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Home » ColumnsWreak havoc and set free Bodu Bala Sena bigotry
Even as Bodu Bala Sena Boss Gnanasara Thera shed his shameful jailbird jumper and adorned himself with the saffron robe of the Buddhist Sasuna and slipped through a back door exit from Welikada jail on Thursday afternoon, many questions arose as to the wisdom of the President’s rash decision to grant the wayward monk special [...]
Fixing date for No-Confidence Motion more contentious than their debates
After heated arguments and even a protest in the Well of the House, the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) on Minister Rishad Bathiudeen will be taken up for debate on June 18-19. Earlier this week, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) mounted a vociferous campaign demanding that the NCM be debated during sittings in the 1st week [...]
Sirisena at Rajapaksa residence – not for politics, but for weddings
There was a surprise visitor to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s official residence on Thursday morning and it turned the rumour mill to function overtime. It was President Maithripala Sirisena. He arrived there and sat in an inner drawing room area, patiently waiting for his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa, and one-time boss who was upstairs. Those who saw [...]
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity: Sun Tzu”
Gnanasara Hamuduruwaney, I thought I must write to you when I heard that you had been pardoned by Aiyo Sirisena. I suppose you must be quite happy, now that you are no longer behind bars, and wearing the saffron robe once more, instead of the infamous prison jumper. Ah, what a change of fortunes this [...]
The road to economic recovery and development
The question uppermost in the minds of most persons is whether the peace of the Vesak weekend was the turning point to peaceful conditions and economic recovery. There are signs that the country is getting back to normal with the fear psychosis diminishing though not eliminated. This return to peace and normalcy is an essential [...]
A melancholy week of many wrongs and no rights
This was a week of many wrongs and virtually no rights. The optics of the image released to the public when the Bodu Bala Sena’s Galagoda atte Gnanasara and his mother met President Maithripala Sirisena following his pardoning while serving a prison sentence for contempt of court said it best, smiles and merry laughter all [...]
Shame on you Britain, shame
As Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May fights for her political life, one is reminded of Shakespeare’s depiction of the assassination of Julius Caesar. She has been stabbed, in a manner of speaking, multiple times by friend and foe alike, but she has not said “Et tu Brute” though there are many who would wait for [...]
President tells UNF: No military deals with the United States
Puts a stop to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) Ambassador Kariyawasam present when President ordered signing of ACSA Sirisena wants early SLFP-SLPP talks Elections Chief meets President and Prime Minister President Maithripala Sirisena last week forbade the UNP-led United National Front (UNF) from signing any defence or security related agreements with the United [...]
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