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Before embarking on a her latest trip to London, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has ruffled feathers at the highest levels of the UPFA Government. She was the subject of concern among the leadership who wondered whether she was making a re-entry to politics. However, a source close to her said that was far from [...]
Weliweriya no more than a debate in the House
After the tragic events at Weliweriya, one would expect all hell to break loose in Parliament over the issue, but instead, what transpired in the House was a politically correct statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on the incident, and an equally politically correct response from House Leader Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva. The [...]
Weliweriya worsens Govt.’s woes worldwide
Cardinal’s charge of sacrilege hits international headlines, while Muslim leaders work out complaint to Islamic world Gampaha district police forbidden from using weapons against protestors; Army called in It is ironic but true. The UPFA Government, through default, is adding to its list of woes over newer rights issues. That it would draw the attention of [...]
The Army we love
My Dear General Daya, I thought I must write to you when I heard that you had just assumed office. I suppose congratulations are in order but I’m afraid that you haven’t had an auspicious start to your stint at the top because of everything that happened at Weliveriya last week. I know that it [...]
Sustaining and increasing tourist earnings
Tourist earnings are expected to make a significant contribution towards bridging the large trade gap this year. The tourist industry has faced severe setbacks and reversals in the past. This must not be allowed to happen again. It is important to ensure that conditions in the country are conducive to increasing earnings from tourism. Security [...]
Flinging the gauntlet down to the Sinhala people
As the full facts of the mayhem at Weliweriya came to light this week, the brutalities inflicted by the army on protestors and bystanders caught in the melee, was horrifyingly inevitable. It was a natural culmination of all that we had allowed to happen in the preceding years through clear complicity in applauding a Government [...]
Weliweriya: Government shoots protesters in the head, and itself in the foot
The full extent of the outrage committed in Weliweriya unfolds slowly but surely, in spite of crude attempts to gag the media. Grisly details continue to emerge from the countless testimonies of the bereaved, the assault victims, their relatives and the rest of the community. It’s unlikely that dozens of village people would be lying [...]