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Home » ColumnsCentral Bank puts austerity in docket
Considering what’s happening at some of the top offices, one might wonder whether those offices are given exemption when it comes to curbing state expenditure as recent government directives repeatedly instructed state departments to adopt extraordinary austerity measures to ensure smooth running of state machinery. Those extraordinary measures vary from cutting down allowances to state [...]
A much needed win
My dear Dasun and the cricket team, I thought of writing to you this week to congratulate you on winning the Asia Cup after a lapse of eight years. That is all the more special because these are difficult times for most of us in Paradise and your victory put a smile on the faces [...]
Reaching out to the diaspora—a welcome move
In political conversations in the country the word diaspora usually evokes negative connotations. To many, the diaspora has only one meaning, namely, the pro-LTTE lobby living abroad who have the single agenda of promoting LTTE political goals in the country. However many have lost sight of the fact that the diaspora comprises Sri Lankans of [...]
Drastic reduction in expenditure and increased revenue by progressive taxation crucial for fiscal consolidation
The immediate reduction in the fiscal deficit and its progressive decrease in the next few years are essential for the island’s economic recovery. It has to be achieved by both a curtailment of expenditure and an increase in revenue by progressive taxation. Fiscal consolidation The reduction of the fiscal deficit to a minimum is crucial [...]
Ministerial bleats in Geneva and the ‘undead’ promises of Sri Lanka’s politicians
Hawks may cry till the cows come home (to horribly malign that popular idiom) but as another ‘Geneva session’ takes place with the customary trumpeting, a few home truths must be recognised, as unpalatable as those may be. Geneva promises defeated by action at home Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister who also doubled up as [...]
Geneva air turns frostier for Sri Lanka at UNHRC session
Commissioner warns: Fundamental changes vital to meet challenges When Foreign Minister Ali Sabry strode on Monday morn into Geneva’s UNHRC headquarters at the Palais Wilson to give formal reply to the perennial charges levelled against Lanka, it was blatantly clear that the alpine air would turn frostier toward his Government, even before he ended his [...]
Minister Sabry’s promising response to Geneva critics
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, now operating under still another portfolio, presented a promising riposte to the hard-hitting report on Sri Lanka from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It was indeed promising. In fact, Minister Ali Sabry was full of promises adding to the litany of promises made since the then UN Secretary General [...]
Toughest-ever UNHRC resolution against Lanka
Leaders and officials guilty of economic crimes may face travel bans, freezing of assets and other legal action Govt. rejects the draft, vote on October 7, several countries speak in favour of Lanka India comes out forcefully, calls for early PC elections and full implementation of 13th Amendment Battle of words with China which calls [...]
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