The Illusion of Free: A Cautionary Tale of Mr & Mrs Freebies

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Arrivederci My Friend !

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We were getting ready at the famous J12 to watch the cricket match between India and Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup series in 1996 .  Primus suddenly walked in with a few papers and a very serious-looking face. He took me to one side and broke the news that my father had passed away in Sri Lanka a little while ago. The whole J12 mood changed from festive to sombre, and I got dressed up immediately and went to get my leave and travel sanctioned. That same night, Primus accompanied me to the airport for my homebound travels. Both of us knew well that the flight was fully booked and the chances of getting a seat for a rebated ticket were extremely remote, but I had no choice except to take a chance. Luckily for me, that night shift in charge was none other than Late Mr Dharshan Nissanka. Seeing us trying to approach the check-in counters, he came running towards us, stating "Is this a time for you to travel? Don’t you know the flights are overbooked during this period...
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The Thin Line Between Public and Private: The Ranil Wickremesinghe Case and the Question of Accountability

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The distinction between an official's public duties and private life is a long-standing point of contention, particularly in a country like Sri Lanka. The recent arrest and remand of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on charges of misappropriating state funds for a private trip to London has brought this issue to the forefront. While some view it as a necessary step for accountability, others argue that a head of state's life is inherently public due to security and logistical needs, making such a distinction difficult and potentially politically motivated. The Inherent Public Life of a Head of State The premise that a head of state has no private life due to security concerns is a valid point of debate. The extensive security detail and logistical support required for a president or prime minister blur the lines between official and personal activities. For example, a president's visit to a family member, even if intended as private, still requires state-funded securit...
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Who Will Tame the Beasts on Our Roads?

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Sri Lanka's public road transport has long been a menace on the roads. For decades, citizens have endured the daily trauma of riding in filthy, overcrowded, and dangerously maintained buses, often driven by men who appear to treat roads like racetracks. Public transport, instead of being a symbol of convenience and safety, has mutated into a moving hazard. What’s worse is the widespread sense of impunity that emboldens such behaviour. Passengers are neither treated with dignity nor transported with care. Many are forced to cling to handrails for dear life, endure ear-splitting music, and inhale noxious exhaust fumes. Add to that the daily reports of reckless overtaking, red-light jumping, and frequent collisions, and it becomes painfully clear: the system is broken. The Sri Lanka Police, tasked with upholding road safety, appears more interested in extracting bribes than enforcing the law. Traffic violations go unchecked, and in the rare event that a serious accident draws medi...
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