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Home » ColumnsAnother court decision exposes abusers of the law
Ending last Sunday’s column on the dangers to Sri Lanka’s democracy from a creeping deep state it was said the current collusion between the executive and the legislature leaves an independent, impartial and upright judiciary the only democratic bastion against those wielding an autocratic wrecking ball. Some important recent decisions have shown that such a [...]
Much ado about nothing
My dear Mother Lanka, I am writing to you with mixed feelings as we mark the 75th anniversary of gaining independence from British colonial masters. I think it is more accurate to say that we ‘marked’ independence instead of saying we ‘celebrated’, because there has been precious little to celebrate as a nation lately. We [...]
Aid for Lanka: Another war of words between the US and China
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a trip to Beijing after a Chinese “spy balloon” was tracked over the US. It was a visit during which Mr. Blinken was expected to take up Sri Lanka’s debt woes with President Xi Jingping, according to a top US official who was in Sri Lanka [...]
Reviving the economy a paramount need in the 75th year of Independence
The manner of celebrating the anniversary of Independence was never as controversial as of yesterday’s 75th anniversary. What is not controversial is that the paramount need of the country is the revival of the economy that has been performing far below its capacity and potential. Weakening capacity There has been a weakening of the country’s [...]
A karmic reckoning for a nation and its rulers
I wonder what a mother, struggling to find medicine for her child in Colombo (one does not have to go into rural areas to witness the abject desperation of those caught up in Sri Lanka’s spiralling financial crisis) would have thought of the pomp and glamour paraded at the Galle Face Green on Saturday, 4th [...]
Economic freedom can make political freedom more meaningful
The 75th anniversary of the country obtaining freedom from colonial rule has evoked mixed responses from the citizenry. Some give their verdict based on a reading of the score card of achievements and failures of the 75 years. Others like the poor and vulnerable, who are bogged down with the current day to day struggles [...]
China buckles debt talks on Lanka’s road to IMF gateway
It is a long, long way on the Chinese belt road for Lanka to arrive at IMF’s gateway to recovery. The moment the nation clears one hurdle on this tortuous route, she is immediately faced with another. Last month’s visit by Indian External Secretary Jaishankar certainly brightened the skyline when he formally announced that India [...]
Where do we go from here, what fate is drawing near
In 75th anniversary message, President calls on Lankans to rise as daughters and sons of one mother to build back better Campaign begins for March 9 local council polls but uncertainty continues; Supreme Court to hear petitions next Friday Ranil determined to fully implement 13A, but opposition mounts with Mahanayakes also expressing concern Some good news [...]
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