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Home » ColumnsLoan-flying SriLankan faces new threat from pilots
The crisis-ridden national carrier Srilankan Airlines, which is bleeding the country’s resources, is now facing another threat – industrial action by its pilots. It was only last month the Cabinet of Ministers decided to infuse US$ 50 million to the airline to cope with expenditure it will incur during the daytime closure of the Bandaranaike [...]
Central Bank briefs Cabinet on looming economic crisis
Deputy Governor makes PowerPoint presentation on soaring domestic and foreign debt, Ravi more optimistic Drought and mismanagement send CoL sky high; rice and coconut worst affected; grated coconut sold in grams in some areas Special meeting of SLFP ministers and MPs at Negombo hotel with high security; CBK calls for expulsion of pro-Rajapaksa MPs By [...]
Pursuing genius
My dear Green Man, I thought of writing to congratulate you when I heard that you had gone Down Under on an official visit where you were also awarded an honorary doctorate. I am wondering how it must feel to have two ‘doctors’ in the same household- although one is not only a doctor but [...]
Agricultural development and economic growth essential for food security
The development of agriculture and economic growth are imperatives for food security. Increased agricultural production would contribute towards increasing food supplies to feed the increasing population, reduce food imports, increase export earnings and improve food security and livelihoods of a significant proportion of the population. Economic growth and a strong trade balance are also needed [...]
The Bar must not get involved in judicial appointments
Amidst the welter of conflicting reports over the recent appointment of a Batticoloa lawyer as a Northern High Court judge by President Maithripala Sirisena, certain facts are crystal clear. First, the involvement of the unofficial (private) Bar in judicial appointments is not a healthy precedent in any sense of the word. The reasons are obvious, [...]
Skirting the Ides of March with more promises
Had the soothsayer who predicted a sticky end for Julius Caesar been as inaccurate as the one who pronounced an early end for President Sirisena this year, he might have suffered a harder time than an appearance in court. As it turned out the soothsayer was correct and Julius did go down without a fight. [...]
Pretender to Jaya’s corrupt throne, Sasi’s power lust jailed for ten years
India’s Supreme Court damns Tamil Nadu’s Jayalalithaa in death and holds her ‘mastermind of public corruption’ Things nearly went a little too far in the manner succession takes place in the Asian region when a charismatic leader bids the world the last farewell. Lanka started the trend first when Sirimavo Bandaranaike was called from her [...]
Will Right of Information Act makes a real difference to the people of Sri Lanka ? Are We Ready?
Theodore Fernando Warnakulasuriya “Our freedom depends in large part, on the continuation of a free press, which is the strongest guarantee of a free society.” - Richard M. Schmidt. As Sri Lankans, we are in a threshold of entering into a new era of freedom and responsibility, empowered by the implementation of the Right of [...]
Making of a new constitution for Sri Lanka: Let wiser counsel prevail
By Tassie Seneviratne The talking point throughout the country these days is about the making of a new constitution for Sri Lanka. Principles of democracy as enunciated by the USA and accepted in most democracies and relevant to constitution making, are as follows: On the surface, the principles of majority rule and the protection of [...]