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Home » ColumnsCritics pour cold water on Pinnawala elephant twins ‘bathing’ circus
The male twins were born to a captive elephant named Surangi Pop goddess Cher, aka Cherilyn Sarkisian, now in her mid-70s, has condemned the bathing stunt last week at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage live-streamed by Zoological Gardens Director Sharmila Rajapaksa, using captive born elephant ‘twins’. The male twins were born to 25-year-old Surangi last September. [...]
The dissatisfied lot grows
My dear Susil, I thought I should write to you this week after hearing that you had been unceremoniously sacked from your position as State Minister by Gota maama for the crime of making some critical comments about agriculture policy and the price of vegetables at the Delkanda ‘pola’ last Sunday. You were annoyed and [...]
Role of intelligence services in a democratic society needs to be reviewed
In the aftermath of the Easter Sunday attacks in April 2019, the role and function of the Intelligence Agencies became the subject of discussion among politicians and opinion makers. While the then Opposition (current Government ) alleged that the tragedy had been made possible because of the Yahapalana Government’s neglect or weakening of the National [...]
Will severe hardships and economic crises persist this year too?
The year has begun in severe economic hardships, unavailability of essentials and uncertainty on how these would be resolved. Will the months ahead be ones when the acute economic problems will be resolved? Relief package The Government has recognised the people’s plight and come up with a wide ranging relief package costing Rs. 229 billion. [...]
‘Hooting’ politicians and what Sri Lanka’s court said, once upon a time
Even as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is reported to have cited a decision by the Sri Lanka Supreme Court (per the late Justice MDH Fernando) regarding collective responsibility of the Cabinet to justify sacking a state minister on the grounds that he criticised the Government, he may apprise himself of a plethora of other decisions by [...]
The Three Stooges carry on merrily their cabinet farce
After clearing his office desk and handing over ministry files and vehicles to the staff, non-cabinet Minister Susil Premajayantha walked out of the State Ministry of Educational Reforms on Tuesday with the cheery air of a man who had just been told he had won the lottery. Such was his rush to claim and savour [...]
What’s all this hoo and cry?
All these years I thought that saying “hoo”, especially hurling it at others as a sign of grievance or anger, is a national trait. Well, it has been around for a long, long time. As they say, hoo has a history. So those who publicly express concern about preserving national traditions and habits might seriously [...]
Bear it, don’t bare it: There’s a price to pay for dissent
President wields axe on Susil to instil discipline among Govt. members; but selective action raises more questions Controversy rages over Trinco oil tank farm deal with India’s LIOC; trade unions to launch protest campaign against the agreement For months now, it has been apparent even to the casual observer that not all was well within [...]
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