The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Eden for Rajapaksa: Ranil gets bad apple again

Earlier that afternoon, at 2 p.m, he said, a meeting had been scheduled with the Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. That was for talks on the impending constitutional changes. A member of the Buddhist clergy had telephoned him to say it was not suitable to his kethi kaley or an inauspicious moment that was bad or malefic.

5th Column

He has carte blanche to do as he wishes!

“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera said, “I think our country is in for a very prosperous period....”
“Why do you say that, Bindu?” Bindu’s father Percy asked.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “we have found new ways of saving enormous amounts of money...”
“How do we do that?” Percy was puzzled.

The Economic Analysis

The paradox of prices: Consumer price index and perceptions

While the main opposition party has taken to the streets to protest about the increasing prices of commodities and the unbearable cost of living, price statistics disclose a different picture. Inflation, as calculated by the Department of Census and Statstics’ Colombo Consumer Price Index is quite modest.

Lobby

Welcome for crossovers, kid gloves for Mervyn

Government members had a lot to smile about in Parliament last week with the crossover of two UNP members to its ranks, but they also had to face criticism from the Opposition over the antics of Deputy Minister Mervyn Silva and the arson attack on a media institution.

Focus on Rights

The bar, the law and 'profound' absurdity

External Affairs Minister GL Peiris's tendentious if not patronizing statement this week that fifty percent of judges on this country are his students of high integrity and that it is 'profoundly unsatisfactory to see them being attacked' (see Daily Mirror of 5th August 2010) is a good example of the absurdities that we are now inflicted with.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

It's a pen, not a sword

The new officers on duty thought it would cause a threat to the lives of Parliamentarians. Reporters were naturally annoyed. "The next thing, they would ask us to come without our clothes," said one irate lobby correspondent.