5th Column
Home » Columns“Not I, Sir”
My dear Mrs. Ravi K, I never thought I would be writing to you, especially after having written to your husband last week. Please excuse me for doing so but, after hearing what he had to say at the Bond Commission this week, I think I was wrong: instead of writing to him, I should [...]
RK: The belligerent but beleaguered Minister
Bond Commission revelations severe embarrassment to Govt., especially to the UNP; party stalwarts also ask FM to quit Renewal of MoU, Sirisena to wait till December 31 for Bond Commission and Budget debate to be concluded Amendments to hold all PC election on a single day next year; local council elections unlikely this year Minister [...]
House lauds RW, deplores JO, JVP boycott as unbecoming
The Vote of Felicitation in Parliament Friday for Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in recognition of 40 years of continuous service as a legislator, was overshadowed by the boycott of the special sitting by MPs of the Joint Opposition (JO) group and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Mr Wickremesinghe who first entered Parliament on July 21, [...]
Economic perspectives on taxation: Increased revenue vital for economic stability and growth
Last Sunday’s column pointed out that the underlying rationale for the new Inland Revenue Bill was the critical need to gather adequate revenue for the country’s development. A significant increase in government revenue is vital for fiscal consolidation, macroeconomic stability and economic development. The resolution of many fundamental macro-economic problems requires an increase in revenue [...]
The classic dilemma of the unrepentant ministers
It is an exceedingly disconsolate reflection that key Cabinet Ministers of the unity alliance, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice for instance, appear to have a magic cloak around them, affording impunity for acts which should have, to put it bluntly, led to resignations by now. A favorite chorus that members of this Government [...]
Probe on controversial statement against North Korea
At last Tuesday’s weekly Cabinet meeting, President Maithripala Sirisena raised questions on how the Foreign Affairs Ministry came to issue a statement condemning North Korea’s firing of an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), as reported by the Sunday Times Diplomatic Editor last week. The President made the point that he, as Head of State and Head [...]
Bond probe’s explosive claims threaten to eclipse ‘I know nothing’ Ravi K’s sun
Yahapalanaya awaits crucifixion on the nation’s cross of faith if the Govt fails to show its commitment to its professed ideals Oh dear! Would it not have been a bowl of hot soup that the former Finance Minister and now Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake found himself dipping his spoon into last Sunday with the dread [...]
Koloppan in White House, kulappu in penthouse
It is indeed a giant step for mankind. Both the print and electronic media in many countries carried the startling and happy news last week about a major breakthrough in scientific research that would have huge ramifications. A joint team of scientists from the US and South Korea has discovered how to eliminate deadly heart [...]