Politics

Terror threat from South Asia still top US concern

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2008 (AFP) - The United States has poured nearly 40 billion dollars in aid to South Asia since the September 11 attacks but the terror …

Sri Lanka govt needs to act quickly to consolidate east: analysts

May 14, 2008 (AFP) - The Sri Lankan government may be celebrating a key election victory in the ethnically-mixed east but it is still a long way from winning …

Sri Lanka opposition challenge govt poll win

May 12, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's opposition said Monday it planned to mount a legal challenge to the government's weekend win in key local elections in the …

Sri Lanka Marxist rebels form new party

May 12, 2008 (LBO) – A breakaway faction of Sri Lanka's Marxist-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP- People's Liberation Front) said Monday that …

Votes counted in Sri Lanka amid allegations of foul play

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka, May 11, 2008 (AFP) - Vote counting was underway in eastern Sri Lanka Sunday after an election marred by Tamil Tiger attacks and …

Sri Lanka govt claims victory in key provincial polls

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka, May 11, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's government Sunday claimed victory in key provincial elections in the ethnically-mixed east of the …

Sri Lanka govt wins key polls in boost for war effort

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka, May 11, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's ruling coalition was Sunday declared the winner of key elections in the east of the island, and hailed …

Security tight as Sri Lanka’s east coast holds key polls

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka, May 9, 2008 (AFP) - A heavy security blanket was thrown over eastern Sri Lanka ahead of Saturday's local polls, seen as a key test for …

Sri Lanka’s ‘Karuna released into immigration detention

May 9, 2008 (AFP) - A former leader of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebel splinter group, jailed in Britain since January, has been released and transferred to an …

Iraq, Sri Lanka, Pakistan on journo killer list: rights body

VIENNA, May 8, 2008 (AFP) - Ninety-three journalists were killed in 2007, almost half of them in Iraq, the International Press Institute media watchdog said in …

Sri Lanka, Pakistan, unfit for Human Rights Council: rights bodies

UNITED NATIONS , May 6, 2008 (AFP) - Gabon, Bahrain, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zambia do not deserve a seat on the Human Rights Council, the United Nations' top …

Sri Lanka plans medical help to Myanmar

May 06, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is planning to send a team of medical doctors and nurses to Myanmar, the foreign ministry said. Media reports said around …

Outcry as Sri Lanka’s defence chief urges censorship

COLOMBO, May 5, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's main media rights group on Monday voiced alarm after the island's hawkish defence chief reportedly branded some …

Sri Lanka media watchdog slams govt, Tamil Tigers

May 03, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's Free Media Movement (FMM) has said media freedom in the island remains under threat by both parties to the internal …

Sri Lanka cited on journalist murder ‘Impunity Index’

UNITED NATIONS, April 30, 2008 (AFP) - India, the Philippines, Mexico and Colombia -- all democracies -- were cited Wednesday among 13 countries with the …

Iranian president touch down in Pakistan before Sri Lanka vist

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, April 28, 2008 (AFP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived Monday in Pakistan for a brief visit to meet the country's new …

Sri Lankans pray for miracles as civilians pay high price

KAHAPOLA, Sri Lanka, April 27, 2008 (AFP) - With both hands clasped, Pat Amarasinghe prays before a Buddha statue seeking divine help for the impossible -- to …

Sri Lanka human rights record criticised by foreign experts

April 22, 2008 (AFP) - A team of international legal experts Tuesday stepped up their criticism of Sri Lanka, noting that repeated calls to improve its record …

Sri Lanka must improve human rights, ensure free poll, says US official

April 22, 2008 (LBO) – The United States has called on Sri Lanka to improve its human rights record and ensure forthcoming elections in the east are free …

Tigers accuse Sri Lanka of killing priest

April 20, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lankan forces Sunday killed a Roman Catholic priest inside rebel-held territory, Tiger guerrillas said as the defence ministry …