Was #PresPollSL 2015 Sri Lanka’s first Cyber Election?
On the night of 8 January 2015, shortly after voting ended in Sri Lanka’s seventh presidential election, the streets of Colombo and suburbs were unusually calm. There was no curfew, but people…
Elections
Delicate Balancing Act for the New President
Photo via Sky News Normally, a newly elected President has a honeymoon period within which he/she has some breathing space after a hectic election campaign conducted under extremely stressful and challenging circumstances….
Best Wishes for Your Appointment as President
Photo courtesy World Snap Faculty of Social Sciences South Asian University New Delhi – 110021 India 09th January 2015 His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri…
Pope Francis and struggle for human rights in Sri Lanka
Photo courtesy CNS News Pope Francis is set to arrive in Sri Lanka, on 13th January, despite several appeals by Catholics including me, to postpone the visit. He will arrive few days…
It’s Personal, It Should Be To Us All
Photo via The Daily Beast So you see, democracy is not just a system, a structure; it is also a . It is a feeling within each one of us; a desire…
THE FORGOTTEN MAJORITY – THE WAY FORWARD?
Photo via World Snap The elections are over and much will be said and written about these historic days. Amidst these discussions I present a preliminary analysis of an often forgotten and…
Sri Lanka stunned? Sri Lanka’s 2015 presidential poll and [un]warranted exclamations
Image courtesy Salon.com On 9 January 2015, Dr Oliver Walton, a lecturer at the University of Bath, published an article entitled ‘Sri Lanka stunned as (UK) published an article entitled ‘What a…
Post Election: Real Vs Perceived Risks
Meme via Sri Lanka Memes The election of Sri Lanka’s new President Maithripala Sirisena has undoubtedly marked the dawn of a new era in Sri Lanka politics. Around the country and across…
Honour our trust, Your Excellency Maithripala Sirisena
Photo courtesy Maithripala Sirisena website January 9th 2015 The very moment we are penning this letter, you are being sworn in as the 6th Executive President of Sri Lanka. We congratulate you…
Sri Lankans voted for Sirisena: Not Tamils, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians or Sinhalese
Photo courtesy Yahoo I have been hearing one group of people saying “Maithri won because of North and East votes (Tamil and Muslim votes)” and another group of people trying to prove…
A(n) (un)Presidential Swearing in?
Photo by Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images via Huffington Post A presidential swearing in ceremony, in a polity with an executive presidency, is a moment of tremendous solemn national pride. In the case of a…
Democracy has triumphed: Will the opportunity be seized?
Photo courtesy VOA News The New Year 2015 began yesterday, 9th January 2015! Though there were the traditional celebrations on the 1st, these were on a subdued note, given the fears and…
Some Reflections on Post-Election Day
Photo courtesy The results are all in and Mahinda Rajapaksa has been defeated at the polls. This is a great victory for almost all concerned. It is a victory for the coalition,…
The moon is out
In Sri Lanka The moon is out I think No, not a full moon Just a patch of light Straining through the darkness And not everywhere equally bright In the north I…
Maithripala Sirisena’s Victory: Winning the Hearts of Women
Photo courtesy The Hindu As the campaigning for both candidates has ended, and the celebrations for the victory of Maithripala Sirisena have begun, larger battles are still being waged, and will be…
