The Sunday Times Columns - Sunday, February 18, 2007

	Political Column
	Clown Prince in Valentine circus
	By Our Political Editor
	It happened on Valentine's Day adding a romantic twist to the otherwise cut-throat national politics that is becoming murkier by the day. Anura Bandaranaike, the son of two Prime Ministers and brother of a one-time President, walked into "Temple Trees" last Wednesday morning.
	5th Column
	Sigiri lalanaawo to be watched at once again
	By Rypvanwinkle
	"Thaaththa?" Bindu Udagedera asked, "did the whole Cabinet of ministers change suddenly?"
	Situation Report
	LTTE digging in for big battle in Jaffna
	By Iqbal Athas
	It happened when the National Security Council was in session in Colombo last Wednesday — the first since President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka after his three-day official visit to the Maldives.
	The Economic Analysis
	Dark clouds with silver linings
	By the Economist
	In the economic bind that the country has got into there appears to be a few silver linings. We may therefore indulge in some optimistic expectations. If these were to materialise, the short-term hardships would be abated somewhat and the long-run development of the country more on course.
	Thoughts from London
	Howells shovels rubbish hoping Sri Lanka sinks in it
	By Neville de Silva
	Even before he set foot in Sri Lanka Britain’s secretary of state at the foreign office Kim Howells fired a broadside.Dr. Howells’ article a few days before his arrival carried a health warning obviously intended for the Sri Lanka government.
	Issue of the week
	Not published with this week issue
	By Ameen Izzadeen

	Focus on Rights
	An objective look at the NPC’s public complaints procedures
	By Kishali Pinto Jayawardena
	Recent media pronouncements by the National Police Commission (NPC) that it has gazetted a Public Complaints Procedure against police officers and the police service, invites a response.
	Lobby
	Not published with this week issue
	By Chandani Kirinde, Our Lobby Correspondent

	Inside the glass house
	The importance of courting a security council member
	By Thalif Deen at the united nations
	In international politics, a litmus test of a vibrant and enduring relationship with the world's major powers is the voting record in the Security Council. And that's the only body at the UN empowered to declare war, make peace or impose mandatory sanctions on a member state.