Politics

Sri Lanka president confirms 30 month jail for ex-army chief

September 30, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's president has confirmed the 30-month jail term imposed on former army chief Sarath Fonseka following his conviction by a …

Sri Lankans among Sydney rooftop protesters: refugee activist

SYDNEY, September 21, 2010 (AFP) - A group of protesting asylum-seekers Tuesday threatened to leap from the roof of a Sydney detention centre where a Fijian …

Sri Lanka releases Economist magazine

Sept 16, 2010 (LBO) - Sri Lanka has allowed its citizens to read the latest issue of The Economist magazine, which carries a story on a controversial change in …

Info on Tamil refugees stolen in Canada break-in

MONTREAL, September 13, 2010 (AFP) - Information about the 492 Tamils refugees who arrived in Canada last month aboard a cargo ship has been stolen from a …

Campaigners seek more reactive UN rights council

GENEVA, September 12, 2010 (AFP) - Five years after the Human Rights Council was set up, the United States, once among its biggest critics, has now confirmed …

Sri Lanka’s constitution changes draw US concern

WASHINGTON, September 11, 2010 (AFP) - The United States on Saturday expressed concern over changes to the Sri Lankan constitution, which strengthened the …

Sri Lanka ministers hails new powers for president

September 9, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lankan ministers on Thursday denied that the president now enjoyed dictatorial powers under a post-war constitutional revamp, but …

Sri Lanka president set to cement grip

September 7, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's parliament will vote Wednesday on constitutional reforms enabling President Mahinda Rajapakse to seek a third term, in …

Sri Lanka changes constitution, lifts term limits

Sept 08, 2010 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's parliament has changed the constitution, lifting term limits for the president with 161 votes or 11 seats more than a …

Sri Lanka Supreme Court backs president’s third-term bid

September 7, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Mahinda Rajapakse to run for a third term in office, saying the …

Sri Lanka civil society organizations oppose constitutional change

Sept 06, 2010 (LBO) - Civil society organization representing several interest groups in Sri Lanka have come out against proposed changes to the constitution …

Sri Lanka breakdown of remaining democracy slammed by newspapers

Sept 05, 2010 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's main English weeklies have slammed a proposed change to the country's constitution as the latest in a long list of moves by …

Sri Lanka supreme court takes up constitutional changes

August 31, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Tuesday began assessing a draft bill that would amend the island's constitution to allow President Mahinda …

Germany charges suspected Tamil Tigers

BERLIN, August 31, 2010 (AFP) - German prosecutors said Tuesday they had charged three men suspected of fundraising and buying weapons for the Sri Lankan …

Sri Lanka cabinet backs constitution change for president

August 30, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's cabinet on Monday backed changing the constitution to allow President Mahinda Rajapakse to run for office for a third term, …

Australia in political limbo after voters punish PM

SYDNEY, August 22, 2010 (AFP) - Australia was in political limbo Sunday after voters punished Prime Minister Julia Gillard for deposing her predecessor two …

Australia hung parliament ‘more and more likely’: officials

SYDNEY, August 21, 2010 (AFP) - Australia faced the "more and more likely" prospect of a hung parliament Saturday, with neither the government nor the …

Sri Lanka war hero braced for jail term

August 19, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka said Thursday he expects the government to put him behind bars to end his political career …

Iceland strives to become a global press freedom haven

REYKJAVIK, August 19, 2010 (AFP) - After Iceland's near-economic collapse laid bare deep-seated corruption, the country aims to become a safe haven for …

Sri Lanka denies war crimes in domestic probe

August 17, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's powerful defence chief Tuesday staunchly defended the government's human rights record, saying troops suffered heavy losses …