The day the UN General Assembly abandoned its New York City home…
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – When the United Nations decided to locate its 39-storeyed Secretariat in New York City, the United States, as the host nation, signed a “headquarters agreement” in 1947 not only ensuring diplomatic immunity to foreign diplomats but also pledging to facilitate the day-to-day activities of member states without any [...]
President visits London Vihara
President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited the London Buddhist Vihara during his visit earlier this week to attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Picture shows the President lighting a lamp at the Vihara shrine room in the company of the Head Monk Ven Bogoda Seelawimala Thera, Chief Sangha Nayake of Great Britain who represented the [...]
Beauty pageants say they are changing — don’t believe them
Their attempts at inclusivity are nothing but makeup to hide their ugly realities By Raquel Rosario Sánchez Something is not well in the land of sequins and hairspray. In August, the Miss Universe contest announced that it would expand its pool of eligible contestants to include married women and mothers at its next pageant in [...]
Freedom of speech in an African Way
Freedom is there but no guarantee of freedom after speech Chairman of the Rajapaksa family party, the SLPP (Pohottuwa) and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, until just one Full Poya Moon ago, protesting outside parliament on Wednesday that he and thirteen MPs were prevented from speaking in parliament, reveals the inglorious uncertainties of Sri Lankan politics [...]
In the dollar we trust
By Jeffrey Frankel Project Syndicate, exclusively for the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka Despite rampant inflation and slowing growth, the US dollar keeps going from strength to strength. Since May last year, the greenback has risen by 28% against the yen and 20% against the pound. It has appreciated 19% against the euro, reaching parity [...]