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Cricket in Canada
Mrs.Anumaana’s maternal aunt’s sister-in-law’s grandson, who lives in Canada, has sent a newspaper cutting to Sunil about the game of cricket. It does not appear to be a popular sport in North America. MrsAnumaana’s aunt’s sister-in-law’s grandson cannot understand what drives people so crazy at the mention of the word ‘cricket’ in this part of [...]
Talk at the Cafe Spectator
Rajapaksas extend hands of birthday friendship to Samaraweera
It was his 57th birthday last Sunday. After a late night he was still asleep that morning when the first call arrived. Staffers at ‘Temple Trees’ asked for Mangala Samaraweera and said President Mahinda Rajapaksa wanted to speak with him. A member of the household who answered the mobile phone said that Samaraweera was still [...]
Political Column
The wheels turn for Sri Lanka at CMAG: But there is a price to pay
A powerful Commonwealth member country works behind the scenes to defeat moves to shift CHOGM from Sri Lanka Commonwealth SG confident can iron out issues with Colombo; Canadian Foreign Minister calls GoSL ‘evil’ By Our Political Editor The massive rise in electricity tariffs to at least partly avert the loss of billions of rupees by [...]
5th Column
Playing political power games
My Dear Pavithra, I thought I must write to you because the entire country appears to be blaming the increase in electricity rates on you and no one seems to realise that you were given this thankless job only a few months ago. Some people are behaving as if you and you alone are responsible [...]
The Economic Analysis
Fiscal imperatives compel electricity tariff increases
The increase in electricity tariffs is directly related to the large fiscal deficit that needs to be contained. Last year’s losses of public enterprises of an astounding Rs. 185 billion were an important reason for the large fiscal deficit. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) recorded a loss of Rs. 61.2 billion last year, an increase [...]
Focus on Rights
The commonwealth’s appalling impotence on Sri Lanka
Secretary General of the Commonwealth, K.S. Sharma’s pleas this week at the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) press conference (London, Friday 26th April) that he is constantly engaged with Sri Lanka to uphold the shared values of the Commonwealth that are ‘so dear’ to him, can only invoke guffaws of ribald laughter from many within [...]
Lobby
Sparks in the House as Opposition comes alive by candlelight
Pavitra smiles, and seemingly passes the buck, while consumers roast, and Bills become law by the way By Chandani Kirinde, Our Lobby Correspondent The recent electricity price hike seems to have injected some life into the main opposition United National Party (UNP), that for too long, has been groping in the dark, trying to find [...]