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Home » ColumnsJR’s bulls in TNA’s May Day shop
Politicians and public relations stunts are as close to each other as bat and ball would be to a cricketer. Some stunts draw attention whilst others end up in PR disaster. Years ago, when the late J.R. Jayewardene was the leader of the opposition, the United National Party (UNP) chose to launch a protest over a [...]
The United States became the second country to ignore the UPFA Government’s prohibition order on 16 Tamil diaspora groups and 424 of their members on grounds that they are allegedly involved in terrorist activities. Some of those listed were among those who were at the Department of State in Washington DC last Thursday. They were part [...]
James’ games with pack of politicos
My Dear James Packer, I thought I must write to you to congratulate you on what you did last week. I am not sure whether you are aware of this, but you have done something which no one has been able to do in this country for the last ten years — and that is [...]
Economic consequences and challenges of the Geneva resolution
Good governance is good for the nation and people. Irrespective of any economic consequences of the Geneva resolutions, the country must ensure law and order and protect human rights of its citizens. This was the central message left in the minds of those who attended the LBR-LBO CEO forum on Meeting the Challenges of a [...]
Politics, media and the monks
In recent times members of the Buddhist clergy have increasingly tended to make the front pages of newspapers and the TV headlines. This might suggest that they are assuming an increasingly prominent role in public life. Whether it is for better or worse is a matter on which opinion is divided. It is of interest [...]
Enduring results of the Indian democracy project
In a conversation with two visiting Indian scholars this week in Colombo, the focus shifted to the seemingly easy manner in which the Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) Prime Ministerial candidate in the ongoing elections, Narendra Modi appears to have captured the ‘technocratic’ space in the Indian political consciousness. More ‘authoritarianism’ needed in India? True enough, [...]
Cut the casino crap, start talking nanotech
Last Friday the Government staked all its winnings of goodwill on one turn of pitch-and-toss and came a cropper. It ran out of the good fortune that had shadowed its every step since the defeat of the Tigers five years ago in May. The political gamble did not bust the government bank but clearly left [...]