STATE OF THE NATION
First, the ‘strategic reassignment’ of cabinet portfolios was hardly a shuffle. The usual suspects retained their usually suspect
NATIONAL SECURITY
Prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka to participate in celebrations marking the International Day of
ONE BELT ONE ROAD
China’s growing global influence was demonstrated in May when leaders from across the world assembled at the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) Summit held
UNFRIENDLY SKIES
I bet that at some point you’ve flown ‘cattle class’ – that distinguished seating area into which most of us are herded. Some of us have a few scars to prove it
THE BIG PICTURE
The 17th of May was a red-letter day not only for France but also for people in other parts of the world who are jaded by the political establishment and
THE APPRENTICE
Back in the day when Twitter was not a loudspeaker for angry old men, there were unwritten rules of engagement to which
RENEWABLE ENERGY
In 2014, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projected that under its ‘high renewables’ scenario, solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrated solar
BACK FROM THE DEAD
France’s presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon spoke to some 35,000 people at seven different pre-election rallies across the
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
In the past, resolutions passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Sri Lanka have generated much political controversy. Beginning
STATE OF THE NATION
History they say isn’t what happened; it’s what you can remember as having happened. And memory is a mercurial master. There are scars in the national
SPIN DOCTORS
Politicians sometimes have the opportunity to manufacture their own facts until we the people call them what they are
DIGITAL DRIVING
Does the thought of traffic give you nightmares? Do you dread the snail-paced morning and evening commute between
STATE OF THE NATION
In global politics, good speeches often unlock international goodwill. Good press about political presentations
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE
Sri Lanka faces the challenge of convincing the world that it has put the war behind it and is dealing effectively with the consequences of the conflict
THE RICE CRUNCH
Asia is often referred to as ‘the rice bowl of the world’ with nine of the leading 10 rice-producing countries being from the region – with China at
DICTATORS’ BOOKLIST
I’m not sure what books Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is supposed to have read while he was in medical school
COALITION POLITICS
The formation of the National Unity Government in the aftermath of Maithripala Sirisena’s victory at the January 2015 presidential election generated hopes of
VIDEO GAMING
Anyone who has ever sped through an underground racetrack on Need for Speed driving a Lamborghini Murciélago knows the rush
CONSPIRACY THEORIES
I’ve always wondered who invents conspiracy theories. Most people I meet – with a few exceptions from Facebook, of course
DIGITAL CURRENCY
By now many in the corporate world would be familiar with the term ‘bitcoin’ and how its value reached a three-year high in January. After all, digital