Joint Opposition surprised many when they joined the camp opposing South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine. SAITM was established and functioned for four years during their administration. Hence, the JO attempts now to dissociate itself from SAITM is seen as playing politics and not standing by their own policies. Reasons to oppose SAITM JO […]
At the media conference held this April 05, the Amnesty International struggled to answer Shamindra Ferdinando’s questions. A subject specialist on the Geneva Resolution, Ferdinando highlighted the vast discrepancy in numbers of alleged deaths and enforced disappearances by the many factions, who insisted on trying Sri Lanka before a hybrid war crimes court. Unable to […]
Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera returned from Geneva to a hero’s welcome. It was a welcome organized by none. There was some talk of welcoming him in various informal forums, but nothing was definite. Yet, hundreds came to greet him and show their appreciation for his single handed feat. However, he insists that he was just […]
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had made a very curious statement, just before the UNHRC resolution. Apparently the Indian Government feels anguish and pain over the Sri Lankan military’s alleged war crimes against unarmed Tamils during the final phase of the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. India, she says, is committed to […]
On March 23, a two-year extension of the highly controversial 2015 Geneva Resolutions was passed at the UNHRC, without a vote. It was passed with the co-sponsorship of 36 countries, including Sri Lanka. Thus, we have accepted that our own military committed excesses. We have also entertained the notion of a hybrid court, on the […]
The disabled soldiers have taken to the streets in protests yet again. That would make it their fourth attempt to get a pension. One would have thought an issue for disabled soldiers to take to the streets would be volatile enough to make the government shake in their shoes. Men without limbs, some prostrate in […]
Most probably, this 22nd the Homagama magistrate will order Lt. Col. Shammi Kumararatne and Lt. Col. Prabodha Siriwardena to be taken back into custody. They were first taken into CID custody along with Staff Sargent Priyantha Kumara on August 24, 2015 for the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda. After about three months, they were transferred to […]
Since Brexit, Britain has become the new pariah in Europe. Despite the much celebrated European chivalry, Theresa May is treated with the full force of chauvinism at the European forums. Amidst the warm camaraderie amongst the European leaders, May is left standing awkwardly, tugging at her sleeves, without so much as a polite smile to […]
Trump sacking Samantha Power, Nisha Biswal, Tom Malinowski and Susan Rice caused, in the Sinhala colloquial manner of saying, coconut-size lettered headlines, especially in the Sinhala media. These four were the key U.S. State Department officials who were instrumental in the regime change in Sri Lanka, rebranding Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam from hardcore terrorist […]
When those opposing this incumbent administration share “we will miss Obama” Facebook posts, it is obvious that their grouse with the government is not the real issues or its causes that have gripped our country. Their opposition roots in their political preferences rather than the performance. Therefore, even if this government performs well, there will […]
Though Sri Lanka is supposed to be accursed with Kweni’s curse, this Island resplendent with natural resources and fair weather is a far cry from being cursed. Yet, in our long history, we have almost never had a dull day due to aggressions and invasions from foreign forces. Still, it is a case of worms […]
Sri Lanka is apparently getting sucked into a debt trap. This is the war drum that has been beating since the Rajapaksa administration. The massive development projects undertaken by that administration has supposedly resulted in this situation. Though the administrations changed, the war drum continues not only to beat, but beat faster. Yet, the greater […]
The intelligence of a country – state or military – is considered the ears and eyes of a country. In reality though, it performs a much more complicated role than merely gathering information. Raw information moves up an intricate chain of command, getting processed into intelligence for the policy makers to use as they see […]
The present administration committed two cardinal errors as soon as it ascended to power. One was to turn our back on China and its investments, which within a short period of time caused a severe crunch in our economy. Much has been discussed on this regard and the government’s frantic scrambling to reverse the situation […]
Hypocrisy has smacked us hard this Christmas. A whole bandwagon got into social media to defend an artificial Christmas tree – at a time real trees in Wilpattu are felled at an alarming rate. The same defenders, who saw opportunity in investing millions of rupees in a temporary structure fails to appreciate the permanent investment […]
Earlier this week PM Ranil Wickremasinghe expressed his regret for the burning of the Jaffna Library in 1982. It happened when the United National Party was in power and thus his regret. Even though, many misconstrued his expressed regret as an apology, very few had commended him for it. This is because the list of […]
When the one-time Norwegian-funded peace guru, Dr. Kumar Rupesinghe, fell out with Norway, the latter exposed him to have received U.S. 6 mn from them during 2004-2008. Thus, any book authored or edited by him might meet with skepticism. However, Negotiating Peace in Sri Lanka – Efforts, Failures and Lessons, edited by him, is a […]
Opinion over Commodore Ajith Boyagoda is heavily divided. To some he is a victim of war, to others he is a traitor. His book, ‘A Long Watch – War, Captivity and Return in Sri Lanka’ brings forth more questions than actually exonerates him. He hides no bones over his sympathies to the separatists’ struggle, but […]
Terrorism whacked Sri Lanka for 30 years. Yet, as a nation, we are hardly aware of the genesis that crippled our country for three decades. The popular consensus is that this began with the 1983 Sinhala-Tamil riots, where Tamils were persecuted, whilst the government’s silent blessings. Tamil youth thus in defense and retaliation, organized themselves […]
The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has, instead of flights, attracted criticism. Even Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalists agree that this second airport was an ego trip, amounting to a white elephant. As the present administration scratch their heads over this, scattered voices disagree with the popular consensus and insist the airport to have tremendous potential. One […]