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My dear Navin, I thought I should write to you, even in these busy days of campaigning, when I heard that you had suddenly offered to lead the Green party with the ‘elephant’ symbol. You also said that its leader should be elected through a secret ballot. I must say that was quite surprising for [...]
FM’s video conferencing to tackle issues abroad
With COVID-19 raging worldwide, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has embarked on a new drive – video conferences with heads of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic missions overseas. They have turned out to be more interesting than television talk shows. Their mission – to discuss topics like genocide and economic diplomacy. Like during lotteries, the missions [...]
The State should play a critical role in fostering inter-communal relations
When the month of July comes around there are many reflections on the incidents of July 1983 and the pogrom that targeted the Tamil community. The incidents of that month will always evoke a collective sense of shame for all Sri Lankans when a section of its citizens, the Tamil community, was targeted by organised [...]
Election promises and economic reality
The extravagant election promises of many parties are inconsistent with the inadequate resources that are available. They do not reflect a recognition of the severity of economic problems facing the country nor the parlous state of finances. Election promises are an “auction of non-existent resources.” Resolving the severe economic problems facing the Government is a [...]
The selective reading of history and Kurunegala’s royal court
There is a measure of dreadfully coincidental irony in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa determining this week that Sri Lanka’s pre-colonial Antiquities Ordinance must be amended in order to reverse ‘destruction caused to antiquities’ following a meeting held by his Buddhist Advisory Council even as public outrage grew over a 13th century ‘Kings Court’ in Kurunegala being [...]
Buvaneka’s assembly hall turns political circus ring
It should have been a simple open and shut case. A 13th century historical site, considered an archaeological reserve and protected under the Antiquities Ordinance of 1940, had been violated, bulldozed and reduced to rubble by an unknown gang of vandalisers in Kurunegala, with suspicion cast on the town’s mayor as the chief culprit. The [...]
In search of Lanka King Ravana’s blueprints
That is all we wanted. All these months the Sri Lanka people have suffered from this global menace called the coronavirus. Most often they have been confined to their homes, their movements restricted, their necessities curtailed and even their elections postponed as the medical fraternity fought a rear-guard action to halt the spread of the [...]
August 5 polls: The stomach is more sensitive than the brain
Varying predictions and expectations, but voter turnout likely to be low mainly due to COVID-19 pandemic SLPP leaders confident but two-thirds majority impossible due to the PR system Navin drops political bombshell by seeking UNP leadership, Ranil brushes it aside saying ‘anything can be said in politics’ SJB issues much-awaited manifesto in Sinhala but main [...]
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