Category: Opinion
Opinion: Hayleys Fentons MD bullish on construction, renewables despite challenges
As an industry which relies on large scale investments to fund long-term projects, the construction sector is by nature, a business that relies on confidence, precision, and quality. One of the sector’s leading the charge on these fronts is Hayleys Fentons. Since its establishment in 1921 and acquisition, followed by the recent rebranding under the […]
Opinion: Act carefully or drown: 3 lessons from New Orleans for Sri Lanka
By Asmita Tiwari, Suranga Kahandawa, Masatsugu Takamatsu & Keiko Sakoda Our hearts sank as we looked at the Hurricane Katrina-affected house, now the Flooded House Museum in the City of New Orleans, United States. Our team from the World Bank was accompanying Sri Lankan officers visiting New Orleans in October 2019, to learn from the […]
Tourism, the Northern Province Game Changer
By Jekhan Aruliah Tourism is the single most game-changing opportunity for the North. Game changing because for those visitors with eyes to see and ears to hear it opens a wide window to all the other non-tourism opportunities in this province. As they enjoy the hospitality, the food, the sites and the scenery a few […]
Opinion: Time for Ranil Wickremesinghe to crack the whip
November 20, 2019 (LBO) – Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the President of Sri Lanka. The former Defence Secretary won the just concluded Presidential election with a massive majority of over 1.3mn votes. His leading contender, former UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, was not even able to garner 42% of the total vote, while Rajapaksa secured over […]
Opinion: We all love freedom, even when we say we hate it
November 15, 2019 (LBO) – By: Adititva Presidential Election 2019 for Sri Lankan’s is turning out to be debate between Democracy Vs Dictatorship and everyone who intends to vote has a strong opinion which system they prefer. They will go vote on the 16th for the candidate who will deliver the governance system of their choice. […]
Opinion: Appointment of a new PM – Will the curse of Sirisena hit Gota/Sajith?
November 7, 2019 (LBO) – In less than 10 days time, Sri Lanka will have a new President. It is not an understatement that a vast majority of Sri Lankans can not wait for that day. Each major faction is excited about the prospects for their particular candidate. However, all major factions are for the […]
Opinion: Are we finally done taxing Aunty Flo?
By Nishtha Chadha One of the most talked about election promises this week has been Sajith Premadasa’s promise to distribute free sanitary hygiene products. Labelling himself as a #padman, Premadasa tweeted that “until sustainable cost-effective alternatives are found” he promises to provide sanitary hygiene products free of charge. Indeed, access to menstrual hygiene products is […]
”s time, UNP needs Ranil more than ever
October 30, 2019 (LBO) – Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa appears to be the man of the moment. The 70 year old former Lieutenant Colonel in the Sri Lanka Army, turned American, returned as Defence Secretary is likely just weeks away from taking oaths and assuming office as the President of Sri Lanka. His journey to Sri […]
‘s Debt Crisis is more serious than you imagine
Context A Team of Leading Economists/Analysts in January 2019 alerted the Leaders in Governance that it is likely that the ballooning external debt commitment will lead to a sovereign bond default unless drastic and sustainable actions are taken to: Overcome the culture of running high fiscal deficits indulging in extravagant, conspicuous and unproductive investments/imports and spends. Rapidly […]
Will Jaffna International Airport help the Northern economy take-off at last?
By Jekhan Aruliah The opening, strictly speaking the re-opening, of Jaffna International Airport (IATA airport code JAF) in October 2019 was one of the more startling events in the North since the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. In the North we held our breaths as the promise, unfulfilled for years, approached […]
Farm Smart: Developing Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector in the 4IR
Manoj Thibbotuwawa and Nimesha Dissanayaka Rapid population growth has put tremendous pressure on the world’s agricultural systems to provide safe and nutritious food to all. Unfortunately, productivity growth has been hampered by land and water resources degradation and climate change. The economic and social costs of such disruptive drivers imply that the food systems need […]
Opinion: JVP and TNA voters have seen thousands dead, but neither Presidential candidate seems to care
October 16, 2019 (LBO) – Violence in Sri Lanka has not been uncommon in the last few decades. Tens of thousands of people have been lost in civil wars and insurrections that have plagued the island nation for the past generation.Citizens of Sri Lanka know almost no other reality than one with a history of […]