By Tisaranee Gunasekara “….an amoral clique of corrupt lawbreakers who are deaf both to their citizens and to their enemies”. Avraham Burg (International Herald Tribune – 6.9.2003) The ‘plastic crates saga’ is a quintessentially Rajapaksa tale. Arbitrariness is a hallmark of the ‘Johnston Law’, decreeing plastic crates mandatory in transporting vegetables and fruits. Amidst the ...

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan are building the biggest plane ever to haul cargo and astronauts into space, in the latest of several ventures fueled by technology tycoons clamoring to write America’s next chapter in spaceflight. Their plans, unveiled Tuesday, call for a twin-fuselage aircraft with wings longer than a football field to carry a rocket high into...

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia yesterday announced the first two milestones of their recently approved alliance: new international and domestic routes to Darwin and the launch of frequent flyer programme co-operation. As part of a joint plan to increase services to northern Australia, Singapore Airlines’ regional full service airline, SilkAir, will begin a four-times-weekly service ...

Fortunaglobal (Pvt) Ltd. won this year’s e-Swabhimani award for the country’s best e-content applications in the m-Content category for its mobile application for the iPhone and Android. The prestigious e-Swabhimani awards presentation is organised annually by the apex Government body for ICT in Sri Lanka, the Information & Technology Agency (ICTA). Derana Macroentertainment Accoun...

Last week my phone beeped and the text message read ‘The Chairperson of the Security and Exchange Commission Indrani Sugathadasa had resigned citing reasons of values and principles for her resignation’. My mind went back to the time when this lady when she was the Board Director at EDB. Whenever tough decisions had be taken ...

An international, countercultural labor force prepares pot on its path to market. Trimmers can make $200 a day plus lodging, sometimes 'with a crazy guy in the middle of the woods with an AK-47.'Reporting from Sebastopol, Calif. -- In an old, shingled house not far from the center of town, the trim crew hunkered over trays in the living room, snipping away at the strain of the day, Blue Dream. I...

Former cricketer Vinod Kambli has raised suspicion on the 1996 World Cup semifinal between India and Sri Lanka and said he found “something amiss” in the game which brought an end to his international career. Kambli, who scored 1084 runs in 17 Tests and 2477 runs in 104 ODIs for India, said he was suspicious ...

“The peace museums in Japan remind the present generation of mistakes that must not be repeated, and of suffering that must not happen again. I saw hundreds of school children come every day to those museums along with their school teachers” When the war ended in May 2009, it was the worst that was over, but ...

Rajapaksa Family already planning more land grabbing Kleptocrat: A ruler who uses power to steal the country’s resources. Oxford Dictionary By Tisaranee Gunasekara Mindless-extravagance; land-grabbing; media-muzzling: the three Rajapaksa preoccupations are intimately interconnected. The Ruling Siblings need money to strengthen their power and to sustain their voracious appetite for exhibitionism, ...

London (ANI): Pakistani cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, who were jailed by a London court for involvement in a spot-fixing scam, were given over 100,000 pounds of taxpayers’ money to fund their legal defence. According to the Daily Star, the agent at the heart of the ring, Mazhar Majeed, had also received ...

This is the seventh article in the Daily FT’s fortnightly series titled ‘Business of Sports,’ focusing on the back office of the various sports administered and played in this country. Readers are invited to share their views and express their opinion via email to editor@ft.lk on the features carried in this column so that a ...

I first met Nirosh de Mel as a schoolboy, at Colombo International School; then headed by its Founder, Elizabeth Moir. He was rather mischievous but bright; an excellent combination which has stood him in good stead on life’s journey. Although I had met him with his parents on and off at family events, I was ...

London,   (AFP): Three Pakistan Test players go on trial in London on Tuesday charged with spot-fixing during a match against England last year, allegations which rocked the world of cricket. Former captain Salman Butt, prodigal talent Mohammad Aamer and star bowler Mohammad Asif are due to appear at Southwark Crown Court charged with conspiracy to ...

Admits that he tampered with the ball during triangular series in SL Former Pakistani cricket player Shoaib Akhtar lived up to his notorious title of being “controversy’s favourite child” with the launch of his autobiography in India. In a book titled “Controversially Yours”, Akhtar hits out at prominent names in the world of cricket and ...

By Richard Browne Trying to keep pace with the modern game would tire a committed marathon runner. This week has seen the very uncommitted marathon devotee Shane Warne announce yet another come back in the Australian 20/20 Big Bash tournament. Lancashire after a 77 year wait have finally won England’s County Championship, Kumar Sangakkara is ...

and the country in general is welcoming news indeed. Having joined the Lakeside ...

By S. V. Kirubaharan - in France Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” — Julius Henry, Groucho Marx, American comedian and film star (1890-1977). When life is smooth and everything goes in the right direction, normal civilians can become President, Prime Minister ...

Our ‘poli-socionomic’ dialogue You will recall that like Capt. Kirk in his Star Ship-Enterprise,’ we also ventured into new territory with our first discussions under this theme ‘poli-socionomics,’ which appears to have caught on somewhat; thus, on behalf of those of us who still dare to think, I must thank those editors who carried it. ...

Quinn signs DREAM Act, which sets up fund for private scholarships Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday signed a measure into law creating a privately funded scholarship program for documented and undocumented immigrants, a move supporters hailed as a civil rights victory as other states have recently moved in the other direction on immigration.

By S.V. Kirubaharan in France The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began its important task in 1946, dealing with international disputes and arbitration of judicial settlements between states. The ICJ is also known as the World Court. Before it was established, there was the Permanent Court of Arbitration – PCA (1899), but this was not a ...

By Ranee Mohamed Photos By Asoka Fernando He has fought the battle of life – paid the bills, nurtured a family and faced private scuffles at his workplaces. The journey is almost over and Joseph Denzil Abayasekara has stepped out into the streets. He wants the bitter times of eating bread with sugar and walking ...

The departure of three star scientists from UC San Diego has officials worried about a possible brain drain tied to budget cuts.UC San Diego faced a losing battle recently when it tried to hang on to three star scientists being wooed by Rice University for cutting-edge cancer research. The recruiting package from the private Houston university included 40% pay raises, new labs and a healthy flow o...

With bare-knuckle book titles like Hardcore Zen and Sit Down and Shut Up, author Brad Warner is not your hippie Aunt's idea of a tranquil, exotic spiritual master. With a pedigree in punk rock and garage-psychedelia, and a two-decade stint in the trenches of Japanese monster movie marketing, the 47-year-old native of Ohio is nevertheless a certifiable Zen master, part of a tightly-held So...

Courtesy: International Cricket Council Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said there was no …

Sri Lanka’s most reliable news property Ada Derana has delivered accessibility on yet another platform with the launch of an app for Apple iPhones and iPads. This is Sri Lanka’s first comprehensive and interactive app and is in line with its international counterparts.

By M.S.Shah Jahan Super slim Kate-Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, 29, the princess-to-be has a worry over her engagement ring with Ratnapura sapphire. Kate has slimmed down so much that she had to shrink her famous engagement ring to fit her finger...

by Amal Siriwardena I met Arthur C. Clarke briefly when I was about ten years old. My father, Regi Siriwardena, then features editor of the ‘Daily News’ was interviewing Clarke. We met at Clarke’s residence at Gregory’s Road, where he...

"Economic prosperity and development are necessary, but not sufficient, conditions for lasting peace and healing in Sri Lanka" Remarks by Robert O. Blake, Jr. Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at Asia Society Event, New York, NY,...

by Ranga Jayasuriya Some key positions of this government have been filled by dual citizens. Gotabaya Rajapaksa - the powerful Defence Secretary is a dual citizen of Sri Lanka and the USA. Basil Rajapaksa - Investment Development Minister has a US Green Card in addition to his Sri Lankan citizenship. Sarath Fonseka, the now incarcerated former army commander is also a Green Card holder. ...

BY Tisaranee Gunasekara Unfortunately our unenlightened people will never understand the Higher Reason that governs the actions of monarchs.” — Ryszard Kapuściński (The Emperor) Minister, Professor G.L. Peiris has a dream. In his dream Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the Queen of England, arrives in Hambantota, followed by 53 three heads of state, to attend the 2013 Commonwealth Summit. ...