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Home » ColumnsNo doctorate for Harini in Delhi
More than a year passed, and NPP’s short-lived Speaker of Parliament Ashoka Ranwala could not find a copy of his Japanese doctorate, which he promised to produce ‘in a few days’ time’. Unfortunately, another NPP leader is in an honorary doctorate muddle, though she possesses a genuine PhD. Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, who graduated [...]
Drama outside courts
My dear Kosthaapal Tharinda and Neethigna Wanninayake, I thought of writing to both of you this week because the entire country watched the drama you staged at the courts in Mount Lavinia last week. It is not something that either of you should be proud of. Instead, it was a case of the two arms [...]
Peace in West Asia could benefit Sri Lankan economy
The peace achieved in West Asia could benefit our economy in several ways. The economic threats posed by the Israel–Palestine war that have been discussed in earlier columns have been averted, and there are prospects of increased remittances from Israel and other West Asian countries. Tea exports and trade with the region could expand. Tourist [...]
Disregarding Court Decisions on ‘Policy’; A New Moral Standard by the Government?
It seems that attorney-MPs of the National People’s Power (NPP) Government are intent on setting a new ‘moral tone’ (I am saying this tongue-in-cheek) by urging public officials to disregard or delay the implementation of decisions handed down by the Court. Ignoring judicial orders NPP-style? Let us be clear at the outset. These are not [...]
Making roads safer and public transport better: A national priority
Each day, as dawn breaks over the country’s busy towns and cities, millions of commuters take to the roads—in buses, trains, three-wheelers, motorbikes, and private cars—to earn a living, attend school, or simply go about their daily routines. Yet, behind this everyday bustle lies a grim reality: our roads have become one of the country’s [...]
What must disturb the American goose must doubly disturb the Lankan gander
Latest US travel warning to its citizens: Visit Lanka at your peril A disturbing US Travel Advisory warned Americans last Thursday ‘to exercise caution when travelling to Sri Lanka due to unrest, terrorism, and landmines.’ Every country in the world has its own share of unrest, so let that pass as typical of Western attitudes [...]
Amid uproar over corporal punishment and pay, Govt. retreats on education reforms
As Prime Minister Harini, in charge of education, embarks on high-profile visits to China and India; President addresses teacher concerns Govt. prepares to present second budget amid people’s expectations of relief on cost of living and taxes Nationwide programme to combat drug menace set to launch; no reprieve in crackdown on underworld gangs By [...]
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