Columns

Political Column

Police and defence spokesman go crude or cynical over attacks on journalists
Ranil rows through party crisis but squabbles continue

A volley of probing questions by Muralidhar Reddy, the Colombo correspondent for India's national newspaper Hindu, brought some revealing answers from defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella.

This week's brutal attack on journalist Namal Perera and British High Commission staffer Mahendra Ratnaweera, the journalist noted, were not isolated ones. Perera is acting Manager, Media Advocacy and Media Freedom at the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) and Ratnaweera, Political Officer at the High Commission.

5th Column

My hometown looks the same, but for my bosom friend now tamed!

My Dear Karuna,

Situation Report

will not appear this week.

Thoughts from London

Smashing the fences that Rajapaksa mends

It was about three weeks ago that President Rajapaksa, on his return from London, set up a six-member ministerial committee to which the media could turn in the face of problems.

The Economic Analysis

An alarming growth in the trade deficit

The trade deficit is growing at a frightening pace. Last year's trade deficit of US$ 3800 million was by far the largest trade deficit incurred by the country. There can be no doubt that this would be exceeded by a large margin this year. In the first four months of this year the trade deficit mounted to nearly twice the trade deficit suffered for the first four months of last year.

Lobby

will not appear this week.

Focus on Rights

Victims and witness protection - Part Three

In the concluding segment in this three part series analysing the Assistance and Protection to Victims of Crime and Witnesses Bill, some further problematic clauses in the Bill are examined.

Inside the glass house

An African crisis dirtier than Mugabe's

When the beleaguered President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe was accosted by British journalists at the African Union summit in Sharm el-Sheik last week, one of them accused him of "stealing" the rigged presidential elections last month.