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Police carols: How eliminators became illuminators
For the 56th year in succession, the Police held their Christmas Carols at their grounds in Bambalapitiya on December 19. The chief guest this time was His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo. He was received by Police Chief N.K. Illangakoon. What many were unaware is the preparations that had been going on for [...]
Political Column
Impeachment crisis: Destiny of Lanka at stake
= If the law enforcement process loses its independence, politicos might play the role of policemen and anarchy will prevail = President insists on going ahead with the move despite pleas by allies for prorogation of Parliament By Our Political Editor Sri Lanka’s Parliament has functioned for more than 179 years though under different names at [...]
5th Column
Environmental jester who uprooted justice
My Dear Kekille Yapa, I thought of writing to you after hearing what you had to say about chairing a committee that judged the highest of judges. Congratulations, Yapa, yours was a wonderful performance and one that will be hard to beat for a long time to come- even King Kekille would have blushed in [...]
Focus on Rights
Acting contrary to the greater good of Sri Lanka
This week, newspaper reports quoted Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brother accusing foreign elements of ‘using the judiciary to destabilise Sri Lanka’ (Daily Mirror, December 29th 2012). This is a classic instance of doublespeak. It is abundantly clear that, rather than so-called foreign interests, it is the Government itself which is destabilising [...]
The Economic Analysis
External and internal shocks rock the economy in 2012
The economy took a downturn in 2012 owing to severe external and internal shocks. These affected economic growth, the trade balance and fiscal outturn adversely. Economic growth is likely to dip below 7 per cent this year from the higher trajectory of 8 per cent planned for the country. The global economic depression and the [...]
From the sidelines
The night before Christmas
Mrs Anumaana was recovering from the usual overdose of Christmas music that is inflicted on listeners over the airwaves during the festive season. At the same time her head was full of the news that dominated the media these days. Every news broadcast and newspaper was focused on nothing but the impeachment motion brought against [...]