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Home » ColumnsHoots for CBK, wild cheers for MR and mild clap for Maithri
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga turned up in Kandy for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Bala Mandalaya (branch) meeting. It was addressed by President Maithripala Sirisena. Thereafter, she joined him on a helicopter ride to Matale for a similar meeting also addressed by Sirisena. Her vehicle and security entourage went by road to Dambulla where [...]
President’s diplomacy brings about win-win solution to 19A
It was an epochal weekly meeting of ministers last Wednesday. There was table thumping and clapping amidst a heap of praise for President Maithripala Sirisena. It was deservedly for ensuring the passage of the 19th Amendment in Parliament last Tuesday night. Most eloquent were Ministers Rauff Hakeem and Rajitha Senaratna. “All praise to Your Excellency,” [...]
JR’s legacy suffers a sea change
My dear JR, Even though you are in the Land of Never Return, I thought I must write to you to let you know that one of your legacies to the nation was changed forever this week after 37 long years: your all powerful Executive Presidency was modified and no longer looks like what you [...]
Remittances, tourism and ICT services growing strengths in balance of payments
Increased remittances from abroad, earnings from tourism and receipts from other services have contributed substantially to offset large trade deficits of recent years. Consequently, there were balance of payments surpluses in four of the last five years (2010 to 2014). In 2014, workers’ remittance, tourist earnings and earnings from other services amounting to US$ 11.67 [...]
Marvelling at Sri Lanka’s constitutional reform like no other
For those of us privileged, (if I may be forgiven the sarcasm), to witness the live Parliamentary telecast of Tuesday’s committee stage process on the 19th Amendment, the raucous scenes were beautifully illustrative of the mockery that passes for lawmaking in Sri Lanka today. Arrogance and ill intent combined For the first time perhaps, a [...]
Is Mangala getting ‘Aligned’ at the expense of the ‘Non-Aligned?’
With the flying visit to Colombo by US Secretary of State John Kerry, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s priorities in foreign policy become increasingly clear. He declared in a recent interview that his ambition is “somehow to get US president Barack Obama to visit Sri Lanka at one point or another.” This is while President Maithripala [...]
President’s finest hour as he honours pledge restoring people’s dignity
When President Maithripala Sirisena stood up to speak in Parliament on Monday morning, he was on the threshold of fulfilling the most important pledge he made to the people during his election campaign. He was also fulfilling a promise two of his predecessors had pledged to keep but reneged, once elected to the almost unassailable [...]
UK polls: Looking for a tenant for No: 10
It has never been like this for the past several decades. This lacklustre election campaign will most certainly end up with a hung parliament. If voters had half a chance they will hang not only the parliament, but many of the candidates out to dry. They are fed up. Such has been the mood of [...]
Maithripala’s finest hour
19th Amendment signals end to ‘Bring back Mahinda’ gravy train If President Maithripala Sirisena serves the full term of his presidency, and may divine providence enable him to do so, men may still say this was Maithripala’s finest hour. With the passing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution by a majority of 212 out [...]