In colombo-Frontline

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M.A. Sumanthiran: “... the triggering of this crisis seems to be the heavy tax cuts that were introduced soon after Gotabaya Rajapaksa became President.... As much as 33 per cent of the people fell outside the tax net as a result.... Once it starts sliding, you can’t pull it back.”

‘They kept denying that there was a crisis’

Interview with M.A. Sumanthiran, Tamil National Alliance leader.

R.K. Radhakrishnan ,In Colombo

Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka’s Leader of the Opposition, at a function in Bengaluru in February.

‘We are getting a lot of support’

Interview with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

R.K. Radhakrishnan, In colombo

‘We cannot be pushed too much’

Interview with Rauff Hakeem, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader and former Minister.

R.K. Radhakrishnan ,In Colombo

“We cannot be pushed too much”: Rauff Hakeem, Sri Lankan Muslim leader

When this correspondent met the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Rauff Hakeem, at 9 a.m. on June 3, he was still Minister of City Plan

R.K. Radhakrishnan,In Colombo

Supporters of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih celebrate his victory in Male on September 24.

Return of hope

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wins a historic mandate in the presidential election, but managing a host of challenges will be key to a successful presidency.

R.K. Radhakrishnan (recently in Colombo)

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (R) speaks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during Sri Lanka's 70th Independence Day celebrations in Colombo on February 4, 2018.
Sri Lanka is marking the 70th anniversary of independence from Britain on February 4. / AFP PHOTO / ISHARA S. KODIKARA

Reality check

The ruling coalition partners decide to stay together after a phase of perceptible strain in the relationship, but it is now a case of two insecure le

MEERA SRINIVASAN in Colombo

Sand is dredged from the sea and sprayed during reclamation at a Chinese investment 'Colombo Port City' in Colombo February 20, 2015. Sri Lanka is reconsidering the outright transfer of a parcel of land to China under a $1.5 billion port city deal signed by a previous government, the energy minister said, amid concerns it could be used for Chinese naval activity. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte (SRI LANKA - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS MARITIME)

Reviving a partnership

The Maithripala Sirisena government drops all its objections to the China-funded Colombo port city project conceived by the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa

T. RAMAKRISHNAN in Colombo

(FILES) In this file picture taken on April 29, 2009 Displaced Sri Lankan Tamil civilians watch as unseen French and British Foreign Ministers, Bernard Kouchner and David Miliband arrive at Kadirgamh camp in Chettikulam, north Sri Lanka. A long-awaited UN report on September 16, 2015 detailed horrific abuses committed in Sri Lanka's civil war and said the country needed international help to probe the crimes to enable reconciliation.
AFP PHOTO/PEDRO UGARTE

For a credible mechanism

The report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation on Sri Lanka calls for a hybrid mechanism involving in

T. RAMAKRISHNAN in Colombo

Clear message

The United National Party’s victory in the seventh general elections symbolises voters’ desire for peace and reconciliation and an end to divisive pol

T. Ramakrishnan IN colombo

Sri Lanka’s main opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena (C), opposition United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe (L), and Sri Lanka’s former president Chandrika Kumaratunga (R) speak during a ceremony after signing a pledge supporting a common opposition presidential candidate to topple current president Mahinda Rajapakse, in Colombo on December 1, 2014. Kumaratunga is at odds with Rajapakse and is backing the main opposition in the January 8, 2015 presidential elections to scrap the executive presidential system and revert the country to a parliamentary democracy that existed till 1978. AFP PHOTO/ Ishara S. KODIKARA

First things first

The Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe government marks its 100 days in office by getting the Constitution Amendment Bill, which disallows unil

T. RAMAKRISHNAN in Colombo

(FILES) In this photograph taken on June 22, 2014 Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse gestures during a religious ceremony at the 76 million dollar oil tank farm at the southern deep sea port of Hambantota. Veteran Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse confirmed November 20, 2014 he will seek an unprecedented third term in office, with snap elections expected in January. AFP PHOTO/ Ishara S. KODIKARA /FILES

Tough fight ahead

As Mahinda Rajapaksa seeks a record third term in office, the opposition, for once, is united and has the support of an influential leader of the Budd

MEERA SRINIVASAN in Colombo

In this handout photograph released by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed (C) prepares to enter the Indian Embassy in Male on February 13, 2013. Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was locked in a stand-off with police on Wednesday as he took refuge inside the Indian embassy after a local magistrate ordered his arrest. AFP PHOTO/MALDIVIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO/MALDIVIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY' NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

In a mess in Male

India is caught unawares as former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed takes refuge in the Indian High Commission in Male.

R.K. RADHAKRISHNAN in Colombo