The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

Crucial weeks ahead for Sri Lanka internationally

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had a special message for his cabinet ministers. He told them at the weekly meeting on Wednesday they would all have to be present in Parliament the next day, Thursday. However, he did not tell them why.

5th Column

Once friends, now strangers

I thought I must write to you even if you may not have left a forwarding address when you fled from Tripoli. That is because you seem to be in the news these days for all the wrong reasons and your country is in a chaos.

The Economic Analysis

Self sufficiency in rice and its economic benefits

One of the significant post independent achievements of the country has been the attainment of self-sufficiency in rice. At the time of independence the country imported about one half of its requirements of rice and a huge quantity of wheat flour to feed about 7 million persons.

Lobby

President sugar-coats Govt.’s undemocratic practices with removal of Emergency

President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to Parliament last Thursday, and this time he brought with him some good news. The Emergency Regulations (ER), last imposed in August 2005, five months before he took office as President, are to end by next month, he announced. It was a move welcomed by Government and Opposition members alike.

Focus on Rights

Celebrating more of Houdini’s illusions?

Is the emergency really over in Sri Lanka? Or are we celebrating a clever trick, akin to Houdini’s famed illusions whereby we are being made to believe something that is not really the case?

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Exhibition of lawlessness outside Parliament

The divide between the law makers in Parliament and the law breakers outside is only the small stretch of water at Diyawanna Oya. An old, winding road cuts through the banks past a man-made mound to link the Pelawatte Road (near Parliament roundabout) to Pitakotte-Talawatugoda Road in the direction of the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.

From the Sidelines

LG elections and the story in numbers

With the local government elections being staggered over several months this year, and some having been held in previous years, it is difficult for analysts to get a grip on the overall picture presented by the outcome in the various electoral districts.