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Home » ColumnsNot just kaputas, but a change in the air?
My dear Basil maama, I thought of writing to you now even though you must be a busy man. Not only do you have to hold the purse strings of the nation, you have to do so on a shoestring budget. Then, in the midst of all that, you have to look after the fortunes [...]
Lankan embassy goes TikTok in Beijing; but why did Chinese company fund it?
For the Sri Lankan embassy in Beijing, China, this year is special for many reasons. First, this year marks the 65th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations with China and the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact. In addition to that, Sri Lanka’s ambassador Palitha Kohona is actively promoting Chinese investment in the country and played [...]
Reflections on voter behaviour and the predicament of the left
Sri Lanka’s political landscape has undergone tremendous change over the years. The reasons are many ranging from the general deterioration of society to changes in electoral systems. However the incomprehensible behaviour of the voter too has also contributed to such change. As a result the quality of governance has suffered considerably not only impacting adversely [...]
Why the trade deficit widened despite import restrictions and export growth
Despite severe restrictions on non-essential imports, shortages of essential imported items, and export growth of 27 percent, the trade deficit widened in 2021 owing to the large increase in import expenditure. This rather paradoxical outcome was due to the structure and composition of imports and exports. Trade deficit The trade deficit increased to a record [...]
Divine vengeance and human atrocities
This week’s acquittal of former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Pujith Jayasundera of a plethora of charges filed against them by the Attorney General in connection to jihadist attacks on Colombo’s churches and hotels, completes the sorry circle of Sri Lanka’s sham investigations into the Easter Sunday atrocity in [...]
Excreta flung at Chamuditha home may hit Govt at Geneva
Investigative TV journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama must certainly have tread on many corns and made many enemies with his ‘Truth with Chamuditha’ YouTube interviews. In his brave quest to ferret out the truth with his bold, persistent line of questioning and expose shocking scandals and cover-ups in high places and in public lives, making dangerous enemies [...]
Cogent reply more effective than bluff and bluster
When this appears the Government’s ‘brains trust’ could be pouring over UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet’s latest missive on Sri Lanka if it has reached Colombo which is still not certain. Following up on the UN Human Rights Council’s tough resolution on Sri Lanka last March carried by a comfortable vote in favour of [...]
Latest UNHRC report makes further indictments on Lanka
17-page document critical over the PTA Calls upon the Attorney General to be independent Alleges deaths in custody and extrajudicial killings Wants action over 2019 Easter Sunday massacres The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva last Monday forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through UN channels a 17-page draft [...]
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