Last week Ravi Karunanayake resigned from his foreign ministerial post. However, it was not because of his alleged link to the infamous Central Bank (CB) bond scams, but pressurized by the controversy generated by an apartment his family had purchased. Astute onlookers feel the pressure for his resignation came too soon as it might shift […]

In March this year, it was reported that the Dambulla Base Hospital authorities were forcefully inserting intrauterine devices (IUD) into patients who had just given birth. Until patients agreed to the procedure, the hospital refused to discharged them or to issue birth certificates to the newly born babies. It was the patients’ understanding that inserting […]

When Mahinda Rajapaksa became the sixth president of Sri Lanka in 2005, we were up against three wars – terrorism, poverty and corruption. We won the war against terrorism in 2009. By 2014, the key economic indicators in comparison to 2004 reveals the economic revolution we have had during this period. Briefly, the economic indicators […]

On June 20, 2014 Atul Keshap told the Daily Mirror, “the U.S. believes in a very bright future for this country and it believes that Sri Lanka has the potential in terms of human capital, in terms of resources, in terms of geographic location, in terms of having secured peace after a very brutal civil […]

Pro-Indian analysts’ interpretation of the events that led to the Magampura Port about to be leased to the Chinese for the next 99 years is eyebrow raising. According to them, the ‘Sri Lanka case’ offers a classic example of how China does business. Apparently, China offers aid and when that country cannot repay, China moves […]

Our giant neighbor’s omnipresence is hard to ignore. Yet incredibly, we are extremely ignorant of Indian matters. It is pardonable when we are equally ignorant of our own matters. The terror days of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – from its inception to its annihilation – were during our living years. Still, crucial facts […]

On June 28, Maithripala Sirisena as the president of our country, visited the Negambo District Hospital. His photo, looking helpless as perhaps as much as he felt, standing next to a bed with two young dengue patients around five-six years old, made front page news. Subsequently it was reported that following his directives, the staff […]

Last week, prelate of Asgiriya Chapter, Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana thero sent shock waves with his very stern statement. The last two years have been most trying for Sinhala Buddhists, especially in the North and the East where they are a regional minority. In the North, there are still no Sinhalese, despite the war against […]

Monk Galagoda Atta Gnanasara is up to his antics again. This time however the legal arm is instructed to do the needful. The front page of dailies for the past week has been carrying the latest updates of the the absconding monk. The police’s failure is attributed to the interference of a powerful minister, alleged […]

  At a recent media briefing, civil organizations instrumental in establishing this government lambasted the Yahapalana leaders for not reshuffling the cabinet as per their instructions. It was following such an instruction that the military intelligence director, Brigadier Suresh Salley was removed from post. The government’s perfidious attempts to do away our country’s unitary status […] ...

  Photographing snakes is not everyone’s cup of tea. Mendis Wickremesighe is one such exceptional photographer, whose life mission is to photograph Sri Lanka’s 103 snake species. From small days, snakes has fascinated him. “Most people find snakes repulsive,” he acknowledges. “Beauty is relative and for me, they are very beautiful creatures. When it’s long […] ...

Professor Maithree Wickremesighe, wife of PM Ranil Wickremesighe, said, many Sri Lankans still remain deeply conflicted and wounded because of government’s frequent failures to stem xenophobic campaigns – especially against the Tamils, Muslims and Christians in this country. She was speaking at the recent book launch, ‘Testimonies of Silent Pain’, compiled by The Social Architects. […] ...

The recent cabinet reshuffle was a joke, is the general public opinion. Ravi Karunanayaka and Mangala Samaraweera swapping places was nothing more than changing the pillow to cure the headache. While everyone was ridiculing the remedy, almost none paid attention to the changes in Arjuna Ranatunga’s portfolio. When he was stripped from the Ministry of […]

Mahendra Amarasekera is not convinced that it was the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who assassinated Lalith Athulathmudali. Amarasekera was more than a close confidant of Athulathmudali. He was also a collaborator of the impeachment motion bought against the then president Premadasa, Assistant Secretary of the rebel Democratic United National Front and witness to his […]

India needs to change their foreign policy on Sri Lanka immediately. Their policies have not only failed, but has disastrously backfired on India, ending in a result totally unanticipated and always against India. The extent of the damage caused by their own policies to India can be measured against the success of their arch rival, […]

There are more than one way to conquer a country. We all know of Ravana’s episode, where when they failed militarily, they resorted to treachery. Since Vijaya’s time, our recorded history recounts the many times indians tried to invade Sri Lanka. They at times succeeded capturing parts or most of our country, but never the […]

Eight years ago, this time everyone in Sri Lanka stayed glued to their radios and television sets. “Any time now,” was on everyone’s lips, as we all waited eagerly for news that the terror days of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were finally over. We saw the civilians who were forcibly held hostage by […]

The Stock Market boomed into life with the successful conclusion of the war on May 2009. After stagnating for years, the rising activities were the barometric readings of the fast reviving economy. Yet, despite the massive development projects and investments taking place, the market was slowing by 2011. Investor confidence began to erode and by […]

Shyamon Jayasinghe, on 27 April, accuses this writer of cherry picking his article, ‘Why can’t Dayan see that Executive Presidency is dead and awaiting burial?’ to substantiate the discussion ‘Executive Presidency: boon or bane?’, with the writer’s view point, which he perceives as in support of Executive Presidency (EP). As such, he claims, the writer […]

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka in his article, ‘Meethotamulla and the Fate of the Executive Presidency’, draws a parallel between the Metthatamulla tragedy and the dangers we face as a nation. More than 30 people were buried alive in garbage as a direct result of failing to address the dangers of a growing mountain of refuse. Even […]