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Home » ColumnsSeasonal fishing ban ends: Indian bottom trawlers begin sea rape
The Navy has stepped up its patrolling activities in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters as Tamil Nadu fishermen have once again begun to cross the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) and trespass into Sri Lankan waters with the annual 61-day fishing ban ending on Monday. The ban is enforced annually by Indian authorities to protect the [...]
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My dear Sajith, I am writing to you because the big news this week was that ‘Colombo has fallen’. The Colombo Municipal Council, for almost seven decades a bastion of the Green party has finally fallen to the pink brigade of the ‘maalimaawa’ sahodarayas. To be more precise, it will be headed by Vraie sahodariya. [...]
House reverberates with bitterly fought battles to form the administration of local councils
By Sandun Jayawardana Bitterly fought battles to form the administration of local councils where no political party or independent group had obtained an outright majority reverberated in the House throughout this week. The first day’s debate of this Parliamentary week on Tuesday (17) followed the controversial election that saw the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) [...]
Israel brazenly continues to set world’s security agenda while world leaders show confusion and lack of leadership
In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israel has once again demonstrated its capacity to brazenly set the global security agenda, launching targeted attacks on Iranian facilities and killing key Iranian officials. The international community, caught off guard and seemingly in disarray, watches as a dangerous new chapter unfolds, threatening to engulf the region [...]
Sri Lanka’s external finances and food security threatened by Israel-Iran war
The cost of the country’s essential imports could rise steeply, merchandise exports could fall drastically, inward remittances from West Asian countries could decrease substantially and earnings from tourism from Western countries in particular could be adversely affected if the conflict between Israel and Iran escalates. Food security Food security could be adversely affected by the [...]
Sound and fury over the ‘Bhikkhuni Sasana’
In a land (professedly) governed by the teachings of the Gautama Buddha premised on the equality of all human beings, Sinhalese Buddhist children are taught from a very young age that they are the proud inheritors of a rich Theravada religious heritage. Does the ‘Bhikkhuni Sasana’ violate Article 9? It seems a tad ironic therefore [...]
World watches in silence as US-Israel rush to finish off Iran’s nuclear threat
Is late Shah’s son waiting in the wings to assume the Peacock Throne? With the nuclear sword overhead arrayed, the world watches helpless as the ongoing war between Israel and Iran rapidly escalates to fever pitch. Israel’s deadly attack on Teheran came on Friday the 13th night. The opening hours of the theatre of [...]
To a gentleman more than a politician
A couple of weeks back I read a glowing tribute to Ceylon’s second post-independence prime minister whose birth anniversary was on June 9. I have been a great admirer of Dudley Senanayake just as writer Ilika Karunaratne had been all these years. Except of course our interests parted ways. So while Ilika Karunaratne recalls some [...]
Defections dash opposition hopes for council control
NPP wins Colombo Municipal Council battle despite dispute over secret ballot; Double-crossing by councillors costs the SJB victory in several councils Concerns over adverse impacts of Iran-Israel war on Lanka, Ranil slams G7 statement condemning Iran UN Human Rights Chief’s visit Sri Lanka; Foreign Ministry hopes talks will advance efforts to promote human rights [...]
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