Columns
Home » ColumnsSpeakers and Deputy Speakers bald out because of brawls
The normally affable Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakshe was a frustrated man yesterday as he reacted angrily after being interrupted when speaking in Parliament. Mr. Rajapakshe, who chaired the special committee appointed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to probe the brawl that took place in Parliament’s lobby on October 20, was making a point on the [...]
Common candidate
My dear Roshan, I am writing to congratulate you on being sacked as the Minister of Sports. After battling Shammi, you again proved what we knew: We can change Presidents, governments, ministers and Sri Lanka’s status with the International Cricket Council (ICC), but we can’t change who runs cricket in Paradise. That is why the [...]
Focus on laws delays during debate on Justice Ministry vote
By Sandun Jayawardana The perennial issue of laws delays again came to the surface yesterday (2) as Parliament debated the head of expenditure of the Ministry of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms. Addressing Parliament, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe revealed that there were 1,104,458 cases being heard in courts throughout the country as at June [...]
US and Western allies unable to restrain Israel in Gaza as women, children and civilians are indiscriminately killed
The short respite (if it can be called that) the people of Gaza enjoyed from the continuous aerial bombardment by Israeli forces ended on Friday. In the immediate 24 hours after the temporary truce ended, over 100 civilians in Gaza have been killed by Israel, whose forces have now gone back to their inhuman “business [...]
Impediments to the implementation of the budget for 2024
Although the second reading of the budget was passed in parliament with a clear majority and the third reading will also be passed on December 21, public opposition to it is mounting. There are also difficulties in implementing the complex new tax system. Economic conditions, too, are not favourable for the growth of the economy [...]
The president should implement governance justice, not pontificate on climate justice
Weeks after the November 14th decision of the Supreme Court with the majority holding gross failures in fiscal and monetary discipline by the Rajapaksa-led regime from 2019-2022 had comprised an extraordinary breach of the Public Trust triggering Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy, it does not seem that political leaders or their cheering squads have learnt important lessons [...]
Roshan pays the ultimate price for crusade against corruption
Roshan Ranasinghe turned martyr after he was sacked as Minister of Sports on Monday afternoon following his relentless crusade against corruption at Sri Lanka Cricket Institute. His sacking came as no surprise. It was only to be expected. It was writ on his brow on the first day itself he launched his brave crusade against [...]
Pressing ahead to fulfil presidential visions
Hardly had Sri Lanka’s new envoy to the Court of St James taken his new seat when he was firing on all cylinders. The high commission here has had heads of missions drawn from a wide variety of professions and vocations. A quick count tells me there were two former army commanders, academics, lawyers, one-time [...]
CC withdraws Rules after clash with President
Ranil tells Government Printer not to publish guidelines in the gazette AG also agrees they are not in line with the Constitution By Our Political Editor A move by the Constitutional Council to introduce Rules on the discharge of its duties and functions brought the executive and the legislature to an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation last week. [...]
Read More