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Home » ColumnsWomen’s Empowerment Bill to give teeth to seven-member National Commission for Women
The Women’s Empowerment Bill, a key legislation announced by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to safeguard the rights of women, was passed in Parliament on Thursday (20) with amendments. The bill makes provisions for a national commission for women. It also paves the way for the drafting and implementation of a national policy on women’s welfare and [...]
A common Tamil candidate: Jaishankar tells Tamil parties he has nothing to say
Compulsions at home prompted India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to keep to a tight schedule during his day-long visit to Sri Lanka last Thursday. His schedule allowed only 30 minutes for a meeting at the India House with representatives of Tamil political parties. Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Rajavarothiyam Sampanthan had to seek medical [...]
Will you be forced to pay rent on your home to meet IMF demand?
The President says NO but SJB’s Harsha says YES The news that the IMF has, in its latest report on Sri Lanka, proposed to levy an assessed rental tax on every owner-occupied property sent shockwaves throughout the nation. This was the last straw. The final push over the cliff. Since the country’s economic debacle, the [...]
As polls near, stories old and new burst into life
It used to be said that even a joke could be a serious thing. I cannot remember where I first heard it, perhaps from some Sri Lankan wag on the way to inebriation or a deep thinker like our philosophy teacher at Peradeniya, Basil Mendis, who had been mistakenly thought to have the earth is [...]
A motley crew
My dear Wimal and Udaya, I thought I will write to you together, after seeing you launch yet another political alliance last week. After all, you have always been seen and heard together, like Bhathiya and Santhush, Mahela and Sanga or even Harin and Manusha. I am not sure who among you are the better [...]
IMF’s third tranche: Economic significance and implications
Despite a delay in foreign debt restructuring and no progress in good governance, the International Monetary Fund approved the third tranche of the Extended Finance Facility. What are the implications and economic significance of this? Third tranche The IMF approved the third tranche—US$ 336 million—under its Extended Fund Facility on June 12, despite the delay [...]
On ‘political cannibalism’ and the President versus the court
President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s call to Parliament that Special Determination 54-55/2024 on the Gender Equality Bill violates the powers of the House under Article 4 of the Constitution and that a Select Committee should be appointed to ‘look into it,’ is tantamount to gravely undermining the authority of the Supreme Court, never mind the President’s casual [...]
Forcible cremation of Covid-19 victims – a trauma not easily forgotten
One of the most traumatic experiences faced by the Muslims of the country during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa presidency was the implementation of the mandatory policy of cremation for all bodies suspected to be infected with Covid-19. This cruel and inhumane act which caused outrage and trauma among Muslims, whose religious beliefs stipulated that the remains [...]
SLPP ready with evidence to expel Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe from party
All-Island Working Committee will meet tomorrow; he may lose parliament seat and minister post Ranil’s presidential campaign preparations disrupted by row between Basil and Lanza faction President’s criticism of SC determination on Gender Equality Bill raises storm; BASL sees it as attempt to undermine judicial independence Modi visit to Sri Lanka before presidential election is [...]
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