The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Alleged war crimes: Lanka launches major diplomatic offensive

All of them appeared to be a scene setter for tomorrow's 18th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) in Geneva. Though there is no formal resolution against Sri Lanka and no indications of such a move have emerged, the government is taking no chances.

5th Column

Happy journey to the land of peace

I thought I must write to you because you are supposed to be visiting our shores this week and I’m told you were delayed in making the trip because of Hurricane Irene. It’s good that you survived the storm but then, I’m not sure whether everyone here would see it that way!

The Economic Analysis

Preparing a people friendly budget: Fundamental issues

The trade deficit is rising to alarming proportions this year. In the first half of this year the trade deficit grew to US$ 4250 million. This is larger than the trade deficit of US$ 3122 million for the full year in 2009 and is as much as 82 per cent of the large trade deficit of US$ 5205 million in 2010.

Lobby

Not issued on this week

Focus on Rights

Bullet scarred palms and a people’s agony

On the A-9 road from Kandy to Jaffna, bullet scarred palmyrah palms that once lined long stretches where intense fighting between government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam had taken place, are no longer to be seen. Many of these dead or dying trees have been chopped down, accentuating an unforgettably arid landscape that has seen enough death and destruction for decades to come.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

They tried and tried again, won at last

At a Temple Trees meeting, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was speaking on the virtues of polls campaigns. Present were Ministers, MPs and candidates in the Kandy District. After telling them to work as a team, he said no purpose was served simply distributing leaflets.

From the Sidelines

Good terrorists, bad terrorists and western angst over human rights

Today the US commemorates the tenth anniversary of the devastating 9/11 attacks targeting New York and Washington D.C. that killed close upon 3000. Sri Lankans, who understand only too well the spectre of terrorism that haunted this country for three decdes, will join the rest of the world in empathy with the victims and the bereaved in that horrific incident.