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Home » ColumnsThat ill-advised, ill-timed speech
My dear Gota maamey, I thought I must write to you after listening to you speaking to us in an ‘address to the nation’ last week, and seeing the reaction to that from the citizens of Paradise. Most people were very angry. Others didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. That speech won’t go [...]
Govt. politicos, officials prefer to feign blindness, as people suffer
A characteristic found in common in politicians is their ability to nitpick selected facts and data depending on what side of the political fence they are and to manipulate the masses for their own political ends. In recent days, Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge appeared before the media with a straight face to say there had [...]
Nothing has changed for the people despite the All Party Conference
As Sri Lankans helplessly watch in alarm as the country slides from one crisis to another, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s summoning of the All Party Conference (APC) last week provided a glimmer of hope. However the APC turned out to be a damp squib and did not produce any outcome that could even marginally bring relief [...]
Tensions rise as Opposition accuses Finance Minister of having zero regard for Parliament
As some political parties met at President’s House for an All Party Conference (APC), those who boycott the event accused the Government of treating the legislature with contempt. On Thursday, Parliament approved the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill that increased the charge on financial services provided by financial institutions from 15% to 18% with retrospective [...]
The new economic policies and expectations of the President
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s address to the nation on March 16 was noteworthy for announcing that he was expecting to seek the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He also outlined how the external finances would improve this year. Expectations Although the interest in that speech has waned owing to the fast-changing political events and [...]
Sri Lanka’s political conmen and the state moneybags
How does an All Party Conference (APC) comprising precisely of the same men whose actions have precipitated Sri Lanka into financial, social and regulatory collapse, help the country, one may ask? Arrogant and incompetent decision-making The APC’s first sitting this week prompted howls of rude laughter from the citizenry, no less. Grist for cruel social [...]
Sky’s no limit to clinch billion dollar credit line
Returning as the conquering hero who has brought home the Golden Fleece, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa tells reporters at the airport last Friday that thanks to India’s billion dollar credit line, the Lankan people can celebrate their New Year next month with the essential items freely available in the market. Does he expect three rounds [...]
Preparing for the next human rights tsunami
Having taken some heavy body blows though not floored in Geneva earlier this month, the Foreign Ministry is readying itself for some much-needed introspection. At a post-Geneva media conference in Colombo, Ministry Secretary Admiral (Retd) Jayanath Colombage, a member of our delegation to Geneva, indicated they had already started preparing for the 51st session of [...]
Multipronged bid to ‘democratically’ topple the Govt.
Gammanpila, Weerawansa dabble in numbers game, bank on more defections in Parliament to set the stage for fresh elections, Probe on alleged misdeeds of sacked ministers JVP’s Nugegoda rally indicates its rising popularity among middle-income groups; Anura Kumara explains plans to form new Govt.; SJB to hold countrywide protest rallies on April 7 President reveals [...]
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