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President catches up with protesting Berty

President catches up with protesting Berty

When provincial council ministers took oaths before President Mahinda Rajapaksa last Monday many Cabinet ministers were present. Former Prime Minister and now Senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was among them. He was seen sitting in a corner of the back row. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa spotted the one-time PM. He quickly offered his seat. Wickremanayake [...]

Issues behind President’s tussle with the judiciary

Issues behind President’s tussle with the judiciary

Last Monday evening, actress Malini Fonseka was leaving the hallways of “Temple Trees,” once the home of British businessmen, an editor, colonial rulers and later for decades by democratically-elected leaders of Sri Lanka. I walked in to greet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and sit down for a 90-minute conversation. Present was Bandula Jayasekera, President’s spokesperson. Presidential [...]

Another nut loose in a faulty system

My Dear Malaka, I didn’t think I would have to write to you so soon after writing to your distinguished father last week but I felt I must, especially since you are now almost a free man, with all those charges against you being withdrawn by those who made the ‘major’ accusations. The reason why [...]

Shadow boxing with the independence of the judiciary

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s indignant retort to newspaper editors this week that he did not attempt to interfere with the independence of Sri Lanka’s judiciary has all the hallmarks of the classic ‘swing and swerve’ tactics adopted by his administration. In other words, this refers to its now entrenched policy of swinging out at an individual [...]

Divineguma facilitates the concentration of power

Divineguma facilitates the concentration of power

The controversial Divineguma Bill appears to be yet another move by the Government that points to a pattern of rushing legislation through without due regard for the need for, and the right to, debate and discussion on matters of public importance. It was not so long ago that the 18th Amendment was steamrollered through parliament, [...]

Politics and good fiscal management

Politics and good fiscal management

It is heartening to find that the Treasury is intent on keeping the fiscal deficit to the original target of 6.2 per cent of GDP this year despite the challenging circumstances it faces. This resolve is a healthy sign for the management of fiscal affairs and the economy. Even if the fiscal deficit exceeds this [...]

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