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Home » ColumnsPM proposes a novel move to build a well-mannered society
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has come out with a novel proposal to build what he calls “a well-mannered society” in Sri Lanka. For this purpose, he wants to set up special offices in different parts of the country. Officials will be tasked to carry out measures to achieve this objective. Recently Premier Wickremesinghe’s proposal, as Minister [...]
Legislators behind the wheel of road safety
By Chandani Kirinde- Lobby Correspondent Parliamentarians took time off from their usual political bickering this week to discuss an issue that is fast becoming a growing menace to the public of the country as a whole- Road Accidents. Caused mainly by negligent and careless driving and poor driving skills, road accidents on an average are [...]
President Sirisena changes approach and holds out hand to dissidents
Mahinda Rajapaksa sceptical, continues move to form new party, meeting today at Homagama VAT Bill soon with major revisions, implementation from October1 as Finance Minister works out November 10 Budget By Our Political Editor Lights are burning late at the Treasury these days. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake is meeting both his ministerial colleagues and senior [...]
Congratulations on your 70th birthday
My dear Green Man, I thought of congratulating you because you are celebrating the 70th birthday of the Green Party. There are reasons for you to celebrate because you are now in power after being in the opposition for almost twenty years. That was when you became the world’s longest serving Opposition Leader! I know [...]
Let us work hard and honestly, ten hours a day and fewer holidays
Before advising others and showing them the correct path, we need to be on the correct path. If we are not kind to ourselves, we cannot be kind to our fathers, mothers, children, workers or our countrymen. Those who try to comfort others who are in sorrow, fear or grief should first learn how to [...]
Trade deficit expands to unprecedented levels: Yet current account surplus likely this year
With the trade deficit reaching US$ 4.2 billion in the first half of the year, this year’s trade deficit is likely to reach a massive US$ 8.5 billion. Despite this large trade deficit, a current account surplus in the balance of payments of around US $2 billion is likely this year. Workers’ remittances, tourist earnings [...]
Looking for the ‘truth’ beyond Colombo’s ‘comfort zone’
If proposed legislation on a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is to be soon thrust upon us as appears to be the case, Sri Lanka’s unity Government would do well to employ the few shrewd minds in its midst to look strategically back at lessons learnt in regard to the turbulent passage of the Office [...]
The day Nemesis kept rendezvous with UPFA regime’s blue-eyed boy
How Duminda’s trail of broken hearts and Bharatha’s dead body led to gallows’ dais No prominent members of the Rajapaksa regime, who had once affectionately called him ‘Sudu Putha’ in his halcyon days of untrammeled power, were there to greet him and to wish him well when Duminda Silva arrived at the Colombo High Court [...]
Ranil says Obama’s pivot will not do
Some 15 months or so ago the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry hastened to ‘clarify’ a remark that foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera was reported to have made in an interview with Japan’s largest broadcasting establishment NHK. It had to do with Sri Lanka’s foreign policy under the new government. NHK said: “Sri Lanka’s foreign minister says [...]