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Home » ColumnsAbolishing the Executive Presidency: The forgotten system change
One of the features of Sri Lankan politics is that it is very difficult to get consensus or agreement on any major issue that affects the country. Sometimes it is because there is a genuine difference of opinion on the efficacy of the policy or the decision in respect of which such consensus or agreement [...]
China and India play geopolitical games in the North
In recent months, there have been some high-level visits to the North by diplomats based in Colombo–particularly, those from the Chinese Embassy. When one considers geopolitical gravitational pulls, it is understandable why the Chinese are interested in the Northern region, which is socially and culturally closer to the state of Tamil Nadu in India just [...]
Many contenders for the personality of 2022
My dear Mother Lanka, I thought of writing to you as we end a most eventful year in our recent history, and look forward to a New Year in which we will be ‘celebrating’ 75 years of managing our own destiny after more than 400 years of rule by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British. [...]
Hopes, economic expectations and fears in the New Year
With the dawn of a new year the hopes and expectations are that it will be one of economic recovery and growth. Many people are hoping and expecting these things as the country will be celebrating 75 years of Independence next month. Economic prospects Regrettably, the economic prospects for the New Year are bleak. This [...]
Sleepwalking into Sri Lanka’s deepest, darkest nightmares in 2023
On Friday (30th December 2022), the International Monetary Fund’s Kristalina Georgieva speaking to CBS’s ‘Face the Nation,’ (not to be confused with cheap imitation shows of the same name that hog Sri Lanka’s private television media spaces), pointed to a clear and present danger. ‘Fragile’ states and endemic corruption Political leaders of nations in distress [...]
People power rises as people’s Saturn comes home on his crow
The beneficial Age of Aquarius dawns for Lankans after thirty years People power is set to rise when the people’s planet Saturn enters its own most powerful sign, dawning the beneficial Age of Aquarius for Lankans this month, a top astrologer predicted this week. After a 30-year transit through all the 12 signs of the [...]
Health minister and officials raise a big stink
It is customary at this time of the year for families, relatives, friends and others to wish each other a happy, prosperous, productive, and, perhaps most importantly, peaceful new year given the turbulent and troubled times we live in. One must have a special word for people around the world who continue to struggle under [...]
2022 was one of the worst years, but what could we expect in this jubilee year
Opposition parties campaign for local elections but Govt. could delay it by a vote in Parliament despite polls chief’s gazette Gotabaya and family on Christmas trip to Dubai; UAE denies request for free use of VIP lounge but asks payment of Rs, 260,000 in Lankan currency As Maldives jails former President who was involved in [...]
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