The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

President Mahinda Rajapaksa interrupted a four-day visit to Thailand to return to Colombo on Friday morning. He left for Bangkok the same evening after taking part in two main engagements. One was the wedding of Minister Arumugam Thondaman's daughter Nachiyar at the Water's Edge in Battaramulla. Some 900 guests, including cabinet ministers and leading opposition personalities, were among those present.

5th Column

Playing leader in foreign lands

My Dear Old Girl Lilibet,

I thought I should write to you not only because you are celebrating the diamond jubilee of your coronation this week but also because your country has been in the news over here recently-and for all the wrong reasons, I dare say.

The Economic Analysis

A liberal trade regime vital for economic development

The current economic policy thinking in Sri Lanka is on inward looking import substitution strategies. This, despite its failure, especially in the 1970-1977 period, when the economy grew more slowly due to low productivity than during periods of liberal economic policies.

Focus on Rights

Legislating courtesy on the part of police officers

Amendments to Sri Lanka's Criminal Procedure Code permitting the police to detain suspects up to forty eight hours are now apparently on their way, the justification being that the law needs to be more stringent to curb the exponential rise of crime in Sri Lanka today.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Who's responsible for Rishard's blunder at queen’s jubilee party?

British High Commissioner, John Rankin hosted a reception at Westminister House, his official residence, on Thursday night to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Nominated to represent the Government officially, as is the practice now, was Industries and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathiuddin.

From the sidelines

Sampanthan's speech and the reconciliation roadblock

Recent developments point to an increasingly intractable situation developing in the ongoing effort towards national reconciliation. The bilateral talks between the government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) have run aground and the Parliamentary Select Committee mooted by the President as a mechanism to advance a multi party dialogue, is yet to be constituted.