That old bo tree
Can we look back with pride at what we achieved during the past 70 years after independence in 1948 February? What’s our balance sheet like in terms of 70 years of socio-…
Author: Kusal Perera
OMP – When labels take precedence over content
Featured image courtesy IRIN News On Thursday 11 August, 2016, Parliament pushed through one of the most sensitive and important pieces of legislation, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) Act amidst the…
Culture and Poverty in our Neo Liberal Economy
In this neo liberal or free market global economy, Sri Lanka was counted as a country moving into the middle income group with an annual per capita income of 3,230 US dollars…
Seeing the “Eastern Outburst” on the Sinhala canvas: In defence of Eastern Province Chief Minister
The Navy high Command has taken one step too far, too quick. The Daily Mirror (DM) on 27 May (2016), carried in one of its columns a statement made by the Navy…
Looking for the Human factor in this “Rainbow Revolution”
Two things trouble and pain me. The Mullivaikkal “remembrance” on 18 May, of the dead and missing people due to war, whose families are still agitating to know the “truth” and want…
Involuntary Disappearances – The North South Divide
Featured image courtesy oneworld.org – Kusal Perera December 15, 2013 [A rough translation of a Sinhala poem “Sure I heard…” Written after December 10 International Human Rights Day and after Nelson…
Sri Lanka: Where Free Market Wouldn’t Sell Reform & Reconciliation
Featured image courtesy Asianews The case for serious reform necessary to return to a decent, civilised life for all in Sri Lanka has not been seriously argued in political forums all these…
A Rudderless Government
Featured image courtesy Colombo Gazette Almost 15 months under the present Sirisena-Wickremesinghe rule, the economy is in no good state. Defeating Rajapaksa at the 2015 January 08 presidential polls was not meant…
What’s in store for 25.1% in 2nd of “Yahapalanaya”?
Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images via Time.com President is reported to have told parliament today in his special address on the Resolution to elect a Constitutional Council, no one should be afraid…
What’s missing out there? People or Politics?
Featured image courtesy The Hindu R, Sampanthan, Leader of TNA and ITAK – www.seithy.com / 2015 December 23 “Thamil Makkal Peravai” (TMP) prompted this essay on Christmas Day. I checked up on…
Time the People said a loud and a firm “NO” to Medics without Ethics
Picture courtesy NewsFirst Mission statement – Handbook (2014) for Students of Colombo Medical Faculty I respect the medical profession when it respects the “Oath of Hippocrates“. I will respect them if they…
Civil society group DecentLanka calls afresh for release of Tamil prisoners
Featured image courtesy IPSNews Civil society group DecentLanka has called afresh for the release of Tamil prisoners, specifically those held without charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. A short while ago,…
In the Name of Assaulted HND Students
Picture courtesy Hirunews The police treated them most inhumanely when they marched to the University Grants Commission with their grievances on October 29. Photos and video clips of this ruthless and inhuman…
Independent Commissions a Huge Hoax
Picture from protest last year calling for independent commissions, courtesy SriLankaBrief The first resignation of a member appointed to an independent commission was reported yesterday (26 October) with Lionel Fernando tendering his…
Big bribes for customs and ‘Yahapalanaya’
Image courtesy The largest ever bribe in Sri Lanka to date seems that which was offered to three top officials in the Customs Department on 14 October (2015), in a place somewhere…