by Faizer Shaheid The trials and tribulations were immense for the Organizing Committee, as challenges began to mount at the World Conference on Youth (WCY). However, overseas delegates claimed that the conference had not been anything short of fabulous. The WCY attended by youth delegates from 159 countries, top United Nations (UN) officials and several ministers from overseas came to a close yesterday following a sensational display by Sri Lankan artistes at the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) auditorium. Much ado had been placed on the WCY with a recorded attendance of over 40 top UN officials, including President of the General Assembly, John William Ashe. Deputy Minister of Education, Mohan Lal Grero stated that almost all UN organizations had been represented at the conference. “This purveys the […]

After the JVP launched its first insurrection in April 1971, attacking – sometimes overrunning and destroying – many police stations countrywide with homemade bombs and commandeered shotguns, a veteran policeman of the day wisely remarked that “the days when a cop, perhaps armed with a baton, went on a bicycle for an inquiry are gone. We will now have to go in strength in a vehicle and carry automatic weapons.’’ These remarks that proved to be prophetic came to mind when Police Spokesman Ajith Rohana went on record last week saying that the police force was “challenged’’ by the incident a few days ago when two policemen on patrol in the dead of night had been set upon by a group who had stripped them […]

When Wimal waves the wand again My Dear Wimal, I am writing to you to congratulate you because I heard that you held your own May Day rally last week, instead of joining the Blues and Mahinda maama at their grand meeting in Colombo. Only you could get away with such a bold and daring decision, Wimal! I heard you say at your rally that your decision to have your own meeting was because you didn’t see eye to eye with Mahinda maama and the Blues about these casinos they are proposing. The Blues are saying there will be no new casinos, only hotels but you are saying you are not so sure. What is a bit puzzling to me, Wimal, is that if you […]

Special presidential unit investigates dealings by rebel minister’s NHDA NFF to present 12-point demand, including firm ‘no to casinos’; tie-up with JHU and MEP UNHRC gets funding for probe of alleged war crimes; Pillay to name commission and terms soon Like a roulette wheel, partners in the UPFA Government have gone into a spin over the controversial casino issue. The latest is the National Freedom Front (NFF) led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa, often dubbed as the mouthpiece of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on controversial issues. His colleagues even identify him as the point man to raise planted questions at weekly ministerial meetings to pave the way for Rajapaksa’s critical intervention. On other occasions he is a one-man ‘fact finder’ on the allegiances of his colleagues or how […]

  Chamindu Amarsinghe AN honest janitor has cleaned up after finding $100,000 of dirty money in a toilet. Chamindu Amarsinghe said on Thursday he was speechless to hear he will get $81,597 of the cash he found at Channel 9’s Docklands headquarters, after no one came forward to claim it. The other $19,500 will go to the state, a magistrate ruled this week. Mr Amarsinghe was tidying the ground floor toilets back in August 2011 when he found a sanitary bin flush with $510 and $100 notes. “There was too much to count – I thought someone was playing a prank on me,” he said. “But when I touched the notes – all yellow and green – I realised it was real money.” The stunned […]