Focus on Rights
Home » ColumnsThe tragedy and the farce of legal flirtations with the ‘bond scam’
Applying Marx’s denunciation of historic personages repeating themselves ‘first as tragedy, second as farce’ to grotesque financial scandals in Sri Lanka is a tad adventurous. But there is no question that one satire follows the other, tragically and farcically, with little respite. In the interests of sanity Close upon Arjun Aloysius, principal shareholder and director [...]
Will the new Inland Revenue Act enhance revenue and achieve fiscal consolidation?
The three main objectives of the new Inland Revenue Act are to reduce the fiscal deficit, increase revenue and move towards a more progressive system of taxation. All three of these objectives are vitally important for the economy. To what extent is the government likely to succeed in achieving these important economic objectives? Increase in [...]
PCs Amendment Bill: Blazing row between Hakeem and Govt. frontliners
The verbal battle, where strong words were exchanged in the lobbies of Parliament, raised eyebrows among opposition MPs. Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, who is also the official Government spokesperson, and former Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake lambasted Minister Rauff Hakeem, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader. “This is a shameful thing to do,” lamented Senaratne.“You don’t [...]
PC polls: What the President wished, the Premier delivered
Rapprochement between SLFP and UNP on amendment Bill to hold provincial council elections on mixed system; thrilling efforts to get two-thirds majority Attorney General advises Speaker that two-thirds majority alone is sufficient to pass the amending Bill Election Commission chairman Mahinda Deshapriya angry he was not consulted, threatened to quit; Delimitation Committee to be appointed [...]
Of cabbages and kings
My dear Chathurika, I thought of writing to you when I heard that you had written a book about your father. I am told it is called ‘Janaadhipathi thaaththa’ or ‘Father who is President’. Well, congratulations, but all these years we didn’t know that we had a budding Dickens or Martin Wickramasinghe in our midst! [...]
Might-is-Right ‘Yahapalana’ Govt. bypasses Supreme Court, voters’ FR
It is not unusual for any govt with a two-third majority in Parliament, to trespass on Constitutional provisions meant to safeguard the Fundamental Rights (FR) of the people and keep the Legislature in check. On Thursday (21), in Parliament, there was a classic example of this when the ‘Yahapalana’ Govt. decided that “might is right”, [...]
Growing scepticism greets political leaders
Listening to a discussion on British and European politics on TV the other day I almost choked when one of the participants advised viewers to take promises made by political leaders with a “pinch of salt”. A pinch of salt, really! I would have thought that a tonne might bring us closer to the truth. [...]
Moneypura sect’s new refuge: ‘Salli Saranang Gatchchami’
Perhaps, it signalled the beginning of the end for the ingrained respect the people of Lanka have long held sacrosanct in their hearts for the sacred saffron robe. Last week, as monks took to the streets to ask the public their money to tinkle and jingle in monks’ begging bowls as alms, what the nation [...]