Blessed are those Sri Lankans who have lived in different parts of the country, travelled widely within its borders and interacted with all people cutting across ethnic and religious barriers during times of peace and tranquillity in the past. Those who have had such broad experiences unsullied by narrow sectarianism know that the Island is truly “God’s own country” populated by friendly, good-natured people.
The street protests and the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on July 14 was accompanied by a collapse in support for the ruling parties. The nation faces critical economic and political choices, but this did not lead to public consensus about whom to support. That is now changing, with the NPP/JVP emerging as the most popular cho
Small countries cannot insulate themselves from the systemic forces of a great power rivalry unfolding in their neighbourhood. But, with a little bit of common sense, they can make sure that they would not become willing captives of that competitive power dynamic. Howeve
Leon Trotsky famously observed, “Politics is more like algebra than like elementary arithmetic, and still more like higher rather than elementary mathematics”. The recent election of President Ranil Wickremesinghe by Sri Lankan members of Parliament appears to be an illustrative example of Trotsky’s statement about Politics being more like Algebra than Arithmetic.
Having achieved its primary objective of ousting an Executive President- who couldn’t deliver his promises- the protesters at the Galle Face Green decided to withdraw from the Presidential Secretariat and Gate Zero on July
Following the July 9 mass uprising, the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced that he would tender his resignation on July 13. Having been turned down by several destinations including India, on the evening of July 12, word went round that the former President has fled to Maldives.
When word went round inviting all citizens to gather at the Galle Face Green on July 9, many thought that it wouldn’t be a success with the imposition of curfew the previous night. But as the....