The Free Dictionary defines impunity as ‘exemption from punishment or loss or escape from fines’. In the context of the international law of human rights, it refers to the failure to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice and, as such, itself constitutes a denial of the victims’ right to justice and to bring ...

The news that five websites of an allegedly dubious nature have been banned in effect was followed by the Government’s rationale for its action, of which the Media Minister is the latest chorus bearer. The reasoning is that a plethora of unregulated websites had allegedly tarnished the good image of Sri Lanka, that some of ...

Following is a statement on the Expropriation Bill by UNP Deputy Leader Karu JayasuriyaThe might of numbers in Parliament steamrolled the plight of the private sector albeit the nation last week. Notwithstanding widespread protests, the Government has placed in the statute books the draconian Revival of Underperforming Enterprises and Underutilised Act. That 37 business enterprises, ...

All of the Commonwealth will today focus on the crucial vote for the host of 2018 Commonwealth Games with Sri Lankan contingent publicly and personally upbeat about candidate city Hambantota’s chances. Sri Lanka’s spirited southern port city Hambantota and Australia’s Gold Coast need minimum 36 votes out of 71 Commonwealth Games Associations at the CGF ...

Sydney Morning Herald: The Sri Lankan city of Hambantota is appealing to the camaraderie of small Commonwealth nations to edge out the Gold Coast’s bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Bid teams from Sri Lanka and the Gold Coast are making their final pitches to Commonwealth Games Federation delegates on the Caribbean island of St ...

The European Union Heads of Mission yesterday called on the Government to ensure that the rights of the free media are respected. In a statement issued yesterday the EU Heads of Mission in Colombo pointed out that it considers freedom of press forms an integral part of any democratic system and therefore media should be ...

DNH Financial Ltd., is confident that investors can beat the bearish market provided a portfolio is built comprising most compelling companies in the ASPI not only based on macro-economic fundamentals but closely tied to local consumption dynamics. This assessment is contained in DNH’s weekly stock market review, excerpts of which are as follows. A flash ...

Discussion on the validity of non-military engagements of the military The war or internal armed conflict in the north and east is over; the Emergency is no more; but still the military is everywhere. The military is now engaged in peacetime police-work, whale watching, selling vegetables, agriculture, cleaning, constructions and many other non-military activities. Yet, ...

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 ...

Confidence, the most critical element of the business climate Need of the hour Investment needs to increase from 28% (2010) to 34% of GDP to attain the Government’s growth target of 8%, as Sri Lanka’s incremental capital output ratio is 4.2. Public investment has been capped at 6%-7% of GDP. This means that private investment, ...

Following is the address delivered by Senior Minister for International Monetary Cooperation Dr. Sarath Amunugama at the fourth South Asia Economic Summit (SAES IV) Plenary Session: In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, there has been a noticeable shift in economic clout, moving from the USA and the debt-plagued countries of the Eurozone, to ...

I still remember the thoughts that crossed my mind on the day that Harvard University announced the top 50 candidates for the 2011 Global Leaders in Development forum. The excitement was high, but then again the commitment to me personally in Sri Lanka made it a catch 22 decision. The decision was tougher, given that ...

DNH Financial Ltd. last week said that corporate earnings released so far look impressive but the bourse has not performed compared to strong earnings generation. The broking firm also suggests time is right for investors to go bottom fishing. Here are excerpts from DNH’s Weekly Report: The Colombo bourse ended the week on a relatively ...

Sri Lanka Economic Association Conference – Key takes at the inauguration By Dinali Goonewardene The Government in addition to domestic constraints faces a series of external and global constraints and the Sri Lanka Economic Association at its annual sessions from 13-14 October 2011 discussed this under the theme ‘Achieving National Economic Goals Amidst Global Challenges’. ...

In the midst of the turmoil in international financial markets and national economies, Sovereign Wealth Funds are coming into closer focus. For the first time since the breakout of the financial crisis, the financial mandarins of China intervened to shore up confidence in the country’s four largest banks by increasing its holdings in them through ...

On 24 and 25 October, the BMICH will see a market place with a difference and an important difference at that, considering current national needs. Hopefully this would spin a differ ence to the way we hope to develop our economy in the mindsets of practitioners, planners and bankers alike.   Listening to the inside, ...

Professionals are shy to raise critical issues in public!It is believed that the single focus advocacy proposal of the Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry for the Budget 2012 to address is the continuing high priority of enhancing the ‘ease of doing business in Sri Lanka’. A president of a chamber holds a publicly articulated ...

The world’s economies are competing for investment, in order that they create jobs for their citizens and trade effectively in goods and services in this globalised world economy. Barriers and restrictions are tumbling down as nation states compete against each other, to become attractive to investors.Competitiveness is a comparative concept of the ability of a ...

By Cheranka Mendis Asia, which is estimated to contribute 52 per cent to the world’s GDP by 2050, has turned back a 260-year spell of declining contribution to the global GDP within a 80-year period and is now poised for better growth. Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal addressing the Asian Bankers Association General Meeting ...

The genie of separationThe agitation for a new state called Telangana for the Telagu-speaking people of India is in the news again. At the time of writing, there is an agitation going on, sometimes turning violent. An announcement in 2009 by Home Minister Chidambaram that the Government of India had decided to carve out a ...

Long awaited and following the enormous success of the first edition of the Colombo Art Biennale ‘Imagining Peace’ in 2009, CAB is delighted to announce its second edition with ‘Becoming’ in February 2012. CAB is honoured and proud to introduce its two curators for this year’s edition of the Biennale – Roman Berka, who heads ...

Justice and fair-play is paramount Justice and fair-play are of paramount importance to all members of the world family consisting of 193 nations expecting justice and fair-play equally. It is the principle on which the United Nations was established in place of the less-effective League of Nations, in order to settle differences among nations based ...

Following is a release by the Friday Forum on democratic governance responsibilities of civil societyPublic support and vigilance essential to ensure clean polls In order to address several public concerns over the conduct of free and fair elections at the forthcoming municipal and local government elections, a delegation of the Friday Forum met with the ...

At the 75th Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Ceylon Planters Society, a key thought shared by an industry strategist and Chairman of the Tea Cluster Ministry of Industry and Commerce Rohantha Athukorala was that the tea industry of Sri Lanka must use the current global and local economic upheaval to shape in a new industry ...

It gives you a warm feeling to realise that you have become a CEO. What most don’t realise is that the aftermath of the appointment can be a nightmare. Gone are the opportunities and the luxury of blaming someone or some people for missing a deadline. A CEO has very much to do in forming ...

Women in South AsiaFollowing is the address delivered by the High Commissioner of Pakistan Seema Ilahi Baloch at the South Asia Women in Media Forum: The women of South Asia must be proud, because our land can boast of some of the greatest women leaders of our times. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Indira Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto, Husina ...

The Sri Lanka Private Sector Assessment of the Report to the United Nations Secretary General by the Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka was released on Thursday. The private sector critique is a compilation of views raised by a private sector group in Sri Lanka who are concerned about the content of the ...

Coming from a marketing background I tend to view the happenings of the world from a lens that can be different to many. Last week’s developing story of the Anna Hazare episode in India was unique, in my perception. A man who does not own a computer and is 74 years of age, with little ...

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. ...

THERE was welcome news from the highly-successful city of Shenzhen, China on Friday, when it was announced that the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) deal on the Colombo South Container Terminal (CST) was signed between the consortium involving China Merchant Harbour International (CMHI) and Aitken Spence and Company Plc and State entity Sri Lanka Ports ...