The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Questions galore over MR’s sudden visit to US

Top-secret plans got under way hurriedly on Tuesday night. The travel itinerary was finalised and the security personnel handpicked. Within hours, before dawn Wednesday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and an entourage of 18 others flew in a SriLankan Airlines flight to Dubai.

5th Column

When common nonsense takes over - Heaven help them!

“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what is so special about Kelaniya?”
“I suppose it is special these days because of the ‘perahera’ in Kelaniya,” Bindu’s father Percy said.
“No, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “I don’t think so…”

The Economic Analysis

International food crisis and domestic food shortages

Is the country on the verge of a serious food crisis? The unfolding international food crisis is likely to result in skyrocketing food and commodity prices. The sharp decline in domestic food production and an increase in oil, fertilizer and other intermediate goods,

Lobby

War of words does little to solve reports from Jaffna

The issue of the deteriorating security situation in Jaffna was first raised in Parliament in early January by none other than the Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda.

Focus on Rights

Accelerated development with minimum accountability

There is a popular perception that the Rule of Law is relevant only in the context of civil and political rights and applicable primarily to extraordinary crimes such as torture or enforced disappearances. Nothing can be farther from the truth. We see this almost daily in Sri Lanka.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Corruption paved with gold

The shocking disclosure by a deputy minister last week perhaps provides an insight into corruption, which is assuming monstrous proportions in Sri Lanka. Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told Parliament that a staggering Rs 411.87 million had been spent to construct four kilometres of highway along the Maha Oya-Chenkalady road. That works out to a staggering more than Rs 100,000 for just a metre of the road.

Double Take

Mrs Anumaana learns how not to contest Local Government Elections

Mrs Anumaana has had such an earful about the Local Government Elections lately that she fears she will be too fed up with the whole business to even cast her vote when the time comes around. She has had to listen non-stop to her son, on the one hand, and Mrs Aandupaksa on the other, going on about the elections.

Column By Gomin Dayasiri

Peace must be meaningful after a war that was successful

Carrying two black eyes comfort me, knowing the reasons for the bashing. Tamil Diaspora targets me as a Sinhala chauvinist, a membership I rather seek than apply to be a President’s Counsel, a congested club of over a hundred and ten.