Columns
Home » ColumnsOnline safety law: Britain to take tougher line after telling Sri Lanka to tone down provisions
It is with wry amusement that we find the Sri Lankan Parliament has been told that the Government’s social media laws (the Online Safety Bill) will be reintroduced after softening some of its provisions, when at the same time in London, the British Prime Minister announced that he will review its own social media laws [...]
As polls near, MPs’ focus shifts from matters economics to politics and Bangladesh
By Chandanie Kirinde While the current parliament completed four years of its five-year term this week, there was more focus on what was happening outside parliament than inside as developments relating to the upcoming presidential election overshadowed legislative matters. Attendance in parliament remained low, with sittings being adjourned early on Thursday due to a lack [...]
Coming fourth
My dear Namal baby, I thought I must write to you to congratulate you since you have now been chosen as the candidate of the ‘pohottuwa’ party for the big election. Those in your party now say you are the best man for the job, but we all know that in reality, you were the [...]
Praise be to the Supreme Court and the Judiciary
The Supreme Court has been making the headlines in recent times for all the right reasons. A spate of judgements that have deep implications for a democratic society have been delivered by the country’s highest Court inspiring renewed confidence in the third pillar of governance, namely the judiciary. On Friday the Supreme Court delivered two [...]
Macroeconomic indicators shine amidst increasing poverty and social unrest
The expected economic growth of 4 percent for this year is being achieved amidst political uncertainties and social unrest. In spite of this, poverty and malnutrition have increased, real incomes have declined, and health services have deteriorated. There is a large exodus of the workforce. The country’s long-term development capacity is being eroded. On the [...]
The ‘second liberation’ of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’s ‘zero liberation?
Those who unwisely murmur ‘Bangladeshi people power a la Sri Lanka’ in assessing the ‘second liberation’ of Bangladesh following the jubilant toppling of fifteen year one-party rule by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by thousands of youth earlier this month, must restrain their enthusiasm in no small part. A lesson to all despots The 2022 [...]
Dhammika quits to clear the way for heir Namal’s planned advent
Poor Dhammika Perera, who was touted as the SLPP’s presidential hope. For months on end, he had been kept tied in reserve as the party’s biblical scapegoat to be ritualistically piled with the sins of the tribe and then released into the electoral wilderness to propitiate the people’s wrath with the innocent blood of an [...]
Dining with an assassin: Alleged killer of the ‘Father of Bangladesh’
If the arrogant and egotistic leaders of developing countries do not learn a clear lesson from the disgraceful fall of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, they too will end up fleeing for their lives or in search of places of exile. Our own Gotabaya Rajapaksa finally came home, probably because he was not welcome [...]
After Dhammika pulls out, SLPP turns to Namal for presidential race
Billionaire businessman withdraws because of his firm belief in Feng Shui and indisposition of family member More shocks to Pohottuwa as Pavithra and Rohitha decide to support Ranil Several parties and civil organisations sign agreement with SJB to support Sajith’s candidacy By Our Political Editor In a democracy, a ruling party rarely suffers what amounts [...]
Read More