Columns

Political Column

As troops move triumphantly to end Tiger guerrilla domination of their rapidly shrinking terrain in the Mullaitivu district, the fate of civilians trapped in the war has become the most critical question. Their numbers vary. Official United Nations estimates, through their agencies on the ground, place the number at more than 200,000.

5th Column

He knows how to follow tyre tracks and avoid booby traps

“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what is all this fuss about Muralitharan?”

The Economic Analysis

A sudden U turn to Bretton Woods

After a prolonged period of denying that the country’s foreign exchange reserves were inadequate, the government has suddenly turned to the IMF for a stand-by facility of US$ 1.9 billion. For quite sometime now the Central Bank has maintained that the country did not have a serious foreign exchange problem. Besides, its announced strategy to replenish foreign exchange reserves did not include dependence on the IMF

Lobby

Not issed with this week

Focus on Rights

The Bludgeoning and Battering of Rights Protections

A decade back, when deciding to write a column on human rights protections for The Sunday Times, I would never have envisaged that 'human rights' itself would have become such a contested term as the years progressed.

Inside the glass house

Clash over cash: UN prods US

After a meeting with President Barack Obama last week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon triggered a mild controversy in Capitol Hill when he unwittingly described the United States as a "deadbeat" donor which owes a staggering $1.6 billion in unpaid dues to the world body. The facts were unimpeachable but the remark apparently seemed misplaced -- particularly under the new US administration