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Home » ColumnsAruna-Anura: Trump trips on tariff typo
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake found himself at the centre of an unexpected diplomatic mix-up this week after a letter from US President Donald Trump misspelt his first name as “Aruna”. The letter, part of the Trump administration’s ongoing global tariff campaign, warned of a looming August 1 deadline for renegotiating trade terms, with the threat [...]
Aragalaya, three years on: Winners and losers
My dear ‘aragalaya’ participants, I thought of writing to you today, as it is exactly three years since you gathered at Galle Face for over three months and chased Gota maama away, not only from the top job but also from the country. Not surprisingly, not many remember this ‘anniversary’ and very few people talk [...]
The continuing shadow of the Easter Sunday attacks: Unresolved justice and political agendas
Six years have passed since the horrific Easter Sunday attacks of April 21, 2019, which claimed the lives of nearly 300 innocent civilians and left hundreds more wounded or maimed for life. Despite the passage of time, the full scope of the conspiracy behind these coordinated suicide bombings targeting churches and luxury hotels remains unresolved. [...]
Will Prajasakthi succeed where earlier poverty alleviation programmes failed?
Inaugurating the Prajasakthi programme on July 4 at Temple Trees, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the objective of the initiative was “to empower communities and distribute economic benefits fairly.” He asserted that “economic growth is meaningless without helping rural communities.” and that “eliminating rural poverty is a government responsibility.” Furthermore, he emphasised that “welfare must [...]
When does a ‘radical’ become radical? A question for the NPP
When an agonized father, grieving over his children killed in the 2019 Easter Sunday jihadist controlled attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka, roundly told President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the precincts of the Katuwapitiya Church during the frenetic days of the National Peoples’ Power (NPP) election campaign last year that, he should not [...]
‘What will be will be’ as Lanka’s exports aimlessly drift toward Trump’s tariff-berg
Instead of the long-awaited US-Lanka joint statement on Trump’s reciprocal tariff, which local exporters were led to believe would be immensely beneficial to this country and said to be in the ‘good news’ pipeline by the JVP Government, what came was a bolt from the blue to flatten the pumped-up hopes of the people and [...]
To beat the media with another state hammer
Somewhere in a kammala in the wilds of Anuradhapura, where previous settlers had been digging for more than simple treasures, those who had fast grabbed fertile land were now hearing the sound of iron on steel. Even Pradeshiya Sabha members some distance away were hearing sounds they were not accustomed to, except perhaps sharp and [...]
Economic uncertainty looms over Trump’s tariff blow, touted by Govt. as victory
More talks with US trade officials planned to further reduce tariffs and remain competitive against rival exporters Opposition SJB extends support to Govt.’s tariff talks, as leader Sajith faces probe over Central Cultural Fund activities Dayasiri slams CID summons, links them to attempts to silence opposition’s criticism over container scandal By our Political Desk Wednesday’s [...]
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