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Home » ColumnsDegree by degree, MPs throw mud at each other
The fiasco surrounding the resignation of former Speaker Ashoka Ranwala following the controversy over the authenticity of his doctorate reverberated in Parliament throughout the two days it was in session this week, as arguments over the qualifications of various MPs overshadowed most other legislative business. It even became comical at some points. Ratnapura District NPP [...]
All those promises
My dear Anura sahodaraya, I thought I should write to you since it is now three months to the day when you got the top job. It is also just over a month since the ‘maalimaawa’ won the other election with a historic mandate that got you a record majority. Much has happened since then. [...]
House gets new Speaker; relief for schoolchildren hit by economic crisis under radar
By Sandun Jayawardana An eventful final two days of Parliamentary sittings for 2024 saw the election of a new Speaker, the President briefing the House on economic relief the government aims to provide in 2025 and plenty of arguments over academic and professional qualifications of government and opposition MPs. On Tuesday (17), the House unanimously [...]
Christmas festivities amidst poverty and deprivation
This Christmas, like the last Christmas and those before, brings out the disparity of livelihoods in the country. While the affluent are feasting, a third or more of the population are in poverty. Hungry and malnourished, they are struggling to cope with the high prices of essentials with their inadequate incomes. Paradox This disparity is [...]
The NPP government’s hissy fits amidst silence on the PTA
The National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Government continues to maintain a disquieting silence in regard to pre-election pledges, most importantly concerning the repeal of ‘all repressive laws,’ including the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). An unwary slip of the tongue The Government’s continued waffling on this matter only bears out what one of its officials said [...]
Santa’s Merry Christmas at Joe’s watering hole
It was cold and wintry when Santa Claus embarked on Christmas Eve to do his annual round to deliver Christmas cheer throughout the world on his heavenly reindeer sleigh. The bulk of gifts aboard the sleigh went to slow down its speed since the bulkiest of all to the island of Lebunka taxed the stamina [...]
With opposition in disarray, NPP smells victory at upcoming local council polls
NDF (SLFP) members abandon cylinder and take up chair to contest future elections SJB leader Premadasa faces criticism over outside interference in party affairs Hakeem accuses government of concealing full details of Covid-19 cremations under the cover of medical ethics June 2024 cabinet paper reveals blunders Gotabya Rajapaksa Govt. made over Covid-19 cremations [...]
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