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Home » ColumnsPerilous position
My dear Sajith, I thought of writing to you because you seem to be at the centre of a controversy every now and then these days, though you haven’t done anything yourself and have tried to stay out of the limelight. As the leader of the ‘telephone’ party, you are always at the wrong place [...]
Ranil W-style protest busting: Life in Govt. differs from life in opposition
Police broke up a student protest outside the Health Ministry premises early Friday, arresting 27 of them. The protest had been organised by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF), which alleged that the government had curtailed Allied Health Sciences graduate intake to the public sector. Police had earlier obtained a court order from the Maligakanda Magistrate’s [...]
Why the dragging of the NPP’s feet over repeal of the PTA?
A significant ruling by the Sri Lankan Supreme Court on 18th March 2025 (Madurapperuma v Kelum Sangeeth, Sub-Inspector of Police and Others,) has cast a pale of doubt over a range of detention orders issued by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa under Section 9 (1) of Sri Lanka’s highly critiqued Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Careless [...]
Three formidable challenges: National unity, eradicating corruption and economic growth
Sri Lanka faces three formidable challenges: Achieving national unity, eradicating corruption and economic growth. Each of these is difficult to achieve. Achieving all of them is nearly impossible. Even a partial achievement of them will make a significant impact on the country’s economic and social development. National unity There has not been a better opportunity [...]
Sanctions and Sri Lanka’s failure to address human rights allegations: A self-inflicted crisis
The United Kingdom’s recent sanctions against four Lankan officials for alleged human rights violations during the civil war has stirred controversy within Sri Lanka. While hardline factions decry the move as an attack on sovereignty, the deeper issue lies in the failure of past governments’ longstanding failure to address allegations of war crimes transparently. This [...]
Lammy’s ban on 3 Lankan commanders does not portend well for British fair play
In the glaring absence of an immediate Foreign Office response to Britain’s decision to impose sanctions on three former Lankan Armed Force Commanders, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa emerged from semi-retirement to declare that he, as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces during the final years of the terrorist war, will accept full [...]
When disgruntled diplomats pitch into appointed diplomutts
It was bound to happen. Sri Lanka’s career diplomatic service has long had a troubled past. That is not to say a really bad time away from home, particularly by incompetent and ignorant bosses from discarded political rubbish or dubious lineage that does little to improve the image of the country or those who wish [...]
SriLankan Airlines takes on Airbus, demanding hefty US$ 200 million compensation, free aircraft, and more
National carrier’s new chairman begins dispute settlement dialogue with Airbus over issues arising from the corruption-ridden purchase deal in 2013 In talks with President Dissanayake, Indian Prime Minister Modi will review progress made in fostering greater partnerships and cooperation A lengthy resolution ready for the removal of suspended police chief Deshabandu Concerns arise over ministerial [...]
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