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Home » ColumnsWomen in the firing line as cops show ‘zero tolerance’
Fury over arrest of two women for staging a placard protest Are the police under orders to follow a ‘zero tolerance’ policy toward any form of protest? Or was last week’s police crackdown on two women’s peaceful march, merely an isolated act of a few cops going beyond the call of duty out of personal [...]
Uniformed lawbreakers a disgrace to nation
That was a brave act indeed. Having a tough-as-nails “Dirty Harry” serving the nation as an enforcer of the country’s laws deserves a national award- another Deshabandu, perhaps. Like the heroic Horatius who single-handedly held the bridge across the Tiber, Sri Lanka’s khaki-clad warrior not only stopped two peaceful women protesters from crossing the boundaries [...]
2023 Budget: A break from the past with great expectations for the future
The Budget for 2023 presented to Parliament on November 14 is expected to usher in a competitive market-oriented social market economy. It is expected to increase exports by 100 percent and economic growth to seven percent in 2025. President’s expectations In the words of the President, the expectations of the Budget are “to usher in [...]
Our brutes in uniform and predators in power
Sri Lanka’s Department of the Police should stop piously quoting provisions of the Constitution and the law and instead, declare the truth without fear or shame, “we do not respect the law; we will break the law at every chance we get; who is there to stop us?” Systemic State repression of peaceful protests That [...]
Professionalism key to efficiency of the Police
By Javid Yusuf The Police Department is a key component in the administration of justice and therefore plays an important role in ensuring the rule of law in the country. Despite the proud history of the Police where their skills and efficiency have been lauded, in recent times they have not escaped the disease of [...]
The President’s Budget speech and an Opposition’s dire warning of rising poverty
By Sandun Jayawardana President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s reference to a social media post during his Budget speech on Monday, prompted opposition MPs to accuse him of being prepared to tolerate corruption. Wickremesinghe had made reference to a social media post by civil society activist Gamini Viyangoda. The way the President quoted the post seemed to imply [...]
Criss-crosses and double crosses
Criss-crosses and double crosses All eyes were on the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) prominent politician on Monday as President Ranil Wickremesinghe prepared to present the 2023 Budget. This was over speculation that he was finally about to jump ship to the Government. The veteran politico had been vocal in his criticism of the SJB leadership [...]
An anniversary we’d rather forget
My dear Gota maamey, I wanted to write to you because it is almost three years to the day when you assumed office as the leader of Paradise. There were no celebrations to commemorate that because most people don’t want to remember that day now. Even if they did, they don’t like to say they [...]
Local council polls: Test of strength for Govt, but will they be held?
Elections Commission chief says mini polls cannot be put off unless a resolution is passed by Parliament Basil returns today to shore up SLPP for local council elections, but frictions and factions pose a major challenge President set to revoke PTA; Justice Minister says new counter-terrorism bill being formulated Weerawansa’s alliance holds convention today; 12 [...]
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