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Home » ColumnsEnvironmentalists claim officials cutting down trees instead of clearing garbage
Government agencies acting on complaints of flooding in the Akurana town went on to destroy trees on the Pinga Oya bank in the Katugastota area instead of finding a solution to clear garbage and plastic which was causing the flooding. Environmentalists said the Mahaweli Authority and officials from the Disaster Management Centre’s Kandy office who [...]
Alliances in the offing
My dear Sajith, I am writing to you as you prepare for a year in which an election which can make you or break you will be held. The reason I am writing to you now is because we hear that you are planning to form an alliance with Dullas, GL and their crowd who [...]
Re-negotiating IMF terms backed by a fresh mandate may be way out for the economy
The topic most on people’s mind as they await the dawn of 2024 is how the Value Added Tax (VAT) is going to impact on the cost of living and therefore on their own lives. The common consensus is it is likely to send the already high cost of living even higher. However, with the [...]
2023: A year of economic recovery, improved foreign reserves amid signs of economic growth
The year that ends today has been one of economic recovery and improved external finances, amidst signs of modest economic growth. Improvement At year’s end, the situation is certainly better than it was at the beginning. Last year was one of short-ages of essentials. People faced severe hardships in their daily lives. The unavailability of [...]
A spanking new bribery commission – but (alleged) gross corruptors in Sri Lanka’s cabinet?
As Sri Lanka’s newest Bribery Commission cracks its shell with more than a smidgen of difficulty in the backdrop of ugly strain between its metaphorical parents, the Constitutional Council and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, circumstances can hardly be less propitious for this fledgling creature to survive, let alone thrive. Ministers and the proverbial figleaves The Commission [...]
CID dragnet closing in fast on Health Ministry IG fraud
How the immunoglobulin scam is slowly unfolding at the Magistrate’s court Sacked Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella should consider as one of his many blessings the privilege right still accorded him to order the CID to pay him house calls and offer their special VIP takeaway service as and when he decides to grant them a [...]
Running out of diplomats and out of excuses
During the 2024 budget debate which thankfully concluded earlier this month there was much bombast and belligerence which fortunately stopped short of fisticuffs, though the corridors were not entirely free of major power clashes. That led to three MPs being timed out like former Sri Lanka cricket captain Angelo Mathews in his international record-breaking incident [...]
Amid economic hardships, presidential polls will dominate the New Year
VAT increase from tomorrow; extra tax on fuel also, while prices of several items will rise Treasury officials say port and airport taxes on many items will be removed to offer relief to people Party leaders begin soft launch of election campaign; Ranil seeks grand alliance to back him but ruling SLPP’s position uncertain By [...]
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