The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

Columns

Political Column

MR's London fiasco: Diplomatic and intelligence failure

The SriLankan Airlines special flight to London with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and entourage on board last Sunday shifted departure schedules at least twice.

5th Column

Negotiating a tricky wicket

My Dear Sachin,

I thought I must write to you when I heard that you have been appointed as a Member of Parliament in India. I know you have many great achievements to your credit but still, congratulations are in order.

The Economic Analysis

Trade deficit could surpass last year's record

Once again the country is heading for a balance of payments crisis. The trade gap of nearly US$ 2.6 billion in the first three months of this year foreshadows a huge deficit surpassing last year's massive deficit of US$ 10 billion.

Lobby

Speaker draws the line as MPs fail to heed

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa got tough in Parliament last week, once threatening to remove from the Chamber, two UNP legislators for defying orders from the Chair, and secondly, saying he would have to summon Secretary- Ministry of Finance and Planning, P.B. Jayasundera to the House, if questions directed at his Ministry, by Opposition legislators, go unanswered for a long period of time.

Focus on Rights

Clownishness directed at the world at large

A dangerous intent lies underneath an apparent insouciance and clownishness directed by Government representatives at the world at large. This week, two statements made by senior high level officials range from the peculiar to the plainly bizarre and expose this intent in no uncertain terms.

Talk at the Cafe Spectator

Patient Jayaratne calls patient Attanayake

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake is recovering after surgery. Doctors had advised him to take bed rest for at least two weeks.

In the National Interest

Banning the clergy from Parliament: A non-issue

Parliamentarian Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha has announced that he intends presenting in Parliament a Constitutional amendment in the form of a Private Members Bill that seeks to prevent members of the clergy from becoming members of the legislature.