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Home » ColumnsLankan democracy in peril
My dear Mother Lanka, I thought I must write to you to let you know that, almost unnoticed amidst all the hullabaloo surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, you may have reached a critical milestone in your history. That is because yet another amendment – for the twentieth time – has been made to your Constitution. The [...]
US troops and intel agents here for crucial Pompeo visit
United States ‘ troops including intelligence personnel have arrived in Sri Lanka to bolster security for the visit of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his entourage, who will arrive in Colombo on Tuesday. They are already making security preparations together with their Sri Lankan counterparts including those from the State Intelligence Service (SIS), the [...]
Deteriorating political culture helps passage of the 20th Amendment
The passage of the 20th Amendment in Parliament last Thursday reflects the growing deterioration of the political culture in the country. Notwithstanding the obnoxious and anti-democratic features of the amendment it is increasingly becoming evident from the information reaching the public domain that the Constitutional Amendment could have been defeated if not for the unprincipled [...]
After debate and deception, Govt. steamrolls 20A through parliament
With the backing of eight Opposition MPs, the 20th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament with 156 votes in favour and 65 against on Thursday night, giving a major victory for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led ruling alliance and handing back President Gotabaya Rajapaksa many of the powers stripped from the presidency [...]
Silver linings among the dark COVID clouds
An export revival, reduction in the trade deficit due to a decrease in imports and the prospect of increased workers’ remittances are silver linings among the dark clouds of our country’s rising COVID-19 crisis and the continuing pandemic. Cautious optimism Although a continued improvement of these is hoped for, the current global economic environment and [...]
A ‘revolt in the temple’ amidst the passing of Sri Lanka’s 20th Amendment Bill
As Sri Lanka’s Parliament passed the 20th Amendment Bill enhancing the powers of the Presidency on Thursday while the country erupted in covid-induced flames, there is delight in watching the Rajapaksa brotherhood being hoist with its nationalist petard. A Government which had marched triumphantly into power blaring its Sinhala-Buddhist credentials was pushed to secure a [...]
President gets JR’s double edged Sword of Excalibur
In the twilight glow of October 22, the final curtain fell on the dramatic enactment of what can be dubbed the ‘Tyrannical Twenty’, and thus, whilst it brought to a close the 19A, a fleeting period shorter than a summer’s day or brief as a mayfly’s life, it opened up a new foreboding age of [...]
More corona and more confusion
If we return to the subject of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka and some other parts of the world, it is because we are very much back in the news and there is a faint glimmer of hope from elsewhere. If people hang to any hopeful sign as a silver lining emerging from behind a [...]
President has his way on 20A, but Rajapaksa heartland hard hit by COVID wave
Tourist guest houses suddenly shut down and visitors sent back; contact tracing disrupted as COVID patient misleads officials SJB rebels enable Govt. to get controversial amendment passed with two-thirds majority; tough action urged against rebel MPs All Govt. MPs sign petition, calling on President Rajapaksa to pardon Duminda Silva HAMBANTOTA: On the fast track [...]
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