The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Around noon Thursday, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Jagath Jayasuriya received a telephone call. It was Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe wanting to know why Sarath Fonseka, MP was not escorted to Parliament sittings that day. He was not in Parliament on Friday too. He replied that it was against military law and hence legally not possible. Army sources told the Sunday Times their Commander was acting under Court Martial Regulations.

5th Column

Disappointed! That’s what we are

My dear Mahinda Maama,

I thought I must write to you even though you are in New York because I am a bit puzzled by what you have been doing in the recent days although I must admit that I have been quite surprised by your cleverness in manipulating matters to your advantage, especially regarding the eighteenth amendment.

The Economic Analysis

Rice for wheat: Benefits trade, farmers and nutrition

The increase in wheat prices would reduce consumption and imports of wheat, be a boost to paddy farming and improve the nutrition of people. The government has hailed the rise in prices of wheat as a favourable development for the country. The rise in international prices of wheat has been passed on to consumers resulting in a continuous increase in prices of wheat flour, bread and confectionary items.

Lobby

UNP united over SF, but split over to vote or not to vote for Emergency

The plight of DNA parliamentarian Sarath Fonseka figured prominently among opposition members in Parliament once again last week diminishing to some extent the widening rift within the UNP. Even though a group of UNP members had been threatening to sit as independent members in the House owing to their dissatisfaction over the delay in the non-implementation of Party reforms, the issue did not surface in Parliament and instead they focused their attention on berating the government for disallowing MP Fonseka to attend sittings.

Focus on Rights

Stealthy authoritarianism and lofty promises

Loudly (if somewhat unbecomingly) praised by some editorialists and cautiously commended by others in Sri Lanka’s private media, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s address to the United Nations General Assembly a few days back had all the hallmarks of the definitively Janus-faced policy that characterizes this administration.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

PM's acting blunder

Traditional Industries Minister Douglas Devananda was to have been a member of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's entourage to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. However, at the last minute he decided not to go and instead flew to Jaffna.

Column by Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

Not issued with this week