This essay by G.V.S. De Silva published for the first time in The Alternatives: socialism or Barbarism by Social Scientist Association in 1988 is republished in this space considering its relevance for the contemporary society in crisis. In this essay “…he looked at and re-examined the experiences of the Soviet Union, East Europe and China…
Ahilan Kadirgamar, Devaka Gunawardena and Sinthuja Sritharan Without a major course correction in its economic trajectory and a significant “haircut” on its external debt, the country will likely be knocking on the door for another IMF pact. It could face another default in a few years. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board’s approval of loans is…
G. V. S De Silva had been the private secretary to Philip Gunawardena, Minister of Agriculture in the MEP government in 1956, and had been largely responsibile for the agricultural plan published by that ministry in 1957. He drafted the Paddy Bill which was brought to protect the rights of sharecropping and tenant farmers. Since…
According to the World Bank the Sri Lankan economy is going to contract by 9.2% in 2022 and a further 4.2% in 2023. This is what we call an economic depression. Given the Budget that was just announced, I argue we are going to see an even larger contraction next year. What does this contraction mean? It means people are losing their income streams, with unemployment on the rise and livelihoods disrupted. A food crisis linked to the crippling of the economy is leading to increased malnourishment and starvation. We are going to lose a generation, as our children’s education and wellbeing are affected.
There were voices among them saying, “Let’s give Wickremesinghe and his international backers a chance to address the crisis.”
Ahilan Kadirgamar Courtesy The Hindu Without a new social contract, there could be unrestrained conflict with the working people in Sri Lanka The great revolt of the masses has overthrown an authoritarian president in Sri Lanka, but it has not abolished the executive presidency. Indeed, on July 18, within days of assuming office as acting…
'කතිකා' සංවාද මණ්ඩපය 'kathika' sanvada mandapaya 