The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Airspace fiasco: Govt. makes blunder and blames media

Reports that a squadron of carrier-based fighter jets from the United States Navy had intruded sovereign Sri Lankan territorial air space jolted the government last week. The fear that the world's only remaining super power was taking liberties with tiny Sri Lanka was the talking point after the front-page lead story in the Sunday Times last week.

5th Column

Green days are coming home to roost!

In the Land of Never Return, the Old Greens had gathered to discuss what was happening to the Green Party…
“Actually as a matter of fact,” DS said, “I can’t really understand what all this fuss is about…”
“Why do you say that?” JR asked.

The Economic Analysis

Developing the north and east: Challenges and opportunities

The Sri Lankan economy has functioned with only part of its potential capacity for the good part of its last three decades. Although some economic activities prevailed despite the war, most of the region was a battle zone rather than a thriving economy.

Lobby

Doubletalk in House over emergency laws

Ironically he used the monthly debate in Parliament to make the announcement to extend by another month the continuation of the regulations, which entered its sixth year last week, since their imposition on August 13, 2005, following the assassination of former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Focus on Rights

An unbelievable collapse of confidence in law enforcement

Alongside a picturesque stretch of coastline between Akkaraipattu and Pottuvil in Sri Lanka’s East Coast, a tire burning brightly in the centre of the road is etched starkly against crisp morning light. Given Sri Lanka’s history, when bodies burning on top of tires were once a common sight across the country, this was an unsettling reminder that the past is inclined, more often than not, to repeat itself.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Speculation over Colombo's mayoral candidates

Hours before emplaning on his four-day official visit to China, President Mahinda Rajapaksa chaired a meeting of the Government Parliamentary group. With elections to 23 local councils round the corner, he raised the question of who would be the Mayoral candidate for Colombo.

From the sidelines

Give a dog a bad name and hang him

A review of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Panel Report recently conducted by the Marga Institute, a think-tank on human development issues, has raised some critical questions regarding that report’s adequacy, its motives and its interpretations of government strategy during the last stages of the war.