By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Not only our actions, but also our inactions, become our destiny.” Heinrich Zimmer (The King and the Corpse) This week marked the 14th anniversary of the ending of the long Eelam War. This week also saw the re-emergence of BBS head-honcho Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara to save the nation from that enterprising entrepreneur …

Continue reading ‘The motive force for the War was the hellish union between political opportunism and religio-racial extremism That union is far from dead and its current partners are waiting impatiently to return to political mainstream. Unchastened by our blood-soaked history, they want to repeat it.’ »

By Jamila Husain Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is alleged to have links with controversial Pastor Jerome Fernando and Zimbabwean Pastor Uebert Angel yesterday said he had no connections with either and had met them only on one instance when Pastor Jerome’s office had sought a meeting when Rajapaksa was the Prime Minister. Rajapaksa further …

Continue reading ‘Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa Denies Having Links with Pastor Jerome Fernando Or Zimbabwe’s Uebert Angel: says he met both only for a Prayer Meeting at their Request when serving as PM and Religious Affairs Minister’ »

By Susitha Fernando Prophet’ Jerome Fernando, the man in the middle of controversy over his statement on other religions including Buddhism, is reported to have left the country. It is learnt that Fernando has gone to Singapore and he is planning to travel to Malaysia. However a spokesman for Glorious Church led by Jerome Fernando …

Continue reading ‘Colombo Fort Magistrate Issues Travel Ban on “Prophet” Jerome Fernando Who is Reportedly in Singapore and Will Travel to Malaysia;”He has not Fled the Country but only gone for an Event Planned Earlier”Says Glorious Church Spokesperson’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Security has been beefed up in Colombo after ‘unspecified intelligence’ that the Inter-University (IUSF) Students Federation was massing students to the Capital to launch a fresh ‘Aragalaya’. Additional security forces were mobilised, and check-points were put up on the roads leading to the Capital. Army and Police were deployed around the universities, …

Continue reading ‘If the IUSF and other fellow travellers plot a state capture, the govt has every right to curtail it. But, overreaction and high-handedness by the govt would only provide validation to groups who are on the fringes.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The talks on power devolution between Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Tamil legislators yielded no positive outcome, according to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the largest grouping of MPs from the island’s north and east. Following his renewed pledge on May Day to address Sri Lanka’s long-pending national question, President Wickremesinghe …

Continue reading ‘Talks Between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Tamil Parliamentarians Representing the Northern and Eastern Provinces End in a Stalemate without any Positive Outcome’ »

Minister of Tourism and Lands Harin Fernando yesterday said the Government aims to recruit the entire parliamentary group of the main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) soon. “We do not want to take in one MP at a time. Instead, we want to rake in the SJB in its entirety,” he said.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Vice President and former MP P. Harrison yesterday announced his decision to resign from all posts in the party to rejoin his former political party, the United National Party (UNP) and extend his unconditional support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The former MP held a press conference in Anuradhapura over the weekend …

Continue reading ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya Vice President and former Anuradhapura MP P. Harrison announces his decision to resign from all posts in the SJB and rejoin the United National Party ; extensd his unconditional support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, once reportedly quipped the Sinhalese have short memories. Prabakaran’s nihilistic terrorist struggle for a separate state that lasted for twenty-five years cost the country as much as the current Gross Domestic Product if a conservative estimate of 2 per cent of …

Continue reading ‘If Dual Citizen Basil Rajapaksa wants to Contest in the Sri Lankan Presidential Elections, he has to Renounce his US citizenship first; But a potential legal investigation by the US Justice Dept may complicate his plans.’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene There is a stark difference between Sri Lanka’s multifaceted ‘aragalaya’ (the peoples’ struggle) of 2022 and the current unrest in Pakistan, with the deploying of the army throughout the land. A different trajectory of similar struggles To be blunt, that difference is the role of the Opposition in both countries. Common …

Continue reading ‘Apart from the ‘same old, same old’ rhetoric by the Sri Lankan opposition, where is the fiery energising of the Sri Lankan citizenry? Is that not precisely what an Opposition is supposed to do?’ »

By P.K.Balachandran The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had been hoping to recapture Karnataka State to help it over-run South India and complete its conquest of India in the coming years, received a crushing blow in the Karnataka elections. ‘India Today’ reported Saturday evening that the Congress had secured 137 seats, the BJP 63, the …

Continue reading ‘India’s Congress Party wins 137 out of 224 seats in South Indian State of Karnataka Elections while Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Gets only 63 seats. Janata Dal(S)-20 and Rest -04.’ »

By Kalinga Tudor Silva Sociological explanations frequently serve as a counter point to popular conspiracy theories. Historically, sociology evolved as a subject that tried to prove that social reality cannot be reduced to the separate actions of the individuals who make up that society, such individual motivations or what was understood as the standard way …

Continue reading ‘Conspiracy theories of various kinds merely serve to accuse an identified public enemy without providing any reliable evidence. Just like gossip and rumour, conspiracy theories serve to spread fake news and false alarms in ways that divert public anger towards identified targets’ »

By Suhasini Haidar “Who do you work for? Which Indian agency has sent you here?” I could tell from the tone and rising voices of the mob around me that things could get very sticky very quickly if I didn’t move. I was at Lahore airport in 2011, attempting to take a flight back to …

Continue reading ‘Journalists have duties that are separate from those of govts, politicians and powerful establishments. A journalist’s job of presenting the first draft of history is incomplete if it only presents one state-approved View.’ »

By Lakshmi Subramanian In a major reshuffle of portfolios of his cabinet, Tamil Nadu Chief minister MK Stalin on Thursday moved Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) out of the Finance portfolio and allocated it to senior leader Thangam Thennarasu. The industries portfolio held by Thennarasu has been allocated to Mannargudi MLA TRB Raaja, who has been …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Chief minister MK Stalin Moves Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) from Finance to Information and Technology Portfolio after release of two of PTR’s purported audio clips alleging that Stalin’s family has earned Rs 30,000 crores.’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray There are three things that matter when it comes to air travel. Punctuality, baggage not being lost and inflight comfort. There’s been a lot of chatter recently on the national carrier SriLankan and I want to add my own experience in the interest of the silent majority. Too often the opinion …

Continue reading ‘One Sri Lankan Family’s Experience Aboard the Sri Lankan Airlines UL318 Flight to Malaysua from Colombo’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has ruled that a Bill seeking to decriminalise homosexuality is “not inconsistent with the Constitution”, clearing the way for a Parliamentary debate and vote on the subject. “The Supreme Court is of the opinion that the Bill as a whole or as any provision thereof is …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Supreme Court rules that a Private Members Bill seeking to Amend Penal Code and decriminalise homosexuality is “not inconsistent with the Constitution” thereby clearing the way for a Parliamentary debate and vote .’ »

By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene Exactly twelve months ago to the coming Tuesday, state goons led by key Rajapaksa Ministers attacked peaceful protestors at Galle Face Green leading to the incendiary flaming up of what was perhaps, the single most potent peoples’ uprising in Sri Lanka since independence. May Day musings on Rajapaksa wrongs As Rajapaksa …

Continue reading ‘Will Mahinda Rajapaksa, his family or the Rajapaksa ‘patronage networks’ ever Learn?Will they ever acknowledge that Sri Lanka toppled into the abyss as a result of their cumulative greed, ignorance and racism?’ »

The President’s Office has directed four provincial governors to step down following complaints received by parliamentarians representing the provinces. Accordingly, the decision has been conveyed to Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath, North Western Province Governor Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Uva Province Governor A.J.M. Muzammil and Sabaragamuwa Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa.

Charles III was crowned monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms yesterday at Britain’s first coronation for 70 years, during a ceremony steeped in a millennium of ritual and spectacle. The day before yesterday’s coronation, King Charles III met Commonwealth leaders at the Commonwealth Secretariat at Marlborough House. During the event, President Ranil …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe has Cordial Conversation with King Charles III at Marlborough House on the Eve of his Coronation with First Lady Prof.Maithree Wickremesinghe also in Attendance’ »

He came to praise his mother—and to bury suspicions. On September 9th King Charles III gave his first public speech as monarch. Explicitly, it honoured the queen—“my darling mama”—for her dedication, service and duty. Implicitly, it answered questions about what kind of king he is going to be and spoke, quietly, to some of the …

Continue reading ‘What kind of a Monarch will King Charles III turn out to be? Would he Replicate his Mother Queen Elizabeth’s style rather than deviate from it? – “The Economist”’ »

By Jamila Husain A tussle has erupted in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) camp after BasilRajapaksa was given a notable welcome at the May Day rally and his picture was shown on the main SLPP banner on stage alongside party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Daily Mirror learns. Senior SLPP sources said that strong objections …

Continue reading ‘Prominence Given to Basil Rajapaksa at SLPP May Day Rally Irks Party Seniors while Some Pohottuwa MPs Launch Campaign to Promote Basil as Party Leader’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Too many things have happened that weren’t supposed to happen and what was supposed to come about has not.” – Wyslawa Szymborska – The Century’s Decline For a few hours in early April, 2022, Wikipedia page of Ajith Nivard Cabraal described the then Governor of Central Bank as: “A chartered accountant and …

Continue reading ‘Freedom,Safety,Order and Democracy are the basic pillars of a liveable life. So far, all attempts to reignite the Aragalaya have failed, because Wickremesinghe has got enough of the combination right. A kind of normalcy has replaced generalised chaos.So it is too early for Aragalaya Season 2.’ »

By Avantika Shankar The opening line of V.V. Ganeshananthan’s sophomore novel, Brotherless Night, will give you pause. Maybe you’ve settled down in an armchair with a cup of tea, or maybe you’re leaning against a shelf in a bookstore, on the prowl for your next big read. Either way, the opening line will disarm you. …

Continue reading ‘V.V.Ganeshananthan the American writer of Ilankai Tamil descent, Seeks to dismantle the very language of terrorism in her Sophomore Novel “Brotherless Night”.’ »

(Text of Editorial appearing in the “Daily FT”of 2 May 2023 under the heading “Undiplomatic Tragicomedy”) Sri Lanka’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry made news last week for his most undiplomatic conduct in Parliament. In an exchange with Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, the Foreign Minister resorted to unparliamentary language which had to be …

Continue reading ‘Shanakiyan Rasamanickam Raised His Voice in Solidarity with Muslims in Parliament when Ali Sabry Served as Justice Minister in the Gotabaya Regime which Targeted the Muslim Community with Atrocious Policies like Forced Cremation.’ »

(Full Text of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Address Via Electronic Technology to the May Day Rally held by the United National Party(UNP) at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on may 1st 2023) “After assuming the presidency, I have had the opportunity to address the United National Party and all of you who support the party. When I took …

Continue reading ‘“If we are to address the issues faced by the Tamil community in this country, let us collaborate within this system, particularly in the Parliament as part of the government. To the Tamil parties, I say that it is futile to distance oneself from this endeavor.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene Protests issued by the Government of Sri Lanka over the United States Government decision to ‘blacklist’ former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda and his wife from entering the US are farcical, to say the least. The Foreign Ministry must up its game First, there is little that Sri Lanka can do, …

Continue reading ‘Why do Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero want ‘international justice’ Selectively for some and not for others?’ »

By Srinivasa Ramanujam The events of Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: 1, which released late last year, left audiences not just on a high, but also with many questions: What really happened to Arunmozhi Varman? Who is the mysterious lady who makes fleeting but impactful appearances? And most importantly, what happened to the succession battle for …

Continue reading ‘“Ponniyin Selvan 2” : Ace Filmmaker Maniratnam’s cinematic adaptation of Kalki’s Epic Novel with the interpersonal dynamics and drama between its main characters make a Satisfactory Watch’ »

(Full Text of Press Release Issued by the US State Department on 26 April 2023 Under the Heading “Designation of Sri Lankan Governor Due to Involvement in a Gross Violation of Human Rights”) The United States is designating Wasantha Karannagoda, Governor of North Western Province in Sri Lanka, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department …

Continue reading ‘US State Department Designates North Western Province Governor Wasantha Karannagoda due to his Alleged involvement in a gross violation of human rights during his tenure as a Naval Commander.’ »

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana In response to a request made by the Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa to walk the talk and thereby put into practice what he had talked of, President Ranil Wickremeinge today told Parliament those in Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will walk towards a common journey with him soo “I …

Continue reading ‘“I must tell the President that he should walk the talk,” Opposition Leader Premadasa.“I will walk the talk but I would like to tell you that those in SJB will start walking with me,” Responds President Wickremesinghe.“ I assure that no one in SJB will walk with you,” Sajith Tells Ranil.’ »

(Full Text of Special Statement made in Parliament on 26 April 2023 by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe) I would like to address the concerns that have been raised in the media and elsewhere about the economic and financial issues that our country has faced. In July 2022, Sri Lanka was hit with riots, arson, …

Continue reading ‘“We have no other option but the IMF agreement. If there are no other alternative suggestions, let’s approve this. I also urge the opposition to work together.Let’s get both parties together and pass this.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Special Statement to Parliament’ »

(Excerpts from Speech made in Parliament on 25 April 2023 by Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran PC) I am mentioning this Kurunthoor malai issue and according to the code of conduct I am making a disclosure that I have an interest in that matter, in that I appear for two members of parliament and …

Continue reading ‘Ancient Hindu Shrine on Kurunthoormalai Hill was Destroyed by Soldiers led by Minister Vidura Wickramanayake states Jaffna District MP Sumanthiran in Parliament;Urges Govt not to Continue in Racist Direction’ »

BY Sahan Tennekoon The Chairman of the Independent Television Network (ITN), Attorney Sudarshana Gunawardana has appointed a committee to investigate into reports on social media about the alleged sexual harassment faced by a former ITN news anchor Ishara Dewendra. This was revealed by the Minister of Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardana in Parliament yesterday (25) …

Continue reading ‘Independent Television Network Chairman Sudarshana Gunawardana appoints External committee Headed by Woman Lawyer to investigate reports on social media about alleged sexual harassment faced by a former ITN news anchor Ishara Dewendra.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Tamils in Sri Lanka have witnessed an escalation in the attack on Hindu temples in recent weeks, a trend that they note is part of the State’s “ongoing Sinhalisation project” in the island’s north. In recent weeks, Tamil media reported multiple incidents of vandalism at temples, where Hindu deities were found missing …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Tamil Parties Perturbed over escalating attacks on Hindu temples in recent weeks ; this is a trend that is part of the State’s “ongoing Sinhalisation project” in the island’s north, they note’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “On land a tiger, in the water a crocodile.” A Bengali proverb In Sri Lanka terror means Tamil or Muslim. When the J.R. Jayewardene government responded to the ethnic problem not with the promised political reforms but with repression and the PTA was born, the concept of terror (and its prevention) invoked …

Continue reading ‘The govt’s determination to push the ATA is creating new political fault lines the economy could ill afford. Sri Lanka has avoided Lebanon’s fate and achieved a modicum of stability thanks to President Wickremesinghe’s economic policies. ATA is a diversion from that sensible path’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene Two years after Sri Lanka’s former Attorney General (AG) claimed on the eve of his retirement, that the savage attacks on churches and hotels by homegrown ‘jihadists’ in April 2019 discloses ‘a grand conspiracy,’ the country’s Minister of Justice has issued a flurry of directions to state agencies to ‘summon’ …

Continue reading ‘Could the 2 019 Easter attacks have been prevented if the 2023 Anti-Terrorism Bill been law at the time? The answer to that question is a resounding ‘NO.’’ »

By D.B.S.Jeyaraj The long delayed elections to Sri Lanka’s nine provincial elections could be held very soon if a private members bill submitted by Jaffna district parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran is passed by the House next week. Sumanthiran is due to table the bill in Parliament on April 25th 2023 for its first reading After the …

Continue reading ‘Jaffna District TNA Parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran Due to Table his Private Members bill in Parliament for first reading on 25 April 2023; if bill is adopted, long awaited elections to Lanka’s nine provincial councils could be held very soon’ »

With reference to the comments by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on the legitimacy of the mandate of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to hold that office and the demand for a Presidential election to seek a fresh mandate, Former Parliament Secretary General Priyanee Wijesekera has responded with the following facts. “Our Constitution, by article 40 provides for …

Continue reading ‘Former Parliament Secretary General Priyanee Wijesekera Responds with Facts to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s Demand for a new Presidential Election to seek a Fresh Mandate’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka on April 21 marked the 4 th anniversary of the Easter Sunday terror bombings that shook the island nation on April 21, 2019, even as families of victims marched, and many gathered outside churches, demanding truth and justice. Nearly 300 persons died and hundreds were injured in the coordinated serial …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka marks 4th anniversary of Easter Sunday terror attacks with Families of Victims Marching for Justice and Christians Standing Outside Churches Protesting Delay in Probe’ »

(Excerpts from Media Release Issued by the Institute for health Policy(IHP) Regarding the latest Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) polling in March 2023 ) The latest Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) polling in March 2023 reveals little change from February, with NPP/JVP at 41% of likely voters maintaining a clear lead over the …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) Conducted by the Institute for health Policy(IHP) for March 2023 Reveals JVP/NPP has 41% Support Among Voters currently While SJB has 30% and UNP 8%’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued via Twitter by the Chinese Embassy in Colombo on the toque macaque monkeys issue) The Embassy has noticed recent disinformation on local and foreign media about Sri Lanka to export “100 thousands” of “endangered” toque macaque monkeys to a Chinese private company for “experimental purpose”, as well as detailed clarifications …

Continue reading ‘Chinese Embassy in Colombo refutes Purported Disinformation in Media about Export of 100,000 Toque Monkeys from Sri Lanka to China : Chinese National Forestry and Grassland Administration not aware of the request and has not received such application from any side.” Says Press Release’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Zoologists and conservationists in Sri Lanka on April 19 slammed a recent government proposal exploring the export of monkeys to China, terming it an ad-hoc, illegal, and short-sighted response to a long-standing human-animal conflict. Earlier this month, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said the government was studying a proposal from a Chinese …

Continue reading ‘Proposal to Export 100,000 Monkeys to China Severely Criticized by Conversationists in Sri Lanka; With only 300,000 Toque Macaques Existing in the Island,they are a threatened species points out primatologist Wolfgang Dittus.’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island”of 17 April 2023 Under the Heading “Bin the bad Bill”) The Rajapaksa-Wickremesinghe government has chosen to bite off more than it can chew. Now, it is planning to present its controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) to Parliament on 25 April, according to media reports. Why it is in a …

Continue reading ‘“The Anti-Terrorism Bill is fundamentally flawed and if passed will not only help govts suppress democracy in the name of fighting terrorism but also tarnish the country’s image internationally. It has to be ditched forthwith.”- The Island’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Despite possessing enviable social indicators at the time of Independence in 1948, Sri Lanka, at 75, is a “failed state”, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said on Sunday. “Seventy-five years is a long time for a nation to achieve considerable progress. Even after 450 years of destruction by colonial rulers, at Independence, …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka After 75 Years of Independence has become a Failed State says Chandrika Kumaratunga;“We are incapable of managing the affairs of the state,” tates the Former Sri Lankan President’ »

By Meera Srinivasan In a bid to ensure Sri Lanka’s main political parties do not “take numerical minorities for granted” anymore, Opposition MP Mano Ganesan has recently mooted setting up a “Tamil caucus” in Parliament. The “caucus”, he said, would allow Tamil legislators to express the “collective desire” of the island’s Tamil speaking peoples. Although …

Continue reading ‘TPA Leader Mano Ganesan Moots Proposal to set up a “Tamil Caucus ‘in Parliament that would Enable Tamil legislators to express the “collective desire” of the island’s Tamil speaking peoples.’ »

By Dinakar Peri The construction of a military facility on Coco Islands in Myanmar and a proposed remote satellite receiving ground station system in Sri Lanka, both coming up with Chinese help, have raised concerns in India of possible surveillance across the region. Recent satellite images show the construction of a military facility on Coco …

Continue reading ‘Setting up a remote satellite receiving ground station system in Southern Sri Lanka through a collaborative effort between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Ruhuna Raises Security Concerns in India’ »

At the start of the academic year this month, 12th-year students of history and politics at tens of thousands of schools across India returned to a syllabus and textbooks that had been significantly altered. Tweaks are good when they reflect new thinking in a discipline or correct blind spots. Those overseen by the National Council …

Continue reading ‘“Narendra Modi led BJP Govt Rewrites History in School Textbooks According to the “Hindutva”Vision of Reimagining India as a Purely Hindu land’; Muslim Contribution to India is being Expunged in History Books”-The Economist’ »

By Ajita Kadirgamar This article is written on the occasion of Lakshman Kadirgamar’s 91st birth anniversary which falls on 12 April. With every year that passes and every person in their nineties that departs this earth, we lose precious memories and stories of times gone by. This was made painfully clear to me with the …

Continue reading ‘Lakshman Kadirgamar departed too early, with no lasting legacy penned in his own words, and no narrative whether fact or fiction to sit on library shelves for posterity’ »

(Text of Press Release with President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Message for the April 2023 New Year) The dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year subsequent to the transition of the Sun from the house of Pisces to Aries, is considered as an extremely momentous occasion by the Sinhala and Tamil communities in the country. On …

Continue reading ‘“Despite differences in political affiliation, ethnicity and religion, a fresh beginning is imperative to create a brighter future for us and our nation, in this New Year.”-President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his April New Year Message’ »

(Text of Editorial Appearing in “The Island”of 13 April 2023 under the heading “It’s ATB, stupid”) Government politicians are blindly supporting the proposed anti-terrorism Bill (ATB), which has been put on hold. It is doubtful whether most of them have ever seen the ATB, much less read it. But Foreign Minister and former Justice Minister …

Continue reading ‘The Govt ought to abandon the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) and formulate a new law with the help of all stakeholders to replace the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) – “The Island”’ »

By Kishali Pinto- Jayawardene If the Executive Presidency was foisted on Sri Lanka by her ‘Old Fox’ President, JR Jayawardene in 1978 tying the country’s constitutional systems up in knots that could not be entangled decades later by far lesser minds, the 2023 Anti-Terrorism Bill under the (parliamentary endorsed) Presidency of Ranil Wickremesinghe promises far …

Continue reading ‘Clauses 10 and 11 of the 2023 Anti-Terrorism Bill are Clearly aimed at all media Including print, electronic and web-based.’ »

By Jamila Husain President Ranil Wickremesinghe will contest the next Presidential Election and has hinted at a possible presidential poll to be held early next year, the Daily Mirror learns. In a meeting held with minority political party parliamentarians this week, Wickremesinghe informed them that he would contest as a presidential candidate and would call …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe States he is not in a rush to Take Opposition MPs into Govt as he has a Comfortable majority in the House; Ranil says Opposition MPs who want to Cross Over must do so voluntarily Without Expecting Portfolios in Return’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “The main obstacle to the creation of a well-informed public is its own indifference” – I.F. Stone: ‘The Best of I.F. Stone’ When the IMF deal came through, some presidential supporters turned silly and lit crackers. The IMF facility is no panacea. Nor is it the poisoned chalice of the Opposition’s fervid …

Continue reading ‘Repealing the PTA is an urgent need. Unfortunately, the anti-terror law the Government intends as its replacement contains within it even greater potential for abuse.’ »

By Jamila Husain The opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya is in a quandary following the Daily Mirror article tilted “Sajith loses grip on a dying SJB?” which was published on April 4, 2023 in its newspaper and online platform. While MPs such as Harsha De Silva, Eran Wickremaratne and even Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa himself were …

Continue reading ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya Leader Sajith Premadasa Meets Party MPs and Tells them that he has heard a group of MPs including Harsha de Silva are talking to the President and Urges them to Stay Together in the SJB’ »

By Jamila Husain In a desperate attempt to keep the main opposition – the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) alive, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa invited all SJB Parliamentarians to dinner at the Monarch Imperial in Battaramulla last evening in order to coax them into remaining in the party which is now on the verge of collapse. …

Continue reading ‘Sajith Premadasa Tries Desperately to Keep Samagi Jana Balawegaya(SJB) Intact as many Party MPs Engage in Discussions With the Intention of Crossing Over to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene Will the booing of Ministers by disgruntled voters run the risk of being classified as an ‘act of terrorism’ under the Anti-Terrorism Bill recently gazetted by the Sri Lankan Government? Clever Presidential sidestepping and public anger Can that be construed within the Bill’s prohibition of ‘wrongfully or unlawfully compelling’ the …

Continue reading ‘If the Anti-Terrorism Bill passes the seal of Parliament as currently framed, Sri Lanka will pass from a de facto police state to a de jure police state. The political consensus must be to reject the Anti-Terrorism Bill wholesale.’ »

By C.Narayanaswamy (The writer is formerly of the Ceylon Civil Service and Retired Senior Professional of the Asian Development Bank) The recent visit to Jaffna, after several years of forbidden travel due to the pandemic, provided an opportunity to revisit areas of interest and observe the changes, including positive and negative developments, in both the …

Continue reading ‘Is Jaffna booming, blooming or busting is the question that arises in the minds of those familiar with Jaffna’s heritage, historical background, culture and socioeconomic development patterns.’ »

(Full Text of statement delivered by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on 22 March 2023 following the agreement with the IMF. Press Release Issued by the Presidents Media Division on 22nd March 2023) I wish to officially inform this august Assembly that we have been able to secure the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the …

Continue reading ‘“I had no power in Parliament. I had no MPs from my Party to call my own. Even though I had none of these, I had just one strength. This was my conviction that I was capable of rebuilding my country. I accepted the challenge with the conviction that even if I failed, the country would not.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Mahesh Langa Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was sentenced to two years imprisonment by a local court in Gujarat’s Surat on March 23, 3023, in a criminal defamation case filed against him over his remark on the “Modi surname” that he had allegedly made during campaigning for 2019 parliamentary polls. He was granted bail. The …

Continue reading ‘Rahul Gandhi Sentenced to Two Years Imprisonment and Granted Bail in Criminal Defamation case by Courts in Surat,Gujerat;Alleged to have said ““How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” in 2019 Election Meeting’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray The season of big-matches is upon us. These cricket encounters are big for the respective schools, not for others. In fact as far as the particular schools are concerned they are huge. It’s THE event of the year. Today there are big-matches in all parts of Sri Lanka, so many that …

Continue reading ‘The Royal-Thomian is here Again! Let the “Big Match”healing Begin.“We were so much younger then, and we can only be as young again on the three days in March when we attend the Royal Thomian.’’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The main ask — and the most popular chant — of the ‘Janatha Aragalaya’ [people’s struggle] witnessed in Sri Lanka last year was “Gota go home”. Scores of angry citizens, who took to the streets to protest acute shortages of essentials and long power cuts, squarely blamed the country’s most powerful leader …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka has debated the need to abolish the All Powerful executive presidency for decades but Country is yet to find a leader who is ready to renounce this power’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Early February, a group of saffron-clad Buddhist monks gathered near the Sri Lankan Parliament and burnt a copy of the 13th Amendment. They were registering their rage and protest after President Ranil Wickremesinghe vowed to implement the law in full. He had told an all-party conference that it was his “responsibility” as …

Continue reading ‘After decades of relentless agitations, and an armed struggle, Sri Lanka’s war-affected Tamil community in the north and east are still demanding justice, equality, and dignity. And the long-pending political solution remains elusive’ »

By Suhasini Haidar Colombo sees the Adani projects in Sri Lanka as a “government to government kind of deal”, said Sri Lankan Foreign Minister MUM Ali Sabry, as it was the Indian government that had identified the Adani group for infrastructure projects including Northern Sri Lanka wind power project. Stressing that his government is “very …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali sabry is Confident that India’s Adani Group’s Current Financial Crisis will not Affect Its Envisaged Projects in Sri Lanka- Interview with Suhasini Haidar of “the Hindu”.’ »

(Text of Press Release Issued by the President’s Media Division on March 7th 2023) President Ranil Wickremesinghe, announced to Parliament that he had received a financial assurance letter from the Exim Bank of China last night and the letter of agreement, which he signed with the Governor of the Central Bank, had been sent to …

Continue reading ‘“The agreement with the IMF is of special importance to restore our economy.I invite the Opposition to join us in this endeavour of stabilizing the country’s economy. After accomplishing this, we can decide on holding the presidential election and general election. The country would take this decision.” -President Wickremesinghe in Special Statement to Parliament’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya After a one-day token strike last week, which achieved nothing other than inconveniencing hapless patients in the government hospitals and holding up several ships at the Colombo port, the government trade unions threatened to go on an island-wide from tomorrow (March 8). If the question concerns any moral justification for the threatened …

Continue reading ‘Threats of an indefinite strike betray a sinister intent to destabilize the country as it slowly but steadily lifts itself up from the nadir of the worst economic crisis.A govt worth its salt should ensure that would not happen, not for its political preservation, but for the preservation of the country.’ »

By Nisthar Cassim The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) on Friday declared it was ready for the $ 2.9 billion four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) having completed all due prior actions. “We have done all prior actions required and we stand ready for the IMF program,” CBSL …

Continue reading ‘“We have done all prior actions required and we stand ready for the IMF program,” says Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe; CBSLand Govt expects the IMF Executive Board to approve the Sri Lanka program in the next few weeks.’ »

By Mirudhula Thambiah Although Opposition political parties stated on 5 March in a letter to the Election Commission (EC) that they do not see any reason for the EC to consult Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministry Mahinda Siriwardana or anyone else, now that the EC are bound to comply with the interim order …

Continue reading ‘Election Commission Chairman Nimal Punchihewa to Consult Treasury Secretary about Holding Local Govt Polls Despite Opposition Party Demand that Elections Should be Held Before March 19 Without Consulting Treasury Secy’ »

By Dr.Sujata Gamage The feeble attempts by the Election Commission (EC) in face of resistance from the Government to hold local elections and the awkward missteps that followed have brought two critical issues to the fore. What are limits to the independence of independent commissions? Did the EC overestimate its independence and act unilaterally? Has …

Continue reading ‘“The opposition should be in Parliament checking on the President’s claim that there is no money for elections, not creating havoc in the streets demanding an election.”’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen on Sunday said they “fiercely oppose” the government’s plan to issue licences to Indian fishermen to enter Sri Lankan waters, terming the move a “serious setback” to their nearly 15-year-long struggle. On February 22, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry told Parliament that authorities were looking into possibly issuing licences …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Northern Fishermen “Fiercely Oppose” the Plan to Issue Licenses to Indian Fishermen to Enter and Fish Freely in Sri Lankan Waters; Govt move is condemned as a “Great Betrayal”’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene When the President of Sri Lanka pronounces weightily that a change in political power can take place only through a parliamentary process and not as a result of street protests, a delicious irony is quickly manifested. The poisoned chalice of the Presidency In other words, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe’s ascent as head of …

Continue reading ‘“What is sown now, will soon come to be reaped as a bitter citizenry reacts with uncontrollable anger against the political establishment.It is a myth, much like the Emperor’s new clothes, to think that this anger can be controlled by state force.”’ »

By Rajasinghe Tourism is the ‘low-hanging fruit’ of the Sri Lankan economy. It has had bipartisan support from both J.R. Jayewardene (JRJ) and Sirima Bandaranaike (Mrs. B). Now even the National People’s Power (NPP) under Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to support it as said in its meeting with the business community. After all, Janatha …

Continue reading ‘Rajapaksa First Cousin Udayanga Weeratunga has emerged as the saviour of our tourism at a difficult time by bringing thousands of tourists from Russia and Ukraine’ »

By Meera Srinivasan The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on Friday issued an interim order restraining authorities from withholding funds allocated for the local government election, which was earlier scheduled for March 9, but postponed. The order, preventing state functionaries including the Secretary to the Finance Ministry and the Attorney General from withholding funds, was …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court issues interim order restraining authorities Including Finance Ministry Secy and Attorney-General from withholding funds allocated for holding the local govt election which was earlier scheduled for March 9.’ »

By Col R.Hariharan February ended as a month of discontent for the public after the government raised power tariffs for a second time on February 15. It was said to be the last of 15 conditions to be met for the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of $2.9 billion. But the uncertainties …

Continue reading ‘“The President is applying his masterly skills at obfuscation to handle questions on the long overdue LG elections.If there is an award for obfuscation in politics, President Wickremesinghe will win a platinum award.”’ »

Former Trade Unionist and President’s Trade Union Director General Saman Ratnapriya has declared yesterday’s trade union strike action a failure. Holding a press conference, Ratnapriya said as a trade unionist he is dismayed by it as in the past he was part of trade union actions that were successful. “However, we carried out these strikes …

Continue reading ‘President’s Trade Union Director General Saman Ratnapriya says strike action was a failure but Trade Unions Threaten to launch a continuous strike action across all sectors after 8 March if Govt. fails to respond to their demands.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara It could have happened. It had to happen. It happened, earlier. Later Wislawa Szymborska (Could Have) Once upon a time, a tryst was announced for angry masses to inundate Colombo and boot the government out. “We will occupy public places and begin the great satyagraha to send this government home,” an organiser …

Continue reading ‘Clearly we are living in a Sinhala-Buddhist Iran with saffron-robed Ayatollahs deciding how we live. If a govt’s right to policymaking ends on the edge of an upraised saffron robe, why bother with elections or parliament?’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Workers from nearly 40 trade unions in Sri Lanka, employed in sectors including banking, public health and ports, on Wednesday went on a strike, despite an executive order from President Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring many services “essential”, to effectively outlaw protests by workers in those sectors. Doctors at Sri Lanka’s National Hospital in …

Continue reading ‘Workers from nearly 40 trade unions in Sri Lanka defiantly go on strike, despite an executive order from President Ranil Wickremesinghe declaring many services “essential” to effectively outlaw protests by workers in those sectors.’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared public transport services “essential”, in a move that outlaws strike action by those working in the sector. The announcement came days ahead of a mass protest announced by worker unions against the steep rise in taxes and living costs. The President used his executive powers …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe declares public transport services “essential”, in a pre-emptive move outlawing strike action ahead of a mass protest announced by worker unions against the steep rise in taxes and living costs.’ »

The Court of Appeal yesterday in a landmark decision directed the Parliament to release information of MPs who have submitted their asset declarations. Following a Right to Information (RTI) application, Justice Sampath B. Abayakoon together with Justice P. Kumararatnam upheld the RTI Commission’s decision holding that: “as a public authority, it is the Sri Lanka …

Continue reading ‘Court of Appeal in a landmark decision directs Parliament to release information of MPs who have submitted their asset declarations: Court recognises that the Right to Informtion is a Fundamental Right and is superior to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act.’ »

Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan, MP, has urged Maya Sivagnanam, Deputy Director of the South Asia Region Department of Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and High Commissioner Sarah Hulton to facilitate their full integration into what he called the Sri Lankan national mainstream polity as ‘full citizens’. The former National Integration Minister said …

Continue reading ‘TPA Leader Mano Ganesan and CWC Gen Secy Jeevan Thondaman meet Maya Sivagnanam, British Deputy Director of the South Asia Region Department of Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and UK High Commissioner Sarah Hulton in Colombo’ »

By Ranga Jayasuriya If the elections are held now, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) is the likely winner. However, none of the political parties would manage to secure a majority, according to an opinion poll by a local think tank. The findings of the Institute for Health Policy Sri Lanka survey …

Continue reading ‘If the JVP or SJB in its current policy vacillation, form a government in the future , I would bet my two cents that the Rajapaksas would sweep back to power not before long.’ »

by Jehan Perera Government supporters appear to be satisfied at the masterful manner by which they believe they have had the local government elections postponed. They deny there was to be an election to be postponed, at all! They find fault with the Election Commission for not having minutes of the meeting they had to …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe needs to show the statesmanlike approach he is capable of by assuring the people that the govt will indeed find the money to hold the local govt elections soon.’ »

By Rajan Philips Tom Nairn, widely known for his 1977 book, The Break-up of Britain, considered by many as “the most significant book on British politics of the past half-century,” passed away on January 21, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was 90 years old and had become a “guru figure” for Scottish Nationalists over the last …

Continue reading ‘Tale of two Break-up Books; “The Break -up of Britain”by Tom Nairn and “The Break-up of Sri Lanka: The Sinhalese-Tamil Conflict” by A.Jeyaratnam Wilson’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka is reeling under last year’s crushing economic meltdown and consequent political turmoil, but it is still a good time to invest in the cash-strapped island nation, according to Indian business leaders in capital Colombo. While acknowledging the many challenges facing the business community in Sri Lanka, the CEOs of Indian …

Continue reading ‘Indian Business Leaders Based in Colombo say Despite Challenges there is “enormous scope” for foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka in a host of sectors such as information technology, tourism, and renewable energy.’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera Emphasising that it is not difficult for the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), having waited patiently for 75 years, to wait patiently for another week or a month, NPP and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that their goal is to transfer political power, which has been limited to …

Continue reading ‘“We have set the goal of transferring power from the corrupt elite class to the people within the next year and a half. We are working towards that goal. we will rally the people peacefully and democratically till the end.”- JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera The National People’s Power (NPP) led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) held a massive protest in the Town Hall area in Colombo against the postponement of the Local Government (LG) elections by current President and Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Government led by him, which …

Continue reading ‘JVP led NPP Launces Massive Protest in Colombo Despite Restrictive Court Order; March Blocked by Police Personnel Lining up on Road; Water Cannon and Tear Gas used to Disperse Protesters, Several Injured; Army Deployed’ »

(Excerpts drom the “Ceylon Politics”Column by Gagani Weerakoon in the “Ceylon Today”of 26 February 2023) President Wickremesinghe was in the Parliament Chamber on Thursday (23), all set to make a statement on Local Government Election 2023 and the conduct of the Election Commission. In order to hold one, there was no election to begin with, …

Continue reading ‘Ranil Wickremesinghe Discloses in Parliament that MPs of the SJB and FPF Requested him to Postpone Elections to Prevent JVP Performing well at the Polls.”They told me that they would shout a bit in the House and then sit down”Reveals the President’ »

. By Kishali Pinto -Jayawardene What is the message that President Ranil Wickremesinghe conveys to Sri Lankans when he asserts (as he did in Kandy a few days ago) that the date of the local government elections can be ‘decided by court but you cannot save the economy by going to court even if all …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka needs to be rescued from her conscienceless if not venal politicians, not limited to the Government benches alone.That may well be the greatest humanitarian operation of all’ »