5th Column

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Debts not the way to go

My dear Arjuna, I thought I must write to you because you seem to be the man of the moment. Everyone is talking about you, some people want you to stay in your job, others want you out and they even seem to be finding it difficult to get a replacement for you, so you [...]

Thewarapperuma in hotel brawl

Thewarapperuma in hotel brawl

Deputy Cultural Affairs Minister Palitha Thevarapperuma has been involved in a series of controversies in recent months. This week, in addition to his protest at a school in the Kalutara district over admission of children, he was involved in a clash at a hotel outside his constituency. During a drive to recruit more members to [...]

President calls the shots: Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy Central Bank Governor

President calls the shots: Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy Central Bank Governor

PM, Malik called for meeting yesterday to be told of decision; Ranil agrees though he  preferred Charitha Ratwatte Sirisena’s strong stand strengthens his position within SLFP and hold on Govt., VAT revision, revolutionary measures to liberalise economy CID acts against Sajin Vass after demand by civic action groups; shocking details of alleged extortion; 15 bank [...]

Is Brexit grim news for world economy and Lanka?

Will the British exit from the European Union (Brexit) have a recessionary impact on global economy and affect the Sri Lankan economy adversely? Most economists have viewed Brexit as unfavourable to global economy. Recessionary conditions, volatility in capital markets, higher interest rates and unfavourable trading conditions could be impediments to the Sri Lankan economy. Immediate [...]

A series of raps over the ‘yahapalanaya’ knuckles

A series of raps over the ‘yahapalanaya’ knuckles

There is a singularly wretched problem confronting the Sri Lankan people.  Stripped down to its essentials, this means that the country’s politicians must not be allowed to dilute democratic gains of January 2015 by replacing abject Rajapaksa non-governance during the last decade with appealing labels on institutions which make us all feel a bit more [...]

Cancer: The main cause is the food we eat

Today according to medical opinion the main causes of death are either cancer or viruses. Why has this happened to us? India which is not such a clean country has not been gripped by such fears. The Indian people are healthier because they add wholesome condiments, lentils, pepper and sesame oil to their food and [...]

Eat your heart out, Mervyn! There’s a new Avatar in town

After his May birthday bash in Parliament, the nation’s deputy cultural minister hasn’t stopped  pulling his punches till Thursday’s bizarre suicide bid by hanging in a classroom leads to a heart attack and raises questions over his mental state Holy mackerel! There’s a new Mervyn in the making. And just when you thought it was [...]

Living it up on other people’s money

Living it up on other people’s money

After one of Sri Lanka’s bruising elections not too long ago, someone with a penchant for coining phrases-not always elegant but telling-talked of a “computer jilmart.” That, I suppose, was another way of saying that technology was being manipulated to ‘fix’ election results. There was “insufficient evidence” as our judges are prone to say now [...]

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