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Home » ColumnsStarlink to DMC’s rescue after disaster debacle
The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) came under heavy criticism in the recent past over its handling of Cyclone Ditwah and its delay in issuing critical warnings on time, particularly regarding the opening of sluice gates of dams and reservoirs—a lapse some politicians and environmentalists argued made matters worse, causing severe floods even on high ground. [...]
Disaster preparedness and post-disaster response: House remains mainly divided
By Sandun Jayawardana Parliament does not normally sit in December after the budget for the following year is passed, yet the unprecedented disaster brought on by Cyclone Ditwah forced lawmakers to return to the House for two more days this week to pass a Rs. 500 billion supplementary estimate to restore the livelihoods of those [...]
Bondi Beach and the ripples of conflict: why local violence can never be global justice
The salt air of Bondi Beach, usually a symbol of Sydney’s laid-back vibrancy, was shattered on the evening of 14 December 2025. What was planned as a night of celebration and reflection for the Jewish community during Hanukkah instead became a scene of carnage. With 16 lives lost and dozens more injured—ranging from children to [...]
The importance of international aid for financial stability and economic recovery
The country’s debt repayment obligations, coupled with the weakening of the balance of payments due to the adverse impacts of Cyclone Ditwah, necessitate substantial international financial assistance, as the costs of the reconstruction are huge. Furthermore, the country’s export capacity and earnings from tourism have weakened the balance of payments. Assistance imperative International financial assistance [...]
What ‘brave new world’ does the NPP’s anti-terror law promise?
at first blush, the draft law to replace Sri Lanka’s odious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) presented by the National Peoples’ Party (NPP) Government released by the Minister of Justice last week reflects the broad conceptual brushstrokes of highly problematic public security drafts proposed by the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government (2018, 2023), albeit with some noticeable [...]
Day of reckoning awaits Govt
After Cyclone Ditwah had left these island shores to a visible sight of great relief that the worst was over and the enormous task of rebuilding a new Sri Lanka could begin, a myriad more storms, not from the skies but from an earthly political realm, awaited to break at the government’s door in a [...]
Turning screws that could threaten sovereignty
Now we know where we stand, don’t we? Well, some may be sure of it, but I am not sure that everybody in the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna that steers the National People’s Power (NPP) ship itself knows where they stand. If they do, then they have dumped their Marxist mask that saw them through some [...]
Concerns over Govt. bid to undermine commissions set up to ensure good governance
Auditor General’s Department without a head; ruling party moves to gain majority support in CC after President’s nominations for AG repeatedly rejected RTI Commission’s work hampered due to lack of funds and personnel; BASL writes to President demanding action Opposition calls for parliamentary probe into Govt.’s alleged failure to heed early warnings of cyclone; SJB’s Harsha says [...]
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