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High-level diplomatic moves behind Gotabaya’s flight from Singapore to Bangkok

High-level diplomatic moves behind Gotabaya’s flight from Singapore to Bangkok

Thai govt. imposes strict restrictions and insists that the ex-president should not indulge in any political activity New President intensifies moves to form all-party Govt; support likely from Hakeem and Mano Ganesan Lanka in diplomatic crisis over visit of hi-tech Chinese vessel to Hambantota; India not amused   By Our Political Editor Just two weeks after [...]

Come back, and watch your legacy unfold

Come back, and watch your legacy unfold

My dear Gota maamey, It was almost a month ago that I last wrote to you, and it has also been almost a month since you left our shores hurriedly, fleeing from President’s House fearing for your life. It feels like much longer though, because so much has happened since then, and that is what [...]

Friday holiday: Contrary poems on how the garden grows

Friday holiday: Contrary poems on how the garden grows

The Public Administration Ministry earlier decided to declare Friday as a holiday for public sector employees and encourage them to engage in home gardening. The Friday holiday was declared due to the fuel crisis. But, as the fuel situation improved, the Government wanted the administration to be fully functional, and the Friday holiday was withdrawn. [...]

All-party govt. still elusive as each party has its own take on it

All-party govt. still elusive as each party has its own take on it

By Sandun Jayawardana   For nearly three years, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had been relentlessly attacking policies of the former ‘Yahapalana’ government. They had also singled out Ranil Wickremesinghe in particular since he had been the Prime Minister of that government and the main architect of many of those policies. As such, it was [...]

Recent violence: Many questions, few answers

Recent violence: Many questions, few answers

In recent years criminal investigations have provided few or no answers to the question ‘who dunnit’ in relation to several crimes. Whether this is due to the Police and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) being overstretched due to the multiplicity of matters that they are regularly called upon to investigate or due to political interference [...]

Can we achieve a political consensus on economic policies?

Can we achieve a political consensus on economic policies?

The prospect of a consensus on economic policies rather than an all-party government is a silver lining amidst the dark economic clouds. There are signs of the main political parties, sans the three-member JVP, coming to a consensus on economic policies rather than the forming of an all-party government. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the [...]

Dismantling the ‘aragalaya’ tents but not the ‘aragalaya’ ideal

Dismantling the ‘aragalaya’ tents but not the ‘aragalaya’ ideal

The winding down of the iconic ‘aragalaya’ (struggle) site at the Galle Face Green this Friday as the police hauled away the last remaining tents, was met by its onetime occupants, not with sadness or resignation but, interestingly enough, a calm jubilation. State aggression met by counter-aggression ‘This Government has shown that it has not [...]

The day the music died for vigil rhapsody on the Green

The day the music died for vigil rhapsody on the Green

How the record-breaking struggle’s roar lost its pitch nearing its crescendo The national mood was upbeat that Saturday April 9 morn and neither the steel barricades that had been hastily set up at Galle Face Green nor the police presence could stop people power from thronging the capital’s sea side esplanade. What had been until [...]

Pleasing the troops won’t win plaudits in Geneva

Pleasing the troops won’t win plaudits in Geneva

So nice to hear that Sri Lanka’s democracy, constitution and sovereignty are safe in the hands of those with pips and chips on their shoulders who manned the barricades when the 225 stout, brave and dripping with rectitude met in the House of Democracy to vote a new president into the highest seat of power. [...]

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