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Home » ColumnsVeteran diplomat tells Government to resolve Indian Ocean diplomatic trilemma
It is widely believed that Sri Lanka is at a critical juncture considering the current social, political and economic challenges the country faces. To address the current challenges the country faces with policy developments, the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute organised an inaugural LKI Foreign Policy Forum, titled “Changing Global Dynamics: Implications for Sri Lanka,” recently. Among [...]
Return of the wild card
My dear Mervyn, I didn’t think I would have the misfortune of writing to you ever again. When you were booted out of Parliament at the last general election, we thought we had seen and heard the last of you. We were wrong, not only about you, but others too – and we both know [...]
Poor Policing a contributory factor in increased traffic accidents
Sri Lanka is beset with many problems over which it has limited control. Adverse weather conditions resulting in a drought have a negative impact on agricultural production. Fluctuating prices in the world market can contribute to increasing costs of imports which in turn impact on the cost of living. Often what the Government is reduced [...]
Weakening of the country’s development capacity a setback to human development
Although the country is going through a period of economic stabilisation and revival, the nation’s capacity for economic development is being seriously weakened and the attainments in social development are being eroded. Brain drain Throughout the post-independence period, the country suffered a severe drain of skilled human resources. Perhaps the severest drain of such resources [...]
A ‘Faustian’ bargain struck with ‘our man, the president’
For the starry-eyed among us, it must be repeated with force that President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s sharp admonition to the Supreme Court recently (ie; Parliament has powers over public finance, orders or instructions will not be tolerated from ‘anyone else’) is not a chance political remark tossed into public debate. Going beyond debt restructuring priorities Rather, [...]
Why Lanka is still paradise to Govt MPs and public officials
On August 9, a former chairman of the now-defunct Kankesanthurai Cement Factory (KKS) Gamini Ekanayaka made a complaint against State Minister of Primary Industries Chamara Sampath Dassanayake. In his complaint to the CID, he alleged that Chamara Sampath was behind the theft of 22 million iron ore worth hundreds of millions at the factory premises. [...]
Ventriloquists, dummies and pepped-up politicians
If the opposition MP who posed an important question the other day to the Speaker of the country’s renowned Parliament (renowned for what could be said on another occasion) expected a revealing and enlightening answer, he is living in that dream world of bloated optimism inhabited by those who regurgitate promises of a Sri Lanka [...]
UNP and SJB hold separate talks to form new alliances for polls
Nimal Lanza names ‘Alliance One’ as his group; claims support of over 40 MPs for President SJB holds talks with 13-member Dullas group, which is seeking premiership As President pushes for full implementation of 13A, TNA writes to him, outlining power-sharing promises By Our Political Editor Major political parties are re-positioning to gear themselves for [...]
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