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Home » ColumnsNew board to promote nutritious local food
The Government will set up a National Food Promotion Board (NFPB) to educate people “on the value of local and traditional food.” It comes on a recommendation by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and will replace the National Freedom from Hunger Campaign (NFHC) Unlike the NFHC, the NFPB will have new objectives. They will include: [...]
Blue New Year for the Rajapaksa regime
As drama for the UNHRC sessions builds up, TNA rejects President’s call and adopts tough resolutions UNP leader holds dialogue with opposition parties to find common candidate for presidential poll A New Year dawns in just two days and the travails for the UPFA Government seem heavier than those for the opposition. The biggest worry [...]
Plenty of pain in the annus mirabilis
My Dear Mahinda maama, I thought I must write to you to say, “Suba Aluth Avuruddak Weva” now that this year is coming to an end and another one is fast approaching-and also because you have already announced that next year would be an ‘election year’. Looking back at the year that is just ending, [...]
Ending 2013 with signs of economic recovery, expectations and policy concerns
At year’s end there are signs of an economic recovery. Higher growth in the third quarter and an improved export performance in the second half of the year lend hope of a better economic performance this year than earlier expected. However fundamental weaknesses in public finances, large foreign borrowing, lack of reforms that promote private [...]
A radically new political critique needed in the New Year
At the close of a year that has proved to be disastrously negative for Sri Lankan democracy, Sri Lankans should look to the Indian people to see the manner in which democracy is defended by bold action on the ground. Lessons from across the Palk Strait This Saturday, India’s unassuming anti-corruption activist Arwind Kejriwal assumed [...]
The 7 Herculean Labours of Minister No 70
Just when the new seventieth minister of the UPFA Cabinet S. M. Chandrasiri thought he could rest on his laurels on being appointed minister last month after his supporters in his Anuradhapura electorate took it upon themselves to halt the infamous Channel 4′ news team’s train journey to Kilinochchi literally in its tracks, the Christmas [...]