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Home » ColumnsMoney laundering Lankan couple in mystery land deals valued at hundreds of millions
A Sri Lankan couple’s money laundering operations – now under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) – is laying bare a spending spree of buying residences and other properties in different areas and costing hundreds of millions of rupees. In some instances, sellers who made statements have denied knowledge of the buyer – remarks [...]
Little cause for celebration
My dear Mother Lanka, I thought of writing to you because you would be celebrating our 73rd anniversary of independence in a few days. For all the noise we make on February 4 every year, I am not sure whether ‘celebrating’ is the right word, and whether we are indeed independent, for that matter. It [...]
Not yet a land where a wagging political finger directs justice
Criminal investigators and prosecutors looking askance at a reminder by the Fort Magistrate in the case against lawyer Hejaaz Hizbullah, that Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) does not ‘suspend’ the operation of the country’s Criminal Procedure Code, are curtly advised to re-acquaint themselves with the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court. Most vulnerable since [...]
Human Rights Chief gets tough, warns Lanka: Enough is enough
Sri Lanka was put in the international dog house on Thursday, after the United Nations Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet issued a damning report on the country’s dismal track record of human rights violations and the Government’s continued failure to address rising global concerns and deny redress to the victims. Accusing Lanka of dragging her [...]
Trade and balance of payments prospects in 2021
This year’s outcome in the trade balance is of paramount importance for the country’s balance of payments and external finances. A large trade deficit will increase the balance of payments deficit and deplete foreign reserves. In contrast to last year, the trade deficit is likely to widen this year owing to higher import expenditure for [...]
LAW, WHAT LAW IS THAT?
If there are still persons who do not understand the importance of environmental conservation and preserving what little of the ecological balance we have after our two-legged predators have done with it, should they not be taught some basic lessons. They might be too old to be sent to school having seen how some of [...]
Diplomatic bungling as Lanka faces head-on collision with UNHRC
Hardline school of thought calls for tough response to Bachelet’s report Quarantined Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena plays low key role; other top politicians also stoically silent Foreign Secretary Colombage crosses red line in diplomacy; tells US President Biden to put his house in order UK and Germany express different views on some aspects of new [...]
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