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Home » ColumnsGeneva’s Temple of Human Rights denies Sri Lanka’s special prayer
Come March, come September Sri Lanka sends a flock of supplicants on pilgrimage to quaint Geneva where, nestled at the foothills of the Alps, lies the Temple of Human Rights. This twice-a-year journey to perform ritualistic worship to the presiding goddess Nemesis, found incarnate in sterile alpine air, is for those held to have ventured [...]
Crackdown on NGOs and INGOs: Guidelines from District Secretaries
The Government has begun a crackdown on non-governmental organisations, both foreign and local, by urging them to cut down on programmes they are now engaged in. The first salvo has already been fired in the Mullaitivu District where NGOs have been asked “minimise” programmes such as women empowerment, child rights, youth training, human rights, land [...]
Increasing foreign direct investment is vital for higher economic growth
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has pledged he would make the country safe, secure and attractive for foreign investment. This is indeed crucial for the country’s rapid economic growth. The government must pursue policies that would make the country attractive to investors to achieve this objective. Target The government hopes to attract foreign direct investments of US$ [...]
Consequences of dreadfully fractured logic in Geneva for Sri Lanka
There is a dreadfully fractured logic in what the Government of Sri Lanka articulated before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as it withdrew from UNHRC Resolution 30/1 this week. This is playing to the nationalist gallery with an eye to the impending General Elections. It has disastrous consequences for the country, make no [...]
Seasonal patriotism for political opportunities
My dear Shavendra, I thought of writing to you when I heard that Uncle Sam has imposed a travel ban on you and your family from travelling to their country. Apparently, this is on the basis of there being allegations against you about what you did during the final stages of the Eelam war more [...]
A land like no other, really
Whoever coined this blurb would hardly have expected it to be put to more meaningful use than promoting something called tourism. Since somebody first strung these words together, this land like no other has turned even more like a land like no other and no land will ever be so. That is, of course, if [...]
Ranil-Premadasa battle continues over symbol for new alliance
Ravi puts conditions for the use of Swan; demands right to nominate general secretary Amid dispute, UNP leader drops bombshell by suggesting that the alliance contest on UNP ticket and elephant symbol Political parties fielding candidates at the April 25 parliamentary elections have been told of new guidelines, in keeping with the latest election laws [...]
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