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Home » ColumnsSomething fishy in this huge sand deal
The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources recently awarded a contract to dredge the fishery harbour in Panadura. The project came under the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation (CFHC). Following an agreement with the CFHC, the company began dredging operations. Minister Rajitha Senaratne says the dredged sand is of no use to the construction industry because of [...]
Cry Halal! And let slip bigotry
This Tuesday morning at the supposedly auspicious time of 8.30, a group of monks will leave Colombo in a motorcade to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. Their stated aim is to first obtain the blessings of the Sri Dalada for their vicious mission to fan religious and communal fires again. Then Cry Halal! [...]
Amid CHOGM rush, Lanka blows hot for coal
BOI recommends huge investments in foreign coal companies to ensure supplies, but some ministers raise questions State institutions rushing in the rain to complete summit projects; doubts remain as to how many leaders will come Hakeem, Bathiuddin clash openly at President’s tea party; UNP’s crisis talks makes slow progress It was a ‘home’ and ‘home’ [...]
A not-so-innocent spin doctor
My Dear Mangala, I thought I must write to you even though I am not sure whether I should send this letter to you at home or to the remand prison in Matara-such are the difficulties you face when you leave the Cabinet and then join a party that is trying so hard to be [...]
It’s Sri Lanka’s justice system, not just one case
The predictability of it all would be laughable if it was not so deplorable. In a perfect world, the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) would never have been held in Sri Lanka which, under this Presidency, symbolizes a complete negation of all the values that the Commonwealth stood for. A useless extravaganza Yet, [...]
CHOGM: To go or not to go?
With just weeks to go for the biggest international conference to be hosted in Sri Lanka since the NAM summit in 1976 – the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) – the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is obviously anxious about making the event a success. GoSL is concerned about the possibility of non-attendance by [...]
Developing the North to benefit economy
The formation of the Northern Provincial Council with a far-sighted and broad-minded Chief Minister provides an excellent opportunity to develop the North to benefit the entire economy. If this devolution of power leads to ethnic reconciliation and national harmony, it could have far reaching benefits for the Sri Lankan economy. The economic development of the [...]