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Rapprochement with India, way cleared for C’wealth summit
Rajapaksa Govt. makes dramatic moves to improve ties with New Delhi; Japan to help rebuild relations with US Rajapaksa to go ahead with NPC elections despite dire warnings from the JHU and the NFF By Our Political Editor Even if most Sri Lankans did not realise it, this week’s developments came as further proof that [...]
5th Column
Saluting the sinful
My Dear Dumi, I thought I must write to you when I heard that you had made a sudden and complete recovery and was returning home. Dumi, you have done the impossible and proved many people wrong, so congratulations are in order! I am sure there would have been many people who would have been [...]
From the sidelines
May Day rhetoric reflects multiple divisions
From the sidelines By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya May Day last year was memorable for an unusual convergence that saw the leader of the main Tamil political formation, the TNA, and the leader of the main Opposition UNP hoisting the national flag together in Jaffna, cheered by a massive crowd. Rajavarothayam Sampanthan’s gesture was generally seen in the [...]
The Economic Analysis
When Govt. revenue is not enough to meet debt servicing costs
The public debt has reached a magnitude when government revenue is inadequate to meet debt servicing costs. In 2012, debt servicing costs were 3 per cent more than government revenue. As much as 103 per cent of government revenue was needed to repay maturing debt and meet interest costs. Consequently government has to borrow to [...]
Focus on Rights
Suffering the follies of petty tyranny
Petty tyranny is not unique to political rulers afflicted with severe inferiority complexes. When rules of collective functioning are abandoned within a country, system or an institution, foolhardy and arrogant leadership becomes a dangerous and ultimately fatal combustion. This can happen at the highest levels of political leadership in the government, in the opposition, in [...]
Talk at the Cafe Spectator
The Guardian quotes ST on Cameron’s Rolls-Royce diplomacy
‘Rolls Royce diplomacy’ of Britain and its co-relation with CHOGM exclusively reported in the political column of this newspaper last week has figured in last Friday’s The Guardian newspaper published in the UK. This is what it says (extracts): Rolls-Royce to provide engines for SriLankan Airlines refit Campaigners urge Rolls-Royce deal not to influence UK’s [...]