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Home » ColumnsLessons taught but will they be learnt
If one might be permitted to adapt Shakespeare’s word this was the winter of the peoples’ discontent made a hopeful spring by a political shock. Much has been said by many about the recent local government elections. Some have claimed to be the proud prognosticators of exclusive predictions. As the hours go by with no [...]
Election musings
My dear chandadaayakaya, I thought I must write to you because you had caused a ‘revolution’ last Saturday by exercising your vote at the ‘punchi chandey’. Various people give various interpretations of what you told us and this has become quite confusing, if not exciting- and that is what I wanted to write to you [...]
Delay in announcing results and other travails of Polls Chief
Just days before the local polls, the Election Commission told Sri Lankans that results would be announced early, as early as 7.30 pm in local authorities with lesser number of voters. Alas, the first result did not arrive till after 12.15 a.m. on Sunday. The Commission, constitutionally empowered to be an independent body, had a [...]
Year of the Dog dawns with China fast becoming Lanka’s best friend
Even as the Chinese New Year of the Dog dawned this Friday, it is becoming crystal clear that China is fast turning out to be Lanka’s best friend. And that this country, reduced as it is to the nadir of its economical and political existence and the recent loss of its moral compass, should grip [...]
Economic implications of the local government elections: New challenges
Never before has a local government election had as much implications for the economy as that of February 10th. The run up to the election and the defeat of the two parties forming the government have resulted in political uncertainty, political instability and erosion of confidence in the coalition government. These would deter investment, weaken [...]
A rude but entirely predictable electoral shock
Those who are bewildered by the results of Sri Lanka’s local government elections a week ago need a harsh reality check if not a resounding knock to the head.. Massive public discomfiture For it must be said that the rude punishment dealt by the electorate to the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition government was entirely predictable. From mid [...]
Crisis changes from day to day, nation awaits its future course
Sirisena faces two options — continue the consensus coalition with the UNP with Ranil as PM, or form an SLFP Govt. with Rajapaksa’s backing Undercurrents of a numbers’ game with speculation of crossovers from SLFP to UNP and vice versa Ranil confident Yahapalana Govt. could continue but agrees to major restructuring of the party; Cabinet [...]
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