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Three new Airbuses: Govt. faces financial turbulence, but no action against culprits

It is easily one of the worst losses suffered by the Government but it had little or no say over the issue. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Matters (CCEM) has decided to negotiate the “termination loss” for a SriLankan Airlines order in February 2013 for three brand new A 350-900 aircraft for “anything between US$ [...]

Foreign Direct Investments continue to be inadequate

The expectation of higher amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) remains unrealised. Foreign investment has been far below expected levels and low in comparison with other Asian countries. FDI is less than 1 per cent of the country’s GDP and much less than what countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh have been able to attract in [...]

Keeping that bolt of blue lightning alive

There is a trend with which Sri Lankans are unfortunately all too familiar. A new Government comes into town and the air is suddenly shot through with a lightning blue bolt of electric hope. It is as if the ground has been parched with drought for years and then the freshness of the rains is [...]

Declare October and November as Grow-More-Trees months

In September we mark the birth anniversary of the Anagarika Dharmapala and former President J R Jayewardene while commemorating the death anniversary of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. These personalities understood the importance of rain and general fertility of the land. Ranasinghe Premadasa, when he was prime minister, declared September as the Grow-More-Trees month. He [...]

President presents 11-page draft for lasting national reconciliation

Power-sharing for political settlement to address grievances and aspirations of all communities Clear-cut perspectives on human rights, inclusivity, diversity, multiculturalism, gender equality and judicial independence Former President Rajapaksa scoffs at new policy as “inappropriate”; focus on October 8 anti-Govt. rally By Our Political Editor Just after his successful visit to the United Nations General Assembly sessions in [...]

Protest against settlements in North

My dear Wiggie, I thought I must write to you when I heard that you had given leadership to some kind of a protest in Jaffna that led to shops closing and public transport coming to a halt. Well, if your idea was to get some attention, you seem to have succeeded, because everyone is [...]

Less than two months ago the Saudi Arabia-led coalition bombed a hospital in Yemen killing 11 persons and wounding 19 others. It was a hospital that was being assisted by the reputed French organisation Médecins Sans Frontière. Reports say the air attacks are increasingly targeting places normally used by civilians. The previous week coalition aircraft [...]

Wignes adds the Buddha image to his catalogue of Sinhala hate

Supreme Court justice turned northern arch maverick brings in religious dimension to fuel ‘Rise Tamil” march in Eelam aid Last Thursday, standing on the threshold of launching his ‘Rise Tamil’ march in Jaffna town, Vishwalingam Wigneswaran, Chief Minister of the Northern Province, issued a letter addressed to ‘all the Tamil speaking people of Lanka,’ and [...]