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Home » ColumnsWhen those who should stay leave, and those who should leave, stay
My Dear ‘Maco’ Mahinda, I thought I will write to you when I heard that you wanted to resign if provincial councils elections are not held by November this year. Although I am not sure why you said so, I was happy that at least someone has the courage to say they will resign if [...]
Removal of Customs Chief: SLFP Gen. Sec. attacks Government headed by his party leader
Gone are the days when the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP)-led United National Front (UNF) functioned harmoniously as a “Yahapalanaya” or good governance government. Now, the UNF is holding sway at governance. The SLFP, one time counterparts are fighting it out. Some want to join the UNF, either in [...]
Tale of lost opportunities: 71 years of economic underdevelopment amid social progress
On the eve of the country’s 71st anniversary of independence, we cannot be content with the country’s post-independence economic performance. It has been far below our potential and expectations at independence. It has been a tale of lost opportunities. Nevertheless, our post-independence social development has been impressive with significant improvements in education, health and social [...]
Even in a more beneficial form, the counter terror bill raises warning signals
Amidst the political turmoil that took place in late October 2018, it was wholly predictable that Sri Lanka’s Counter-Terrorism Bill approved by the Cabinet just the month before, quietly slipped past public scrutiny. At a time when the country’s constitutional order itself had been shaken to its (albeit not entirely steady) foundations, the Bill was [...]
Tragic tale of the Independence Day farce
So splendorous was the spectacle on that Friday 4th morn in the year 1948 when Lilliputia’s tribal chief rose from his makeshift bench to hoist the Flag of the Lilliputian Lion, that the attendant members of his clan could hardly contain their euphoria at the lowering of the alien standard and the raising of the [...]
Cricket as tainted as our politics
So the latest of Sri Lanka’s sports ministers has taken wing to Australia. Some say he is due to attend an event said to be connected with the country’s national day tomorrow. But the first news out of Canberra suggests that this is not the only reason Minister Harin Fernando hurriedly departed for Down Under. [...]
No SLPP backing for Sirisena as presidential candidate
JO parties will form their own alliance under a new constitution Mahinda Rajapaksa will convey decision to President Sirisena SLPP feels Sirisena may not win a presidential poll New developments worsen SLFP’s dilemma The prospects for President Maithripala Sirisena to become the joint candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sri [...]
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