Author: Karu

The inside story of Rajapaksa family infighting that toppled a country into violence and bankruptcy Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Colombo Thu 7 Jul 2022 05.00 BST Dilith Jayaweera can still recall the moment he realised Sri Lanka was hurtling, unstoppably, towards financial ruin. It was around October 2021 and Jayaweera, a Sri Lankan media magnate and close friend of the Sri Lankan president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had invited Basil Rajapaksa, the president’s younger brother, who was also the finance minister, to join him for dinner. There was little love lost between Basil Rajapaksa and Jayaweera,…

In a wide ranging Colombo datelined story published on Thursday, The Guardian, the widely respected British newspaper, has laid bare the inside story of Sri Lanka’s current predicament in a report headlined “‘The family took over:’ how a feuding ruling dynasty drove Sri Lanka to ruin.” Written by Hanah Ellis-Peterson the report offers damning quotes from several former cabinet ministers who voted for the 20th Amendment enhancing President Gotabaya Rajapaksas powers but now publicly rue what they have done. It also quotes media and advertising magnate, Dilith Jayaweera, described as…

By Basil Fernando – Basil Fernando Politics in Sri Lanka mostly consists of the making of speeches at every place. There is lot of talk in the Parliament and there is also a lot of talk in the media shows. However, no real form of governance is taking place in the country. There is no direct relationship between what is being talked and what is being done. In the Parliament, some laws may be passed but many of these are not enforced and often are not even enforceable. On paper, the laws…

by Tisaranee Gunasekara “The dismal silence of places without intelligence” – Camus (Lyrical and Critical Essays) World War I began with fanfare. Leaders of all combatant nations predicted that their victorious troops will be home for Christmas. People believed and cheered. Only a few understood that the war would ruin losers and winners. “The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime,” British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey lamented. In Sri Lanka, most of the lamps are already cold, snuffed out by…

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda Several fundamental rights petitions challenging the Presidential pardon given to ex-soldier Sunil Ratnayake were today fixed for support by the Supreme Court. Former army staff sergeant R.M. Sunil Ratnayake who was convicted and sentenced to death for the Mirusuvil murder case in 2000 had been released after he received Presidential Clemency. Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice, L.T.B. Dehideniya and Justice Yasantha Kodagoda fixed the petition for support on August 4. Several petitioners including the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu…

Business leader turned Investment Promotion Minister Dhammika Perera yesterday did not mince his words but bluntly called for the resignation of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as Finance Minister alleging that the latter is not sincere in tackling the burning problem of the country – boosting foreign reserves and currency. Dhammika’s broadside on the veteran politician and six times Premier was during a briefing of some of the new initiatives taken by former’s Ministry’s Department of Immigration and Emigration yesterday. Perera said: “From today I am also starting my struggle (Aragalaya)…

By Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Colombo Dilith Jayaweera can still recall the moment he realised Sri Lanka was hurtling, unstoppably, towards financial ruin. It was around October 2021 and Jayaweera, a Sri Lankan media magnate and close friend of the Sri Lankan president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had invited Basil Rajapaksa, the president’s younger brother, who was also the finance minister, to join him for dinner. There was little love lost between Basil Rajapaksa and Jayaweera, who had long mistrusted each other. But nonetheless, as the pair ate in his sleek Colombo office,…

The inside story of Rajapaksa family infighting that toppled a country into violence and bankruptcy Hannah Ellis-Petersen in ColomboThu 7 Jul 2022 05.00 BST Dilith Jayaweera can still recall the moment he realised Sri Lanka was hurtling, unstoppably, towards financial ruin. It was around October 2021 and Jayaweera, a Sri Lankan media magnate and close friend of the Sri Lankan president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had invited Basil Rajapaksa, the president’s younger brother, who was also the finance minister, to join him for dinner. There was little love lost between Basil Rajapaksa and Jayaweera, who…

UK, New Zealand issue fresh warnings to their citizens against visiting SL Worsening of economic crisis and potential for civil unrest cited as reasons USA, EU, Canada, Australia and Ireland continue to maintain their travel advisories issued months ago Likely to have a massive impact on already struggling tourism sector in country SLTDA chief says steps will be taken to “soften” impact of such warnings where possible By Shabiya Ali Ahlam The travel advisories against visiting Sri Lanka, which were slightly relaxed just weeks ago, are now back and they could…

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday said that neither he nor the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) or the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya have any “no” or “can’t” talk and will fulfill their responsibilities for the people at any time. Donating a stock of scarce medicines, the Opposition Leader said the ‘Jana Suwaya’ and ‘Samagi Jana Balawegayen Husmak’ programs are implemented with a view of creating a healthy nation. Specialist Dr. Anver Hamdanihas earlier informed the Opposition Leader about the acute shortage of Recombinant Streptokinase (IP 1500000IU) which is an essential medicine for…

Labor and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara says when registering with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau to go abroad for work for a second time, the amount of dollars sent to the country through legal channels while working abroad previously will be checked. He said legislation will be enacted to allow only those who have repatriated significant amounts of money to go for foreign employment for a second time. The Minister stated this while presenting flight tickets to a group of young women going abroad for domestic nursing jobs…

UK issues travel advisory against Sri Lanka over ongoing crisis SLTDA Chairman says SL remains honest and open Adds continuous lobbying underway to remove advisory By Imsha Iqbal  Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Priantha Fernando stated that while the concerns of the UK – which resulted in a travel advisory being imposed against Sri Lanka – are valid, the SLTDA is continuously working towards pushing the UK to remove this advisory.  Speaking to The Morning Business, SLTDA Chairman Priantha Fernando stated: “Sri Lanka remains honest and open, as the…

Critics point out that the government is giving up on people and strengthening tri forces and police    If there are around 8000 buses operating daily one requires at least 50 litres of fuel   Sri Lanka’s fuel crisis has claimed the lives of 16 while people were waiting in queues to get their share of fuel. The queues continue to stretch despite fuel being issued at IOC filling stations. Even though the Minister made many promises when he assumed office, many promises weren’t delivered. For instance, even though the Minister…

Why legal and policy reforms have fallen short and social reforms are essential BY Sumudu Chamara Gender inequality has challenged Sri Lanka for decades, and the existence of gender discriminatory social norms is one of the primary reasons for gender inequality. Observing and assessing these social norms is complex, given that they are deeply embedded in society and in the subconscious minds of the community, including women. However, in order to ensure gender equality, it is essential to transform the gender discriminatory social norms prevalent in society.  As such, there…

With eight ministers, including two secretaries of state, resigning in the last two hours, an isolated and powerless Johnson was set to bow to the inevitable and declare he was stepping down later on Thursday, a source said. His Downing Street office confirmed that Johnson would make a statement to the country later. After days of battling for his job, Johnson had been deserted by all but a handful of allies after the latest in a series of scandals broke their willingness to support him. “His resignation was inevitable,” Justin…

Boris Johnson will announce his resignation as British prime minister on Thursday after he was abandoned by ministers and his Conservative Party’s lawmakers who said he was no longer fit to govern. With eight ministers, including two secretaries of state, resigning in the last two hours, an isolated and powerless Johnson was set to bow to the inevitable and declare he was stepping down later on Thursday, a source said. His Downing Street office confirmed that Johnson would make a statement to the country later. After days of battling for…

Why legal and policy reforms have fallen short and social reforms are essential BY Sumudu Chamara Gender inequality has challenged Sri Lanka for decades, and the existence of gender discriminatory social norms is one of the primary reasons for gender inequality. Observing and assessing these social norms is complex, given that they are deeply embedded in society and in the subconscious minds of the community, including women. However, in order to ensure gender equality, it is essential to transform the gender discriminatory social norms prevalent in society.  As such, there…

Thiruketheeswaram, one of the five “eswarams” mentioned above, is in the coastal village of Manthai in the Mannar District History has shown that although the Portuguese destroyed tangible structures, they could not destroy the intangible faith of the ancient people and in this instance, the Hindu people of Sri Lanka July 2022 is significant in the world Hindu diary of events, with the consecration ceremony at the world renowned Thiruketheeswaram temple! Let us get to know some details about this temple. In very ancient Sri Lanka, there were five temples…

by Tisaranee Gunasekara World War I began with fanfare. Leaders of all combatant nations predicted that their victorious troops will be home for Christmas. People believed and cheered. Only a few understood that the war would ruin losers and winners. “The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime,” British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey lamented.  In Sri Lanka, most of the lamps are already cold, snuffed out by the economic idiocy of the Rajapaksas. Only a few cling to a…

The proposals for the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, brought forth to clip the powers in the presidency, have been published in a gazette notification issued on Wednesday (June 29). Earlier this week, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal to gazette the new constitutional amendment and to present it to the Parliament. The amendment, which had been referred to as the 21st Amendment so far, is in fact the 22nd Amendment, as another draft 21st Amendment has already been gazetted. Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was given on…