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Home » ColumnsSaroja Sirisena wins UK diplomat of the year
In the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena has won the coveted ‘The Diplomat of the Year from Asia & Oceania Award’ at the annual awards ceremony of the prestigious foreign affairs magazine–The Diplomat. The award recognises “outstanding work and achievements of London’s diplomatic community who are trying to better their nation’s well-being.” [...]
Another tall tale
My dear Wimaley, I thought of writing to you after hearing that you had published a book telling us what the ‘hidden story’ about the ‘aragalaya’ was. You launched the book at an event this week and made some sensational claims, reverting to your favourite theme once again: international conspiracy. The allegations you make are [...]
Forced Covid cremations: Blaming officials for the Government’s decisions unacceptable
One of the many colossal blunders made by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Presidency was the decision to forcibly cremate the bodies COVID-19 victims inflicted on the Muslims, which resulted in widespread anguish within the minority community. Responding to questions raised by Parliamentarian Rauf Hakeem in the House on Friday, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella admitted that a [...]
Concern over decreasing agricultural production and exports
Increasing agricultural production and productivity are vital for the country’s economic growth. While the availability of fertiliser and agrochemicals would revive agriculture this year, there is a need to expand agricultural production to much higher levels to increase food production, decrease food imports, enhance export revenues, increase incomes, reduce poverty and diminish malnutrition. Fertiliser Reversal [...]
‘Blacklisting’ an ex-navy commander and Sri Lanka’s preposterous reactions
Protests issued by the Government of Sri Lanka over the United States Government decision to ‘blacklist’ former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda and his wife from entering the US are farcical, to say the least. The Foreign Ministry must up its game First, there is little that Sri Lanka can do, despite this bellowing and distinctly [...]
Who the devil is Chamara G in XP’ Pearl’s 6b dollar mystery?
‘250 m dollar bribe to derail damage suit’ claim by Justice Minister In a pre-Avurudhu cracker, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe made a startling claim that 250 million dollars had been deposited in a London bank account of a Lankan national to be paid out as bribes to derail the nation’s 6 billion dollar damage suit [...]
What good are pearls when cast before the corrupt
From the time I can recollect, Sri Lanka has been called the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” by writers and awe-struck visitors on seeing the beauty and variety of this resplendent isle. If memory serves me, Jesus Christ warned his disciples not to “cast pearls before swine”. His admonition was not to waste something valuable [...]