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Home » ColumnsPresident angry over some highway contracts, calls for national policy
President Maithripala Sirisena is livid over complaints that there are irregularities over multimillion dollar contracts for major road construction projects and he wants “a national policy on highways.” He made the declaration at the Progress Review meeting of the Road Development Authority (RDA) last Thursday at the Presidential Secretariat. Mr Sirisena wanted to know the [...]
For the first time, 3-pronged election battle for PCs and local councils
SC determination on 20A to be announced by Speaker on Tuesday; if Referendum isrequired, 3 PC polls will be held first UNP on a good wicket despite SLMC plans, but Sirisena’s UPFA in tricky position against Rajapaksa’s JO Arundika joins Rajapaksa, but 9 other SLFP MPs backtrackon plans to cross over By Our Political [...]
Firing late for posterity
My dear Field Marshal, I thought I must write to you because you have somehow managed to hit the headlines again – and most people don’t know what to make of it. I am not sure whether you, like Mervyn before you, believe that any publicity is good publicity, but it certainly doesn’t look like [...]
The problem of Arjun Aloysius and the reach of the law
The Order by the Commission of Inquiry into the issuance of Treasury Bonds by the Central Bank declining to compel Arjun Aloysius, principal shareholder and director of Perpetual Treasuries (Pvt) Ltd to give evidence before it, raises interesting points of law for consideration. Indeed, its effect has wider ramifications beyond the subject matter of this [...]
Balance of Payments surpluses vital to face large debt repayments in 2019
Two years from now in 2019 a massive debt servicing cost of US$4 billion is due. Therefore the impending challenges to the external finances in 2019 are quite formidable. How do we face this crunch in the country’s external finances? Meanwhile, the Prime Minister told parliament that the World Bank and the ADB will not [...]
Mister Mahinda, so sorry to say, your sil slip is showing all the way
Former president exposed in TV glare beats hasty retreat to live another day Rajapaksa’s sil defense: “I gave order but it’s no wrong, it’s no wrong, it’s no wrong” Sil cloth given to promote Buddha Sasana as Article 9 of the Constitution dictates” Emerging from the gates of Welikada jail where he had gone to [...]
Never a dull moment in our paradise isle
Whenever a pep-pill is needed to invigorate you and clear the mental cobwebs for the day ahead there is nothing like reading all the news that’s fit to thrill from our island paradise. That is even better than following the American pantomime performed by the leader of the sole superpower, the irrepressible Donald J. Trump [...]