Basically, “ I have Tamil and Muslim friends , law faculty , colombo was a melting pot, so I am not a racist” 🫣.

'My Politics Is Like Marketing - We Change Copy And Packaging But Not The Product,' Media/Ad Man Opens Propaganda Headquarters. #lka #NewsCurry

A highly positive spin to what he actually did say. He used a lot of grand words which invited more questions than answers: aavenika maha sampradaya, Sinhala Bhaudda sabyathavaya, secularism, vyavasaayakathva-raajya etc etc. More sceptical scrutiny from the media would be wise.

This week on #GrandTamasha : historian Aditya Balasubramanian ([email protected]) joins me to discuss his new book on the Swatantra Party and the history of conservative economics in India bit.ly/46ocSpw

Same tone of genial paternalism when he used to tell Yovun Peramuna types in the 1990s/2000s that in order to understand English, they must read Shakespeare. Like saying you need to be Schumacher to drive a three-wheeler, but on such nonsense is that reputation for brains based.

He’s no intellectual, so can’t judge at abstract level, but as a marketer, I’d have expected a much tighter ‘narrative’, esp. as he’s so keen to be seen to offer a new one. But this is only a set of unconnected buzzwords, vaguely responding to what he thinks the public is asking.

‘Astonishing demand’ to suspend book launch at University of Edinburgh over claims its essays ‘delegimitise trans people’ shows activists have been ‘emboldened’, say editors
timeshighereducation.com/news/halt-gend…

Take this from an accurate reader of Ranil. That he’s some strategic mastermind is a disastrous myth. Every time he’s in govt since 2001, he has enabled the regrouping and return to power of S-B nationalism by commission or omission. At his cost, but more importantly, at ours.

Unless Tamil nationalism stops being, and perhaps equally importantly, looking like it’s entirely represented by a decrepit bunch of yesterday’s men, this sort of bleating is likely fall on deaf ears. It’s also overdue a total overhaul of discourse and praxis since at least 2009.

How many times does this douchebag Keheliya get away with things? From getting his medical bills reimbursed from Presidents fund, to not paying his electricity bill to this - truly a good example of SL's corrupt politicians #GoHomeKeheliya

'Co-editors of the book, Sullivan and Todd, wrote to Mathieson: “This is an astonishing demand which suggests that opponents of pluralism, rigorous scholarship, and open discussion at the University of Edinburgh have been pandered to and emboldened.' Selina Todd

Edinburgh UCU UCU Edinburgh have demanded that senior management prevent a book launch for 'Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader' from being held at The University of Edinburgh

They've written to thousands of staff denouncing the book and its authors.

thetimes.co.uk/article/1e0c8a…

Would’ve usually been fodder for some good Ranilism bashing. But the best ones are no longer Ranilists and savaging a dead sheep isn’t that much fun.

Academics at Edinburgh University accuse union of attempting to ‘shut down debate’ over sex and gender book holyrood.com/news/view,acad…

Loopholes systematically built-in and exploited to facilitate corrupt procurement in #SriLanka , are destructive not only to financial management and to development but also to the safety of lives on a daily basis.

Both the CSO and IMF “governance diagnostics” recommend solutions

Will the latest conflict in the Middle East make us realise that hardcore Third Worldism: a) is an ideological view of the world, b) one of many such, c) not a particularly good one, d) has no monopoly over decency and justice, e) shouldn’t be taught as truth in universities? No.

'Isn't It Like How I Buy Majority Shares And Control A Company?,' Dhammika On Wanting To Buy 51% Of Votes Before Contesting. #lka #NewsCurry

We need to get rid of these corrupt b*stards, lock, stock and barrel.

Looking forward to importing that yacht. Before announcing my presidential candidacy. Both tax free.

Unfortunate how talent goes rogue, but it's only symptomatic of a larger problem. #SriLanka 's vulnerability to charlatans has increased over the years. Given prevailing education standards and social norms, it's unlikely that the social ecosystem will turn inhospitable to them.