Politics

Sri Lanka grants amnesty to military deserters

June 7, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's president on Sunday marked a key Buddhist celebration by granting a pardon to 585 jailed military deserters, officials said. …

Sri Lankan FM denies 20,000 Tamils killed in final onslaught: report

LONDON, June 6, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has denied claims that more than 20,000 Tamil civilians were killed during the …

Sri Lanka gets Indian support in human rights battle

June 05, 2009 (LBO) - India has rapped UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillai saying she should not abuse her position to pursue hidden agendas against Sri …

Sri Lanka seizes ship with supplies for war-hit civilians

June 4, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's navy Thursday seized a foreign-owned ship loaded with medical, food and other supplies for war-hit civilians, saying the …

Sri Lanka needs new phase in international diplomacy: President

June 3, 2009 (LBO) – Sri Lanka needs a new diplomatic drive to win in the international arena, after defeating terrorism in the country, President …

Sri Lankan media rights activist recovers after attack

June 2, 2009 (AFP) - A Sri Lankan journalist was recovering in hospital Tuesday after being beaten up near the capital Colombo as a rights group expressed …

UN did not underestimate Sri Lanka death toll: Ban

UNITED NATIONS, June 1, 2009 (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday categorically rejected allegations the world body had deliberately underestimated the death …

Sri Lanka rejects rights probe

May 31, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka on Sunday rejected growing calls to probe human rights violations amid allegations that thousands of civilians perished in the …

Sri Lankan media rights activist beaten: colleagues

June 1, 2009 (AFP) - A Sri Lankan media rights activist was hospitalised Monday after being beaten by unidentified attackers near the capital Colombo, a doctor …

Sri Lanka seeks help in dismantling Tigers’ global network

SINGAPORE, May 31, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka appealed Sunday for international support in dismantling the global political network of the Tamil Tiger rebels after …

Amnesty calls for probe of Sri Lanka civilian deaths

May 30, 2009 (AFP) - Amnesty International called Saturday for an independent probe into the number of civilians killed in the final weeks of Sri Lanka's civil …

Sri Lanka blocks call for human rights probe

GENEVA, May 27, 2009 (AFP) - The UN Human Rights Council ended a special session on Sri Lanka's conflict on Wednesday with diplomats failing to bridge an …

Obama names US ambassadors to Sri Lanka, Japan, India

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2009 (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday named US ambassadors to Japan, India and Sri Lanka, amid heightened tension in Asia over …

Sri Lanka avoids war crimes probe, slams West

May 28, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka celebrated a major diplomatic victory Thursday after managing to torpedo Western demands for a probe into alleged war crimes …

UN rights chief, campaigners press for Sri Lanka probe

GENEVA, May 28, 2009 (AFP) - The UN human rights chief and campaign groups insisted Thursday that an independent probe should be held into violations in Sri …

EU expresses regret as Sri Lanka avoids war crimes probe

BRUSSELS, May 28, 2009 (AFP) - The European Union expressed regret Thursday at the failure to launch a probe into alleged war crimes committed by the Sri …

UN rights council divided over Sri Lanka probe

GENEVA, May 26, 2009 (AFP) - UN human rights chief Navi Pillay on Tuesday called for an international investigation into attacks on civilians during the final …

Sri Lanka confident of avoiding war crimes probe

May 27, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka said Wednesday it was confident of averting an international probe into alleged war crimes committed during its offensive …

UN rights council divided over Sri Lanka

GENEVA, May 26, 2009 (AFP) - Asian and Western members of the UN Human Rights Council failed to find a common voice on the situation in Sri Lanka before they …

Sri Lanka to hold local elections in north

May 25, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka is to hold local elections later this year in parts of northern areas formerly held by the Tamil Tigers for the first time in 15 …