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Legislating religion: Task force hits a snag
Sunil has been recruited by Mrs. Aandupaksa for one of the most serious undertakings of his life. He has been asked to assist a committee that will draft a new law to prohibit distortion of religious teachings in the country. This follows a decision by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to introduce a draft bill [...]
Political Column
Mishandling by Govt. puts vital issues in disarray
Thursday’s Pepiliyana attack on Muslim business house outrages Hakeem, SLMC holds emergency meeting to review ties with UPFA CJ 43 Shirani B chief guest at BASL convocation; CJ 44 not invited; lawyers send strong message Govt. mending ties with India post-Geneva; Lanka’s envoy in Washington proposes close alliance with US By Our Political Editor The [...]
5th Column
Looking beyond dollars, wickets and runs
My dear Sri Lankan cricketers, I thought I must write to you after hearing that you have been asked not to play in Chennai or anywhere else in Tamil Nadu by that state’s Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa in the upcoming Indian Premier League. The organisers of that tournament, I am told, instead of doing the right [...]
Talk at the Cafe Spectator
Baggage blunder on first flight to Mattala
Baggage blunder on first flight to Mattala With much fanfare, a group from the United States arrived in the first SriLankan Airlines commercial flight to land at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA). TV cameras focused on them whilst the Kandyan dancers who gyrated to the drumbeats were watched by thousands of Sri Lankans during [...]
The Economic Analysis
Why unity and social harmony are crucial for economic development
No single factor has retarded the country’s economic development as much as ethnic disturbances. The cumulative economic impacts of the series of ethnic disturbances since independence are considerable though immeasurable. Another setback to the economy due to communal violence could spell a death knell for the economy. Once again dark clouds of communal hostility may [...]