Lanka News

Freedom to demand unfreedom | Daily FT

The nation has arrived at a crossroads. A strong leader demands a decisive mandate to usher in a flourishing, virtuous disciplined society. To go further, we must first discover where we are – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara History may or may not repeat itself. But there is no doubt that history can instruct. Over the... Read More

July 3, 2020

Inspired success: Learning from the world’s best

Leo Buscaglia, ‘Love’s Spokesperson’ This is a series of articles outlining the teachings of some of the world’s most seminal thought leaders. We have selected those I have personally interacted with, in many cases worked with, and delivered with. We will present a one-day session in August synthesising these learnings in a highly interactive... Read More

July 2, 2020

Easter inquiries, Muslim misgivings and the praetorian power-elite

Those responsible for the criminal negligence that made the Easter Sunday carnage possible must be prosecuted. It is necessary to identify the institutional and procedural gaps and lapses, trace the reasons for them and guarantee non-recurrence From the lapses in the treatment of a S. Thomas’ and UCL educated Colombo lawyer to the lack of... Read More

July 2, 2020

Turning the tables on timber

University of Moratuwa Department of Integrated Design Head Sithumini Rathnamalala Vindya Jayawickrama – COSTI, Ministry of Technology and Innovation Prof. Hiran Amarasekera – Department of Forestry and Environment, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Certification mark and innovation with Moratu Lee Henry W. Cave in 1980 has written quite interestingly on Moratuwa carpenters and their skills –... Read More

Life lived virtually: It can be amazingly real

It’s time to plunge in and live the virtual life fully I work out regularly. And my diet has ensured decent results on weight loss and body fat composition. Sometime during the COVID Zoom Session with friends, someone mooted the idea of me doing sessions for them. And I said yes let’s do it. So,... Read More

The importance of service culture

Creating a service culture is something that has to be done wholeheartedly by everybody. The top management has to take the initiative – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara If one looks at the history of mankind, a significant positive observation is the ever-present resilience of humanity over time. Every disaster has pushed humanity in the world... Read More

Institutional development and capacity building: A national imperative

ETI Finance Head Office Bank of Ceylon Head Office I regard the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, as an institution, with reverence and its people with respect, hence, the events which recently took place are regrettable. Viewed from a national perspective, there is a compelling need to project the right image of a nation’s Central... Read More

Recognition of unsung heroes | Daily FT

The first copy of the first book on accessibility in Sri Lanka compiled and published by Dr. Ajith Perera being presented to the first President of Idiriya, Maureen Johanna Perera The inaugural meeting of the pioneer fighters for ‘Sri Lanka – Accessible for All’ held at the Taj Samudra Hotel, 1 July 2005 Persons who... Read More

When Karuna Amman went to the UK with a diplomatic passport under a Sinhala name

Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan, a.k.a. Karuna Amman With Parliamentary Elections being scheduled for 5 August, most political parties and independent groups contesting the polls have commenced their respective campaigns in a big way. The hopelessly-divided chief Opposition, seemingly bereft of valid issues to raise, has eagerly seized upon the ‘Karuna Amman admission of Elephant Pass killings’... Read More

Vassalage to patrimonialism | Daily FT

The choice is nigh. Choose wisely – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara Patrimonialism: “A form of governance in which all power flows directly from a leader. These regimes are autocratic or oligarchic and exclude the lower, middle and upper classes from power.” If you can’t understand how someone like Trump can garner so much support,... Read More

Reform for our micro and small businesses

Last Saturday was the UN World Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Day, and in light of that, focus should be given to Sri Lanka’s small businesses and the challenges they face. Sri Lankan micro and small enterprises form a substantial part of our economy. Sole proprietorships account for 63.1% of all businesses in the... Read More

June 30, 2020

The economy: Gota’s enemy No. 1

To defeat the number one enemy, military and its weapons are useless. The priestly segment that is advising Gota is a burden to society, and to use a Marxian terminology, it is part of a class of social parasites All good things must come to an end. Gota’s victory over LTTE and limited victory over... Read More

June 30, 2020

The land of alley cats, donkeys and chameleons: Who will we elect?

The Elections Commissioner says that he will have to spend Rs. 10 billion to conduct the election that will send 225 of these mostly expensive liabilities to Parliament – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara Once a donkey said to the tiger, “The grass is blue.” The tiger said, “No, the grass is green.” The... Read More

June 30, 2020

Temper tantrums and gallery performance

We all watched the President admonishing senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and the CBSL; requesting them to bring new thinking and new ideas. There is no doubt that many officials in the public sector are merely ‘time-keeping’ in their positions and generally speaking, public officials in Sri Lanka need to be cajoled into... Read More