Who is Sri Lanka’s ‘doctor’?
In his lucid analysis of the Sri Lankan economy in the debate on the Central Bank annual report (2020) in parliament recently, opposition parliamentarian Eran Wickremaratne diagnosed the critical diseases ailing the economy and recommended a cure: Change the doctor and not the medications. Wickremaratne, however, did not identify the doctor treating the Sri Lankan [...]
Feather-ruffling reforms to break barriers over English
An invitation to write a review for the new book by Rajiva gave me immense joy. Seeing activity from Rajiva after many years, particularly on a topic so relevant in the context of English education, is a relief, since I had worried that he had decided to move into hibernation totally. This book chronicles Rajiva’s [...]
UN preaches transparency but fails to practise it in its own backyard
UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The United Nations has long preached the wisdom of transparency and accountability to the outside world, but has failed to practise the same principles in its own backyard – or even on the 39th floor of the Secretary-General’s office in the UN Secretariat. The opaqueness, ironically, is visible in most of [...]
Recalling that narrow escape
One of the most unforgettable days in my life was Sunday, July 31st 1987, the day on which we almost witnessed the assassination of both our President and Prime Minister. A few days before this, the Indo- Sri Lanka Agreement had been signed between President J.R. Jayewardene and Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi of India. Just [...]
Sr Lanka Day goes global
LOS ANGELES — When the annual Sri Lanka Day was firstcelebrated in Pasadena in 2019 visitors watched the ‘Pageant of Lanka,’ parading on the streets of Los Angeles. This year, Sri Lanka Day is going global: As a virtual event Sri Lanka Day 2021 will reach millions of viewers across the globe. The event is [...]
Investing in global vaccine equity acknowledges our shared fate
By Rosemarie Muganda, exclusively for the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka NAIROBI – The extraordinary global effort to develop safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in record time highlights the power of vaccines to bring us closer to our loved ones and to a more prosperous, equitable world in which everyone has the chance to achieve [...]