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Shocks, aftershocks and Govt’s glossy statements
Blackout blow to millions with huge increase in electricity rates; CEB, CPC losses mainly due to mismanagement of economy US-Lanka ties take a nose-dive despite Cabraal’s multi-million-dollar PR stunt; US human rights report claims secret unit set up to protect Rajapaksa family By Our Political Editor Rise in electricity tariffs given shocks even to cabinet [...]
Talk at the Cafe Spectator
US devalues Lanka by cutting aid
US devalues Lanka by cutting aid The United States has pruned down International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance to Sri Lanka. The budgetary allocation which remained at US$ 690,000 in 2012 has been reduced to US$ 626,000 for 2014. This reduction is one of the highlights for Sri Lanka in the Executive Budget Summary [...]
5th Column
An exception to the rule
My Dear Barack Obama, I thought I must write to you because these are difficult times for you when terrorists are exploding bombs on your streets and killing innocent people during the Boston Marathon and you are trying to figure out what on earth is going on in what is supposed to be the most [...]
From the sidelines
‘Long War, Cold Peace’ -the unfinished story of an unfinished conflict
From the sidelines By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya Dayan Jayatilleka’s Long War, Cold Peace – Conflict and Crisis in Sri Lanka’ appears at a moment in history when Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads.The war is over but there is yet a crisis of reconciliation and a crisis of state to be resolved, and so a stable peace [...]
Focus on Rights
What protection does a protestor holding a candle have?
Hate pervades the air. It is sadly grotesque that amidst the Avurudu time of reflection and thanksgiving, what prevails is exactly the opposite. Just this week, in the Ratnapura District, plantation workers of Tamil ethnicity clashed with Sinhalese villagers ironically enough after a Sinhala and Tamil New Year musical show. The clash was apparently provoked [...]
The Economic Analysis
Three fundamental economic challenges
The three most important challenges facing the economy are the containment of the fiscal deficit, lessening the trade deficit and reducing the public debt: especially its foreign debt component. Unless there is significant progress in reducing these, the resultant economic instability would hamper sustained economic growth. The most important economic objective of the government should [...]