Columns

Political Column

The scenario was all too reminiscent of the events between May to June 1987. Then the Army had launched "Operation Liberation" to regain total control of the Tiger guerrilla-dominated Jaffna peninsula. The then Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, telephoned the then Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene to warn of the consequences.

5th Column

The wine and the song, like the seasons have all gone now!

My Dear Satellite,

Situation Report

LTTE resorts to gas warfare as fighting escalates

Weeks ago, troop carrier Jetliner was heading to Trincomalee from Kankesanthurai (KKS) with a complement of some 2200 officers and men. They had begun the voyage at 1 p.m. from KKS and were only some two hours away from the Navy's eastern area headquarters in the Dockyard. They were some 30 nautical miles off the coast in the general area of Kokkutuduwai.

Thoughts from London

Missing the bus on our GSP Plus

In the next day or two-if it has not already happened by the time this column appears-the European Union would formally inform Sri Lanka that it will launch an inquiry into the country’s compliance with the criteria required to extend the GSP Plus trade concession which we have enjoyed for the last three years.

The Economic Analysis

Concerns and consequences of the global recession

The dominant current economic concern is the adverse impacts of the global recession on the Sri Lankan economy. The downturn of the Sri Lankan economy however preceded the Wall Street collapse and the US recession.

Lobby

Not issued with this week

Focus on Rights

The abject failure of the cat act

It is now very clear that the Convention Against Torture and other Inhuman and Degrading Punishment Act No 22 of 1994 (the CAT Act) has signally failed in its intent to bring about an improved deterrent regime in regard to practices of torture in Sri Lanka.

Inside the glass house

Big power dictatorship at UN: Mother of many global evils

The United Nations has officially proclaimed 2009 "the International Year of Reconciliation". But whether or not the world will move towards economic stability and political reconciliation -- given the disastrous military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and widespread insurgencies in Africa and Asia against the backdrop of a faltering economic environment -- is a $700 billion bailout question.