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Home » ColumnsDesperate times, desperate measures
My dear Maithri, I thought I must write to you when I heard rumours that you are now trying to strike a deal with Mahinda maama for the next big elections, where you will run for the top job but allow him to be your second in command. I didn’t know whether to laugh or [...]
A grand ‘Maharaja style’ wedding at Temple Trees hall
It was a lavish, fairy-tale wedding for more than 1,500 guests at one of Sri Lanka’s best known addresses on Thursday. Chatura, the son of Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, and a parliamentarian himself was given in marriage by his father Rajitha Senaratne at a gala wedding ceremony at ‘Temple Trees’ – the official residence of [...]
The two Silvas in Punch and Judy show: Hulftsdorp Sarath and Beliatte Mervyn
Once he was the Chief Justice of Lanka. Bewigged in ermine and frocked in purple. Enthroned on the supreme bench of the land as the fount of justice, the mountain source from which the Nile of all Lanka’s laws flowed. The final arbiter of the nation’s sacrosanct laws, whenever a conflict of high import arose. [...]
Killing of children for ransom and Sri Lanka’s nightmares
The progress of ongoing criminal investigations into the grisly killing of several Tamil youths following a racket of abduction for ransom, spearheaded ‘allegedly’ (here, I use the term quite deliberately) by a Naval officer and others during 2008-2009 will be the crucible on which this Government and this Presidency’s commitment to promises made, will be [...]
If Khan can, why can’t our leaders?
It is in the nature of politics that those who take to this more than dubious vocation make promises they cannot keep and pledges they do not intend to fulfill. Those acquainted with our post-independence history would know well enough that Sri Lankan politics is sinking deeper into a morass of its own creation and [...]
The fiscal predicament: Public expenditure without taxation
Inadequate government revenue is a fundamental economic weakness and concern. People are opposed to paying taxes while demanding higher public expenditure. The inadequacy of revenue collection is clear when compared with other countries. Our tax revenue has been well below what it should be at this stage of development. It should be about 20 percent [...]
Govt. in dilemma over measures to counter ‘JO’ protest
Western Province Transport Authority may impose restrictions on private buses, more measures anticipated ‘JO’ maintains secrecy over venue, but Galle Face Green is a likely meeting point Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya likely next Chief Justice Wednesday’s protest rally by the ‘Joint Opposition’ has come under heavy focus of leaders of the ruling coalition. Whilst the [...]
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