Category: Watch Tower
Opinion: Need for new terminology to describe persons with disability
By Nirmi Vitarana A friend recently shared an article published in an online edition of an English medium national newspaper. The article was well-intentioned, and spoke about the weakness of non-compliance to universal accessibility regulations in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure and public spaces, and which results in marginalizing a significant minority in our society – who […]
Opinion: Despite Trump-Modi bonhomie, Indo-US economic relations in doldrums
By P.K.Balachandran Despite words signifying undying friendship and bear hugs, which marked President Donald Trump’s interaction with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington on Monday, economic relations between the United States and India seem destined to remain in the doldrums indefinitely. While there was a strong understanding on cooperation to tackle terrorism and on […]
Opinion: Indian Presidential poll no longer a one horse race
By P.K.Balachandran Till Thursday evening, the Indian Presidential election, slated for July 17, seemed to be a one-horse race. A united ruling alliance headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had put up Ram Nath Kovind, a strong candidate, while the fractured Opposition was groping in the dark in search of a credible consensus candidate. […]
Opinion: A Conspiracy Theory – Tread with extreme caution, Sri Lanka
By Chrishmal Warnasuriya Introduction – Politics as the science of attaining “power”: The first lessons taught to any student of the science of politics almost invariably includes a reference to the 16th century Florentine philosopher Machiavelli and his celebrated thesis, “the Prince“; where his principle line of argument revolves on the attainment of “power” as […]
Opinion: Why an anti-Muslim Sri Lankan Buddhist monk is being let off the hook every time
By P.K.Balachandran The anti-Muslim Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), has several serious cases against him relating to hate speech, blasphemy against the Quran, instigation of violence, and contempt of court. And yet, he has been evading arrest for long periods, and when arrested, […]
Opinion: India ruling party’s choice as Presidential candidate is a masterstroke
By P.K. Balachandran The choice of Ram Nath Kovind as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate for the Indian Presidential election, to be held on July 17, is a political masterstroke by its political managers. Kovind is a “Dalit”. The Dalits are the lowest caste in the Hindu social hierarchy who were once dubbed and […]
Opinion: Lessons for Sri Lanka from “New French Revolution”
By Chrishmal Warnasuriya ‘Party-Less’ President Heading The 5th Republique – New Allegiances Perhaps even de Gaulle would not have fathomed, in his vision of creating a strong leader with the present Constitution (the 5th Republic – 1958) by splitting the powers of State & Government between a President and Prime Minister (a dual executive system) as […]
Opinion: Take care of your associates, bottom line will grow
By Nirmalan Nagendra During my long hotel career, I have come to realise the value of team-work and of staff. Associates have to be hired for aptitude and attitude. All candidates are qualified and most have more than two degrees, with most eager to get to the top. Dependable, multi-skilled staff are few and far […]
Opinion: A new “French revolution”? An informed “Worker” within Sri Lanka
By Chrishmal Warnasuriya May-Day As I Knew It: The mid to late 70’s was a time when I was first introduced to the vociferous “Left”, by none other than my old man who would walk the streets tagging me along with his comrades; thus the chants of the “working class” calling for liberation of the […]
Opinion: Commonwealth roundtable to kickoff ambitious ‘Agenda for Growth’
By Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General This week, Commonwealth Trade and Investment ministers will meet for the first time in London at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth’s headquarters. The two-day meeting, jointly organised with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, will kick-start an ambitious ‘Agenda for Growth’ across the Commonwealth’s 52 member countries. Our challenge is to […]
Opinion: Five customer experience trends for 2017
By Dinesh Jebamani Customer experience may have become a buzzword for marketers, but it also holds great significance for developers, and designers, as building customer-centric interfaces and apps is now a necessity. In 2016, we saw many businesses strive to make their customer experiences richer and better, and in 2017 we will see this effort […]
Opinion: Economic Priorities in Sri Lanka’s Foreign Policy
By Deshal de Mel Context Sri Lanka is a small island economy with a population of 20.9 million and an economy of GDP US$ 82 billion (which is less than Apple’s 2015 gross profit of US$ 89 billion). Sustained growth of enterprise requires economies of scale, which in a country of Sri Lanka’s size, necessarily entails […]