Columns
Home » ColumnsRanil works out peaceful pre-dawn transition of power with Mahinda
Brave officials in Elections Department and security forces ensure a free and fair poll Last minute effort to telecast ‘Janapathi Janahamuwa’ programme stalled by UNP lawyers and court Voting patterns clearly show that the minority vote gave Sirisena the big push for victory Millions of Sri Lankans learnt only by late Friday morning that the [...]
Don’t make the mistakes that Mahinda made
My dear Maithri, I suppose it is only right to address you this week, even though I know you must be quite busy, swearing in new ministers and accepting the resignations of a host of other people. After all, you set yourself a hundred day target to achieve your most important goals — and it [...]
Royal astrologer sees stars
If there was a Sri Lankan who was absolutely certain Mahinda Rajapaksa would win Thursday’s presidential elections, it was his astrologer Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena. This week, however, he realised that what he foretold was wrong and his client Rajapaksa had to leave office with an unfinished term of two years and two months. So, Mr. Abeygunawardena decided [...]
Fiscal consolidation critical economic challenge for new government
The election of Maithripala Sirisena as President is another opportunity to resolve fundamental economic problems. A majority of citizens voted for a change in the prevalent political milieu that did not respect law and order, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. It was a vote to usher in good governance and [...]
The election that Mahinda (Deshapriya) won
In an election that was as unusual as it was historic, Sri Lanka on Thursday elected and transferred power to its sixth president with a speed, efficacy and civility not seen in elections for decades. A lion’s share of credit goes to the indomitable Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and Police Chief N. K. Ilangakoon for [...]
Peoples power brings down a presidency
There is a terrible toll that relentless state repression extracts from a country and its people. It saps them of strength, makes them fearful and angry, ready to snarl at the slightest hint of danger, real or perceived. Yet the miracle of the human spirit is that, as things seem at their darkest, the rational [...]
Salman can and Gunaratnam too but others can’t
As students many decades ago we used to visit the parliament by the sea to follow the debate and discussions that were so educative and informative that the House served as a great source of knowledge. In later years covering proceedings as parliamentary editor and as a sketch writer, (mistakenly described in this country as [...]
The Miracle of Maithri dawns
If there were any miracles wrought during these last four years to transform Lanka from a pathetic failed state of democracy, tottering on the brink of anarchy and economic despair, into one that had all the new found potential to transcend the vicissitudes of her impish fates and enable her once again to take her [...]