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Home » ColumnsArrest of bottom trawling Indian fisherfolk: Lanka gives ‘fatherly treatment’
The arrest of Indian fishermen for engaging in bottom trawling in Sri Lankan waters and their subsequent release after brief detention in Sri Lankan prisons were raised earlier this week in the Indian Parliament–the Lok Sabha. Responding to a question raised by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) representative Dr. T. Sumathy Thamizhachi Thangapandian who alleged ‘step [...]
In need of Santa’s gifts this year
My Dear Santa Claus, I thought of writing to you this week as you prepare your annual journey to Paradise, bringing gifts for all of us. Your journey should cost you much less this time, as you will get more value for your currency from the North Pole after the depreciation of our rupee in [...]
Lanka’s ethnic ‘mountain’ and the wee mouse of ‘PTA pardons’
Carrots tossed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the form of release of a few Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) political prisoners and return of lands to displaced owners in the North and East have given rise to unseemly jubilation on the part of Sri Lanka’s Tamil political leadership or what passes as the ‘leadership’ today. Are [...]
State failure impacts spread of twin evils
It is a given that the State’s responsibility towards its citizens extends beyond ensuring the economic, social and political rights of its citizens. The State has a duty to ensure and facilitate the general well being of the citizenry in all aspects of life. The failure of the State machinery to carry out its responsibilities [...]
How new look Santa makes my smoggy Christmas seem white
The SUNDAY PUNCH wishes you all, a joyful and merry Christmas The night thickens on Christmas Eve. I snuggle into bed, pull the sheet over my head and pretend to be asleep in expectation of Santa’s traditional visit. My stockings are ‘hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be [...]
Loud-mouthed nonsense and our diplomessy
LOUD-MOUTHED NONSENSE Have you ever heard such garbage. One can expect such rot from some of those who inhabit that House by the Diyawanna Oya. Armed with dubious educational qualifications, it would come as no surprise if some of the gallant 225 reach out into areas of competence way beyond their intellectual reach. But the [...]
Reaching out to the poor, malnourished and hungry this Christmas
Never in the history of this country has a Christmas meant so little for so many as this Christmas. The unemployed poor hungry malnourished and starving have soared. Poverty The incidence of poverty has expanded rapidly this year. It is estimated that about 40 percent of the population are below the poverty line. While their [...]