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Home » ColumnsPolice shoes from China shop
At least a part of the outfit for all policemen in Sri Lanka would be Chinese made deck shoes. The Ministry of Law and Order will buy 61,000 pairs from Xiamen Jade Stone Trading Company at a cost of US$ 890,905 or Rs. 189, 892, 321. The cost includes agency commission for Sri Lanka State Trading [...]
Welgama takes the House on a bus ride
The appalling state of the country’s public transport sector is not a subject that is sufficiently discussed in Parliament, but this week, when Transport Minister Kumar Welgama introduced regulations to the House aimed at improving road safety, some of the difficulties faced by bus and train commuters were highlighted. Transport Minister Welgama admitted that road [...]
Drought affects food security; but how big is its impact on economy?
With the onset of the monsoon it is easy to forget the economic and social impact of the drought in the first half of the year. The severe drought that began in the latter months of last year and continued into the first five months of this year affected agricultural output significantly and reduced hydroelectricity [...]
A mix of comic theatre and deadly intent
It is a baffling question. Is the blundering of this government in almost every aspect of its domestic and foreign policy, deliberate or sweetly unintentional? Manifestation of unholy chaos. Is this part of the unholy chaos that we see with ministers speaking on every topic under the sun resulting in statements being issued by some [...]
India, Pakistan and the BBS
Two important assertions made by Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in an interview with the ‘Daily Mirror’ have probably come as a relief to many. One is his categorical statement that he has “nothing to do with the BBS” (Bodu Bala Sena). Any move to distance itself from this outfit can only be beneficial to the [...]
UPFA loses friends and influences disasters
South Africa’s role in Sri Lanka’s peace and reconciliation process appears to have metamorphosed from playing honest broker to simply sharing its experience and offering help. Their latest posture emerged when the man who is next in line for that country’s presidency, much respected Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Colombo last Monday heading a top level delegation. [...]
Cyril’s fillip to peace tourism
My Dear Cyril Ramaphosa, I thought I must write to you even though you would have visited our country and left our shores by now because your visit here seems to have generated a lot of controversy, reminding me of an old, political slogan which was very successful twenty five years ago: ‘May kawda? Mokada [...]
TV brawl: Dayasiri’s below the belt blow
Once Dayasiri Jayasekera, the Elder and Harin Fernando, the Younger, were the best of buddies, soul mates who often met to sing and dance and browse their grouses in the familiar tavern of life found on the same side of the run down street. There, seated on worn out wooden benches, they would tattle and [...]