Columns
Home » ColumnsLikely underutilisation of research centre emerging from Speaker’s House
The official residence allocated for the Speaker in Kotte is to be turned into a “Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Research” for the exclusive use of Members of Parliament and provincial and local councillors. The premises opened in 2000 and has been occupied by several speakers, but since taking office, the National People’s Power (NPP) [...]
A long way to go
My Dear Namal baby, I am writing to you because somehow, you are able to find a way to be in the news, be it having a warrant issued for your arrest, attending a musical show in the Port City or travelling to the Maldive Islands in the same aircraft as Anura sahodaraya when you [...]
Sri Lanka’s collective sigh of relief over reduction in reciprocal tariffs should not mask challenges ahead
Sri Lanka must heave a collective sigh of relief following the announcement that U.S. President Donald Trump has reduced the reciprocal tariffs on Sri Lankan exports to 20%, down from the previously punishing rates of 44% and 30%. While still steep, this reduction marks a significant diplomatic victory and provides much-needed breathing space for an [...]
Economy threatened by tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and other external shocks
External shocks caused by the current trade wars, the West Asia crisis, the Russian-Ukrainian war, and a likely global economic recession could be severe setbacks to the Sri Lankan economy. These external shocks could wipe out our economic gains in the first half of this year. First half In the first half of this year, [...]
Sri Lanka’s class divide and its implications on the rule of law
When Pulitzer prize winning journalist Wesley Lowery cleverly punned the election of United States President Donald Trump in his first term (2017-2021) succeeding to the liberal Black (almost) law professor Barack Obama as a ‘whitelash’ (‘American Whitelash and the Changing Cost of Progress’; 2023), that was only half the story. The ‘basket of deplorables’ Essentially [...]
Lanka’s exports breathe relief after Trump’s axe falls softer on its necks
Lanka breathed a sigh of relief after receiving a reprieve with Trump letting his tariff axe fall lightly on her neck. In what would have amounted to a decapitation of the apparel industry, the chop, though damaging, was not fatal, not serious enough to start digging its grave. At least for now. With a welcome [...]
Govt.’s tariff win hailed, but calls grow to reveal the quid pro quo
President and team shed ‘novice’ label in international negotiations, but Harsha claims there were ‘behind-the-scenes’ hands UNP points to Trump’s conditions connecting trade and security agreements with tariff reductions Parliament set to pass bill to repeal benefits enjoyed by past presidents and presidential widows; Resolution to oust Deshabandu next week Lanka reiterates support for two [...]
Read More