Columns
Home » ColumnsConfronting the ‘banality of evil’
During last year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was so bold as to state at a news conference broadcast around the world that Sri Lanka has a legal system and “if anyone wants to complain about human rights violations, whether it is torture, whether it is rape … we have a system…we [...]
The strange case of a ‘disappeared’ audit report, a renovation contract and the LTTE
Allegations of a serious nature relating to a contract given in November 2009 for the renovation of the residence of Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva have been the subject of intense controversy in sections of the electronic media recently. The charge that heads of the company that was awarded the contract [...]
Christmas with China Claus
My Dear Mahinda maama, I thought I must write to you because I was quite confused when I saw you on Friday. There you were walking in to Parliament, in your mostly white (with a little bit of red) dress in the final week of October and delivering the Budget which was not due until [...]
Wife at ringing end of angry diplomat
It was a pirith ceremony at a Buddhist temple in a European capital just weeks ago. The Sri Lanka Ambassador to that country and his wife were the honoured guests. Soon after they arrived, the envoy was given a warm welcome and accommodated together with his wife near the pirith mandapaya. It happened to be close [...]
Budgeting and balloting strange bedfellows
Political compulsions rather than economic imperatives determine an election year budget. Despite official statements that it will not be a giveaway budget, the estimates, recent policy decisions and budget proposals show clearly that financial discipline is overshadowed by political pressures to accommodate an election friendly budget. Readers could judge whether this column’s expectations written before [...]
Opposition wrong footed as President Rajapaksa pre-empts Santa
An upbeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa presented his Government’s 10th consecutive Budget to Parliament on Friday, announcing concessions across the board, covering all sectors of the country. While Opposition members speaking to journalists soon after the Budget presentation, were quick to label it an election gimmick, Government members were busy congratulating the President at the post [...]
Does ‘sorry’ swansong soap Sarath Silva’s sins?
The Hindus cleanse their sins in the flowing waters of the sacred Ganges. The Catholics use the private confessional box to confess, repent and, through the sacrament of penance, atone for their sins. Lanka’s former Chief Justice, Sarath Nanda Silva does it in public, basking in the limelight and loving every minute of the attention [...]
Ultimatum to President: JHU to decide soon
Rajapaksa walks out of Temple Trees meeting, but later apologises to Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera Coal crisis explodes, Champika challenges Pavitra on charges of huge fraud UNP leader under pressure to agree on another common candidate but Premadasa issues complicate party crisis Some two thousand university students staged a protest Tuesday evening choking traffic on [...]