The Worst

The Police in Sri Lanka have been coming under increasing criticism due to the recent Angulana incident as well various other incidents around the country. In order to quell public fears, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jayantha Wickramaratna held a press conference today detailing his efforts in flushing out certain 'corrupt elements'in the Police force. He also said that action has been taken against as many as 168 Policemen for breaking laws. My opinion is that severe punishments should be given to these officers in an effort to set an example to the rest of the Police force that any law breaking will be dealt with harshly. Even though it is a calamity that 168 officers were found guilty, we can take heart in the fact that the IGP is doing something about this.

The Best

"Faji" is the name of a well known gangster in Colombo. Today, Police report that they have killed him in a shootout in Maligawatte. Gangs are a big problem in Colombo; with gangsters controlling many areas of the City. Although the problem is not that same as it was in New York in the 1920's, the situation is serious enough that these thugs have enough power to do what they want in their little niches of the city. Police are constantly in battle with such elements, and it is heartening to note that they have achieved a victory today. Every victory in the area of gangs is a victory for democracy in Sri Lanka and should be celebrated as such.

The Worst

Today, the Sri Lankan cabinet decided to open an Embassy in Eritrea. First of all, most people don't know that there exists a country called Eritrea. Secondly, why spend money on opening embassies in non-existent countries when they can spend that money to feed the poor in Sri Lanka. As far as I know, there are no major trade ties with Eritrea, nor are there any political benefits. We can hope that Eritrea will benefit Sri Lanka is some form other than just providing land to build an embassy.

The Best

Channel 4 of British TV has had the gall to air a video showing an alleged Sri Lankan soldier killing an unarmed man in the North in January this year. With the west doing their best to save the LTTE when they were down, such an video is hypocrisy in it's purest form. It is therefore most apropos that the government responded by lodging a protest with the UK. The UK is in deep recession and does not have too many friends in the east. Isolating themselves further is bordering on self-euthanasia.

The Worst

Mihin Lanka, the ill-fated budget airline of President Mahinda Rajapakse is now reported to be running at a monthly loss of Rs 1.8 million. It's losses as of today amount to Rs 3 billion. It is a shame that the government keeps spending the tax payers money on a veutre that has failed before, and is continuing to fail again. SOme say that nefarious reasons to swindle money in collusion with bad management have led to the loss of this company. If the public monies are going into someone elses pocket, we demand that the person be brought to justice. Ironically, if the people involved are in the highest offices of the country, justice is merely a word to be printed until that person leaves office. Oh well...that's the way the wheel turns in Ol Lanka.

The Best

Ironically, the best news also comes from the aviation industry. Air Asia, the world's largest budget airline has decided to set up its regional base in Sri Lanka. Air Asia has announced that it intends to use the base for flights to Europe and South Asia. In additional to the direct revenue due to employment and tourism; the indirect benefits by the exposure of Sri Lanka to visitors as well as the influence of foreigners on Sri Lankans will help the development process tremendously.

The Worst

SSP Vaas Gunewardene of the CCD, his son Ravindu, and 9 other police officers were arrested in the assault of SLIIT student Nipuna Ramanayake today. Apparently, Ravindu was a junior at SLIIT. It seems that some sort of brawl had happened after exams, and the kid decides to get his father's Police buddies to help beat the crap out of Nipuna. Nipuna is related to a minister, and that's where the s*** really hit the ceiling. Now, mister SSP and son along with his 9 buddies are really in trouble.

It really is a power struggle of who has the most influence; the SSP or the minister. Looks like this time, the minister prevails.

The Best

The Department of Census and Statistics will carry out the first island wide census in 30 years. The census will be for the year 2011. With the entire country under government control, the census will be the first one to include the whole country with accurate numbers from the north and east finally making it to the board. The current population is estimated to be around 20 million. For those interested, the breakdown of the percentages of the different races in Sri Lanka are as follows:

Sinhalese = 74%
Tamils = 14%
Moors (muslims) = 7%
Others = 5%

The Worst

Two bodies were fished out of the canal at Baudhaloka Mawatha today. Apparently they were working at a house in the neighbourhood. Police are carrying out investigations at the moment. I have no doubt that they will catch the criminals responsible. The Police in Sri Lanka do an exceptional job when the job is not politically related. When a politician is behind a crime, the investigations often lead to to dead ends...and only reason this happens is because the politician has something to say about it. We can only hope that the situation will change now that the country has a new beginning. I think that it can be safely said that all Sri Lankans are optimistic about such changes.

The Best

Sri Lankan Police have arrested 2 Americans in connection with financial fraud in America. Escaping from officials in America, these two "financiers" fled to switzerland where the US officials lost track of them. Both governments are currently in deliberation as to whether they are to be extradited to the US or tried in Sri Lanka. Either way, it looks like justice has caught up to these individuals giving the rest of the Earth's population lots to cheer about. Quite frankly, I detest financial manipulations and extortions of this kind and think that all the banks should "arrested" as well. They are as guilty as the Morgans in swindling innocent people of their hard earned money.

The Worst

Police snatched a van containing 20 claymore mines in Mannar today. Claymore mines were the deadliest of bombs used by the LTTE on civilians during their reign of terror. To find 20 in one van makes me go...HOLY SONOFA*****. 1 mine would blow a crater the size of a small house; twenty would probably be mini-nuclear. I have only one question....who in their goddamn mind would even volunteer to carry 20 mines on a bumpy road with manic drivers whizzing past at ludicrous speeds. I'd like to meet that guy, and lobotomize him before he decides to launch 20 nuclear missiles just for the heck of it.

The Best

British lawmakers have cautioned that Britain is becoming a popular place for wanted men seeking refuge. Criminals, exiles and other notorious characters have been turning to the UK recently in order to escape punishment in their own countries. At last people who think they can escape justice in Britain will find jolly old England to be not so jolly anymore. Hopefully, all the criminals will be sent back to their home countries for the proper course of justice to take place.

The Worst

It looks like there are still some elements loyal to the now almost non-existent LTTE. 6 boats filled with explosives were recovered in the Vellamullivaikal and Puthukudiirripu areas by police in the north yesterday. It baffles me as to the purpose of such material since there's nothing left to fight for. Sometimes the best approach to a situation is to realize a reality and let people live normal lives. Even if the material was used in an attack, it will not carry any message except that "we like to blow things up". Such a message will convince the government that the only way that they can deal with this is to annihilate anyone with any suspicion of LTTE connection; and that will mean that all of us will have to watch our backs everywhere we go.

The Best

Looks like the government has caught Kumaran Pathmanathan. Admittedly, that doesn't bode well for him; but as the last known leader of the LTTE, it definitely bodes well for the future of the development of Sri Lanka. Although he did say that the LTTE was to become a political organization, it would be difficult for such a person forgive and forget the destruction of an organization that he helped to build from scratch. That such a person is now in custody, puts many Sri Lankan's minds at ease ensuring that the resurgence of the military tactics of the LTTE would never re-emerge from the ashes.

The Worst

The visa of a Canadian citizen has not been extended to stay in Sri Lanka. He was the principal of a school in Colombo and due to being unable to extend his visa, will have to return to Canada by the end of the week. This may have occurred due to the paranoid nature of some of the officials in the government toward western nations. Although, there may be a genuine legitimate reason for the rejection. We will know more in the subsequent days as more details are revealed.

The Best

The have been many abductions in Sri Lanka in the recent past. Dissenters of the government musteriously disappeared and no investigations took place. Today, someone from the Disaster Management Center was "taken into custody" by police. Although witnesses say that he was abducted by some people in a white van. It is ironic that after being abducted he magically re-appears under police custody; which in effect proves the rumours that the police were involved in the abductions taking place in the past. Now that the incident has happened in one of the government's own ministries, they are crying foul! This story is the definition of irony.

The Worst

The remnants of the LTTE want to create a "transnational government" of their fictitious "Ealam" in April 2010. I have only one thing to say to the LTTE and that is "LOL! LMAO! ROFLMAO!". For an organization that is literally over, it's hilarious that they are still trying to "do stuff". I don't know why I even bother to write about the LTTE that is now the past of Sri Lanka; but I guess it is of interest to the general public to occasionally note their insignificant scurryings in the world arena. Not that whatever they do will matter to Sri Lanka. I suppose, if anything, this news would make good table conversation over dinner.

The Best

At long last, the Jaffna-Colombo intercity bus service commenced yesterday. 175 passengers boarded 4 buses from Jaffna to Medawachchiya in the reopening of the crucial bus service that may bridge the North and the South. The service is a major stepping stone in the development and progress of the long neglected Northern territories. In time, the rehabilitation of the railways and major highways will further boost the development process and improve the lives of everyone in the country.