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Home » ColumnsDiplomatic cover for Uguduwa at US ambassador’s residence
In the world of diplomats, the most protected are United States envoys serving their country in overseas missions. The importance of a US ambassador’s personal security has risen ten-fold following the death of the US envoy in Benghazi, in Libya at the hands of a militant gang that invaded the embassy premises. Therefore, anything unusual [...]
Need for new Constitution unites House but process proves divisive
While political parties across the board agree on the need to do away with the 1978 Constitution that introduced the “twin evils”, namely the Executive Presidency and the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system to the country, there is less agreement on how best to move forward with this endeavour. The SLFP wants the resolution for [...]
Rajapaksa loyalists work out plans for new party and alliance
Former president meets local council representatives to discuss strategy for upcoming polls Sirisena reaches out to dissident faction, but with limited success in his move to keep the Rajapaksas out PM holds talks with different parties on resolution for constitutional changes, vote likely after Swiss visit A proposed new Constitution for Sri Lanka appears to have united [...]
The games the sports minister plays
My dear Dayasiri, I thought I must write to you because you seem to be in the news these days, whether you like it or not, mostly since you are the man supposedly in charge of sports in general and cricket in particular. But I am not sure whether you are in charge, judging by [...]
Lessening trade deficit vital to avoid worsening balance of payments
The large expanding trade deficits are the root cause for the balance of payments crisis. In 2015 the trade deficit widened as exports plunged and imports continued to be high. The trade deficit reached US$ 6.9 billion in the first ten months of last year. The trade deficit must be reduced this year to avoid [...]
Replacing sycophancy with a culture of criticism
One year into the appealing rhetoric of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration, it is heartening to see Sri Lanka’s artistes and scholars, whose peoples’ movements were pivotal to the change of power last year, becoming increasingly stern in their tone and tenor. Critical voices to be heard This critical approach must not be limited to optics or [...]
Chop suey of royalty, loyalty, eccentricity and more
So now it is British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire who turns up in Sri Lanka, leaving his chilly, rain-soaked country for warmer climes. Recently our one-time friends and peace-makers, the Norwegians were in Colombo. In years gone by they used to drop in often to meet our leaders and share crab curry in Kilinochchi. [...]
Phantom Belgian star in Lanka’s Beggar’s Opera
A nation’s coin of credibility is judged by the stability and value of its currency. The depths to which this nation’s economy has plummeted, the pits of economic perdition to which it has sunk is graphically brought home when its Finance Minister presents to its citizenry the nauseating and humiliating spectacle of an anonymous Belgian [...]