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Home » ColumnsJohn: The family man’s daughter stuck in China
This is a story that will shock Sri Lankans who believe in good governance or yaha palanaya with the advent of the present Government. Sri Lanka joined China as a “Country Partner” in its Silk Road International Tourism Expo 2016 from August 26 to 28. The event was part of “One belt, One Road” project [...]
Gota charged by Bribery Commission soon after meeting President Sirisena
New VAT Bill this month; threshold increased toRs 50 million a month Two major parties reach consensus on amendments to VAT Clause on retrospective effect maybe challenged in Supreme Court Basil goes ahead with secret plans to form new party; SLFP convention today will be a turning point By Our Political Editor A Bill to [...]
Changing a Blue round table
My dear SWRD and Sirima, I thought of writing to you in the Land of No Return because your beloved Blue Party is ‘celebrating’ its sixty fifth anniversary this week- although I am not sure whether ‘celebrating’ is the correct word as there seems to be more in-fighting than celebrations now with its members divided [...]
Tax reforms and reform of tax administration vital for success of national development plan
In one of his budget speeches Dr. N.M. Perera, one time Finance Minister, said that you can’t even fry an egg without money. It was his way of emphasising the importance of revenue for the country’s budget. The government is facing a severe revenue crunch owing to inadequate revenue collection. Unless the government is able [...]
Increase VAT on imported items, don’t burden poor people
According to Buddhism all those who preach must preach what is just and good. What is meant by Just is making life meaningful. Meaningful living in the long run embraces economic behaviour that helps proper living. When Ranasinghe Premadasa assumed duties as President and was informed about the bankruptcy of the government, I being a [...]
That great betrayal and institutional accountability
Visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s assertion that ‘much needs to be done in order to redress wrongs of the past and restore accountability of key organizations, particularly the judiciary and the security services’ raises an interesting question. Myopic framing of core questions Post last year’s ‘rainbow revolution’, where is the focus on [...]
The outcast at the Malaysian gates
As Rajapaksa runs into Tamil protest storm in Kuala Lumpur, the President asks UN chief for more moons for reconciliation What a shame that the new joint opposition’s candidate for leadership of the new soon to be touted political party Mahinda Rajapaksa could not drop in for a spot of egg hoppers last evening at [...]
Media exposés that irk our ministers
There is hardly a politician who does not pay homage to the concept of media freedom, at least in countries that call themselves democracies. Politicians, particularly those aspiring to higher office will burn incense at the altar of media freedom and portray themselves as defenders of the faith. All this is in the hope of [...]