The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Diplomatic dilemma: Patriotic diatribes or dialogue with UN

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) is an American non-profit organisation that monitors the US media. To hear some tell it, says FAIR, the intelligence clues that ultimately led to Osama bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan were generated by the use of torture. However, it adds that the evidence available so far does not bear this out.

5th Column

Thrill of the chase and pride of conquest!

“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “I feel so sorry for Obama…”
“Is it Obama or Osama that you are feeling sorry about?” Bindu’s father Percy wanted to know.
“It is Obama I’m feeling sorry about, thaaththa,” Bindu said.

The Economic Analysis

Multiple challenges facing the economy

With an economic growth of 8 per cent last year, the Sri Lankan economy is believed to be in a strong position and set to take–off to a high trajectory of growth. Although this growth rate that is the highest in several decades is an achievement, the danger is that the euphoria it evokes could cloud the weaknesses of the economy and result in complacency.

Lobby

Everyone is a govt. spokesman when it comes to UN report

There have been so many contradictory views expressed by the government regarding the Report of the UN Panel of Experts it is difficult to gauge the government’s exact stand. External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris attempted to put the record right by way of a special statement in Parliament on Tuesday, but with so many members of the ruling party taking upon themselves the role of spokesperson for the government on the issue, the record is unlikely to be ever set straight.

Focus on Rights

Calling for mature political leadership

Under creeping cover of the report of the Advisory Panel mandated by the United Nations Secretary General (UNSG), the Government of Sri Lanka appears to be leading the country even further down the precipitous slope of constitutional anarchy than it has gone so far.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Sajith gets a beating but stays on

Even if he let his cronies down badly and opted for the post of Co-leader of the United National Party (UNP), Sajith Premadasa, waxed eloquent at a meeting of the party's Advisory Committee, on Tuesday. The meeting was scheduled for 3 p.m. on Monday, but the party Chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, who was in Nuwara Eliya arrived late. By then, party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had other important engagements to attend. Hence, it was put off for 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

From the sidelines

Bin Laden, Prabhakaran and the selective ‘triumphalism’ of the west

To many Sri Lankans watching the international TV coverage of Osama bin Laden’s slaying a week ago, there were unmistakable similarities observed between the spontaneous public expression of feeling in the US in the immediate aftermath of that event, and the public reactions witnessed in Sri Lanka two years ago when the news of Prabhakaran’s death got around.