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Home » ColumnsSLAF returns land, but wings of owners clipped
The Air force last Thursday returned more than 240 acres of paddy lands to 37 families In Keppapilavu, a village in Mullaitivu District. There were conditions attached. Before the lands were given back, the owners were met by senior Air Force officers individually and asked to sign a document agreeing to the conditions. One of the [...]
Major parties prepare for presidential poll, January date likely
Despite a turbo charged campaign with lethal weapons from its political armoury, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) faced a humiliating outcome at the Uva Provincial Council elections. It won with a lower majority and faces higher concerns.Lawlessness reigned in the run-up to the September 20 polls. Intimidation and thuggery were rampant. The Police were [...]
Uva smiles: Bigger tests ahead boy!
My dear Sajith, I thought of writing to you to offer my congratulations when I heard that you have been appointed as the Deputy Leader of the Greens. I know that this was something that you had to fight hard for, so you must be a happy man now but I hope you realise that [...]
Presidential polls in the air as next year’s Appropriation Bill makes early appearance
As the dust settles on the Uva Provincial Council polls, the decision by the Government to present the Appropriation Bill for next year, almost a month ahead of the usual Budget time frame, was the clearest indication to come so far that an early presidential election is on the cards. “We will look at a [...]
Containing fiscal deficit: Policy imperatives politically unpalatable
The Treasury’s expectation of bringing down the fiscal deficit to 5.2 per cent of GDP this year and achieving a fiscal deficit of 3.2 per cent of GDP in the next three years is unrealistic, as the policies needed to achieve them are unlikely to be implemented. This is especially so if the objective is [...]
Sarath – a tireless fighter for farmers’ rights
To many it would seem that the death of Sarath Fernando, former convenor of MONLAR (Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform) earlier this month dealt a blow to the struggle of farmers and to the farmers’ rights movement in Sri Lanka. But in all likelihood Sarath, who gave 25 years of his life to [...]
A resounding cheer to the voters of Uva-Wellassa
The Rajapaksa administration faced its harshest post-war reality-check administered by the villagers of Uva-Wellassa last week when it lost electoral strongholds in the Badulla District and only scraped through with proverbial inches to spare in regard to the leadership of the Uva Provincial Council itself. Reason to celebrate This was despite multifarious election violations and [...]
Harin’s triumph in defeat lifts UNP sky-high
Greater love has no politician than one who willingly sacrifices his parliamentary seat for the sake of his floundering party; and, having cast his fate to fortune’s winds, takes up for his party’s good, the unnerving challenge to fight the un-fightable foe on uneven ground, on unequal terms only to lose as predicted. But fortune [...]