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Home » ColumnsOpposition sees Govt.’s shenanigans to postpone polls in new election finance law
By Sandun Jayawardana Despite vocal protests by the opposition that the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill was being used as a ploy to delay the upcoming local government election, it was passed in Parliament on Thursday (19) by a majority of 61 votes. Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella asked for a division after the government [...]
For Big brother India, Tamil parties unite
Tamil political parties may have many political-ideological differences among them but when it comes to calls from ‘Big Brother’, they seem to have united or at least pretend to be on the same front. That call came from the Indian High Commission to facilitate a meeting with visiting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Accordingly, almost [...]
Payback time
Aiyo Sirisena, You are all over the news these days. If people thought they got rid of you when you ended your rather controversial term of office, you have proved quite clearly that they were mistaken. Although you are in the news for the wrong reasons, I am sure you enjoy it too. What brought [...]
Uncertainties, constraints and impediments to economic recovery this year
The uncertainties, constraints, impediments and obstacles to the country’s economic recovery are numerous. Whether the country could emerge with some degree of economic revival remains uncertain, perhaps even unlikely. Uncertainties and impediments The uncertainty of obtaining the much awaited International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Extended Finance Facility (EFF), the adverse impact of the global recession on [...]
Curbing political crooks, will a campaign finance bill work?
It says much for Machiavellian type political audacity, that the hype surrounding Sri Lanka’s Regulation of Elections Expenditure Bill disguised one starkly glaring absurdity. Disgraceful failure to cover ‘political parties’ Leaving aside the flap over the Opposition claiming (not without reason) that the Bill was just another tactic by a Government under siege to delay [...]
Dalai Lama bombshell with love from China to Malwatte monks
Warning to stop possible visit of exiled Tibetan monk at Amarapura invite If not for his cultivated sublime equanimity, it may have come as a rude shock for the Malwatte Chapter’s Maha Nayaka, custodian monk of the sacred Tooth Relic, the Most Venerable Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangalabidana Thera to be told this week by a [...]
If the heat is unbearable stay out of the kitchen
What a surprise! There I was last Sunday peacefully turning, as it were, the pages of this newspaper when I found my name unexpectedly popping up and hitting me between the eyes. “A Response to Neville de Silva’s Thoughts from London” it screamed, What concerned me initially was why Rear Admiral (rtd) Weerasekera wanted to [...]
India draws closer and pledges ‘full support’ to Sri Lanka
External Affairs Minister’s visit produces positive results; New Delhi gives momentum for Lanka’s request for IMF assistance Fresh talks with Tamil parties; President gets much-awaited invitation to visit India Nominations close for local polls; Elections Chief announces March 9 for local polls, but raging debate on whether the event should be held due to financial [...]
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