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Home » ColumnsQatar’s air tycoon offers bitter medicine for SriLankan
When Qatar Airways acquired its first A 380 superjumbo, its Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker (pronounced Bak’r) saw to it that the aircraft did a few low flying sorties for those in Abu Dhabi to see. Not to be outdone, when Abu Dhabi’s national carrier Etihad received its first A 380, it followed suit [...]
Two-pronged strategy to resolve the foremost economic challenge of the fiscal imbalance
The current economic and financial crisis has come about owing to the cumulative impact of successive fiscal deficits over many years. Containing the fiscal deficit to 5 per cent of GDP in 2016 and continuing to reduce it further in the next four years is vital for stabilization of the economy and economic growth. Fiscal [...]
Learning from our past constitution-making efforts
The Government’s frantic rush towards finalizing a new Constitution for Sri Lanka has, in its path, several formidable obstacles. These include cautions emanating from established legal precedent in regard to the necessary formulation of valid questions at a Referendum. The first law of the land Marking one year following his election to office, President Maithripala [...]
Constitution-making begins after hectic night-long talks to resolve disputes
President makes tough speech on resolution; extremism will not be tolerated from any side; corruption suspects to be arrested this month Ranil says ‘no gun to the head’, he is ready to be flexible; wants the process to be inclusive The Government’s new Constitution initiative which began in Parliament yesterday was dogged by late night meetings [...]
Illegal deliveries they bowl after the match
My dear Dark Horse, I thought I must write to you to congratulate you on your appointment as the boss in charge of cricket in this country. I know you have had this job before but I’m sure it must be feeling great to be back at the top after all these years and several [...]
Maithripala’s elusive dream to dethrone the Presidency
Grand plan to abolish the constitution but will the unknown angel be worse than the devil we know? Few men in history have ever aspired to the highest post in the land only to want it abolished the moment it is gained. And Maithripala Sirisena is one such man. Ever since the day he announced [...]
A Blair trap laid for our leaders
When it was first revealed-no thanks to our foreign ministry which was hiding the news like it was their family boodelay- that Tony Blair would deliver the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture last year, my Sunday column was headlined “Beware of Blair bearing fibs”. When the Blair family eventually turned up in Sri Lanka last November [...]