Donald Trump & JD Vance – a political marriage made in heaven! – By Hemantha Yapa Abeywardena The contrast of the paths to politics between the two American politicians couldn’t be starker: President Trump was born with a silver spoon in his mouth whereas his vice-presidential pick, JD Vance, was born into utter poverty in a remote corner of the vast nation, to be brought up by a single mother, who had been forced to fight two different struggles simultaneously by her fate, – a drug addiction and making a living for the family. JD Vance, 39, wrote a book in his early 30s, highlighting his early struggles and that of his community in grasping the reality on the ground, where he was brought up. At present, I am reading the book, ‘Hillbilly Elegy’, by JD Vance and his no-holds barred account of what he and the very community that ...

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Economy, Psychology, Politics and Us – By Nisal Rukshan The Economy of a country has a profound impact on the effective functioning of all other sectors. To measure the economic perspectives, many standardized factors such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – the total gross value added by all domestic producers in the economy, Gross National Income – per capita (GNI), Exports and imports of goods and services, have to be considered. In psychology, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are considered to provide a better understanding of human activities. These human activities vary according to social, economic, political, and scientific factors. The behavioural economics reveals how human behaviours are consistent with economic perspectives. It further explains beyond the neo-classical definitions of rational or optimal decision-making. By deriving the foundations of questioning and through researching on these fields, behavioural economists further elaborate that “people as human beings who are subject to emotion and ...

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Election enthusiasm grasps Sri Lanka – By Arundathie Abeysinghe   In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way. Franklin D. Roosevelt In politics, nothing is impossible. There are discussions in political circles to scrap the Executive Presidency. Along with this move, there is fear among ordinary citizens, civic groups and trade union activists and opposition parties, if the government will attempt to postpone the Presidential Elections in the guise of enacting constitutional amendments to abolish the Executive Presidency. Yet, postponing elections, Presidential or Parliamentary is unlikely as public opinion is building against such a move. Sri Lanka is abuzz with election fever, although, the presidential election, constitutionally scheduled for this year, has not yet been officially declared. Major political parties are preparing for the Presidential and General Elections, the former due by end 2024. Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has kept his ...

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Politics and its’ Effects on the Common Populace. – By Noor Rahim Gone are the days when we enjoyed life as a close knit family in a “Village Atmosphere”. Just a Headman or a Chief chosen from and within our own Community for the purpose of coordinating, administering and keeping the cohesion of the Community in check and in harmony. But with the passage of time the Village Community spilled over into the adjoining villages and the incipient “Birth of Politics” reared its’ head – for better or worse as yet to be reckoned with. But, undoubtedly, a necessity in this modern era of National Administration & Co-ordination; and the inherent Global requirements and consequences that are seethed in Politics. The merging of villages created the need for the selection of a suitable Headman or Chief to oversee the good governance of the combined Villages. As per the popular dictates ...

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Can we hold ‘Free and Fair Elections’ without ‘System Changes’? – By Bernard Fernando Recently, one of the rare ‘Country –first’ Political Professionals in the current Parliament had suggested to hold both Parliamentary and LG Elections on the same day. May be as an economist he wanted to make the budgetary provision of Rs.10 Bln. more meaningful, productive and cost-effective in the face of the dire human and Financial/economic catastrophe that the country is facing as a ‘Bankrupt Nation’. Further, it may to some extent, justify the estimated Rs.72Bln. earmarked to be spent by contesting political parties for Election campaigning  and also save millions of man hours when conducting a laborious country –wide, complex and unrefined Election process that we are saddled with, for the last several decades.  However, we as Sovereign voters  facing a dire human, financial and economic crisis exhort that it is more fundamental to make critical ...

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT – by Charles Schokman In One & a Half years time from now at 95 I would be in the last quarter of my life. I would rather say sitting in the “Departure Lounge” with Boarding Pass in hand waiting for the flight to arrive to take me to the Promised Land.  So, before I say Goodbye here is some food for thought thats interesting and some good advice. This is one of the nicest and most gentle articles I’ve read in a while: no politics, no religion and no racial issues – just food for thought.  You know …… time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like years ago, and I wonder where all the years went.  I know that ...

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Politics Boru Shoke – by V. P. Vittachi (Source: “Island” newspaper on 1/12/2002) Boru Shoke (vainglory) was an expression SWRD Bandaranaike often used. It is an exact description of the most destructive flaw in our national character. I was watching a schools’ Do You Know contest on TV the other day and I was struck by the fact that every time a child got the correct answer the compere said ‘pilituruwa nivaradhi’ (not incorrect). What he should have said was ‘hari’ (correct). Why he did not do so is an example of our national penchant for the polysyllabic. Four syllables are better than two. This is pure boru shoke. ...

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