By Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka Was opposition firebrand, lawyer, karateka and pop vocalist Dayasiri Jayasekara right when he warned several weeks back that the UNP stood in danger of electoral extinction, like the Old Left in general and the LSSP in particular? The answer probably resides in yet another question: what would be the Wickremesinghe led [...]
“Tomorrow, perhaps the future” — W.H. Auden (Spain 1937) By Tisaranee Gunasekara The charade is finally over. President Rajapaksa has informed Sri Lanka’s Micawberian opposition that he intends to remove presidential term-limits and run for a third (and, the Grim Reaper permitting, a fourth and a fifth…) term. Clearly Rajapaksa père means to be president [...]
By Raisa Wickrematunge On July 26, he received a phone call at 5:30 am from an unknown source. “I am going to town today. We’ll see what happens,” was all he said. He left his home in Weligama for Colombo, never to return again. The story of Rienzie Algama has been widely reported in the [...]
Sajith Premadasa to be Deputy Leader Ravi Karunanayaka’s appointment stirs controversy By Faraz Shauketaly The United National Party’s Leadership crisis and Reforms appears to have been resolved. After 4 days of intense meetings the Seniors at the UNP have come up with a consensus on how best to move forward. The latest proposals which will [...]
By Tisaranee Gunasekara The tyrant desires that his subject shall be incapable of action, for no one attempts what is impossible, and they will not attempt to overthrow a tyranny, if they are powerless.” – Aristotle (Politics) The Samurdhi officials have shown that there is still a way. By refusing to tolerate the barbaric injustice [...]
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka He who says A, must say B”. Those who, with good reason, lament the prospect of a new constitution reflective of the dominant ideology and power relations, must also admit and criticise the factor that makes this possible. No government is able to change the basic law, if it does not enjoy [...]
By Ravi Perera It is argued by psychologists that certain persons are programmed almost at birth for failure. In the same family we come across the successful entrepreneur while his sibling is a never-do-well type, going from one misadventure to another. The former works hard, educates himself on relevant matters and when investing, takes calculated [...]
By Indi Samarajiva Sri Lanka’s War Commission is not directly addressing the war. The main point and writ of the Commission is actually to investigate the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), how the LTTE broke the negotiations and what to do in the future. The war itself is either ignored or praised but never questioned. Chairman C.R. [...]
A short while ago, reports began to surface that DNA MP and former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was found guilty of engaging in political activity while in uniform. MCNS head Lakshman Hulugalle and military spokesman Ubaya Medawala said they were both awaiting official confirmation. If indeed the reports are true, the word “travesty” springs to [...]
By John Stanton Sri Lanka has been a friend and democratic partner of the United States since gaining independence in 1948 and has supported US military operations overseas such as during the first Gulf War. Commercial contacts go back to 1787, when New England sailors first anchored in Sri Lanka’s harbours to engage in trade. [...]
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