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Home » ColumnsKilinochchi’s special vice squad disbanded: Smokescreens from Police Spokesman and Sumanthiran
Authorities have disbanded a special unit which operated under the Kilinochchi Deputy Inspector General and conducted raids to crack down on drugs, illicit liquor and other criminal activity in his area of authority. The personnel attached to this unit have been transferred to other police stations. There will be no such unit which has been [...]
A leader like no other
Aiyo Sirisena, I thought of writing to you because you were “celebrating” four years in office, just the other day. I suppose congratulations are in order, although I am sure they are few and far between these days because of what you have been up to in the last three months, plunging the entire nation [...]
That murder most foul
Ten years have passed. The tears have dried except in the eyes of those to whom Lasantha Wickrematunga was very near and dear. The tears have gone but not the memories of an intrepid journalist, a bundle of energy often mixed with mischief and determined to follow the trail like a blood hound in pursuit [...]
It’s breeding, class and one’s moral compass that makes one fit to adorn House: Not ALs
It is the fundamental right of every citizen of this country to freely exercise his franchise and vote the person of his or her choice to represent him or her in the House of Parliament. Apart from those disqualified to vote as specifically listed in the Constitution, provisions that make them ineligible to cast their [...]
Four years of a National Government: Political change and economic disappointment
The fourth anniversary of what was a defining moment in the country’s political history passed by without much notice or celebrations. It was like a wedding anniversary of a marriage on the rocks. End of dictatorship January 9, 2015, however, marked an end of a dictatorial autocratic family regime. The new government restored the rule [...]
On (badly behaving) politicians and the media
White vans and ‘black media’ aside (which I will return to later), Sri Lanka has seen politicians insulting judges in Parliament under cover of parliamentary privilege in the past. Staggering and scurrilous abuse Each time, these attacks have been discomfiting, indicating the extent to which the ancient law of privilege can be abused for partisan [...]
Constitution making: The hard road ahead
The making of a new Constitution for the country was never going to be easy, but views expressed this week by leading political players in the country showed that, however noble the ideals of those who have set the process in motion are, it’s going to be a highly divisive process. Leader of the Opposition [...]
Presidential poll: SLFP in dilemma over alliance with SLPP
President Sirisena appears to be a captive of his own actions; tests waters but prospects seem to be dim For many reasons, including governor appointments, likelihood of a SLPP-SLFP alliance slipping away UNF, TNA keen to push forward with new draft constitution, but Joint Opposition scoffs at the move President Maithripala Sirisena appears to [...]
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