Columns
Home » ColumnsLanka awakes to COVID-19 as deadly virus bursts floodgates
Lanka received her wake-up call early February when a female Chinese tourist was tested positive for the coronavirus and was admitted immediately to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) for treatment of the feared viral attack that locked down many parts of China and had no known cure. Though alarm bells rang through the local populace [...]
Global economic recession will affect Sri Lankan economy adversely
The COVID-19 epidemic, now described as a pandemic, that has affected over one hundred thousand persons in all continents, is having disastrous economic consequences the world over. International travel is vastly curtailed, unemployment is rising, hotels and restaurants are closing and the decreased demand for oil has resulted in lower prices for oil and lesser [...]
Covid 19 and Sri Lanka’s anti-democracy virus
Much like the covid-19 virus which attacks the respiratory systems of victims with lethal force and has brought the global North virtually to its knees, Sri Lanka is being invaded by an ‘anti-democracy’ virus. We are told that, democracy leads to bickering, that a ‘strong man’ is needed to rule with a rod of iron, [...]
Some things cannot be taught
My dear Pasindu, I am writing to you, knowing very well that you are not able to read this, as you lie on a hospital bed in an intensive care unit hooked up to machines that breathe for you. I am also writing to you knowing very well that you may never be able to [...]
UNP urges polls chief to act against SJB politico’s threat to attack party supporters
It was another meeting which National Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya summoned this week to discuss matters related to the March 25 parliamentary election with secretaries of political parties. “I hope you are taking serious note of our request,” intoned former Parliamentarian Ashu Marasinghe, who together with General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam represented the United [...]
Spies, lies, abductions and vanishing tricks
The plot thickens or rather the plots thicken. My long-time friend and fellow journalist Humphrey Hawksley should have been in the land like no other. This is certainly no joke at this time when sleuths of all sorts are said to be scouring the country to arrest some and serve summons on others. Hawksley knows [...]
April 25 general elections despite corona pandemic
Efforts continue to unite Ranil and Sajith factions but reconciliation highly unlikely SLPP and allies finalise nominations lists, Mahinda confident of winning upto 130 seats, if not more The backlash on Sri Lanka from the spread of novel coronavirus or Covid-19, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) termed a pandemic, has dangerously spread to different [...]
Read More