The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Prime Minister, D.M. Jayaratne, sprung a surprise on ministers at the weekly Cabinet meeting last Wednesday. He circulated a brief two-page note calling upon his colleagues to approve a recommendation asking the Legal Draftsman's Department to formulate a set of draft constitutional amendments. The parameters of the changes proposed were spelt out. Ministers lost no time in endorsing it.

5th Column

A little bit of India - to have, to hold!

My Dear Manmohan,

Last week of course, it was all about India because your country’s film awards were held here-and I daresay it was a damp squib. That was because most of your top artistes kept away saying that some people in Tamil Nadu had threatened them.

The Economic Analysis

Costs and benefits of the import liberalization

The reasons for the recent reduction of import duties on some items are as intriguing as the uncertainty of its consequences. Various motives and objectives have been adduced for the surprising move to reduce import duties on a range of goods from motor vehicles to imports that are generally described as luxury goods. The intentions for the liberalization of different items vary. Particularly significant to the economy in the long run is the reduction in import duties of raw materials for industry.

Lobby

Not Issued with this week

Focus on Rights

Examining the international war crimes cry

So here we are, caught once again in the debilitating cross fire of international calls for a war crimes investigation on the one hand and on the other, (internally) by the misdeeds of a remarkably conscienceless administration. Is this a vicious circle that we can never free ourselves from? This question attracts discussion at several different levels.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Dr. IGP

The weather gods have not been kind to the UPFA Government in the recent weeks. So much so, the Victory Parade to mark the first anniversary of the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas had to be put off last month. It is now scheduled for Friday. There were no such bad weather problems for those at Police Headquarters last Friday. All ranks were present to watch a parade to honour Police Chief, Mahinda Balasuriya.