on Conducting Postponed Elections says member of the Elections Commission (EC) N. J. Abeysekara PC’ »

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday expressed concern about the well-being of attorney-at-law Hejaz Hizbullah, who has been taken into custody by the CID, allegedly over his links to the Easter Sunday bombers. “According to (the) information we have received, the reasons for his arrest have not been made known till now. We …

Continue reading ‘Bar Association of Sri Lanka Writes to Acting IGP Expressing Concern Over the well-being of Attorney-at-law Hejaz Hizbullah Arrested by the CID;Requests IGP to Inform the BASL of Basis and Reasons for Arrest’ »

(Text of Letter Sent by former Colombo District MP and Leader of the Democratic Peoples Front/Tamil Progressive Alliance Mano Ganesan to the Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya Regarding the Holding of Parliamentary Elections while Sri Lanka coninues to face the Covid-19 Pandemic Threat) · The Chairman Election Commission Sarana Rd Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte …

Continue reading ‘TPA Leader Mano Ganesan Writes to Election Commission Chairman Urging the EC not to extend support to alleged attempts by the present caretaker government to hold parliamentary elections amidst the threats posed by the corona virus pandemic.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan On Sri Lanka’s Health Promotion Bureau portal, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases, updated in real time, was 219 on Tuesday evening. Of those, 151 are active. Seven patients who contracted the virus have died, while 61 have recovered, according to the official bulletin. Compared to most other countries in the …

Continue reading ‘How is Sri Lanka, with arguably the best public health system in the region, fighting the pandemic?’ »

By Vimukthi Vidarshana Sri Lankan police have arrested more than seven individuals, including several university students, on allegations of publishing “false” information on their Facebook accounts and “maliciously” criticising public officials involved in COVID-19 prevention programs. Authorities claim that such news “impedes” the work of officials attempting to contain the pandemic. The crackdown follows an …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Police Arrest Seven Including Undergrads for Allegedly Posting On Social Media “False” Information and “Maliciously Criticising Officials Engaged in Combatting Covid-19 Pandemic’ »

By P.K.Balachandran There are indications that the postponed Sri Lankan parliamentary elections will be held on May 27 or 28, so that the newly elected parliament meets before the set three-month deadline of June 2. The government expects to control the spread of the novel coronavirus by the end of April 30 to allow parties …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is Reportedly Keen to Hold Parliamentary Elections on May 28; Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya Expected to Make Important Announcement on April 20:Curfews Likely to be Lifted Completely by April 30 to Enable Election Campaigning’ »

By Dr. B. J. C. Perera Specialist Consultant Paediatrician There are heaps of different ideas, veiled innuendos, public inquiries, all kinds of varied recommendations and countless queries about the different types of tests that can be done to detect and diagnose SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease COVID-19, the coronavirus pandemic. It is a deadly …

Continue reading ‘Details of the different types of tests that can be done to detect and diagnose SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the disease COVID-19 Leading to the coronavirus pandemic’ »

A group of Muslim organizations has requested Acting IGP Chandana Wickramaratne to inquire into an alleged campaign against the Muslim community. The following is the text of the letter: “We, the undersigned Muslim organizations in Sri Lanka, respectfully lodge this complaint for your immediate investigation and urgent action on the continued hate mongering against the …

Continue reading ‘Group of Muslim Organizations Writes to Acting IGP Chandana Wickramaratne Urging an Investigation into an “Anonymous” Audio Recording in Public Circulation Via Social Media Targeting the Muslim Community That Violates Several Laws’ »

The Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) is calling on all political parties, civil society activists and the general public to strongly oppose the attempt by the government to create an autocratic, anti-democratic state in Sri Lanka. In a statement issued today, April 11, the SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that in the guise …

Continue reading ‘SJB Gen-Secy Ranjith Madduma Bandara Says President is interpreting the Constitution to “suit himself” and leading the country towards a dictatorship under the ” guise of battling the spread of COVID 19″ by “disregarding the role of the courts and the country’s Constitution.”’ »

The JVP yesterday called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to reconvene Parliament, without letting the country slide into a constitutional crisis. Addressing the media online, from the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said President Rajapaksa was vested with power to reconvene Parliament and he should do so.

The Chairman of the All Ceylon Peasants Federation, Namal Karunaratne, yesterday called on government to get the services of the Railway Department to distribute the agriculture produce of the farmers who had been struck by a double whammy – due to the decision to shut down economic centres and the inability to sell produce at …

Continue reading ‘All Ceylon Peasants Federation Chairman Namal Karunaratne Wants Govt to Utilise Railway Dept to Distribute and Market Agricultural Products of Farmers who are Drastically Affected by Curfews and Closure of Economic Centres.’ »

By Anna Fifield It’s been less than two weeks since New Zealand imposed a coronavirus lockdown so strict that swimming at the beach and hunting in bushland were banned. They’re not essential activities, plus we’ve been told not to do anything that could divert emergency services’ resources. People have been walking and biking strictly in …

Continue reading ‘New Zealand Under The Inspiring Leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Seeks To Stamp Out Covid-19 Instead of Just Flattening the Curve.’ »

By Namal Rajapaksa A little over a month ago, Sri Lanka detected its first local COVID-19 infected patient, leading to more cases eventually being reported from across the country. Today, a month later, the country has detected over 200 COVID-19 infected patients while over 50 of them have been successfully treated and discharged. Over 100 …

Continue reading ‘“Sri Lanka has to a great extent been able to limit the spread of the virus as only home transmissions are yet being detected. The work of our front line personnel in this battle is truly commendable”- Namal Rajapaksa MP’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene In terror filled months which stretch endlessly into each other, the covid-19 pandemic has seen thousands die, obliterated assumptions of functional ‘First World’ health systems, stamped incredible images of shoppers fighting over toilet paper in Australia and the United States on our unwilling retinas and led to the best as well …

Continue reading ‘With curfew violators numbering nineteen thousand reported to be in police custody,are social distancing rules being practised in cramped and foul police cells?’ »

By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole I refer to the Daily Mirror article, of today’s date, on the date for summoning the new Parliament after elections, and The Island’s two pieces yesterday on the same topic. I am in “Lockdown” in Jaffna and write on my own as a Member of the Election Commission in response …

Continue reading ‘“I believe the President is duty-bound to heed our advice as contained in our letters of 31 March and 1 April 2020” – Elections Commissioner Dr. Ratnajeevan Hoole Responds to President’s Secretary Dr. P.B.Jayasundara’ »

Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressing his concern that the country could be headed for a public health disaster and economic catastrophe unless it adapts to the new ground realities as it battles the COVID-19 crisis. In the letter titled ‘COVID- 19 Crisis: A Need to Change Direction,’ the former …

Continue reading ‘Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya writes to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Expressing Concern that the country could be headed for a public health disaster and economic catastrophe unless it adapts to the new ground realities in battling the COVID-19 crisis.’ »

Former Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera issued the following statement yesterday in response to a recent statement by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa is the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. He also holds the vital portfolio of Finance, Economic and Policy Development. He was President of Sri Lanka for two terms and held many …

Continue reading ‘Govt Creating a Constitutional Crisis at a Time When Sri Lanka is Facing the Covid-19 Threat would be the most callous case of placing a family’s private political interest over the interests of the entire country-Mangala Samaraweera’ »

By Ameer Faaiz and Nizam Kariapper Sri Lanka is fighting hard, to the best of all its citizens’ abilities, to deal with the current global pandemic caused by the coronavirus. To its credit, Sri Lanka seems to be comparatively doing well. Let us hope that we in Sri Lanka could ensure a speedy end to …

Continue reading ‘If the Elections Commission fails to publish a new date for the poll falling between May 14, and June 1, then the Proclamation of the President Dissolving Parliament will become Void.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Take a moment to reflect on how your life has changed since the covid-19 virus brought our world to a standstill. Our income and economic future have become uncertain. Those of us with children must look after them at home due to school closures. Food, medicine and basic supplies are scarce …

Continue reading ‘Our Large Luxury Hotels Owned By Conglomerates Could Provide a Sanctuary to Our Over-worked Frontline Medical Personnel By Letting Them Stay In Rooms and Have Meals While the Fight Against the Covid-19 Threat Continues’ »

Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the President, has written to Mahinda Deshapriya, Chairman of the Election Commission, pointing out that the latter has failed to act according to the full provisions of Section 24 of the Parliamentary Election Act and should have published another date for the general election as per Section 24 (3) …

Continue reading ‘President Rajapaksa Will Not Refer Matter Regarding Elections to the Supreme Court States Presidents Secretary PB Jayasundara in Strong Letter To Mahinda Deshapriya Reprimanding Election Commission Chairman For Failing to Act Fully Under Sec 24 of Parliamentary Elections Act’ »

A Lenten reflection by Bishop Duleep de Chickera “Try again; fail again. Fail better” – Samuel Beckett Last year at Easter, sudden acts of violence spread immense fear, injury and death, within a matter of moments. A small group of extremists was to become the face behind the horror. Some admirable interventions to prevent communal …

Continue reading ‘What the country needs just now is a national government. Such a move will announce that this is not the time to play party politics.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The COVID-19 coronavirus is a mutation of all hitherto known coronaviruses. It poses the greatest threat to those who are older; those who have lasted longest. Similarly, in the realm of ideas and ideology, many long-standing negative ideas in sections of Sri Lankan society seem to be mutating into something new and …

Continue reading ‘If the Country Abandons the Democratic Path it will lose International Legitimacy and be an Easy Target of Universal Jurisdiction and Unilateral Snctions.’ »

By Amartya Sen (The writer, a Nobel laureate in economics, is Thomas W. Lamont University Professor and professor of economics and philosophy at Harvard University) We have reason to take pride in the fact that India is the largest democracy in the world, and also the oldest in the developing world. Aside from giving everyone …

Continue reading ‘Overcoming a Pandemic may look like Fighting a war, but the real need is far from that’ »

By Asanga Welikala and Suren Fernando When a grave crisis like the coronavirus pandemic occurs, citizens expect the Government to respond swiftly, effectively, and efficiently to protect the public and mitigate the consequences. For this, they also readily recognise that the Government will need greater powers than in normal times. In a constitutional democracy like …

Continue reading ‘If Govt Does Not Strike Correct Balance Between Acting Efficiently and Abiding by Constitutional Norms in Coping With Coronavirus Crisis, Country May Backslide From Democracy to Authoritarianism’ »

(Text of Statement by the Former Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera) For the period of January 01, 2020 to April 02, 2020, the Government has borrowed Rs. 650.15 billion through Sri Lanka Development Bonds, a dollar-loan from the China Development Bank and primary auctions of Treasury bills and Treasury bonds. Furthermore, Central Bank holdings of …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera Urges Govt to Immediately Move a Resolution in Parliament to Responsibly Increase the Borrowing Limit and Assures the Entire Parliament will Support such a Resolution.’ »

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday appealed to Sri Lankans to put aside their differences and come together to fight the common enemy of COVID-19 and insisted that even though public finance was “unfavourable”, the Government will continue to support businesses and vulnerable communities. Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister appealed to the masses not to …

Continue reading ‘“People lived in refugee camps for 20-30 years due to the war. Staying inside your home for the sake of the country is not that difficult” – Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Addresses Nation.’ »

Six Chair Professors of Medicine (and specialist physicians) have expressed their opinion on an exit strategy from the current Covid-19 lockdown, recommending the current level of restriction should continue for now and be reviewed after the New Year among others. Prof. Janaka de Silva (University of Kelaniya), Prof. Sarath Lekamwasam(University of Ruhuna) Prof. SAM Kularatne …

Continue reading ‘Six Professors of Medicine at Six Sri Lankan Universities Propose Phased-out Strategy from Lockdown Curfews Following Review of Prevailing Situation After the Traditional April New Year.’ »

By Vishvanath Death has been dubbed ‘the great leveller’. This sobriquet fits, in that the Grim Reaper does not discriminate against anyone. Coronavirus may also be considered a great leveller of sorts, for it infects all humans indiscriminately and instils fear in rulers and plebs alike. Prince Albert II of Monaco has been afflicted with …

Continue reading ‘One Virus vs The Whole World: Socio-economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene When Sri Lanka’s acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) instructed all police officers to ‘take legal action against those who publish posts on social media criticising government officials and obstructing their duties’ as reported on 1st April 2020, one might have been forgiven for speculating that this was grim humor befitting …

Continue reading ‘Are these Viyath Maga ‘Technocrats’ Advising the ‘Technocratic’ Presidency of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa On Tackling the Covid-19 Pandemic Living in a Parallel Universe?’ »

By Uditha Kumarasinghe The Head of the Special Presidential Task Force on Essential Services, Basil Rajapaksa said that today we are at the most critical and decisive juncture compared to the challenges we faced in the past. If we don’t successfully launch our battle to combat the coronavirus, we would have to face serious repercussions. …

Continue reading ‘“I Have Temporarily Closed my Political Office and Suspended my Political Activities. Now, as The President’s Special Envoy and Head of the Presidential task Force, I act as a Non-political Person” – Basil Rajapaksa’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka has been under curfew for over a fortnight. The near-total lockdown and the over 10,000 violators that police have arrested have ensured that almost everyone stays indoors. Depending on the cash left in hand or their bank balance — in case of those making card payments — and social networks, …

Continue reading ‘“There are Trucks Going Around with some Supplies but most Estate Worker Families Don’t have cash to buy Essentials”’ »

By Nimal Sanderatne There are increasing concerns in food security during this prolonged period of an economic shutdown and island-wide curfew. Ensuring the availability and accessibility of at least minimum food requirements is of utmost importance during these days of battling the coronavirus. Formidable task To the credit of the Government, many efforts are being …

Continue reading ‘Ensuring Availability and Accessibility to Minimum Food Requirements During Economic Lockdown and Prolonged Curfew is of the Utmost Importance’ »

By Lucien Rajakarunanayake From history, literature, nursery rhymes, and religious tales we are used to various trios who have brought good memories. The Three Musketeers is an unforgettable cinematic tale. We also know of the Three Stooges, the Three Amigos and the Three Blind Mice. When Christmas draws near we are reminded of the ‘Raja …

Continue reading ‘“Raja Thun Kattiya” Consisting of Mahinda,Gotabaya and Basil Fast Making Progress During the Coronavirus Pandemic Phase as the “Corona Bala Kattiya” Combatting Covid-19 Threat’ »

By Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga The world has been attacked by the most widely spread pandemic the world has ever experienced. It has had seismic effects on the entire world – almost no country has been spared from its terrifying repercussions. We humans prided ourselves that we had conquered Mother Nature. We indiscriminately destroyed her bountiful …

Continue reading ‘A Single Virus and a Humble Animal Send the Whole World Into Lockdown’ »

By Col R Hariharan The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s carefully crafted plan to hold the parliamentary elections on April 25 to win two-thirds majority in parliament elections to repeal 19th Amendment (19A) to the Constitution which curbed presidential powers. In the face of the pandemic threat, the Election Commission (EC) was left …

Continue reading ‘What Gotabaya Rajapaksa Proposes, Coronavirus Pandemic Disposes’ »

By Gehan Gunatilleke Sri Lanka’s police has just announced that it would arrest those who disseminate false or disparaging statements about government officials. Why is this announcement incredibly dangerous? In the midst of the current Covid19 crisis, governments will ask individuals to make great sacrifices to prevent, detect, contain, and cure the deadly virus. While …

Continue reading ‘An Individual owes no Conceivable Duty to Others to Refrain from Criticising a Government During this “Corona” Crisis Even if such Criticism Undermines Confidence in the Government.’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka This space is named the ‘Lanka Guardian column’. The title Lanka Guardian is from the two-decades-defunct magazine of which my father was Founder-Editor. I was Assistant Editor, Associate Editor and (for two years) Editor of that once-celebrated fortnightly journal. I realised that the conjuncture in which I was commencing this new column …

Continue reading ‘What could possibly exonerate or extenuate the quite deliberate cutting of the throat of a five-year-old child? If there is to remain even the most basic sense of right and wrong, good and evil, in State, society and leadership, should the Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict have been overthrown?’ »

By Wasantha Rupasinghe The sudden, disorganized nationwide three-week shutdown announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi starting at midnight March 24 is causing immense hardship, especially for hundreds of millions of workers and rural toilers, manifestly undermining efforts to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus. For weeks, Indian authorities, including Modi himself, had boasted …

Continue reading ‘Nation-wide Shutdown and Curfew For Three Weeks Announced Sudenly By Indian Premier Narendra Modi Causes Immense Hardship to Millions of Urban Workers, Rural Toilers, Migrants and Poorer Sections of Society’ »

The United National Party (UNP) and key Officials of the Government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had cordial discussions on measures taken to counter the COVID-19 crisis yesterday, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement. The meeting, which lasted about two hours, was held at the Presidential Secretariat and was presided over by …

Continue reading ‘United National Party Leaders and key Ministers of the Govt led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Hold cordial discussions on measures taken to counter the COVID-19 crisis’ »

(Text of a Letter Sent by the Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa) H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa President of the Republic of Sri Lanka Presidential Secretariat Colombo 1 Your Excellency, Granting of a Presidential Pardon to Former Army Corporal Sunil Ratnayake The Human Rights Commissions of Sri Lanka expresses …

Continue reading ‘“Granting of a presidential pardon to a person convicted of such a heinous offence and whose conviction was upheld unanimously by the Supreme Court sends a negative message that reinforces allegations of impunity and lack of justice for victims of violations in Sri Lanka”- Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka’ »

Transparency International Sri Lanka has called upon the government to make public the following documents as regards the presidential pardon granted to the convict in the case of the Mirusuvil massacre. Presidential Secretariat must make the following documents public – Report of the Trial Judge Advice of the Attorney General Recommendation of the Justice Minister …

Continue reading ‘Transparency International of Sri Lanka Wants Presidential Secretariat to Disclose the TrialJudge Report, Attorney -General Advice and Justice Ministry Recommendation Pertaining to the Presidential Pardon Afforded to The Mirusuvil Massacre Convict’ »

Former Western Province Governor and leader of the National Unity Alliance, Azath S Salley, has requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to inquire into the circumstances under which a Muslim victim of coronavirus was cremated,contrary to specific instructions issued by the government. The following is the text of Salley’s letter to the President: “The second death in …

Continue reading ‘Ex-Western Province Governor Azath Salley Writes to President Rajapaksa Urging Inquiry Into Incident Where Muslim Victim of Covid-19 Was Cremated Instead of Burial Accirding to Islamic Religious Sentiments’ »

By S.Ratnajeevan H.Hoole The President on March 2, 2020 by Gazette Extraordinary No. 2165/8 legitimately dissolved Parliament from midnight and fixed April 25, 2020 as the date for the General Election. While the proclamation was legal, it was poorly thought out because it was made well after the COVID-19 outbreak had begun. Passengers at many …

Continue reading ‘Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya was Adamant That Elections Should be Held on April 25th Without Being Put Off Because He Seemed Afraid to Disagree With President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’ »

By Asanga Welikala and Suren Fernando The potentially major economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic the world over reminds us that, even in more normal times, the raising and spending of public money is a matter that has serious constitutional implications in democracies. Every constitutional democracy recognises that the Executive leads in a time of …

Continue reading ‘Public finance in times of crisis: The constitutional functions of President and Parliament’ »

The Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) yesterday said it would challenge the President’s decision to release a convicted murderer by way of a Presidential pardon in the Supreme Court and said such actions called into question the manner in which 34 (1) of the Constitution was being used by an individual arbitrarily without …

Continue reading ‘Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) to Challenge in the Supreme Court the Arbitrary Decision by President Gotabaya to Release Convicted Murderer Sunil Ratnayake by way of a Presidential Pardon’ »

By Dr Ravi P. Rannan-Eliya The current lock-down – not only here but affecting two billion people around the world – should make it clear to everyone how serious COVID-19 is. What many still do not appreciate is that closing our ports and even a one month lockdown will not make the problem go away. …

Continue reading ‘The COVID -19 Crisis Will Not Be Over Soon: Sri Lankan Political Leaders Need to Explain This to Our People and Prepare Every One For the Long Haul.’ »

(Text of statement signed by 22 organisations across the country, condemning the release of convicted death row prisoner and mass murderer, former Army Staff Sergeant R. M. Sunil Rathnayake, by way of a Presidential Pardon) On March 26, 2020, President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa granted a presidential pardon and released convicted death row prisoner and mass murderer, …

Continue reading ‘Text of statement signed by 22 organisations across the country, condemning the release of convicted death row prisoner and mass murderer, former Army Staff Sergeant R. M. Sunil Rathnayake, by way of a Presidential Pardon.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan “How did you Kashmiris survive the lockdown for six months?” Almost everyone who met or called Nurat Maqbool after the ‘Janata Curfew’ last Sunday asked her, according to an account she wrote in the ‘Lockdown Journal’, an online platform launched by a Colombo-based editor-writer to record stories of the lockdown worldwide in …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Author Sunila Galappati Launches an Online Journal to Collate Stories about Life During the “Coronavirus” Lockdown; Over 30 Entries so Far From Many Countries Including U.K., India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Portugal, Germany, Sri Lanka and Australia.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Hindu” of March 30 2020 Under the Heading “Political pardon: On Sri Lankan soldier’s release”) The grant of presidential pardon, on Thursday, to a Sri Lankan soldier on death row for murdering eight Tamil villagers has sparked justified outrage among those who have been demanding justice from the state …

Continue reading ‘“Freeing a soldier convicted for massacre dashes hopes for accountability in Sri Lanka” – The Hindu’ »

The body of Sri Lanka’s first coronavirus victim, Elangampedige Dharmasiri Janananda, was cremated at the Kotikawatta crematorium yesterday afternoon. The 60-year-old man was a resident of Marawila. He was undergoing treatment at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, at the time of his death.

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Nations are best tested in times of crisis. This is when our humanity should rise over self-interest and when all differences should be put aside. This is when intellect, indefatigable energy, absolute resoluteness and the courage and conviction to stand up and be counted all come together. This is when populations …

Continue reading ‘Covid-19 does not recognize party color, ethnicity, race, ideology, age, gender, sexual preferences or religious faith.Covid-19 is our COMMON ENEMY.’ »

By Darini Rajasingham Senanayake Them belly full but we hungry A hungry mob is an angry mob A rain a-fall but the dirt, it tough A pot a-cook but the food no ‘nough — Bob Marley and the Wailers The Government of Sri Lanka has yet to respond effectively, rationally, and in a manner that …

Continue reading ‘After Corona and Curfew: A Soft Landing, ‘Herd Immunity’ and an Easter Memorial’ »

By Maria Abi-Habib and Dharisha Bastians Sri Lanka’s president has pardoned a soldier who was sentenced to death for killing eight civilians during the country’s civil war, leading to accusations that the government was taking advantage of the chaos from the coronavirus pandemic to free a wartime ally accused of atrocities. The pardon reverses one …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Who is Himself Accused of Ordering Alleged War Crimes Instructs Justice Ministry To Release Soldier Convicted Over Murder of Eight Tamil Civilians’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene A global health pandemic is not the time for political upmanship. It is also the worst time to engage in fragrant violations of justice in the exploitative belief that the uproar therein would be muted when the citizenry is in survivalist mode. At any point, this would be abhorrent but to …

Continue reading ‘Government persistence to downplay the severity of the Coronavirus crisis to presidential pardons of those convicted for cold blooded murder.does not bode well for the future’ »

By Kumudini Hettiarachchi, Ruqyyaha Deane & Meleeza Rathnayake Sri Lanka reported its first death from COVID-19 at around 8 p.m. yesterday Mar 28), the victim being a 60-year-old male who had other complications. The patient from Marawila was among three who were on ventilators at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Angoda, and Health …

Continue reading ‘First Death From COVID -19 Reported in Sri Lanka as 60 Year Old Male From Marawila Placed Under Ventilator at NIID in Angoda Passes Away on Mar 28; Another 59 Year Old Male From Punkudutheevu Succumbs to Corona Virus in Switzerland on Mar 25’ »

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa pardoned Former Staff Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake who was convicted in 2015 for the murder of eight Tamil civilians, including three children, in Mirusuvil in April 2000. The conviction and death sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2019. The International Commission of Jurists(ICJ) said that the …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Presidential pardon of former Army officer for killing of Tamil civilians is unacceptable -International Commission of Jurists’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Italy has been identified as the predominant source of COVID-19 infection in Sri Lanka. No wonder then that the Lankan government has imposed an indefinite curfew in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara where most returnees from Italy reside. 🇮🇹 🇱🇰 Italy is one of three countries most affected by the COVID-19 …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Returnees From Italy Pose Huge Problems For Authorities Battling to Combat COVID -19 Pandemic Threat’ »

Press briefing note on Sri Lanka Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Rupert Colville Location: Geneva Date: 27 March 2020 Subject: Sri Lanka We are troubled by reports that the convicted perpetrator of the Mirusuvil massacre, in Sri Lanka, has received a Presidential Pardon and was released from jail this week. Former …

Continue reading ‘UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Troubled by reports that the convicted perpetrator of the Mirusuvil massacre, in Sri Lanka, has received a Presidential Pardon and was released from jail this week.’ »

By Aneetha Warusavitarana On 12 March the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the new coronavirus, COVID-19, to be a pandemic. With cases in Sri Lanka reaching over 100, the Government of Sri Lanka has taken several measures to prevent the spread of this disease. One such measure was enforcing an island-wide curfew. The risks posed …

Continue reading ‘Govt Must Consider Enforcing a Lockdown Without a Curfew Where People Can Go Out Of Their Homes For Essential Services and to Purchase Basic Necessities Observing Strict Health Guidelines and Social Distancing’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking an Interim Order preventing former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Ranjith Maddumabandara from holding out to the general public that they are the Chairman and Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya party. Oshala Herath who is contesting in the upcoming General …

Continue reading ‘UNP Colombo District Candidate Oshala Herath Files Writ Petition in Supreme Court Seeking Interim Order Against Sajith Pemadasa and Ranjith Maddumabandara Telling General Public That They are the Chairman and Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’ »

Where accountability is so rare for serious human rights violations in Sri Lanka, the government’s arbitrary decision to release Sergeant Rathnayaka sends an extremely worrying message said Amnesty International’s Regional Director for South Asia, Biraj Patnaik,Responding to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to release Sergeant Sunil Rathnayaka. The pardon comes at a time when there are …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Arbitrary Act Conveys “Extremely worrying Message that military Perpetrators of Horrific Crimes, Even if Convicted Through a Court of Law, Will be Pardoned and Released” Says Amnesty International’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday pardoned and released an Army man who was on death row for killing eight Tamil civilians, including a five-year-old and two teenagers, in 2000 during the civil war. “The President has instructed the Ministry of Justice to release Sgt Ratnayake from prison,” a spokeswoman at …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Pardons and Releases Soldier On Death Row for Killing Eight Tamil Civilians Including a Child and Two Teen-agers while Justice,Human Rights and Legal Reforms Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva says “Constitutionally Mandated Procedure for Pardon was Followed”.’ »

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Spokesperson and former MP, M.A.Sumanthiran, has reacted sharply to the Presidential pardon given on Thursday to Sri Lankan Army Sergeant R M Sunil Rathnayake, who was sentenced to death for killing in cold blood, eight Tamil captives including a child at Mirusuvil in Tamil-speaking North Lanka in 2000. Sumanthiran pointed out …

Continue reading ‘TNA Spokesperson M. A. Sumanthiran Strongly Condemns the Presidential Pardon Given to Ex-Army Sergeant Sunil Ratnayake Who was Sentenced to Death for Killing in Cold Blood Eight Tamil Civilians Including a Child at Mirusuvil in the Northern Province’ »

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Former Army Staff Sergeant R.M. Sunil Ratnayake who was convicted and sentenced to death for the Mirusuvil murder case of 2000 has been released from Welikada Prison after he received a Presidential Clemency. R.M. Sunil Ratnayake, a staff sergeant attached to Sri Lanka Army was sentenced to death by Colombo High Court …

Continue reading ‘Ex – Army Staff Sgt Sunil Ratnayake Who was Sentenced to Death for Murdering Eight Tamil Civilians in Mirusuvil in 2000 and Whose Conviction was Upheld by the Supreme Court is Released From Prison on Presidential Clemency Issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the President’s Media Division) In order to prevent uncontrolled gathering of people at market places amidst effort to combat COVID – 19, a special mechanism has been established to deliver essential food items to homes. This will be implemented through a local system in collaboration with Cooperative Societies and …

Continue reading ‘Farmers to be Encouraged to cultivate vegetables as well as paddy, maize, undu, green gram, cowpea and kurakkan in a bid to Boost Stable Food Production’ »

In a statement issued yesterday, former Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera criticised President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the present Government for failing to postpone the upcoming General Election until after nominations had been submitted, calling the nominations process and associated activity “a great public health hazard” that went ahead despite the rest of the nation being advised to …

Continue reading ‘Former Minister Mangala Samataweera Issues Hard-hitting Statement Flaying President Gotabaya and Rajapaksa Govt for Delaying Postponement of Elections Until After the Nomination Process was Over and For Not Re-convening Parliament’ »

(Text of a Press Release Issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa”s Media Division) Districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kaluthara have been identified as high risk zones in view of the spread of COVID-19. Large crowds in shops had been observed after curfew was lifted this morning in three districts. Health officials fear that this in turn …

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa Govt Sets Up Special Task Force Headed by Basil Rajapaksa to Coordinate and Supervise Scheme to Deliver Essential Consumer Items Directly to Households in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts’ »

By Shamindra Ferdinando Coronavirus aka Covid-19 has delivered a deadly blow to the high profile Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) bid to secure a parliamentary majority required to repeal the controversial 19th Amendment or bring in far reaching amendments to it. Throughout the 2019 presidential campaign and after, the SLPP, and those aligned with it, …

Continue reading ‘Influx of Coronavirus Disrupts SLPP Plans to Secure a Two-thirds Majority in 2020 Parliamentary Elections But Divided UNP Wont Be Able to Benefit Either’ »

By Saman Gunadasa and K.Ratnayake Two prisoners were killed and six more injured on Saturday when guards opened fire during unrest at Anuradhapura Prison in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province. One of those shot died at the prison, which is about 200 kilometres from Colombo, while the other died in hospital. Citing the coronavirus threat, …

Continue reading ‘Callous and Irresponsible Attitude of the Rajapaksa Government was Reflected in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s National Address on the COVID-19 Pandemic’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Media Division Under the Heading “Special Fund to combat COVID – 19 established by President”) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had set up a special fund to strengthen the mitigation activities aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country and related social welfare programmes. The …

Continue reading ‘President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sets Up Special Fund to Strengthen Efforts in Combatting the Coronavirus Threat Under the Name “COVID – 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund” With Bank of Ceylon Acct No 85737373.’ »

(Text of a Media Release Issued by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Under the Heading ” A dastardly attempt to use legal arguments to block government finances and sabotage the anti-Coronavirus campaign”) On the day that a countrywide curfew was declared to prevent the spread of Coronavirus – Friday the 20th March 2020 – UNP Leader …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa Accuses Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa of Trying to Sabotage the Campaign Against Spread of Coronavirus by Raising Legal Arguments Aimed at Blocking Fund Allocations by Govt’ »

The Sri Lankan government is looking for persons in the Northern Province who may have interacted with a coronavirus infected pastor who had come from Switzerland and toured the province. Until everyone who had interacted with the said pastor has been identified and tested, people from the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna …

Continue reading ‘Corona Virus Threat Spreads to Northern Sri Lanka Due to Visit by COVID 19 Infected Pastor From Switzerland:Govt Imposes Curfew on All Five Districts in Province To Trace Persons Who Face Potential Health Risk Due to Interaction with Swiss Pastor’ »

By Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri Overview It is a clarion call for all communities to collaborate in the name of humanity. It is needless to stress the mature adult response we need to demonstrate in taking care of ourselves and others with sound hygienic practices. We need to be socially conscious about the dire economic downturn …

Continue reading ‘The Ten Commandments (Beginning With “P”) For Tackling The COVID-19 Pandemic’ »

Tamil actor, writer, and director Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan, popularly known as Visu, passed away in Chennai on Sunday. He was 75. The actor had reportedly been suffering from age-related health issues. Visu started his career on the stage, working with theatre artiste YG Parathasarathy’s drama troupe. He began writing scripts for stage, before shifting to …

Continue reading ‘Popular Tamil Film Actor, Script Writer, Director and TV Talk Show Host MR Viswanathan Known as Visu Passes Away age of 75 in Chennai’ »

By Skandha Gunasekara Two inmates were killed and several others hospitalised after Police opened fire to control a riot within the Anuradhapura Prison yesterday (21), with unconfirmed reports indicating that the prisoners were protesting the housing of an inmate who was infected with Covid-19. Police Spokesman SP Jaliya Seneratne told The Sunday Morning that inmates …

Continue reading ‘Two Killed and Several Injured in Firing by Police Special Task Force Riot Control Unit on Inmates of Anuradhapura Jail as Protest by Prisoners Allegedky Spirals Out of Control Leading to Attempted Escape’ »

By Carol Goonaratne You must be experiencing intense emotions of anxiety over the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Don’t overestimate the dangers or underestimate your ability to protect yourself. People of all ages are concerned about the spread and the younger generation is especially feeling anxious about it. Here are some things you can do: Normalise anxiety …

Continue reading ‘Coping With Worry and Anxiety Over the Threat Posed by the Spread of The Coronavirus’ »

by Vishvanath What was being speculated, in political circles, for two weeks or so, has come to pass. The general election, scheduled for 25 April, 2020, has been put off indefinitely, on account of the spread of COVID-19, and the attendant problems. It is a supreme irony that the SLPP, which used to flay the …

Continue reading ‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s SLPP govt’s Success at the Postponed Parliamentary Election Hinges on its Ability to Overcome Coronavirus Threat to Country’ »

By Wasantha Rupasingha At the urging of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the heads of government of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held a video-conference Sunday with the ostensible aim of developing a “joint strategy” for “combating COVID-19.” The video-conference, the first time the SAARC leaders have met since 2014, was a …

Continue reading ‘Indian PM Narendra Modi’s “Concern” Over Regional Cooperation to Fight Coronavirus, as Pandemic Spreads Across South Asia’ »

By Saman Gunadasa As Sri Lanka’s confirmed coronavirus cases rapidly increase, anxiety is growing amongst the population about the lack of proper healthcare and the impact on jobs and livelihoods. On Monday evening, government authorities announced that 43 people have been identified as coronavirus infected. Some 212 are currently under observation at several hospitals and …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan government responds to COVID-19 by mobilising the military and helping the financial elite’ »

By Meera Srinivasan China will extend financial assistance amounting to $500 million to Sri Lanka to help the island nation combat COVID19 that has affected 50 persons so far. One patient has recovered, authorities said. According to a press statement from the Chinese Embassy here, the Finance Ministry of Sri Lanka and the China Development …

Continue reading ‘China Extends $ 500 Million Financial Assistance to Sri Lanka For Combatting COVID 19 Threat ; Sri Lankan Finance Ministry and China Development Bank Sign Agreement with “big concessional terms on both interest and tenure” at “Temple Trees”.’ »

By Chandani Kirinde Handing over of nominations for the Parliamentary Poll closes at noon today(Mar 19) and the country is preparing to hold an election in five weeks despite the unpredictability and scale of the public health crisis the country could be faced with in the coming days. When President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved Parliament on …

Continue reading ‘Parliamentary Elections Should Be Postponed Instead Of Being Held In Five weeks Amidst The On Going Fight Against The COVID -19 Pandemic’ »