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Home » ColumnsPromises and expectations of tomorrow’s pre-election budget for 2024
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as Finance Minister, will present the budget for 2024 tomorrow. How will he keep to the promises of increasing wages, higher social welfare benefits, increased expenditure in defence, and interest payments while reducing the deficit to 10 percent of GDP? This is the crucial issue, though public expectations are, as usual, the [...]
‘Online safety’ for the government but not for citizens?
The Supreme Court’s pronouncement while examining Sri Lanka’s Online Safety Bill in the determination communicated to the Speaker earlier this month that, ‘Parliament need not wait till a crime is committed to enact laws’ invites a measure of critical scrutiny in good conscience. What or who does the Bill protect? It is self-evident that the [...]
Members across the divide bat together to rule out SLC
By Sandun Jayawardana The fallout of Sri Lanka’s disastrous cricket world cup campaign reverberated in the Parliament chamber on Thursday (9) as dozens of MPs from the government and opposition lined up to lambast the current administrators of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and demanded their resignation. While there was universal condemnation over the current administration [...]
Bandula gives economics lessons to relief-seeking Namal
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and Transport and Media Minister Bandula Gunawardana got into a discussion on the state of the country’s economy recently when they met during a pirith chanting ceremony to mark the SLPP’s 7th anniversary at the party head office at Nelum Mawatha in Battaramulla. Mr Gunawardana, [...]
Roshan’s hat trick: Rugby, football and cricket
My dear Roshan, It is unusual to write about cricket for a second week running, but I must write to you as you are the person in the hot seat now. Last week, we wrote of how Sri Lankan Cricket died, murdered by SLC or Shammi’s Limited Company. The International Cricket Conference (ICC) has just [...]
ICCs suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket questionable
The Sri Lankan Cricket team’s disappointing performance at the 2023 World Cup currently in its concluding stages in India has been overshadowed by the battle between Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board headed by Shammi Silva. The situation escalated when the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday evening that Sri [...]
ICC suspends Sri Lanka as Parliament unites to end Shammi’s reign of cricket
‘Choose ‘Betting’ Shammi or me,’ Sports Minister tells President Even though the Lankan Parliament rose unanimously with both hands raised to support SJB’s motion to dissolve Sri Lanka’s Cricket Board, and even though President Ranil Wickremesinghe called for the Chitrasiri Report for a new SLC constitution to be enacted to completely revamp Sri Lanka Cricket, [...]
Playing pandu with our cricket in the nation’s name
Those were some really rough and bouncy overs. Reminded one of the heady days of West Indian speedsters when even the world’s best batsmen were ready to duck for cover. That, of course, was in the era before helmets and most other protective gear were donned by batsmen stepping onto the field dressed like the [...]
Question for SLPP: Who will be its presidential candidate?
Different views expressed at party anniversary last week, four conditions laid down to support tomorrow’s budget Cricket Corrupt Cricket: AG writes to President explaining situation, while world body suspends Sri Lanka Cricket Tie-up between Washington and New Delhi to check China’s influence in Sri Lanka; huge aid package from US agency By Our Political [...]
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