Reformist Perspective on Constitutional Change
Since the late 1980s, there has been a general consensus that the Second Republican Constitution enacted in 1978 and the state structure set up by it should be replaced by a new…
Constitutional Reform
Tamil politics tomorrow: Options, challenges and pitfalls
The armies clash in the night but what of the morning after? The underlying ethno-national question, that of the relationships between the Sinhalese, the Tamils, the Muslims and the state, remains, but…
An ‘Ausgleich’ for Sri Lanka: Equalization – not Devolution
Elangai Naganathan  With the end of the war in sight Sinhala opinion on the next step of the Nationalities Question (or “ethnic issue”, if you will) is firming up. At best…
To Win the War and Lose the Peace: Beyond Sri Lanka’s ‘War on Terror’
It looks like one of the more winnable conflicts in an age of the global ‘war on terror’. The Sri Lankan government appears to be on the brink of announcing victory in…
The Anti-Conversion Bill violates the freedom of Conscience and the freedom of expression
There is a trend to convert the triumph of the Armed Forces over the LTTE in the north into a triumphal Sinhala-Buddhist ultra nationalism. Their ideology is that the country belongs only…
Emergency Rule, GSP+, Human Rights and Governance in Sri Lanka
An interview on Emergency Rule, GSP+, Human Rights and Democracy in Sri Lanka conducted with Asanga Welikala, author of and, writing as Publius, one of the best read political and constitutional commentators…
Put back missing chairs and stop the APC musical chairs game!
For all intents and purposes, the All Party Conference (APC), has been a waste of time by playing for time, all the time. Periodic boycotts and exits of parties based on their…
Defense and Devolution
Just as it did at the moment of decolonization and independence, the visible post-war moment provides a rare historic opportunity for nation building and the construction of national identity. We missed the…
Hurry Up and Go Slowly
When we were being initiated to English under the Free Education Scheme, our teacher used to ask us to, “Hurry up and go slowly.” This command made us laugh, for by then…
TAMIL NADU, THE INDIAN MODEL AND DEVOLUTION
The devolution debate has been sharpened by the highly interesting and significant results of the public opinion poll recently conducted in Tamil Nadu, with regard to Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue and its…
Why integration with India is the only long-term way out for Lanka
Lanka: Where to cut the Gordian knot Sometimes the obvious is the most difficult to see; and then when discerned in a flash of blinding light it does indeed seem so obvious….
WINNING THE WAR, WINNING THE PEACE
  – Barack Obama, Berlin, July 24  We must not settle for a draw in a game we can win and are winning. As we draw closer to victory, those who…
Some Gruesome Experiences: Memories of July 1983 by DEW Gunasekara, Minister of Constitutional Affairs and National Integration
 I had my own gruesome experience of the Black July. It was 29th July at midnight that I received a telephone call from my friend and party comrade AJMO Dr. Indra…
GSP PLUS AND THE NEED FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: WHAT WE DID AND DID NOT SAY
Rohan Edrisinha and Asanga Welikala  The Political Watch Column of the Sunday Island of 22 June titled Opposition at Sea included a critique of an article co-authored by us which was…
THE DISSOLUTION OF THE NORTH CENTRAL AND SABARAGAMUWA PROVINCIAL COUNCILS: THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES
ROHAN EDRISINHA & ASANGA WELIKALA The North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils have been dissolved by Proclamation of the respective Governors effective as of midnight on Monday 9th May 2008 (see No….