Monthly Archives: August 2011

Near record high food prices keep poorest people on the edge

Food Prices in Somalia Soar on Drought, Conflict, and Displacement
WASHINGTON, August 15, 2011−Global food prices are at high levels and when combined with continued volatility, put the poorest people in the developing world at continued risk, according to the World Bank Group’s Food Price Watch released today.
While the emergency in the Horn of Africa was triggered by […]

By | Published on August 15, 2011 at 7:00 pm

Respect for the Judiciary in Sri Lanka: Are lawyers a rapacious breed, a case for the death penalty and other matters

‘We as judges of this land must take the lead from our departed friend and colleague, that no bullets of any calibre, knives of any depth, clubs of any weight, shall ever deter us from taking the exalted and well traversed path to do justice for all those who come before us.’ – Rohini Perera J, […]

By Lakshman Indranath Keerthisinghe | Published on August 15, 2011 at 5:37 pm

The need for 19th Amendment for confidence in governance

The non- Tamil and mainstream opposition appears to be taking a long term view of political change in the country. This may be why the UNP invited civil society groups to join with it in opposing the 18th Amendment when its first year anniversary comes on September 8 this year.
No checks, no balances just untrammeled […]

By Dr. Jehan Perera | Published on August 15, 2011 at 2:53 pm

The Pen is Mightier than the Gun

It is clear that the world is now convinced that an important element in the resolution of this problem is to show the LTTE where it stands and marginalize it because it will not come into the democratic process. The Hindu (Editorial, 2nd June, 2006)
This is a revised and updated version of an article written […]

By Lakshman Indranath Keerthisinghe | Published on August 14, 2011 at 7:41 pm

Body of young protestor shot by police forcibly taken from house

The body of slain Free Trade Zone worker Roshen Chanaka, shot by police as he engaged in peaceful protest June 30, had been forcibly removed from his home this morning sources, said.
The Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council Prasanna Ranatunga, together with some other politicians and army personnel arrived at 9.30 this morning (Sri […]

By Nirmala Kannangara | Published on August 13, 2011 at 3:06 pm

Some Thoughts on Good Governance advocated by Ancient Philosophers

In the happiness of his subjects lies the king’s happiness; in their welfare his welfare. He shall not consider as good only that which pleases him but treat as beneficial to him whatever pleases his subjects
(1.19.34 Kautilya – The Arthashatra – Penguin Classics p.x.)
PHILOSOPHY: At a time when there is much conflict of opinion as […]

By Lakshman Indranath Keerthisinghe | Published on August 12, 2011 at 3:42 am

The UN Report and its Repercussions

“As one resident of the north put it – “things look better but feel worse”. Civil society actors have reported that the population in the north have welcomed the Report, even felt empowered by it on the grounds that it acknowledges and records their journey to hell and back in the last days of the […]

By Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu | Published on August 12, 2011 at 3:06 am

The Displaced Northern Muslims of Sri Lanka: Special Problems and the Future

ABSTRACT: It has been widely established as fact that ethno-political conflict and civil war between the Tamils and the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka have generated immense sufferings among the Tamil and Sinhalese ethnic groups at the level

of the masses. However, very little has been discussed about the plights of the Muslims of the North and East, particularly the […]

By A.R.M Imtiyaz and M.C.M. Iqbal | Published on August 9, 2011 at 11:29 pm

Big Apple Blues and a UN Report Card

My darling Ma-hinder,
Dear old fruit. How spiffing to renew our correspondence. There you are, I mean to say, bunging some correspondents in the slammer, booting the rest out of ole Paradise, and squeezing the lifeblood out of others, and now here we both are, corresponding away like two texting teenagers whose phone tabs are picked […]

By Thelma | Published on August 9, 2011 at 3:06 am

Be a hero always: Say ‘I have no fear’ – Swamiji Vivekananda’s message to the world

FUTURE: All the strength and success you want is within yourself. Therefore make your own future. Let the dead past bury the dead. The infinite future is before you and you must always remember that each word, thought and deed lays up a store for you and that as the bad thoughts and bad deeds […]

By Lakshman Indranath Keerthisinghe | Published on August 8, 2011 at 5:53 pm