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• L E G A L W A T C H
  Bandaranaike Memorial Lecture by H. L. de Silva
  More constitutional changes put forward
  "Lanka" was the subjectof this year's Constitutional choices in the current context of Sri Bandaranaike Memorial Lecture delivered by well-known lawyer and former Sri Lankan Ambassador H.L. De Silva, P.C.

  Given the fact that Mr De Silva's views on constitutional change are known not to be on all fours with those of the Government or the "devolution lobby", the invitation extended to him by the Bandaranaike Memorial Committee was a heartening demonstration of respect for diversity which is sometimes lacking in the invitation lists to more elaborate "talkathons". (full text)

• Unredeemed pledges
  Could the PA face an election now?
  We are shaking off the trauma of another bloody debacle that rocked the country a week or so ago. The Deputy Defence Minister had, it was reported, gone to the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers' to that week with his own news of the real situation and was reported to have said the loss of only 160 soldiers in Kilinochchi is amply compensated with the taking over of Mankulam. As the "Deputy", he is solely in control of the war, Projecting himself as the present day "Sembukutti Perumal" (popularly known as Sapumal Kumaraya) and at the time he was answering the question in the meeting posed by a person no less than the PM herself, was no less than the Acting Minister of Defence with HE the President out of the island. (full text)
• The Week That Was
  Premadasa Museum attracts Cabinet attention
  By the time the Leader of the Opposition arrived in New York, the President had left U.S.A. for London. However, Mr. Wickre-mesinghe got an opportunity to meet and discuss matters concerning Sri Lanka with Minister Kadirgamar who was also staying at the same hotel pending his visit to Cuba.

  Wickremesinghe was in possession of more information relating to the war than the minister, but no details are available on the subject and content of their short discussion. Wickremesinghe spent two days in London prior to his return to Sri Lanka. He would most probably have been further informed on the war while in London as well. (full text)

• Meeting Mr. Eric de Silva's contentions
  The need is to raise the quality of education
  The seemingly most persuasive argument for reducing the number of subjects offered at A'Level is that the burden on students will become lighter. However, students in other parts of the world seem to carry much higher burdens with great aplomb. Students in France who complete high school and are academically talented sit for the Baccalaureat (Bac) in seven subjects, four at advanced level and three at ordinary level without evident harmful effects. (full text)
• Australian elections
  A vote for continuity
  Prime minister John Howard's victory is one that will bring much needed stability to Australia as the effects of the Asian economic collapse begins to lap around Australia's economy. He struck courageously to his unpopular theme of tax reform and achieved a rare electoral feat in persuading the country to accept a change previously rejected and used as the main weapon in Labour's populist campaign. (full text)

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