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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Wilson Thomas and S. Vijay Kumar K. Valliammal, 73, of Kottai Eswaran Kovil Street in Coimbatore, went to bed late on the night of October 22. The next morning, she woke up with a jolt, not to the usual chants from the Sangameswarar temple in the neighbourhood, but to a deafening explosion. “I heard …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Nadu Police Begin Investigating Terrorism Plot after Car Bomb Explosion Kills Suspected Suicide Bomber in Coimbatore ; Anong those Allegedly Involved are Persons With Earlier Links to Sri Lankan Easter Bombing Mastermind Zahran Hashim’ »

The Police yesterday (27) shed light on a massive financial fraud committed through a fake cryptocurrency investment scheme. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had initiated probes after receiving a complaint about the scam, according to Police Spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nihal Thalduwa. According to him, one Sri Lankan named Keerthi Bandara was arrested …

Continue reading ‘CID Uncovers Rs 14 Billion Financial Fraud Affecting 8000 Sri Lankans where website called “Sports Chain” was used as platform to promote Fake cryptocurrency investment; Scheme Chinese national Zhang Kai and Partner arrested at Katunayake Airport while Attemptin to flee Country’ »

(Text of Announcement made by the Jaffna College Alumni Association, Vaddukkoddai on 25th October 2022) The Jaffna College Alumni Association wishes to announce to the alumni across the world that the Board of Directors of Jaffna College have appointed Mrs. Rushira Kulasingham as the Principal of Jaffna College with effect from the 1st of January …

Continue reading ‘Mrs. Rushira Kulasingham ,Designated as Principal of Jaffna College, Vaddukkoddai With Effect From 1st January 2023, Makes History as the First Woman Principal of the Institution’ »

By Victor Ivan Due to a sudden illness, I had to refrain myself from writing for two consecutive weeks. I must admit that the comment made by Shehan Karunathilaka, the Booker Prize winner 2022 about my book titled ‘Paradise in Tears’, which was published in September 2008, generated an innocent pride in me while I …

Continue reading ‘A reform program to bring about a profound change in the system is something that should be achieved with the support of the Parliament and not through a struggle on the street. Even a change of the govt could be effected only by an election, not by a struggle on the street’ »

One constant throughout the original nine seasons of “The X-Files”, a globally syndicated American television show about a pair of fbi special agents assigned to weird cases, is a poster in the background. Mounted on a wall in the agents’ dingy basement office, it shows a grainy picture of a flying saucer and is emblazoned …

Continue reading ‘How the prominent Indian independent news site “the Wire” Diminished its own Credibility by Publishing Hastily without proper technical vetting or adequate editorial checks.’ »

by Jehan Perera The passage of the 22nd Amendment to the constitution came as a surprise. It was originally scheduled to be debated in parliament a fortnight earlier. When the decision to postpone was taken it seemed as if the 22nd Amendment would not be taken up again in the near future or even if …

Continue reading ‘The Fragmentation of the S LPP into factions will permit President Wickremesinghe to play a greater role as a visionary and strong willed leader in forging a consensual approach to the serious problems that the country faces.’ »

By Uditha Devapriya US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu visited Sri Lanka last Wednesday, October 19. He is reported to have arrived early morning. Having briefed US Embassy staff, he then presided over a civil society roundtable, after which he paid a visit to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry. Given …

Continue reading ‘A State is not a regime: the latter can be replaced, the former cannot and should not. And yet, Colombo’s civil society has given the impression that it is working against the State, instead of specific regimes harbouring authoritarian tendencies.’ »

BY Tisaranee Gunasekara “You are in the end – what you are.” Goethe (Faust) Twenty two is not perfect. Far from it, perhaps light years far. Yet, in a season of defeats and setbacks, it is a win for Sri Lankan democracy, and for those Sri Lankans who would be free citizens rather than obedient …

Continue reading ‘Had the Opposition put personal rancour and political needs aside and worked with Mr. Wickremesinghe once he became the president, a better 22 Amendment and other reforms could have been possible.’ »

Rishi sunak entered Downing Street clutching an invisible dustpan and broom. “Mistakes were made,” declared the new prime minister on October 25th, all but rolling up his sleeves. “I have been elected as leader of my party…to fix them.” The voice was passive but the identity of the culprit was clear—Liz Truss, Mr Sunak’s hapless …

Continue reading ‘“Prime Minister Sunak does not mark a change from the Tory policies that have left Britain in such a state. Rather he personifies them. Mr Sunak may be the only available man to fix the govt’s errors. But he also helped make them.”- The Economist’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda and Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms President’s Counsel (PC) Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe will visit Kurunthur Malai in Mullaitivu and Vedukkunari Malai in Vavuniya in the North on 1 November to resolve longstanding temple-related issues in the area. During the initial meeting of the Cabinet …

Continue reading ‘Ministers Douglas Devananda and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to Visit Kurunthoormalai in Mullaitheevu and Vedukkunaari Malai in Vavuniya on Nov 1 to Resolve Temple Related Issues in Decision Taken by Cabinet Sub committee on Reconcilation’ »

By Mirudhula Thambiah In an effort to curb increasing heroin addiction among youth in Jaffna, the city’s Mayor Attorney Visvalingam Manivannan has said he will soon initiate a dialogue with other stakeholders of the city with the goal of establishing a drug rehabilitation centre within municipality limits. Speaking to The Morning, Manivannan on 23 October …

Continue reading ‘Jaffna Mayor Visvalingam Manivannan Initiates Moves to Set up a Drug Rehabilitation Centre Within Municipal Limits in an Effort to Curb the Rise of Heroin Addiction among Northern Youth’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah The Cabinet Sub-Committee on Reconciliation chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold its first meeting today (25). Speaking to The Morning, Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda said yesterday (24) that at the first meeting, he would mainly discuss land-related issues, the activities of the Department of Archaeology, foreign and natural reserves, the …

Continue reading ‘EPDP Leader and Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda to raise several Issues Including Establishment of a Ministry of Northern Affairs at the Inaugural Meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Reconciliation chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to be held on October 25th :’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Mano Ganesan will meet Government representatives this week to discuss the plight of plantation workers and the impact of the current economic crisis on them. Speaking to The Morning, Ganesan said: “During my speech last week in Parliament, I spoke …

Continue reading ‘Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader and Opposition MP Mano Ganesan will meet Govt representatives this week to discuss the plight of plantation workers and the impact of the current economic crisis on them.’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene This ecstatic rolling about in the Diyawanna mud to celebrate the passing of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution defeats logic if not common sense. No cheers, vigilance needed Constitutional yo-yo games of the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and now 22nd Amendments demonstrate how stupendously unfit the members of Sri …

Continue reading ‘That such a clumsily evil document like the Rehabilitation Bill came to the actual Bill stage is a grave question. Is the President, the Prime Minister or the verbose Minister of Justice responsible? If not, who? This question must be answered to prevent a repeat of this fiasco.’ »

By Karu Jayasuriya (The 28th death anniversary of Gamini Dissanayake is on @4 October 2022) The name of Gamini Dissanayake is an indelible mark in Sri Lanka’s politics. This statement was issued to mark the 28TH death anniversary of the late politician who marked a turning point in national politics. Gamini Dissanayake was born on …

Continue reading ‘Gamini Dissanayake’s Name will resonate as long as the great reservoirs of Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe, Maduru Oya, Ulhitiya, Rathkinda, Lunugamwehera and Samanalawewa remain on this land.’ »

By Saman Indrajith The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament yesterday with a two thirds majority. The final vote on the bill received 174 votes in favour and none against.At the second reading stage vote, the Bill received 179 votes in favour and one vote against. Colombo District SLPP MP Rear Admiral …

Continue reading ‘22nd Amendment to the Constitution passed in Parliament with a two thirds majority. The final vote on the bill received 174 votes in favour and none against.As per the 22nd Amendment, dual citizens are disqualified from contesting elections.’ »

( Full Text of Speech made in Parliament by TNA Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran during the debate on the 22nd Constitutinal Amendment bill on 20th October 2022” ) Thank you, Honourable Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to speak on this very important constitutional amendment that has been presented to this house. I say ‘important’ not …

Continue reading ‘“The Supreme Court also has swung like a pendulum. In the 19th amendment bill they permitted various changes and said this doesn’t require a referendum, but now those identical changes, with the very same words, within a few years, the same supreme court says you require a referendum. How can that be? -MA Sumanthiran MP’ »

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced yesterday in Parliament that the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has determined that the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill as a whole is inconsistent with Article 112(1)nof the Constitution He said therefore, the Supreme Court has said the Bill may be enacted only by the special majority required by Article 84 …

Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Determines that the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill as a whole is inconsistent with Article 112(1)nof the Constitution Announces Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in Parliament’ »

Parties and organisations representing the country’s Opposition have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together against the Government’s alleged attempt to further delay local Government Elections The recent announcement by President Ranil Wickremesinghe of the need to implement electoral reforms prior to holding polls has been slammed by Opposition parties. They have accused …

Continue reading ‘All Parties,Groups and Individuals in Oppostion sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Pledging to work together and defeat the Government’s alleged attempt to delay local Government Elections further’ »

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka ‘…Unable to summon the full resources of its vaunted intelligence or its political will to meet the formidable challenges issued by an unprecedented crisis, the elite presented other bizarre exhibitions of helplessness, bewilderment and naivete…Various theories were put forward like… “For God’s sake give them Trinco” …’ – The Marooned Elite, Crisis …

Continue reading ‘The Ranil Wickremesinghe Govt’s “Strategic Plan “for Trincomalee district and Eastern Province is to ‘Sinhalise’ and ‘de-Tamilise’by subtracting the Tamil percentage and proportion of the populace and the land through administrative re-structuring of areas’ »

Amidst growing criticism President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday justified a hike in income tax for both corporate and personal saying it was for the greater good of the country going forward and critical to garner much needed financial support from the international community. In an address to the nation, the President said the International Monetary Fund …

Continue reading ‘President Ranil Wickremesinghe Justifies Hike in Income Tax as being Necessary to Garner Much Needed Financial Support from International Community and go Forward for the Greater Good of the Country’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Tamil and Muslim political representatives in the Parliamentary Opposition are divided over the nature of the proposed truth-seeking mechanism, specifically on whether it should be solely a domestic mechanism or whether it should have international involvement. Expressing his party’s stance on the proposed truth-seeking mechanism, Tamil National Alliance Spokesman and Opposition MP …

Continue reading ‘TNA Spokesperson Sumanthiran wants International Involvement in Truth Seeking Mechanism but SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem Wants Purely Domestic Mechanism’ »

(Full Text of Editoria; appearing in “The Island”of 19 October 2022 under the geading “Mahinda’s Labour”) Most political leaders in this country tend to live in the past. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is one of them. He seems to be labouring under the delusion that his theatrics can still yield enough votes for the SLPP …

Continue reading ‘“Now that Mahinda Rajapaksa has declared that the SLPP is capable of winning elections, let the government be urged to hold the local government polls without further delay and prove his claim.”- The Island’ »

By’ Justine Jordan The remarkable thing about this violence-soaked novel narrated by a dead man is how full of life it is. Shehan Karunatilaka’s The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida comes a decade after his rollicking debut Chinaman, which combined the love of cricket with the horror of Sri Lanka’s civil war. Set at the …

Continue reading ‘Shehan Karunatilaka’s Booker Prize Winner “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” is narrated by a dead man: ‘Only the dead could offer plausible explanations of the Sri Lankan tragedy, as the living clearly did not have a clue’ … Shehan Karunatilaka’ »

Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka on October 17 won Britain’s Booker Prize for fiction for his work The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, about a journalist murdered amid the country’s sectarian strife. “My hope for Seven Moons is this… that in the not-so-distant future… that it is read in a Sri Lanka that has understood …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka wins 2022 Booker Prize for his second novel The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida about a journalist murdered amid the country’s sectarian strife.’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Despite reports to the effect that incumbent President and United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Founder and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa recently discussed an alliance between the SLPP and the UNP in a forthcoming Parliamentary election, UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara stated that he …

Continue reading ‘UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara Unaware of Telephone Conversation Between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa’ »

By Krishantha Prasad Cooray Suresh Goonesekere would have turned 50 today (Oct 17), just over a year after his tragic death left his family and friends bereft of his kindness, generosity, strength of character and permanent grin. Being one of those friends, who knew him from childhood, it is still hard to believe that he …

Continue reading ‘Suresh Goonesekere Played an exemplary innings in the Game of Life; it was a privilege to witness his time at life’s crease – a sight to behold!’ »

The Sri Lankan government should withdraw a draft law that would give the authorities broad powers to detain people in military-run “rehabilitation” centers, placing them at great risk of abuse, Human Rights Watch said today. The Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill, submitted to parliament on September 23, 2022, would allow the compulsory detention in centers of …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Govt Should Withdraw Draft ‘Rehabilitation’ Law that Would Spur Great risk of abuse Abuse by Proposing Detention Without Judicial Review at Military-Run Centers States Human Rights Watch’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera A total of 15 persons were arrested by the Police during a protest held in Nawalapitiya town against the rally organised by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) under the theme “Let’s Rise Together” (Ekwa Nagitimu), and former Prime Minister and incumbent MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, who arrived to participate in the said …

Continue reading ‘Police Ban SJB led Protest Against “Ekwa Nagitimu” SLPP Rally in Nawalapitiya to Prevent Potential Breach of Peace; Protesters Gather in Town Chanting Slogans Calling Mahinda and Rajapaksas “Hora,Hora”;15 Including SJB Organizer Arrested’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday expressed confidence on successful restructuring of external debt following talks with Chinese Finance Minister. The President said that the delegation headed by the State Minister of Finance, who is currently in Washington, held initial discussions on Saturday with the International Monetary Fund and the three main countries, China, India and Japan …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Expresses Confidence on Successful Restructuring of External debt Following Discussions Between SL delegation led by State Minister of Finance and International Monetary Fund, China, India and Japan’ »

By Darshana Abayasingha The economic crisis has impacted 96% of households with food, health costs and livelihoods at the top of listed concerns, reveals the latest Economic Survey Report released last week by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The psychological wellbeing …

Continue reading ‘5.7 million Sri Lankans require urgent humanitarian assistance States latest Economic Survey Report released by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society and the International Federation of Red Cross Societies; “The numbers are very likely to multiply” says report’ »

By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene When President Ranil Wickremesinghe uses gut wrenching imagery to equate Sinhalese mothers and fathers taking their children to protest sites with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) using Tamil children as human shields against state forces, it is deliberate and premeditated. Two unsettling sides of the same coin The President’s …

Continue reading ‘We cannot invoke only the LTTE’s atrocities against children while overlooking the State’s raining down of shells on bunkers where (Tamil) children sheltered. Majority or minority alike, the Sri Lankan State’s list of grievous sins against its own children are many.’ »

By Damith Wickramasekara The fate of the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment (22A) hangs in the balance with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) laying down two “mandatory” conditions to ensure its passage—including a clause to make members of independent Commissions accountable for their actions. The SLPP also wants the clause prohibiting dual citizens from holding membership …

Continue reading ‘“Ranil Wickremesinghe is our President but he will have to bear the shame of defeat if he does not accept our proposals and rushes the 22nd amendment through with Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.” Threatens SLPP Gen Secy Sagara Kariyawasam’ »

By Col R Hariharan India’s abstention from voting on a draft resolution at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to debate on the human rights situation in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) on October 6, has surprised many at home and abroad. The draft resolution, moved by a core group of eight nations—Canada, Denmark, …

Continue reading ‘India’s stand during voting at the UN is nuanced to serve its national interest while maintaining its focus on core issues. In other words, it is an expression of realpolitik.’ »

By T. Ramakrishnan Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS-1) the star-studded Tamil feature film based on the novel of Tamil writer of yesteryear Kalki, could have helped in removing the “anti-Chola perception prevalent among sections of Sinhalese”, according to Ayathurai Santhan, a Jaffna-based veteran bilingual Sri Lankan Tamil writer. Pointing out that the Pandyas and the Sinhalese …

Continue reading ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I (PS-1) could have helped in removing the “anti-Chola perception prevalent among sections of Sinhalese” states Sri Lankan Writer Ayathurai Santhan “The Pandyas and the Sinhalese were traditionally close allies” he says’ »

By Elijah Hoole Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan-1, or PS-1, is billed as a pan-India movie. The story, based on Kalki Krishnamurthy’s historical fiction by the same name, unfolds in the early years of the Chola dynasty of 10th century CE. Speaking at a promotional event in Mumbai, Vikram, a lead actor in the film, told …

Continue reading ‘The Tamil language flourished under the Cholas but not all Chola subjects were Tamils in an ethnic or racial sense. Did the Cholas or their subjects retain any notion of a unified Tamil ethnicity or race?’ »

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa denied accusations that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by him and other parties in the Opposition are blocking the adoption of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. Premadasa said the Opposition would have had a favourable response regarding the 22A prepared had the Prime Minister provided satisfactory answers to several …

Continue reading ‘Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa denies accusations that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by him and other parties in the Opposition are blocking the adoption of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution’ »

BY Buddhika Samaraweera While equating those who take their children to protest demonstrations as being akin to slain Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran’s use of children as human shields, President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that all measures will be taken in consultation with Attorney General (AG) Sanjay Rajaratnam (PC) to prevent young …

Continue reading ‘“Taking children to protest demonstrations should be stopped. They are taking children to protests, not because they cannot be left alone at home, but to be used as a human shield, similarly to what Prabhakaran did.”- President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By Krishna Gopalan Be it films, advertising, public messaging, Amitabh Bachchan remains a credible voice and much sought after; it is a case of getting better with age Vivek Sharma, Founder, Altivyst Advisors and former CMO Pidilite & Philips, thinks one of the biggest strengths of Bachchan is his credibility with all sections of people. …

Continue reading ‘Hindi Film SuperstarAmitabh Bachchan Celebrates 80th Birth Anniversary:: How “Brand Bachchan” has stood the test of time in the Advertising World’ »

Central Bank former Governor Arjuna Mahendran, and nine other individuals who were accused in the first Bond Scam case of 2015 were released from the charges filed under the Public Property Act, by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday. The court ruled that it cannot proceed with the charges filed under the Public Property …

Continue reading ‘Arjuna Mahendran, Arjun Aloysius and Eight Others accused in the first Bond Scam case of 2015 released from the charges filed under the Public Property Act, by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar in a 2/3 Majority Verdict’ »

By Meera Srinivasan As Sri Lankans continue braving their worst economic crisis since Independence, urban poverty on the island has tripled in the last year, from 5% to 15 %, according to a recent World Bank report. Sri Lanka is experiencing “its highest poverty rate since 2009 [when the civil war ended], and an erosion …

Continue reading ‘Urban Poverty Triples in Sri Lanka with the On-going Economic Crisis Creating More “Newly Poor Families”: World Bank Urges Govt to Devise a Social Protection Strategy and Increase Financing for Social Assistance’ »

By Dr.Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Yet another resolution on Sri Lanka has passed in the UN Human Rights Council, 20 member states voting for it, seven against and 20 abstaining. This resolution will facilitate the continuation of the Accountability Project to collect and preserve evidence in respect of the allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity …

Continue reading ‘We need a Govt that the people trust, one that enjoys their confidence and one that will speak with them in terms of why we have to make the sacrifices and bear the burden necessary to get us out of the horrendous mess we have allowed ourselves to get into.’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday announced a raft of amendments to the electoral system, noting that the existing political system was a major cause for the current economic crisis. “A referendum will be called to decide on the parliamentary electoral system if the Select Committee which is proposed to be established fails to decide on the …

Continue reading ‘“I intend to reduce before the next election , the number of council members for local Governing bodies such as Pradeshiya Sabhas, Municipal Councils, and Urban Councils from the current 8,000 to 4,000,” States President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

(Full Text of Letter Dated 14 September 2022 sent by Tamil National Alliance(TNA) Leader and Trincomalee district MP Rajavarothayam Sampanthan to President Ranil Wickremesinghe Regarding Issues relating to the Thirukkoneshwaram Temple) THIRUKONESHWARAM – “DAKSHANA KAILASH” RENOWNED HIND U TEMPLE IN TRINCOMALEE AND TRINCOMALEE HARBOUR I am informed that in recent times certain meetings have been …

Continue reading ‘TNA Leader and Trincomalee MP Sampantha writes to President Wickremesinghe Regarding Issues Concerning the Thirukkoneshwaram Temple and Attempts to Interdict the Territorial Contiguity of the Predominantly Tamil Speaking Northern and Eastern Provinces’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday reiterated the need for a stable national policy to rebuild Sri Lanka, insisting on the importance of an export-oriented economy. “A strong economic policy and political stabilisation are essential to improve Sri Lanka’s economy and place it in the international sphere,” he said, opening Sri Lanka’s first life-saving pharmaceutical manufacturing plant …

Continue reading ‘“We can engage in our daily debates, but we need to make one national policy. If we continue with that national policy, we will never fail. We made the mistake of changing policies with every change of Government,” states President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

By P.K.Balachandran Looking at the voting on the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution on Sri Lanka on October 6, it appears that the decisions taken by the 47 members were determined by their respective positions in geopolitics and their national interest. The 20 members who voted for the resolution castigating Sri Lanka for alleged human …

Continue reading ‘Geopolitics and National Interests Determined the Ayes,Nays and Abstentions during the Vote on the Resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council Session in Geneva’ »

According to a press release issued by the Presidential Media Division (PMD) yesterday (9), President Ranil Wickremesinghe is to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to decide on the Parliamentary voting system by July next year, with the next General Election to be held under the new system. This virtually rules out the possibility of …

Continue reading ‘No Elections Until Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) Formulates new System of Voting by July 2023 ; If PSC does not Deliver by July a Country wide Referendum will be held to Decide on Electoral system says President Wickremesinghe’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Samagi Jana Balawegaya Opposition MP and Tamil Progressive Alliance Leader Mano Ganesan yesterday (9) said that he brought to President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s attention that the collection of personal residential details carried out by the Police in the city of Colombo had caused disturbance among residents, and noted that he believes that President …

Continue reading ‘Colombo District MP Mano Ganesan Requests President Wickremesinghe to Direct IGP to Discontinue the Gathering of Personal Details from Residents in Colombo by the Police’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera The Police yesterday (9) obstructed a peaceful protest to commemorate those who lost their lives during the “aragalaya” (people’s struggle), which began by demanding the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Galle Face Green in Colombo in April, and arrested several persons who attended the said protest. The Police had …

Continue reading ‘Police Disperse Event at Galle Face Green to Commemorate Persons Involved in the “Aragalaya” who lost their Lives due to Various Reasons, Police Personnel Deployed in Large numbers Remove Men,Women and Children Forcibly’ »

By Kishali Pinto-Jayawardene There is a deep tragedy at the heart of Sri Lanka’s constitutional, financial and legal paralysis that we must understand. ‘Eating’ political propaganda Some years ago, infuriated supporters of a drug baron turned vassal of the Rajapaksas lashed out at a courageous forest officer who protested against the destruction of the environment …

Continue reading ‘Can Southern communities reduced to scraping for daily existence due to reckless decisions taken by corrupt ‘kings’ on whom they lavished unstinted adoration, ‘eat’ the political propaganda of the ‘magnificent Sinhala majority,’ which they and their unfortunate children have been nourished on, for most of their lives?’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana The passage of the 22nd Amendment (22A) to the Constitution, widely considered as a key component in the political reform process, was delayed in Parliament this week amid sharp divisions between the government and opposition over the draft amendment. Differences of opinion regarding the content of the draft amendment were far more …

Continue reading ‘Wimal Weerawansa claims the debate on 22 A is being held up due to the opposition of 10-15 government MPs whose strings were being pulled by “Mola Hathano” (The one with seven brains), a term he frequently uses to refer to Basil Rajapaksa.’ »

(Full text of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Special statement in Parliament on October 6, 2022) I got the opportunity to exchange views with the state leaders during the visits to the United Kingdom and Japan recently. I also got the opportunity to meet the Finance Ministers of the countries where the Asian Development Bank operates during …

Continue reading ‘“You all hold different political views. But you can achieve your political goals only if the country recovers from this economic crisis.At a time when no other political party or leader of the opposition would accept this risk, I accepted the risk for the country and embarked on a dangerous journey. We have progressed gradually, but steadily. We know that the majority of people in our country support this journey”. – President Ranil Wickremesinghe’ »

(Text of Speech made by Tamil National Alliance Jaffna District Parliamentarian M.A.Sumanthiran during the adjournment debate in Parliament. on 06.10.2022) Thank you for the time that’s given to speak on this adjournment debate today. However, as I begin to speak I must note, that this is an anti–climax. The country has been waiting for serious …

Continue reading ‘TNA Jaffna MP Sumanthiran Tables in Parliament the Confidential Document signed by Irrigation Minister Roshan Ranasinghe Outlining Plans to Bi-furcate the Tamil Linguistic Contiguity of the Northern and Eastern Provinces by Altering the Ethnic Composition of Mullaitheevu South and Trincomalee North’ »

Sri Lankan film actor Shyam Fernando has made his debut in Indian Tamil cinema by enacting the role of a Sinhala King in the much awaited Tamil mega movie “Ponniyin Selvan” -1. The film directed by legendary film director Maniratnam hit the screens on September 30th 2022. The film is produced by Allirajah Subashkaran who …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan actor Shyam Fernando Plays the Role of King Mahinda V in the Blockbuster Tamil Movie “Ponniyin Selvan” (Son of the Ponni River)’ »

By Victor Ivan A statement I made on Ranil Wickremesinghe that he was the most suitable person for Sri Lanka to have been chosen from among the current politicians to solve the balance of payments crisis facing the country has caused strong opposition from some critics; and I must say that I was amused by …

Continue reading ‘“I appealed to critics on Social Media to suggest a better person if there was one who could have been chosento lead the Country and Solve the Economic Crisis instead of Ranil but no one has responded to my request”’ »

The new resolution on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, sponsored by the Core Group on Sri Lanka and supported by 30 other countries in total, was taken up for action at the concluding segment of the 51st Regular Session of the UNHRC yesterday where it was adopted by a majority vote. 20 countries …

Continue reading ‘Sri Lanka Categorically Rejects UNHRC resolution as being divisive and polarising: . “This resolution is not helpful to Sri Lanka,” Said Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry while addressing the Council’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday, making a special statement in Parliament, reiterated that the Government is ready to overcome the worst economic crisis in history even amidst shocks. He also invited all parties to join the country’s rebuilding program irrespective of their personal grudges of the past. During his speech, the President unveiled a fourfold strategic …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe unveils a fourfold strategic plan for Sri Lanka to recover from the economic crisis in a Special Statement to Parliament;“It will be possible to make this journey stronger and faster only with the support of all of you” Ranil tells MPs’ »

By Meera Srinivasan India on Thursday abstained from voting on a resolution on Sri Lanka at the U.N. Human Rights Council, while observing that Sri Lanka’s progress in implementing commitments on the 13 th Amendment, meaningful devolution, and early provincial elections remains “inadequate”. “Achieving prosperity for all Sri Lankans and realising the legitimate aspirations of …

Continue reading ‘Rresolution titled ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ Passed by the 47 Member UN Human Rights Council with 20 Countries Voting in favour;7 Including China and Pakistan Vote Against;India and 19 Other Countries Abstain’ »

By JAMILA HUSAIN Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who returned back to the country recently after countries failed to give him asylum, has now begun a secret PR campaign to clear his failed image within the masses, to persuade the villages that he was misguided in making crucial decisions by those close to him, the Daily …

Continue reading ‘Is Gotabaya Rajapaksa Planning to Return to Politics? Secret Campaign Launched by Business Tycoon and Media Personailty to Ascertain Whether the Former President Continues to Retain Public Trust’ »

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka will get a “significantly lesser” number of favourable votes at the U.N. Human Rights Council, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on Wednesday said, apparently resigned to reduced international support at the Geneva forum whose 51 st session is underway. “The number of votes will be significantly lesser. We have to be …

Continue reading ‘Decreasing Support for Sri Lanka in Combatting Resoltion at the UN Human Rights Council 51st Session in Geneva;“The number of votes will be significantly lesser. We have to be realistic,” Says Foreign Minister Ali Sabry,’ »

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to inquire from political parties in the Opposition regarding their final stance on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. The President has asked the PM to seek their opinion and inform him of their decision immediately. Wickremesinghe has instructed Gunawardena after it was revealed that various …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe Asks Prime Minister Gunawardena to inquire from political parties in the Opposition about their formal position on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.’ »

(Text of a declaration unanimously adopted at the Commemoration of Rajani Thiranagama’s 33rd Death Anniversary held in Jaffna on 2 October, 2022.) Democracy is enshrined in People’s Sovereignty. Democratic governance upholds people’s sovereignty. But the current economic and political crisis has raised questions about the exercise of people’s sovereignty in the representative forms of governance …

Continue reading ‘“People’s Councils can become a vehicle for mobilizing people around the country, at the national and regional levels, for democratic action.”- Rajani Thiranagama Memorial Committee Jaffna People’s Forum for Peaceful Co-existence’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa said that he will travel around the country to show the public the projects implemented using the Central Cultural Fund, in response to allegations from parties related to the Government who claim that he had misused the money of the said fund. Speaking …

Continue reading ‘SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa Says he Utilised the Central Cultural Fund to Uplift Buddhism by Constructing Dhamma Schools and Dagobas when he was a cabinet Minister in the UNP Govt; opposition leader lready to go around Country to Refute Allegations of misusing CCF’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene The recent declaration of several High Security Zones in Colombo under Sri Lanka’s virtually obsolete Official Secrets Act has continued to raise feverish speculation in regard to the motivations behind the bizarre Presidential act. Have we lost our collective legal wit? Amidst rumours that the contested gazette will be withdrawn, …

Continue reading ‘Does a President flippantly sign gazettes, so clearly ultra vires the principal enactment,on matters of high national security in the same manner as hurriedly grabbing a cup of coffee while dashing out of the house for work?’ »

By Nimal Sanderatne President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s brilliant address to the Annual Sessions of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila on September 29, was a strong commitment to undertake economic reforms and an exhortation to the international community to assist Sri Lanka in her quest for economic recovery. He also referred succinctly to the global …

Continue reading ‘President Wickremesinghe’s resolve to undertake an “unprecedented fiscal effort, as part of the government’s commitment to restore the country’s debt sustainability,” may face severe political, economic and social opposition that make it difficult to implement.’ »

“DEMOCRACY STILLBORN”” written by Rajan Hoole and Kirupaimalar Hoole is a recent Perera- Hussein publication. The book focuses on the past,present and future of politics in Ceylon/Sri Lanka from a Labour movement perspective. The backpage of the book summarises the essence of its contents and the point of view articulated by the husband and wife …

Continue reading ‘“Democracy Stillborn” – a Book written by Rajan and Kirupaimalar Hoole traces the present plight of Sri Lanka to the battles of the 1920s over the championship of labour by Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam.’ »

The controversial gazette issued declaring High Security Zones (HSZs) in Colombo under the Official Secrets Act was withdrawn with effect from yesterday (1). A senior Government minister told The Sunday Morning that the President had directed the Attorney General and relevant officials to make the necessary arrangements to withdraw the gazette notification.

By Victor Ivan The picture of Sri Lanka is still not clear; it is in a state of chaos. Apparently the most difficult phase of the balance of payments crisis is moving towards a point where it could be resolved for the common good of the country; but the most difficult era of this crisis …

Continue reading ‘It seems that the political strategy of the leader of the opposition is to politically destroy President Ranil Wickremesinghe, his main political rival by making him a political prisoner dependent on the Pohottuwa party.’ »

By Jamila Husain The police have launched extensive investigations over the involvement of some politicians who had encouraged some ‘protester’ groups to overthrow the government by forcefully occupying Parliament and preventing a vote to elect a new President following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July. Highly placed sources told Daily Mirror that …

Continue reading ‘Police Launch Investigation Into Alleged Role of Politicians in Encouraging Protest Groups to “overthrow the government by forcefully occupying Parliament and preventing a vote to elect a new President following the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in July”.’ »

BY Ambika Satkunanathan Undeterred by the economic crisis, the Government continues its attempts to enact regressive, repressive, and counterproductive laws, the most recent being the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill. Lack of legal definitions Persons to whom the proposed law applies include former combatants, individuals who have “engaged in extreme or destructive acts of sabotage” (“members …

Continue reading ‘The danger of the proposed ‘Bureau of Rehabilitation: Arbitrary detention and torture by another name?’ »

By Neville De Silva President Wickremesinghe’s first official visit as head of state was on a sad occasion here in the United Kingdom. The country was mourning the death of a much beloved Queen who had been the longest reigning monarch in England and had endeared herself to her subjects so much that many people …

Continue reading ‘If the country needs the help from the diaspora which President Wickremesinghe is trying hard to attract, then he should be given the political strength to challenge the Rajapaksa cabal’ »

While there is so much of poverty in the country, with loss of employment, loss of income malnourishments, children going to schools have been disrupted, certain people continue to steal and rob the country. It was recently exposed about exorbitant prices being paid to import of coal and petroleum into the country said Mr Eran …

Continue reading ‘“We will ask the petroleum minister to give an explanation to the country as to why the government imports the Russian oil at a higher price from a third party when there is an opportunity to import at a lower price directly from Russia.” – Eran Wickramaratne MP’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Due to the severity of the economic crisis and the lack of household finances, there has been an increase in the number of children being admitted by their families to children’s homes in the Northern Province. Statistical data provided by the Child Care and Probation Department of the Northern Province has revealed …

Continue reading ‘246 Children Admitted by Parents in Northern Province to Child Care Foster Homes; increase in numbers due to current economic crisis, which has resulted in parents facing financial instability being unable to provide for their children.’ »

By Tisaranee Gunasekara “Was there then no essential difference between the ruler and the ruled?” Salman Rushdie (The Enchantress of Florence) Sri Lanka, unravelled and unravelling, is mesmerised by a new wonder: the Lotus Tower. When that monumental symbol of Rajapaksa folly was opened to the public last week, people thronged to pay the entrance …

Continue reading ‘While President Wickremesinghe blunders and the opposition exists in a parallel universe where their electoral victory is written in the stars, the Rajapaksas are back to weaving their web of lies and deception.’ »

BY Mirudhula Thambiah Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Spokesperson MP M.A. Sumanthiran PC yesterday (25) observed on social media that the demarcation of high-security zones (HSZ) two days ago in Colombo was not a new practice, charging that such illegal demarcation has been conducted over many thousands of acres of lands in the North and East …

Continue reading ‘MA Sumanthiran PC Citing Mavai Senathirajah vs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge (SC FR 646/2003) Case says Interim Order Issued by Courts in 2006 Upholds TNA Position Challenging the Legality of Setting up High Security Zones’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera Certain senior officials of the Ministry of Health are working to allocate expensive and acutely scarce pharmaceutical drugs and other medical supplies received as donations from various parties, due to the prevailing shortage of such, to specific patients with connections to the former who are being treated in certain hospitals, The Morning …

Continue reading ‘Senior Health Ministry Allegedly Allocating expensive.acutely scarce pharmaceutical drugs and other medical supplies received as donations from various parties to specific patients with connections to themselves being treated in certain hospitals,’ »

BY Buwanajee Coralage The Trade Union Co-ordination Committee (TUCC) and the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) yesterday (25) challenged President Ranil Wickremesinghe to expand the holding capacity of prisons in the country, stating that they will continue their protest movement on an even larger scale over the coming days, and that a substantially larger number of …

Continue reading ‘Trade Union Co-ordination Committee (TUCC) and the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) challenge President Ranil Wickremesinghe by Asking him to expand the holding capacity of prisons in the country and stating that they will continue their protest movement on an even larger scale in the coming days,’ »

By Buddhika Samaraweera Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera said that he would not take any notice of the criticism and sarcasm on social media platforms, particularly on Facebook, regarding his participation in an event to mark the Saudi National Day on Friday (23). Commenting on the social media posts …

Continue reading ‘Infamous Anti- Islam Monk Gnanasara Thero Participating in Saudi Arabian National day Celebration as Special Guest of Saudi Ambassador is Widely Criticized but Bodu Bala Sena Gen Secy Remains Unfazed’ »

By S. Murali Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as S. P. Balu or SPB, was an Indian musician, playback singer, music director, actor, dubbing artist and film producer who worked predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. Affectionately called as ‘Balu’ in his friends’ circle, SPB …

Continue reading ‘S.P. Balasubrahmanyam won the Guinness World Record for recording the highest number of songs by a singer:Sang over 40,000 songs in 16 languages’ »

By Kishali Pinto – Jayawardene Whatever the motivations for the Ranil Wickremesinghe Presidency to drag the Official Secrets Act (1955) out of cold storage and employ its provisions to declare certain places as ‘High Security Zones,’ that decision is both foolish and counter productive. Waving of the red flag to an enraged bull The Wickremesinghe …

Continue reading ‘Using the Archaic Official Secrets to Demarcate Some Areas as High Security Zones: is there fear that the ‘Aragalaya’ may spirit away ‘secret documents’ from places declared as High Security Zones?’ »

Any offence committed in the newly declared High Security Zones (HSZ) will enable police to take up the case in the High Courts, a senior official of the Public Security Ministry said. He said the measure was taken to ensure that administration was continued without interruption. “All locations declared as HSZs are required to maintain …

Continue reading ‘The Bar Association of Sri Lanka says the Official Secrets Act’s Section 2 oes not provide the Minister the authority to designate a sizable portion of the country as a High Security Zone; BASL declares it will carefully review the provisions and take necessary legal measures to protect people’s Fundamental Rights’ »

By Yoshitha Perera Police have detained 83 demonstrators, including Eranga Gunasekara, national organiser of the Socialist Youth Union (SYU), the youth front of the JVP, during a protest march yesterday. Members from the National People’s Power (NPP) along with the SYU yesterday staged a protest in front of the Lipton roundabout demanding the release of …

Continue reading ‘Police use tear gas and water cannonsto disperse protesters in Maradana; Video on Social media shows Eranga Gunasekara, national organiser of the Socialist Youth Union (SYU) and a Buddhist monk being beaten by cops;83 Protesters Arrested,’ »

By Sandun Jayawardana A “National Council” (NC) with a key responsibility of guiding short, medium, and long-term national policies and representing all recognised political parties in Parliament was passed this week without a vote. Opposition parties though, were critical that the government had diluted the NC and that its original purpose has been lost. Prime …

Continue reading ‘Prime Minister’s Motion to set up “National Council” representing all recognised political parties in Parliament passed without a vote but Opposition Parties are Critical of Govt’s move’ »