Politics

Sri Lanka’s powerful president settles in for the long-haul

November 18, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse kicks off a second term Friday, promising economic rebirth for the war-ravaged island with the …

Sri Lanka rejects disturbing new ‘war pictures’ as lies

November 12, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka Friday rejected as "lies" new photographs broadcast by Al-Jazeera of piles of dead bodies and execution-style killings …

US money printing lifts oil prices, for now: IEA

PARIS, November 12, 2010 (AFP) - Easy-money policy by the United States is pumping up the oil price to about 90 dollars, but medium-term growth of oil demand …

Sri Lanka tightens grip on foreign aid workers: officials

November 10, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's government said Wednesday it had ordered foreign and local aid workers to register with the defence ministry in a move to …

Sri Lankan president postpones British visit: official

November 5, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has postponed a planned visit to Britain, due to a busy schedule rather than fears of a arrest …

Australian rights agency says asylum centre must close

SYDNEY, October 29, 2010 (AFP) - Australia's human rights agency Friday urged the government to stop locking up asylum seekers on remote Christmas Island, its …

Sri Lanka court rejects challenge to president’s re-election

October 29, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's Supreme Court rejected Friday a challenge to the re-election of President Mahinda Rajapakse filed by his defeated -- now …

Sri Lanka eases check points in capital

October 27, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka said Wednesday it would begin dismantling a dozen permanent military check points in the capital which are a legacy of …

Canada unveils law to curb illegal immigration

OTTAWA, October 21, 2010 (AFP) - The Canadian government on Thursday unveiled legislation aimed at curbing illegal immigration and human smuggling by imposing …

Canada welcomes Thai move on Tamil migrants

OTTAWA, October 19, 2010 (AFP) - Ottawa on Monday welcomed Thailand's arrest for possible deportation more than 150 Tamil migrants who some reports said wanted …

Sri Lanka foreign minister slams ‘colonial’ rights groups

LONDON, October 19, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's foreign minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris rejected "colonial" criticism Tuesday of a government-appointed civil war …

Sri Lanka raises defence spending by six percent

October 19, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka announced Tuesday it would raise defence spending by six percent in 2011 -- broadly in line with annual hikes announced …

Sri Lanka’s war probe slams rights groups

October 15, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's government-appointed war probe Friday reprimanded foreign rights groups that rejected an invitation to testify and said …

Protests over jailing of Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief

October 11, 2010 (AFP) - Thousands of protestors marched through the streets of Sri Lanka's capital Monday, demanding the release of ex-army chief and …

Canada to unveil law to deter illegal migrants

OTTAWA, October 7, 2010 (AFP) - Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday his government would soon unveil a law to deter illegal immigration in …

Australia renews push for regional immigration centre

SYDNEY, October 8, 2010 (AFP) - Australia will urge Indonesia, Malaysia and East Timor to back its proposal for a regional centre to process asylum-seekers …

Women clear Sri Lanka’s landmine legacy

MANNAR, October 5, 2010 (AFP) - Valmathi Jegadas is a different sort of mine clearer to the testosterone-fuelled explosives specialists portrayed in the 2008 …

Sri Lanka ex-army chief vows to fight from jail

October 4, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's jailed ex-military chief and opposition leader Sarath Fonseka vowed to fight for democracy as he was escorted out of prison …

Sri Lanka ex-army chief rejects clemency plea: wife

October 1, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's jailed ex-military chief Sarath Fonseka, who fell out with the president after the army's crushing defeat of Tamil rebels, …

Sri Lanka’s ex-army chief begins jail sentence

September 30, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka, who led troops to victory over Tamil rebels to end a decades-long civil war, on Thursday …