Just six hours after the New Year had dawned, a Tamil parliamentarian, a dissenting voice, fell victim to a cold-blooded murder in the sacred precincts of a Hindu Kovil in Kochchikade.
At last Wednesday's cabinet meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, ministers had cleared all items on the agenda for that day. Before the meeting ended, the last was the customary "any other business."
When writing a column on the 1st of January one is bound to look at the brighter side of national life and the economy and hope for bright expectations in the New Year. Let us all hope that the turn of events during the year would be favourable and that the economy would begin a new and higher trajectory of growth and development.
When the Chinese New Year dawns early next month they will be wishing each other Kung Hey Fat Choy. The coming year will be the year of the rat. The Chinese distinguish each year not only by numerals but also by some animal species, be it a dog, pig or even a snake.
The lead para in a mock news story next December may well read something like this: "In another major electoral victory, religious fundamentalists succeeded in gaining the country's presidency by an overwhelming margin."
The spoof was meant to be a dire prediction of a future presidential election, not in Iran, Algeria, Lebanon or Palestine, but in the United States.
Telescope
Not issued with this week's issue
By J.S. Tissainayagam
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and the source.
At last Wednesday's cabinet meeting chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, ministers had cleared all items on the agenda for that day. Before the meeting ended, the last was the customary "any other business."
When writing a column on the 1st of January one is bound to look at the brighter side of national life and the economy and hope for bright expectations in the New Year. Let us all hope that the turn of events during the year would be favourable and that the economy would begin a new and higher trajectory of growth and development.
When the Chinese New Year dawns early next month they will be wishing each other Kung Hey Fat Choy. The coming year will be the year of the rat. The Chinese distinguish each year not only by numerals but also by some animal species, be it a dog, pig or even a snake.
The lead para in a mock news story next December may well read something like this: "In another major electoral victory, religious fundamentalists succeeded in gaining the country's presidency by an overwhelming margin."
The spoof was meant to be a dire prediction of a future presidential election, not in Iran, Algeria, Lebanon or Palestine, but in the United States.