The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Last week's exclusive disclosures in the Sunday Times about the worsening internecine battles in the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) were to have their immediate sequel.

5th Column

Red split may spell danger or doom

My Dear Somawansa,
I thought I must write to you because of recent happenings in your Red party which seems to have acquired the same illness that has afflicted the Greens for so long- that of dividing into two groups and then fighting with each other!

The Economic Analysis

OPitfalls in CB's bid to sustain exchange rate stability

Despite pressures on the Sri Lankan rupee, the Central Bank has continued to maintain the exchange rate at a fairly stable level of around Rs. 110 to a US dollar. However, there has been a depreciation of the rupee in relation to several other significant international currencies, such as the Euro and British pound.
The Central Bank has also continued to keep policy interest rate unchanged at 7 percent.

Lobby

Shangri-La at what price and for whose benefit?

The Government‘s intention maybe to turn the country into a ‘Shangri-La’- an earthly paradise, by generously apportioning land for massive development projects. However, as the Opposition questioned in Parliament last Thursday, the manner in which such transactions are being undertaken leave too many questions unanswered, leaving room for wild speculation on whether it is the country that would eventually benefit from such plans, or just a handful of individuals.

Focus on Rights

Not mere nitpicking on parliamentary process

Public distrust of this administration's attacks on civil rights is best evidenced by the bizarre sequence of events that took place this month over the extension of the Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions Act.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Where are extra millions going?

Parliament recently approved Rs. 60 million by way of supplementary expenditure for the Ministry of External Affairs. The official reason given was that it was to "account for the parity variation losses occurred in accounting process of the Overseas Mission (sic) in other words, to off-set the fluctuation of the Sri Lanka Rupee viz-a-viz foreign currencies.

From the Sidelines

Obama at the UN: Everything has to change so that everything stays the same?

Obama's much anticipated speech at the UN General Assembly has turned out to be a disappointment on many counts. As the president of the world's most powerful nation his remarks at this important forum could be seen as a pointer to US policy, and an indication of what's in store for the rest of the world. But for many his words probably produced more questions than answers.