Politics

90,000 displaced in Sri Lanka conflict return home: UN

GENEVA, November 6, 2009 (AFP) - About a third of those displaced during the conflict between Sri Lanka government and the Tamil Tigers have returned home over …

Sri Lanka boat people leader a known trafficker: Colombo

November 6, 2009 (AFP) - The leader of a boat of Sri Lankan asylum seekers held in Indonesia is a known people smuggler previously deported from Canada, the …

Indonesia extends Australia refugee boat’s stay

JAKARTA, November 6, 2009 (AFP) - Indonesia extended by a week on Friday a deadline for an Australian customs ship loaded with 78 protesting Sri Lankan asylum …

US House of representatives pressures Sri Lanka on refugee camps

WASHINGTON, November 4, 2009 (AFP) - The US House of Representatives urged Sri Lanka's government Wednesday to guarantee the safety and quick release of some …

Sri Lanka’s opposition unites to face snap polls

November 3, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's main opposition on Tuesday formed an alliance with minority Tamil and Muslim parties and a breakaway faction of the ruling …

15 feared dead as unidentified boat sinks off Australia

SYDNEY, November 2, 2009 (AFP) - About 15 people were feared dead on Monday after a boat carrying 39 sank in rough seas far off northwest Australia despite …

EU pressures Sri Lanka over human rights

LUXEMBOURG, October 27, 2009 (AFP) - The European Union boosted pressure on Sri Lanka Tuesday over human rights and called for those committing abuses on the …

Sri Lanka govt may sign anti-landmine treaty

October 27, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka may consider joining the global treaty banning landmines following the government's defeat of separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, …

Sri Lanka to probe US war crimes allegations

October 26, 2009 (AFP) - The Sri Lankan government on Monday said it would investigate war crimes allegations made against its troops in a US State Department …

29 asylum-seekers stopped off Australia: minister

SYDNEY, October 23, 2009 (AFP) - Australian border guards intercepted a boat carrying 29 suspected asylum-seekers off the country's northwest on Friday, the …

Australia denies ‘terrorists’ on asylum boats

SYDNEY, October 22, 2009 (AFP) - Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Thursday angrily denied extremists were among hundreds of asylum-seekers arriving in the …

Sri Lanka boat people driven by insecurity, jobs

October 22, 2009 (AFP) - Fear of persecution and a lack of jobs at home are driving thousands of Sri Lankans to risk perilous boat rides to developed …

Hearings begin for migrants arrested off Canadian coast

VANCOUVER, October 21, 2009 (AFP) - Detention hearings began Tuesday for two of 76 migrants who were arrested Saturday on a mystery ship off Canada's coast and …

Sri Lanka refugee hunger strike fails to sway Australian PM

SYDNEY, October 16, 2009 (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday refused to be swayed by hundreds of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers who launched a …

Sri Lanka fines US embassy for illegal water supply: official

October 16, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's main water utility said Friday it had fined the US embassy in Colombo more than 3,000 dollars for illegally tapping …

Sri Lanka unable to stop migrant outflow: minister

October 15, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka said Thursday it was unable to prevent migrants leaving the country, as Indonesia intercepted a boatload of asylum seekers …

Sri Lanka asylum-seekers threaten to torch boat

BANTEN, October 14, 2009 (AFP) - More than 250 Sri Lankans seeking asylum in Australia have threatened to set fire to their boat if they are forced to …

Sri Lanka Tamil Tiger suspects on trial for Paris racket

PARIS, October 12, 2009 (AFP) - Twenty-two suspected Tamil Tiger rebels went on trial Monday for running an extortion racket among Paris's ethnic Tamil …

Sri Lanka to hold early elections: state radio

October 13, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lanka will hold presidential and parliamentary elections before April next year, state radio announced Tuesday, in the wake of the …

Anger grows among Sri Lanka detained refugees: rights group

October 11, 2009 (AFP) - A quarter of a million Tamil civilians detained in state-run camps since the end of Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict are in an increasingly …