articles
Protests have woken up politicians, but further economic harm must be avoided
People have demonstrated their opposition to the way the affairs of the country have been conducted bringing the economy to near collapse. To curb the growing tide of protest, curfews were declared but disregarded. What next? Not a state of anarchy surely. Chaos and...
Problems that need addressing to right an economy gone horribly wrong
The book “Regional Investment Pioneers in South Asia” published by South Asia Development Forum appears to me to be an appropriate touch point in planning corrections to Sri Lanka’s economic development strategy. The chapter on the “State of Play in South Asia” is...
Giving MPs an exam-free passports for higher education a stupid suggestion
Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella has requested the government to allow MPs exam-free entry to Law College and Universities. This at a time when there is a call for a minimum qualification to run for parliament. Many questions have arisen...
The Difficult Quest for One Country One Law
The Task Force to study the effective utilization of the concept of One Country One Law was set up by President Gotabhaya Rajapakse. He appointed Ven Gnanasara thero as the chairperson to study the concept of One Country One Law. The chair person was expected to...
Susil Siriwardene, my friend
I don’t have much to add to the large number of appreciations that have appeared in the papers since Susil’s death. However, the urge to pen a few words and thus recall what his friendship meant to me has been nagging me, and so I find myself writing down my...
Jacinda Arden’s lesson on right speech
The New Zealand PM Jacinda Andern, has given us a lesson in the art of speaking even when one is under pressure. The Prime Minister has shown that in a situation filled with tension how measured language should be the response to act as a palliative instead of aggressive language which would be provocative. Despite the horror of the trauma of the terror attack on their hitherto peaceful country ,her mind remained uncluttered with hostile thoughts even as she was conscious of using language to reduce anger and ease tensions”securing the peace of her country.
Unresolved Tamil Issue
The failure of the Tamil ‘liberation’ movement is the failure to understand how the Tamil problem should be reviewed and tackled in today’s context. To me, the first issue is to understand if the Tamils consider their minority status a de facto reality. If they do,...
Reflections on Geneva and the way forward
Is Sri Lankan domestic initiatives for war time accountability and reconciliation a non starter? Reminiscing on this issue of culpability begs the question - Is the query of accountability and reconciliation a non issue among Sri Lankan leaders? Governments come and...
Self-Interested Tinkering with the Constitution
Ever since discussion around the withdrawal of the 19th amendment and its anticipated replacement with the 20th amendment reached the public arena there has been a cacophony of voices supporting the need for a new amendment. The President has been returned on the...
Concerns of the layman about disturbing the natural balance in the Sinharaja forest.
This is written as a tribute to my friend Dr. Upen de Zylva who passed away a few days ago and who throughout his life had an abiding interest in nature - in all things related to flora and fauna. He was greatly disturbed by the invasive ness of humans into the...
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