The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

War hero now prisoner No: 0/22032

It was close upon midnight Thursday when former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was escorted into an isolated cell in Ward "S" at the high security Welikada Prison. Fonseka, now Prisoner No: 0/22032, changed from a national dress into an ill-fitting jumper, the regular attire for convicts and slept the night on a mat on the cement floor. He had only one pillow.

5th Column

Let not your brave front crumble

My dear General,

I thought I must write to you, even if some may find fault with me for calling you a General now and even though the chances of your getting to read this are remote, because I don’t think they take particularly good care of the library at Welikada.

The Economic Analysis

IMF boosts international confidence in the economy

The granting of the third tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stand-by facility did not come as a surprise to anyone, least of all the officials. It was in line with the optimistic assessments of the economy that one is familiar with in recent months. The IMF tranche was fully worth in gold more than in the dollars it lent.

Lobby

Not issued with this week

Focus on Rights

On justice and the wave of a king’s hand

The confirming of the two court martial ‘verdicts’ against this country’s former Army Commander by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, with the consequent result that (former?) General Sarath Fonseka is now serving a prison sentence along with common criminals, is perhaps the greatest legal travesty of our times.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Duty for daughter's wedding

Police Superintendent H. Wickramasinghe - head of the security contingent assigned to Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe -- was refused leave to attend his daughter's wedding last Friday. None other than the IGP Dr. Mahinda Balasuriya turned down the request on the footing that there was no replacement available.

Column by Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

Mrs. Anumaana learns the benefits of 18A

Mrs Aandupaksa has been in extremely high spirits ever since the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament. She has been talking about it non-stop to friends and neighbours. She says she doesn’t really understand anything about the 18A, all she knows is that ever since it was ‘passed,’ members of her vast extended family have been getting appointed to various high positions in government, and relatives who were hitherto jobless have suddenly secured prestigious, influential and well-paid jobs. And isn’t that a cause for celebration, she asks.