'Mahinda Chintana' - towards a value-driven democracy

THE vision of the President of Sri Lanka, is certainly the most profound political statement released in recent times in Sri Lanka. In expressing his vision to the people, President Rajapaksa starts off with the statement that "a ruler is only a temporary trustee and not the owner of your children's heritage."

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'From Rajastan to Sri Lanka' the elephant chair

INTRODUCING of the elephant chair better known as the howdah in India to Sri Lanka has a very exciting and interesting story behind it. The elephant chairs or the howdah were in use in Sri Lanka during the days of the kings who ruled our motherland. King Dutugemunu during war and for other religious purposes used this.

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Waiting for Westminster - the problems of the 17th amendment

I was not especially pleased, a couple of weeks ago, when I had to prepare a statement on the current problem regarding the Constitutional Council. I had decided, when I resumed writing a column, to avoid current politics, and to concentrate rather on the past.

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An impaired system

SHOULD not take its democratic system for granted. The nation has lost it once. It was not the army to bring it about as it is the practice in Pakistan. An elected Prime Minsiter did it. Indira Gandhi imposed the emergency in June, 31 years ago and suspended even the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution.

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