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Home » ColumnsAds to the woes of the Police
Worrying about their image in the public eye has become as big a problem for the Police as maintaining law and order. Not surprisingly when some of their top brass are accused of murder, treasure hunting or simply engaging in bribery and corruption. Now, a new issue has added to their woes: Advertisements, particularly in [...]
After the Budget, alarm bells for President, PM
Despite giving posts and other inducements only half of the UPFA MPs support Sirisena Former President down but not out; possibility of opting for a new Opposition party Ranil also runs into series of problems over Budget and unkept promises: But focus is much on mid term economic strategy Wednesday’s two thirds majority vote for [...]
Beating Mahinda at his own game
My dear Maithri, I thought I must write to you because you are almost completing a year in office and I thought it is my duty to tell you that you are doing a wonderful job, perhaps even beating Mahinda maama at his own game, even though some people are not happy with the way [...]
Failing to contain fiscal deficit will undermine economy
The most serious deficiency of the 2016 Budget is its failure to contain the fiscal deficit. The inability to contain the fiscal deficit below five per cent of GDP would destabilise the economy, undermine the investment climate and retard economic growth and development. It weakens the investment climate and threatens economic growth. The Prime Minister’s [...]
Dismissing ‘magic formulas’ in restoring judicial integrity
In a major ironical twist unfolding before our eyes, former President Chandrika Kumaratunga has seen fit to wax eloquent on the importance of judicial integrity this week. Addressing a press conference, she is reported to have said that, over the last decade, the Sri Lankan public in general and she in particular, had lost ‘confidence [...]
Victor and vanquished out of step with the other’s tune
President Maithripala Sirisena took the unprecedented step of addressing Parliament on two successive days this week as the Committee Stage debate of the Budget got under way on Thursday, while his predecessor, Kurunegala district MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, finally stepped out of his comfort zone in the environs of Abhayaramaya and spoke in Parliament. However, the [...]
Withering of yahapalanaya as nepotism returns
When people voted for Maithripala Sirisena on January 8, they believed in his campaign promises. They had faith that Sirisena would indeed install clean government and rid the country of the existing corruption and nepotism he condemned from platforms. Mahinda Rajapaksa, with a military triumph behind him, was made to believe that whatever he and [...]
Argle-bargle over legal eagle as cell ring courts contempt
When a president’s counsel’s cell phone reputedly began to repeatedly sound his favourite ring tone in the Galle High Court on Monday, it was enough to drive the legal eagle up the gum tree to answer a call of contempt in court.Sitting judge K.B.K. Hirimburegama was not amused to have the decorum of his court [...]