The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Even if a front-page report in the Sunday Times last week by the Diplomatic Editor did not lead to much discussion, the related events were still chilling.

5th Column

Now they take their lives in their hands

My Dear Nimal,

I thought I must write to you again, because you seem to be in the news once more-no, not for leading the campaign at Uva where you helped the Blues to get over seventy per cent of the vote- but for being in charge of a Ministry whose immunization programme led to the death of yet another child.

The Economic Analysis

External finances and performance

The considerable improvement in the external reserves should in the current conditions make us adapt the famous Parakrama Bahu the wise, saying: “Do not let a single drop of foreign exchange that comes into the country flow back without it being used wisely for the country’s good.” The large foreign exchange reserves are an opportunity for investment, not for unproductive use and consumption.

Lobby

‘That’s what foes are for’, at least in Lankan politics

"We have no permanent friends. We have no permanent enemies. We just have permanent interests," Benjamin Disraeli, one time British Prime Minister said, wisely of politicians.

Focus on Rights

The equalization of state terror and militant terror

What is sometimes forgotten is that even during those rare periods in recent decades when Sri Lanka was not governed by emergency law, both the members of the public and law enforcement officers behaved as if, in fact, the emergency regime was still in operation. Emergency law operated not only in the shadows but openly to the extent that abuse of the powers of office was accepted as a matter of course.