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Home » ColumnsSingapore says personal security not needed for Rajapaksa
The telephone calls from Singapore appeared urgent. Unable to reach Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, this was why Udith Lokubandara MP, who serves as Personal Assistant to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, left hurried messages at his office to call back. Not sure what the issue was, Minister Samaraweera telephoned. Mr. Lokubandara, a UPFA (Mahinda faction) MP [...]
Cabinet shocked over cockpit deals by bankrupt SriLankan
Subject Minister Hashim sidelined by national carrier, takes damning indictment directly to President; Sirisena and several ministers expressed disbelief Ravi denies clash, PM unhappy over why he was not consulted first; Minister tones down comment after meeting at Temple Trees Sirisena admits corruption charges against his government; insists that probes on major corruption cases  will [...]
Lady in blue: The Game changer
My Dear Satellite, I haven’t written to you for some time now but I thought I should do so now because you seem to be in the news again, talking about our armed forces, what they have done and how they should be dealt with. Naturally, everybody is sitting up and taking notice and eyebrows [...]
A massive trade deficit in 2016, yet a current account surplus in BOP
The trade deficit in 2016 is estimated to be a massive US$ 10 billion. However the current account in the balance of payments is likely to be in surplus as worker remittances, earnings from tourism and other services would more than offset this trade gap. Furthermore, to achieve a current account surplus net current income [...]
Tears and meditation are poor substitutes for systemic police reform
When leaving his position as Chairman of the National Police Commission (NPC) to assume an academic appointment overseas last month, Professor Siri Hettige’s reported observation that Sri Lanka’s Independent Police Commission is unable to control the police force and that the Commission has had to seek appropriate powers, attracts a peculiar kind of public scrutiny. [...]
‘Spring-clean SLFP and get rid of the rotten to win polls’
Chandrika’s call for party reform echoes what masses want from all parties: ‘Break free from rogues and come clean’ Mother knows best! The Matriarch of the SLFP, the twice elected former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranatunge struck a blow for all right thinking members of the party her father SWRD founded when she declared last week [...]
And so let us prey!
That master craftsman of the private tuition world, former minister and now the economics guru of the Joint Opposition, Bandula Gunawardena, recently supported vehemently the offering of perks and privileges to our elected — and even selected — representatives of the people. News reports said that, at a media conference a few days ago, Gunawardena [...]