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Home » ColumnsNamal to wed on Modi’s birthday
Prime Minister Narendra Modiis “not only the leader of the largest democracy in the world, but also a leader with the largest popular mandate in the world,” declared India’s cherubic High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu at a recent lecture. True, there are more attributes to describe Premier Modi. One that did not go unnoticed during [...]
Prospect of lower trade deficit strengthening external finances in 2019
The country’s external financial vulnerability remains a serious concern despite the Central Bank’s assurance that the country’s debt repayment obligations can be met this year and that foreign reserves are expected to be US$ 6.7 billion at the end of the year. On the other hand, if the decline in the trade deficit in the [...]
The ugly use of extremism and terrorism for political gain
The recent statement by former Eastern Province Governor M.L.M. Hizbullah that Muslims are a majority in the world and that Sri Lankan Muslims should not fear even if they are a minority is dangerously inflammatory. It also amounts to an encouragement of the primitive cacophonous yelling on the part of Sinhala extremists that more Sinhalese [...]
“All around us chaos and madness”
Aiyo Sirisena, It has been a while since I wrote to you last, but I thought I must write to you again, especially when we heard that you were quite annoyed about what was happening around you, with everyone trying to blame you for what happened on Easter Sunday – and apparently for what did [...]
Old King Coal to rule Lanka’s power future
Even as the rest of the world look to renewable power as the fuel of the future, Lanka goes into retro mode and seeks its future energy needs in the past. Whilst the world stares at the heavens and views the sun as the answer to provide infinite solar power, Lanka’s busy, digging into the [...]
Hong Kong betrayed, freedoms threatened
This was bound to happen. World over citizens have been betrayed by their governments, promises shattered by political leaders. Here in Britain messy politics and confused pledges have led to sheer historic instability with people increasingly distrusting their governments and mainstream political parties. If British politics has produced instability, it is surely worse in Sri [...]
President considers new gamble but it is likely to fail
Considers possibility of non-binding referendum to hold parliamentary elections before Presidential elections this year Strong opposition from UNF government, SLFP MPs also livid while Mahinda Rajapaksa remains non-committal Sri Lanka facing worst crisis since Independence; country was virtually without a government with both leaders being overseas President Maithripala Sirisena wants to conduct a parliamentary [...]
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