Politics

Sri Lanka polls open for tense presidential election

January 26, 2010 (AFP) - Pre-dawn bomb blasts in Sri Lanka's Tamil heartland escalated tensions as the country went to the polls Tuesday in the first …

Sri Lanka presidential candidate barred from voting over identity

Jan 26, 2010 (LBO) - A leftist candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential polls was turned away by polls officials Tuesday because he could not present a prescribed …

Sri Lanka’s Tamils trudge to polls in post-war vote – Scene

VAVUNIYA, January 26, 2010 (AFP) - Kandaswamy Wellarayanam, 73, walked six kilometres to vote in Sri Lanka's election from a state camp where displaced Tamils …

Sri Lanka’s Fonseka unable to vote in election

COLOMBO, January 26, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's main opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka said he was unable to vote in Tuesday's presidential election because …

Sri Lanka votes in tense post-war election

January 26, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lankans voted in their first post-war presidential election on Tuesday amid claims of violence and voter intimidation after a …

Sri Lanka voter turnout may top 70-pct: monitors

Jan 26, 2010 (LBO) - More than 70 percent of Sri Lanka's registered electors are estimated to have turned out to vote in Tuesday's presidential polls, though …

Key Sri Lanka’s ruling party figure defects

January 24, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's president suffered a major defection on Sunday when the matriarch of his party pledged support for the main opposition …

Sri Lanka’s war allies turn enemies

January 24, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's election this week features two men who emerged victorious on the battlefield of a civil war, but have since become bitter …

Sri Lanka president urges free and fair poll

January 25, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's president vowed Monday to ensure the island's first post-war presidential election goes off peacefully after deadly …

Tense peace reigns as Sri Lanka heads to polls

January 24, 2010 (AFP) - War-scarred Sri Lanka holds a peace-time presidential election this week after a bitter and highly personal campaign between the …

Bomb attack in Sri Lanka capital ahead of vote

January 22, 2010 (AFP) - A key opposition activist in Sri Lanka was targeted at home by a bomb early Friday, police said, despite tighter security ahead of …

Sri Lankan presidential poll under Asian monitor’s eye

Jan 22, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's upcoming presidential polls will be monitored by around 40 observers representing the Association of Asian Election …

UN chief worried by growing violence ahead of Sri Lanka polls

UNITED NATIONS, January 20, 2010 (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon is alarmed by the growing violence in Sri Lanka, including the reported slaying of political …

Sri Lanka citizen’s group writes to presidential front runners

Jan 20, 2010 (LBO) - A Sri Lankan citizen's group has written to the two main candidates running for next weeks polls asking for more attention to the island's …

Deadly unrest flares in Sri Lanka ahead of vote

January 18, 2010 (AFP) - A Sri Lankan opposition supporter was killed on Monday as fresh unrest erupted ahead of next week's presidential election despite a …

US hopes for better relations with Sri Lanka

WASHINGTON, January 18, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's upcoming election is raising hopes in the United States for better relations after a chilly spell if the …

Sri Lanka’s Tamils wary of election spotlight

JAFFNA, January 17, 2010 (AFP) - Scarred by decades of war and official indifference, Sri Lanka's minority Tamils are now being courted as political kingmakers …

Sri Lanka orders tighter security after campaign shootings

January 17, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's president ordered police to step up security ahead of presidential elections after a second political activist was shot …

US, Norway deny funding ouster of Sri Lanka president

January 16, 2010 (AFP) - The United States and Norway on Saturday denied funding Sri Lanka's main opposition to defeat President Mahinda Rajapakse's …

Opposition says Sri Lanka lied to UN over heavy weapons

January 15, 2010 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's opposition Friday accused the government of misleading the UN over the use of heavy weapons during the final stages of …