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Home » ColumnsGovt. moves to appease monks, but opposition too scrambles to assist temples
Following criticism of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake by Buddhist monks as well as others for his remarks in Jaffna last week, where he said those gathering every full moon (Poya) day at certain disputed sites in the North were driven not by devoutness but by hatred, the government is keen to win back its detractors [...]
Careless talk
My dear Lal, I thought of writing to you when you became the focus of attention after your recent public comments, firstly about departed comrade Nandana and then more generally, saying that if anyone takes to politics and attacks you and your party, they should expect the same treatment in return. I admire your honesty [...]
Government MPs taunt opposition over failure to present NCM against PM
By Sandun Jayawardana The apparent reluctance by the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to submit its much hyped No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya opened the party up to attack by a government that spent much of this week daring the opposition to present their motion to the House. The SJB-led [...]
Trump phenomenon, the Sri Lankan parallel and the responsibility of the American people
When Donald Trump was first elected to the presidency of the United States in 2016, the democratic world watched with a mixture of bewilderment and caution. For many in the international community, it was a moment of profound surprise—a realization that the American electorate was willing to break entirely from established political norms. However, when [...]
Economic challenges of an uncertain and unpredictable international environment
The unpredictable and changing international environment is not conducive for the growth of Sri Lanka’s trade-, tourism- and remittance-dependent economy. The multiple conflicts around the world, especially in West Asia, and the uncertainty in US tariffs render the country’s external trade and finances highly unstable and vulnerable. International economy The world is on the verge [...]
An Attorney General caught in a social media firestorm
It is highly unusual—and worryingly so—that the primary gatekeeping associations of legal and judicial institutions in Sri Lanka have come together to tersely protest against what they see as an ‘unwarranted interference’ across social media in regard to the judicial and prosecutorial function in ongoing cases. Menacing assertions against critics In certain respects, these tensions [...]
Walk for peace by Buddhist monks touches millions of American hearts
As Americans stand on the sidewalks in towns, cities and counties to watch, enthralled, ‘the walk for peace’ by a small train of Buddhist monks as they traverse through states, something strange is astir. The message conveyed by this small band of silent evangelists, beating a noiseless drum, has struck the very heart and gripped [...]
When things fall apart, who has dropped a trump?
Last Sunday this column was headlined “An American clown who turns tragedy into farce.” For that I must apologise a thousand times. I was being more gentle than I should have been. After all, this little island of country of ours and its people had suffered weeks of hardships and deserved the empathy and goodwill [...]
Lal Kantha’s remarks bolster claims of Govt.’s authoritarian drift
Attorney General under fire amid social media trolls and protests President’s Jaffna speech draws criticism from opposition parties; Ranil Wickremesinghe says attack on Buddhism violates Constitution Frustration grows in UNP and SJB over slow progress in unity efforts By our Political Desk “Governing isn’t as easy as it looks when you are in the opposition,” [...]
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