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Home » ColumnsNew Constitution: Dispute over provincial councils
The broader contours of a new Constitution for Sri Lanka are taking shape as an experts committee has renewed its call for further public representations. Though nothing is still final, the experts did focus attention on some contentious areas, like for example the present 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Insiders say that at one point, [...]
Burial rights, Shani, HRCSL and the importance of independent institutions
Two interventions by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) last week highlighted the role and significance of independent Commissions in protecting the rights of the citizenry against State encroachment of such rights. The first was the HRCSL’s letter to the Health Ministry Secretary and the Health Services Director General with regard to the [...]
A year’s progress, or lack thereof
My dear Gota maamey, I thought I must write to you when I realised that you have already completed one year in office. Why, it seems like yesterday you were battling it out with young Sajith, although it turned out to be not much of a contest at all. Time has gone fast, perhaps accelerated [...]
Enhancing revenue and pruning expenditure vital to tame fiscal deficit
Bringing down the fiscal deficit to at least five percent of GDP in the next few years is vital to ensure economic stability and growth. However difficult it is to achieve this target, it is an economic imperative for economic and social development. Fiscal objective Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his 2021 budget speech recognised [...]
Reflections on a presidential speech, covid-19 contagion and deja vu
As Sri Lanka hurtles down the precipice of covid-19 contagion coupled with unprecedented economic devastation, bitter and biting anger at our plight can scarcely be contained. ‘Organised propaganda’vs public opinion State health agencies tasked with handling the pandemic stamme and stutter while a militarised command continues to elbow out a professionally coordinated public health-led effort. [...]
New writ opens season to slash the country’s rainforest canopy
On November 16, the Appeal Court held former cabinet minister Rishad Bathiudeen guilty of clearing 2,000 hectares in the Wilpattu wild life sanctuary in 2012 to resettle Muslims displaced during the Eelam war; and, following the principle the ‘polluter pays’ as contained in the Rio De Janeiro Declaration, ordered him to pay the cost of [...]
Creeping hand moves towards media
In recent days, we have read or heard several comments and commentaries that speak of official attempts to curb the journalistic activities and freedom of the local media. Admittedly media freedom is not an absolute right unlike the right to life and the freedom from torture. It is an issue that I have discussed and [...]
The truth behind ‘Temple Trees’ lockdown
Basil Rajapaksa accuses Media Secretary Rohan Welivita of propagating lies and embarrassing the Premier Asserts he has no office to work from TT after the closedown Names of Independent Commission members finalised New measures at the grassroots level to counter Covid-19 The lockdown at Temple Trees, historically one of the main centres of power in the [...]
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