Governance Report 2008 released by TISL was described as “an excellent read and a fine compilation of analytical articles” by senior journalist, Editor-in-Chief –’Sunday Island’` Manik de Silva at a discussion held at SLFI on Thursday, 29 January 2009.
Governance issues have been brought out eloquently in the Report, he said.
Touching on governance issues, he stated that there is a perception in Sri Lanka that judgements cannot be criticized. He stressed that there is a need for a critical look at important judgements. There should be discussion on how right and wrong they are.
Referring to the suppression of the Press and the harassment of journalists, Mr de Silva pointed out that long before journalists of the English press came under attack, many Tamil journalists have been harassed in numerous ways. That was much before Keith Noyahr and Namal Perera were attacked.
“Even with these happenings, we still have a reasonably free media. Anti-establishment stories are published somewhere”, he said. He quoted Ravaya’ as an example of a publication which exposes many issues. He described the local media as “one of the most free presses in South Asia.”
Economist, University don Dr Srimal Abeyratne found the Governance Report very interesting and comprehensive”.
Referring to the economic situation in the country, he said that borrowings have doubled – hence debt servicing in the future looks bleak in the light of the credit crunch that has taken the world by surprise.
“This situation has led to the widening of the budget deficit which puts the country’s economy in a desperate plight. This coupled with the drastic reduction in the reserves can lead to a fiscal crisis,” he stressed.
Salient points in the Report were discussed by the participants.r integrity as ‘future adults.