Category: Special Reports

Dec 09, 2013 (LBO) I feel being honoured by the invitation by the PIM Alumni Association to deliver the Professor Sudatta Ranasinghe Memorial Oration 2013 which is the first in its series.I specifically consider it as a privilege that I have got to do the honours for my long-standing friend for more than four and […]

Apr 03, 2013 (LBO) – The Muslim-owners of Fashion Bug who compounded a case may have taught mob monks a lesson in Buddhism that hatred cannot be overcome by hatred.However, a sports sponsorship may have been more appropriate to prevent a recurrence. A Buddhist monk who took part in the March 28 night time attack […]

By Ravi Abeysuriya, CFA Jan 04, 2013 (LBO) – When it comes to investing in the stock market in Sri Lanka nowadays the chorus that has regrettably echoed has been Market manipulation and State owned Funds losing Billions of money by investing in the stock market. Market manipulation or creating a False Market’ or one […]

Nov 13, 2012 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s move to allow tax free racing cars may sound like a pacifier for the rich kids of politicians, but the move could actually be aimed at cultivating a new culture to improve farm-related transport. The 2013 budget took away the 300 percent tax on super luxury racing cars […]

By J C Weliamuna Nov 04, 2012 (LBO) – The Rajapaksha Regime, through its parliamentarians, handed over an impeachment motion to the Speaker, the elder brother of the President Rajapaksha against the first woman Chief Justice of the country. It appears that the Government of Sri Lanka is in a mighty hurry to get rid […]

By US Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic, Kimberley Process Chair Oct 05, 2012 (LBO) – Almost a decade ago, the consensus-based Kimberley Process (KP) certification scheme established minimum requirements for global rough diamond production and trade. Today, to keep pace with a changing world, the KP’s 77 participant countries, observers from industry, and civil society must ensure […]

Nov 08, 2011 (LBO) – This week, in what goes for ‘democracy’ in Sri Lanka, property rights of citizens are due to be violated by an expropriation law, as they have been repeatedly since independence from British rule. Constitutional ‘democratic’ majority rule is an imported Western European concept. But in far too many countries ‘democracy’, […]

Sept 22, 2011 (LBO) – Ray Wijewardene, a Sri Lankan aviator and tropical agriculture specialist is being remembered online at www.raywijewardene.net, led by volunteers who want to preserve his legacy. Though a scientist and inventor he was best known publicly for his enthusiasm for aviation and flying small aircraft he had built himself. While in […]

June 11, 2011 (LBO) – Friday Forum, a Sri Lankans citizen’s group has expressed concern about a recent controversial training scheme for undergraduates, conducted the by the military, where relief was sought also from the country’s highest court. “The decision in the Supreme Court dismissing, without stating reasons, all the petitions against the programme, has […]

June 08, 2011 (LBO) – Much has been written about the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed Employment Pension Benefits Fund. The bill was to affect the lives of the majority of Sri Lankans. First a white paper should have made available for public discussion and debate prior to its presentation in Parliament. When the […]

May 26, 2011 (LBO) – I am on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix, Arizona to St Louis, Missouri having enjoyed the only break in the rigorous seven week Eisenhower Fellowship program at the Grand Canyon, America’s great natural wonder. From St Louis I go to San Francisco and a number of other cities to […]