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Two Lankan women take their cases to Pillay
United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay had just walked out from a room where there was a side event on Wednesday – a meeting of non-governmental organisations. Walking up to her was Swarna Gunaratne, a sister of late Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra who died in a shoot-out with Parliamentarian Duminda Silva. She lives in Canada [...]
The Economic Analysis
Achieving BOP surpluses in 2013 and after
The Central Bank expects a “comfortable” balance of payments surplus this year. Could this be achieved? Given the structural weaknesses in trade discussed last week, it is difficult to achieve a much lower trade deficit this year than that of last year. However, if there is some reduction in the trade gap; increased earnings from [...]
Focus on Rights
The bitter fruits of our own folly
As family members of a murdered ruling party politician travelled to Geneva this week to lay their case for denial of justice before the United Nations Human Rights Council, the ironies are palpable, almost painful. Are we to see in coming months, an unfairly impeached Chief Justice, persecuted Cabinet Ministers and scores of once loyal [...]
From the sidelines
Of religious tolerance and rationality
Reports of a news conference by Buddhist prelates led by the Ven Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thero, held jointly with the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) on Monday, point to the salutary effects of consultations between religious and other groups in defusing a potentially explosive situation. The participants addressed concerns [...]
Political Column
Lanka faces growing call for international probe
US toughens resolution, approval virtually certain with India also supporting it Direct and indirect diplomatic moves fail; attack on Pillay provokes angry response By Our Political Editor Last Monday, a day ahead of embarking on his four-day official visit to Japan, President Mahinda Rajapaksa set out Sri Lanka’s strategy for the second US resolution due [...]
5th Column
Blue murder: Dial D for defence
My Dear Dumindha, I thought I must write to you when I heard that you had suddenly returned to the country. It was a surprise because all this time, we had been told that you were quite seriously ill and we didn’t expect you to recover so quickly to be able to return to Sri [...]