A Jatika President or an Arthika President? 11.09.05 , 8:39 am Prof. H. L. Seneviratne Two broad issues – Sinhala Buddhist nationalism and economic prosperity-- frame the present campaign to elect a president, the same two issues that loomed large in the fateful election half a century ago. The first issue of course has an "economic" element, and the second a "cultural" one, but it is clear from the rhetoric of the two main campaigns that these are secondary and indeed trivial to the main preoccupation of each. So, the voter has a clear choice: he or she can vote either for culture and national identity on the one hand, or for a better standard of living on the other. In 1956 the representatives of the nationalist rural elite replaced the cosmopolitan western oriented elite as wielders of power. This change did nothing to alter the fate of the common people despite loud claims of a "people’s government". Indeed it is perfectly clear to any impartial observer that the common man is worse off today than he was in 1956, and since then, the country as a whole has deteriorated precipitously. For More

Media, politics and electoral organisers 11.04.05 , 9:07 am by Shamindra Ferdinando The UNP re-organisation following the last general elections in April 2004 brought many media personalities to the fore. Didula Bogahakumbura was one of them. He quit Swarnavahini recently to work as a district organiser in the Badulla district. For More

Bandaranaike policies –– who are the real enemies? 11.03.05 , 9:05 am by Sudath Gunasekara - Former Secretary to Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Apropos recent remarks, rather unwanted and unwelcome at a critical time like the present, made by the President Kumaratunga and Anura Bandaranaike regarding the ‘enemies’ who are trying to destroy Bandaranaike policies, I would like to make few comments for the benefit of the general public so that they will know as to who the real enemies of the Bandaranaike policies are. I write this as a person who has been close to the Bandaranaikes as Mrs. Bandaranaike’s one time secretary. For More

Battle between patriotic forces and those supporting foreign domination’ 11.02.05 , 9:22 am The issue in this decisive battle is not whether it is Mahinda or Ranil who will win. The question at issue is whether the country would opt to elect a patriotic group which is for a civilised and just society which works for the good of the country or a group which is for the division of the country and representing a society that has allegiance to alien powers and cultures devoid of civilised values, said the Minister of Buddha Sasana, Public Security, Law and Order, Agriculture and Deputy Minister of Defence Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka at a meeting held in Horana in support of the candidature of UPFA Presidential nominee Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. For More

Ranil- the man and the myth 10.30.05 , 2:12 pm by I.M.K. Karunaratne The man of the moment to some; others say he is in the right place at the right time. But there are still those who believe false myths about him and continue to heap slander on him in an unprecedented fashion. For More

Ranil- the man and the myth 10.30.05 , 2:10 pm by I.M.K. Karunaratne The man of the moment to some; others say he is in the right place at the right time. But there are still those who believe false myths about him and continue to heap slander on him in an unprecedented fashion. For More

Duties and responsibilities of SPOs at polling stations 10.28.05 , 9:48 am by Walter Rupesinghe - (Former Assistant Commissioner of Elections) In terms of section 25 of the Presidential Elections Act the Returning Officer of each electoral district shall appoint a Senior Presiding officer for each polling station to exercise general supervision over the staff of the polling station and to conduct the poll on 17th November in accordance with the law and procedure laid down in the Act. His is a very vital role in the electoral process. For this reason the Returning Officer takes great care to handpick the appointees and provides them with the necessary training to ensure that they perform their duties with efficiency and impartiality in keeping with the highest standards of justice and fairplay. On his part a person appointed as senior presiding officer should be conscious of the great responsibility and the confidence vested in him and arm himself with the knowledge to face any challenges which may arise on polling day. Even if he has presided at earlier elections, he cannot afford to be complacent because in dealing with human beings new situations are always bound to arise and it is only the power of knowledge that will give him the confidence to handle any difficult situation. In an election like the present one where crucial issues are involved and the contestants are engaged in a bitter struggle the presiding officer might very well have to contend with new ruses and subterfuges to harass voters and upset the smooth work of the Polling station. Every Presiding officer must therefore bear two things in mind — knowledge is power and to be forewarned is to be forearmed. For More

Bidding for Presidency 10.26.05 , 8:52 am by Neville Ladduwahetty The bidding war has started. Each of the Presidential candidates is desperately trying to outbid the other. As the song goes, each candidate is saying "What you can do I can do better". However, over the years the electorate has become very cynical of the empty and unrealistic pledges made by politicians. For instance, an economic growth rate of 8 or 10 percent is just not possible in the current background of reports that the LTTE is preparing for war, and the killings as well as serious daily violations of human rights on an extraordinary scale that continue to be committed by them. For More

The 17th Amendment et al Needed: A solemn pledge from Mahinda and Ranil 10.25.05 , 9:01 am by K. Godage Many responsible citizens are concerned that the two Presidential candidates have not pledged to implement the 17th Amendment to the Constitution for this amendment has sanctity of its own. This amendment became law in October of 2001. It was intended to free the Public Service, the Police Service, the Judiciary, the Elections Commission, the Bribery Commission and a number of other institutions from political control. The reason for this is self evident. Over the years the wretched itinerant politician dressed in brief authority has sought to prostitute hallowed state institutions to their purposes, posing a huge threat to freedom, human rights and democracy. For More

And now roast chicken from the Veda mahattaya! 10.23.05 , 1:43 pm By Namini Wijedasa A distinguished physicist sounded a warning last week that our politicians are in danger of being struck by lighting at election rallies. For More